The aerospace research institute had opened up 200 visitor slots. Companies had to submit group applications in advance.
The front entrance was packed with people.
A group had just stepped out of their vehicle.
When Ariel turned around, she happened to see Jayson getting out and holding the door to shield Nancy from the edge.
Nancy was clearly in a good mood. She tilted her head up and smiled sweetly at him as they chatted.
Jayson responded now and then.
Meanwhile, Matt and Frederick stepped out of another car, chatting as they walked toward Jayson and Nancy.
Soon after, they all turned to look toward Ariel and Chad.
Ariel had already turned away and walked into the entrance with Chad. She didn’t bother with greetings or small talk.
Jayson gave her retreating figure a glance, then turned his focus to a board member from another company who had come over to chat.
Once everyone made it inside, the coordinator came out to sort the groups, which naturally brought them all into closer proximity.
Nancy stood beside Jayson. She didn’t even spare Ariel, who stood ten feet away, a look. Every so often, she would cover her mouth and whisper something to Jayson.
Frederick had always admired Chad, so he walked over to say hi. “Mr. Hockney, didn’t Jan come?”
He was exasperated by his sister, who had no ambition and just wanted to coast through life.
Why couldn’t she be a little more like Chad? Or be motivated by someone as outstanding as Nancy?
Instead, she clung to Ariel all day.
“She’s not a fan of this kind of event. I didn’t want to force her,” Chad replied with a smile.
“Fair. She wouldn’t exactly sit still if she did come.” Frederick nodded, then glanced at Ariel.
Janice, as an executive at Faye Technologies, had every reason to be here. But Ariel? Her sudden rise over just a few months had landed her in a circle she never used to belong to.
In Frederick’s mind, she should have been thankful to Chad and Janice. Without their support, Ariel would have never reached the level needed to step foot in the aerospace research institute.
Matt joined them. “Faye Tech has been getting a lot of buzz lately. Congratulations, Mr. Hockney.”
Then he turned to Ariel. “Oh, Ms. Walker. You’re here too.”
The tone was deliberate.
Ariel didn’t even look at him.
She could tell that Matt didn’t take her seriously at all. There was a trace of sarcasm in his tone, as if he were surprised she could even be here.
1/2
Chapter 359
+25 BONUS
Even when praising Faye Technologies, the congratulations were aimed solely at Chad.
“Mr. Crosby, I thought your company wasn’t involved in this field. How’d you land a spot at the institute?” Chad’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, but it was impeccably polite.
Matt hesitated for a beat, then forced a chuckle. “Oh, Jayson had an entry pass, so I tagged along to film sorne content for my brother.”
Jayson had said that things at the research institute would be interesting today, so he invited them to join.
“So Ms. Stanton tagged along too?” Chad was surprised.
Matt glanced in Nancy’s direction and shrugged. “Yeah, we came together.”
Only then did Chad raise an eyebrow in sudden realization. Oh… I thought Ms. Stanton had been invited by Professor Jones. I guess that’s not the case. Ari got in through her supervisor’s invitation. Guess they’re not quite the same, huh?”
Matt’s face stiffened. He turned around to look at Nancy and Jayson.
Jayson met his eyes for a moment but said nothing.
Nancy had caught the subtext loud and clear, but she didn’t care. Her cool gaze swept over to Ariel.
The patent standoff between Veyo Solutions and Faye Technologies had reached a dead end and was going to stay that way.
In Nancy’s eyes, Ariel had resorted to cheap tricks to shut Veyo Solutions out.
How could she resort to pettiness to handle things in a circle like this?
