Chapter 297
+25 BONUS
At that thought, Nancy turned and glanced at Chad, who was sitting there, clapping along with the rest.
It was rare to see someone in research and tech go out of their way to support someone unrelated to their work.
Matt leaned in and murmured, “Don’t you think Chad is putting Ariel on a bit of a pedestal?”
Jayson glanced his way, waiting for him to go on.
Matt hesitated, then frowned. “Do you think he’s actually trying to marry Ariel? Could he be grooming her to polish her image? That way, she might just barely measure up to an academic family like the Hockneys.”
Otherwise, he really couldn’t wrap his head around why Chad kept pushing Ariel to the front.
She used to be just a regular stay–at–home wife. Sure, she worked in Bluum Corp’s PR department. But honestly, she got that job because of her in–laws.
Now Chad was handing her prime projects and putting her onstage as the face of it all.
What was that if not polishing her image?
Perry picked up on what Matt was getting at.
He didn’t know the full story between Chad and Ariel, but one thing he did know was that Ariel was an impressive woman. If Chad spent enough time around her, it wasn’t impossible that he might start to fall for her.
Perry pressed his lips together and looked back at the stage.
As he looked at Ariel’s distant expression, a trace of melancholy appeared in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Jayson said nothing. His gaze remained fixed ahead, cold and unreadable, like he was entirely unconcerned.
“Jayson.” Matt turned to him. “What do you think?”
Jayson finally replied, “Ariel’s always been one of the project leads.”
Which meant that it made sense for her to be the one presenting on stage.
Matt let out a scoff. “Yeah, a project lead. But we all know how her name got on the list.”
Nancy gave a faint, mocking smile at that. Clearly, she agreed.
Something seemed to cross Jayson’s mind. He smiled faintly and said nothing more.
The event carried on until around 9:00 pm.
Once Ariel finished her presentation and stepped offstage, Tom and a few others came over to shower her with praise.
After some polite small talk, the night was nearly over.
Tonight’s event was more of a large team–building gathering, and some people were already making plans for an afterparty.
But Ariel was tired. It was getting late, so she told Chad and Janice she would head back first.
Before leaving, she picked up the bouquet of blue tulips from the table and had someone drive her back to where she was staying.
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Chapter 297
+25 BONUS
She headed upstairs with the key card in hand.
As she stepped out of the elevator, she happened to exit athe same time as someone from the one next door.
The moment Ariel saw Jayson, she paused for a second.
He looked at her, then gave a faint glance at the striking bouquet she was holding, but said nothing.
And Ariel had even less to say to him. Holding her key card, she turned to walk toward her room.
But behind her, his footsteps followed. He kept a distance of maybe 13 feet.
Under the hallway lights, she could clearly see their shadows cast over the thick carpet. His shadow nearly overlapped hers.
Ariel frowned silently and adjusted her pace, subtly trying to put more distance between their shadows.
Still, she said nothing.
It wasn’t until she reached her door that she realized Jayson had stopped right outside the room next to hers.
So he was staying right next door.
It suddenly clicked. No wonder the front desk manager had come by earlier asking if she wanted to switch rooms.
Chances were, Jayson had found out she was next door and asked them to rearrange things.
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