It was as if Faye had finally found an outlet for over a year''s worth of pent-up frustration-all of it pouring out at once.


    Eleanor blinked in surprise, watching Faye. Truth be told, work had been so overwhelmingtely she barely had a spare moment to prepare for this presentation. If Faye wanted the spotlight so badly, Eleanor saw no reason to fight her for it.


    "I''ll mention it to VP Chase. Go ahead and start getting ready,” Eleanor said calmly.


    Faye was caught off guard. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "I''m handing the presentation over to you," Eleanor replied, grabbing her bag, ready to call it a day.


    Moments before, Faye had heard Eleanor was going to step in for Joel as the speaker, and fury had red in her chest. Without thinking, she''d stormed over to confront Eleanor, never expecting Eleanor would give up so easily.


    Something didn''t add up. What was Eleanor ying at?


    Did she think Faye wasn''t good enough?


    Was she implying Faye couldn''t handle it?


    Annoyed, Faye reached out to block Eleanor''s path. "What''s that supposed to mean? Is this some kind of charity?"


    Eleanor nced at her with a hint of boredom. "Didn''t you want this chance? I''m giving it to you."


    "I want a fair shot," Faye''s voice rose. "Not a handout."


    Eleanor''s gaze turned icy. "I''m busy. I don''t have time to argue about this. Move."


    Faye gave a cold, humorlessugh. "So what''s the truth? Are you really giving it to me, or are you just as unsure about this presentation as I am? You know all the big names in our field will be there. Maybe you''re the one with stage fright."


    Eleanor rolled her eyes. "If you have time to stand here and talk, you should probably start working on your notes."


    Faye narrowed her eyes. "You really mean it? You''re letting me have it?"


    Honestly, Faye knew Eleanor had only been put up for the speech because Byron wanted it. Now, she''d managed to wrest the opportunity away. Why not seize it and make herself known in the industry?


    Besides, she''d been part of the project from the start. Writing apelling speech wouldn''t be a problem. She was confident she could handle it—and handle it well.


    Faye smirked. "Don''t regret thister."


    Eleanor flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked away, not sparing her another nce.


    Internally, Faye scoffed. Acting so high and mighty? Just wait-I''ll show you what I''m capable of.


    She went straight back to her office and dove into drafting her speech. With a week left before the conference, she was certain she could pull it off.


    All night, Faye poured over her work, revising until three in the morning. Meanwhile, Eleanor felt nothing but relief after giving up the speech. She no longer needed to put herself in the spotlight; that part of her life was behind her.


    Early the next morning, Faye knocked on Byron''s office door. She was the first to inform him she''d be taking over the keynote.


    Byron looked surprised. "Eleanor gave it up?"


    Faye''s expression soured a little. The truth was, Joel had handed the speech to Eleanor, and she''d snatched it from Eleanor in turn.


    "Yes. She said she''s too busy these days and doesn''t have time to prepare," Faye admitted, knowing there was no other way to exin it.


    This speech meant everything to her; her reputation in the researchmunity could hinge on it.


    Byron nodded, not sounding the least bit disapproving. "Eleanor really is swamped. She and Dr. Bradley have been coordinating the animal trial data—no way she''d have time to prepare a full presentation."