Although Grady spoke with a smile, the derision in his tone was impossible to miss. Anyone listening would feel a pang of discomfort, the pointed contempt laid bare for all to see. Even those just watching from the sidelines couldn’t help but wonder if he’d gone too far.

Sylvie glanced at Grady, well aware that part of his outspokenness came from witnessing how she’d once been left hanging by VistaLink Technologies. Perhaps this was his way of standing up for her. She simply lifted her glass, took a polite sip, and let a graceful smile curve her lips, saying nothing.

Meanwhile, Naylor seemed more entertained than bothered, his eyes drifting around the room. His gaze landed first on Jarrod, who appeared entirely unfazed, typing away on his phone as if Elodie’s slight embarrassment had nothing to do with him. He didn’t seem to care whether she’d lost face or not.

Naylor’s eyes moved to Sylvie. She had turned toward Jarrod, murmuring something only he could hear. Whatever she said made a faint smirk tug at the corners of Jarrod’s lips-just a flash, but enough to suggest the two of them shared a private world, untouched by the tension around them. The awkwardness of Grady’s jibe at Elodie didn’t interest them in the slightest. Mediation was out of the question.

Naylor realized then: no matter how interested Elodie might be in Jarrod, he remained utterly unmoved, treating her as if she were invisible.

Alexander, on the other hand, frowned briefly before breaking into a laugh. “Mr. Mercer,” he said, “that’s not how you get a girl’s attention. You’re out of practice- maybe you should let Mr. Silverstein give you a few lessons?”

Grady nearly choked on his drink, instinctively glancing at Elodie. Attract her attention? Was Alexander implying he was trying to impress Elodie?

Alexander pressed on, turning to where Jarrod sat, composed and cool. “Look at Mr. Silverstein,” he teased. “He’s got a beautiful woman by his side-he must be an expert at romance. Surely Ms. Fielding isn’t the one chasing after him?”

Sylvie paused, her glass halfway to her lips. She looked at Alexander, who was still smiling warmly, his tone light and seemingly harmless. Yet there was something subtly unsettling about his words.

Finally, Jarrod looked up, his expression unchanged. “You’re joking, Mr. Sterling,” he said quietly.

Alexander laughed heartily. “Just kidding, just kidding. No one take it seriously.”

Elodie arched an eyebrow at Alexander. She knew his temper wasn’t as even as he let on, but the man always managed to hide his sharpness behind a cheerful grin. Others could only chalk it up to him being blunt.

Grady hesitated, as if he wanted to say something more. Alexander’s attitude was perfectly pleasant, but Grady still felt nettled. In the end, Elodie wasn’t the one left embarrassed in public-it was the rest of them who were left feeling awkward.

Not that Elodie minded. She understood people well enough to know that once someone forms an opinion, it’s nearly impossible to change it—even when faced with the truth. She had no interest in worrying about the opinions of people who didn’t matter.

Sylvie stole a glance at Elodie before turning back to Jarrod and the others, lowering her voice. “VistaLink Technologies is making some serious moves this time. I ran into Mr. Sterling having dinner with Elodie and Dr. Charlie the other night. If Dr. Charlie really is joining their new project, that says a lot.”

“Dinner together?” Naylor and Grady both looked mildly surprised. If Alexander was dining with his own father, that was just family business. But bringing Elodie along—either it was personal, or it had to do with the company.

Sylvie nodded, lips pressed together thoughtfully. “If Dr. Charlie really is backing them, we need to take VistaLink Technologies’ new project seriously.”

Naylor instantly fell into contemplation. His mother, Felicity, had already advised him to build a good relationship with Alexander and look for manufacturing partnerships. The domestic smart tech industry was nowhere near saturated, and VistaLink Technologies was innovating. If they played their cards right, the long- term returns could be huge.

If things were as Sylvie said, and Dr. Charlie was indeed guiding VistaLink Technologies’ new venture…

Jarrod seemed to read Sylvie’s thoughts. He leaned in and asked quietly, “You interested?”

Sylvie gave a light laugh, answering honestly, “If Dr. Charlie’s really involved, there’s definitely a lot to learn.”

Jarrod nodded, showing he understood.

Sylvie turned her attention back to Alexander, offering him a composed smile. “Mr. Sterling, I hear VistaLink Technologies is seeking investment. Right now, you need both talent and funding for your team—”