"Hello, Ms. Shannon."


    "I want to seen," Vanessa yelled into the phone, her voice demanding.


    Gavin''s calm voice came from the other end. "If you have a message for Mr. Goodwin, you can tell me, and I will ry it."


    "I said, I want to seen," Vanessa repeated through gritted teeth. "Even if he''s terminating the contract, he should have the decency to tell me in person. I have things I need to ask him."


    "Ms. Shannon, you should know that Mr. Goodwin has no desire to see you," Gavin''s voice grew cooler.


    "Gavin, who do you think you are? You''re just a messenger. Getn to see me."


    "Continuing to push this will not benefit you, Ms. Shannon," Gavin''s voice turnedpletely cold.


    "No benefit? What do you think I have left to lose?" Vanessa sneered, then stated her demand directly. "I want a transition fee fromn. Ten million dors. Otherwise, I''m not going quietly."


    Before Gavin could say anything else, Vanessa shrieked, n used me for years, and now he just kicks me to the curb like I''m nothing. He can''t get away with that. Ten million is a drop in the bucket for him. Once I get the money, I promise I''ll disappearpletely. Otherwise I wouldn''t mind making up some interesting stories for the media."


    "Ms. Shannon, nder and defamation have legal consequences. Your agreement with Mr. Goodwin was a legal andpliant business partnership. The fact that he isn''t making you pay a penalty for breach of contract is already more than generous."


    "Gavin, you telln I want to see ten million dors in my ount by tomorrow."


    Gavin''s voice remained cid. "Ms. Shannon, you know Mr. Goodwin better than anyone. You know perfectly well whether you have the power to threaten him or not." He then added, "This will be our final conversation."


    The line went dead.


    Vanessa swayed on her feet, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. A wave of humiliation washed over her. She grabbed her bag and left under the assistant''s watchful eye.


    The sunlight outside brought a moment of rity. Of course she knew threateningn was just humiliating herself.


    Besides, in three days, she had to leave the country.


    ***


    Met


    At theboratory, Eleanor was focused on her work, dressed in a whiteb coat. Ian stood outside, watching her quietly through the ceiling window


    Eleanor sensed someone outside and turned her head. Ian raised a hand and waved a small greeting.


    Twenty minutester, Eleanor finished her experiment and came out. Ian was still waiting in her office.


    "What are you doing here?" Eleanor asked, drying her hands.


    "Evelyn is having dinner at my mom''s tonight. I thought we could have dinner together,"n proposed.


    The implication was clear: a dinner just for the two of them.


    Eleanor nced at her watch. "I still have a report to write. It''ll probably take another half hour. Are you going to wait?"


    "Of course. I''ll wait no matter howte it is,"n said with a smile.


    Eleanor sat down and began organizing the data from her experiment, bing engrossed in her work.


    Watching her work-calm, precise, untouchablen couldn''t look


    away. At that moment, watching the woman at theputer,pletely absorbed, the man on the sofas found himself momentarily mesmerized.


    For the past three years, he could only steal nces at her. If she caught him, he would be met with disdain and a warning But starting today, he could look at her openly.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!