When Eleanor finished work, Joel came by to discuss themercial project.


    Goodwin Biotech was assembling a new R&D team, but from their side, only Faye was being transferred.


    "I got the email. Honestly, Faye leaving the team is for the best," Joel said. Faye was too emotionally invested, and she seemed to go out of her way to provoke Eleanor. Joel had wanted her off the team for a while now.


    Besides, Faye''s open infatuation made Joel ufortable. He believed that mixing feelings with work only undermined one''s professionalism.


    Because of her sister''s connections, Faye had her pick of projects-everything except the core neural interface research.


    "I''ll make sure everything''s handled properly. We can make the basic data avable, but anything involving patents has to go through the approval process, per the partnership agreement," Joel said.


    Eleanor nodded. "Alright."


    Just then, Joel''s phone rang. He answered, "Hello?"


    "Dr. Kingsley, Mr. Goodwin would like you toe to Goodwin & Co. for a private meeting," came Gavin''s voice.


    "What''s this about?" Joel frowned.


    "Mr. Goodwin didn''t specify, but he asked if you coulde by after work," Gavin replied, sounding insistent.


    "Alright, I''ll be there," Joel said.


    After hanging up, he turned to Eleanor. "Ian wants to see me after work. Do you know what it''s about?"


    Eleanor thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No idea. Maybe it''s something urgent on the business side."


    "If it''s work-rted, I would''ve thought he''d want to talk to you too," Joel mused.


    "I''m just about done for the day-you go ahead," Eleanor told him.


    Joel nodded. They headed downstairs to the parking lot together. Faye, who was on her phone in the lobby, nced over and felt a pang of jealousy watching them.


    She was about to lead her own team. Once she left the Neural Interface Project, she wouldn''t see Joel around anymore.


    But she could already picture how Eleanor would treat Joel as both a colleague and a boyfriend, ordering him around, and sooner orter something would happen between them behind closed doors.


    The thought stung. Why couldn''t a man like Joel give her a chance?


    Ever since Joel returned from abroad and joined the research team, Faye had done everything she could to break into his world. But the trust and professional chemistry he shared with Eleanor created a barrier she could never cross.


    If only this new project managed to separate Joel and Eleanor-then maybe she''d finally get what she wanted.


    At Goodwin & Co., Gavin met Joel at the executive suite entrance. He knocked once, then opened the door. "Dr. Kingsley, pleasee in."


    Joel stepped inside. Ian was seated on therge sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, reading over some documents. When he looked up and saw Joel, he rose and motioned for him to sit.


    "Thank you foring on such short notice, Dr. Kingsley," Ian said, his tone gracious and polite.


    Joel saw right through him. For alln''s effortless elegance and manners, there was a sharp mind and a steely resolve beneath the surface.


    Which meant that, despite the courteous wee, Joel had to stay on his guard.


    "No trouble at all. What can I do for you, Mr. Goodwin?" Joel replied, matching the formality.


    A young assistant promptly brought in coffee and refreshments, then slipped out.


    Joel''s expression tightened. He''d suspected as much on the drive over, but he hadn''t expectedn to bring it up so directly.


    "There''s a big market formercial applications, but it''s not really my area of interest," Joel said carefully.


    "I understand it might seem like a waste of your talents to put you on such a project,”n replied, his eyes steady and his tone calm but unmistakably firm. “But the neural interface project requires enormous ongoing investment. While I''m happy to continue funding it, the board''s patience for projects without obvious returns is wearing thin."