“Ms. Walker, take a look at this flight data.” Noah stepped aside to make room for Ariel.
She walked over and scanned the numbers.
Not long after, a voice from the side caught her attention.
She turned to the side and saw a group approaching from the far end.
Leading the way was Samson, who stood tall and sharp. He was effortlessly eye–catching even in a crowd of neatly suited executives, most of whom were clearly older. They were briefing him on the current progress.
Samson looked completely serious. The usual easygoing air he carried was replaced with a quiet sharpness as he offered crisp responses occasionally.
It was the first time Ariel had seen him in full work mode, and she was genuinely surprised.
Just as she was about to look away, Samson seemed to sense her gaze. His eyes found her instantly.
The moment he recognized her, a faint smile broke across his face. He turned to the group beside him and said, “You guys
continue first.”
With that, he strode over without hesitation.
“Ariel? When did you get back?”
Her hand paused on the drone controller. She thought for a second before replying, “Yesterday.”
“How was the conference?” Samson stopped beside her and looked down with interest.
“Pretty great, actually. I learned a lot.” Ariel gave him an honest answer.
Realization dawned on Samson, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Then you must be on a whole other level. At a conference like that, even I wouldn’t come away saying I learned a lot right away. It’d take time to really process everything.”
He had already gotten a sense of her capabilities during the last government–led seminar. The way she took notes alone had said plenty.
She might keep a low profile, but her level of expertise was unexpectedly impressive.
To Ariel, though, Samson’s comment sounded more like self–deprecation.
Considering he had already completed his PhD at Glenbridge at his age, if anyone was hiding their true skill, it was him.
“Are you testing drones?” he asked, noticing the controller in her hands.
Ariel nodded. “I’m checking responsiveness.”
“Mind if I try?” Samson asked.
“Go ahead.” Ariel handed him the controller without hesitation.
As he took it, Samson glanced at her and smiled. “I’ve played around with all kinds of drones and even got certified as an operator to really understand them. What aspects do you need to test? I can help you run through them.”
Ariel knew there were some people like him who could pick up just about anything with ease.
“You’ve got talent,” she said honestly.
Samson shrugged. “Maybe. I’ve always had too much energy. I liked trying everything. The truth is, I’ve just had more opportunities and access than most. My family gave me a head start.”
He was even more honest than Ariel had expected. Most people wouldn’t be so willing to admit something like that.
Chapter 429
+25 BONUS
It turned out that Samson really did know his stuff. They worked through the full testing sequence with seamless coordination.
Ariel jotted down a few improvement points.
Feeling tired from standing, she decided to find a seat to keep writing.
Samson noticed that, then glanced at the stone steps nearby. They were cool under the indoor air conditioning.
He walked over with long strides, swiftly took off his jacket, and laid it over the stone steps. “Sit here.”
Ariel paused, lifting her gaze to meet the clear, earnest eyes of the man in front of her.
She could tell that he wasn’t trying to impress her. It was the natural grace of someone well–educated, paired with what felt like genuine concern.
Ariel capped her pen and didn’t beat around the bush. Looking up at him, she said clearly, “I’m sorry. About what you said the other day, I think I should be clear. I’m not looking to start a relationship.”
Chapter 430
