Elodie stared at Jason’s reply on the screen.

She took a slow sip of warm water, steady as ever, then typed her response:

[Understood.]

She closed out of the chat with Jason and went straight to the Nexus Analytics project group.

She didn’t bother checking the member list.

She didn’t send Jarrod a friend request.

Instead, she directly tagged both Jarrod and Sylvie in the group chat:

[Mr. Silverstein, if there are any questions regarding VistaLink Technologies’ requirements, please clarify. Ms. Fielding believes concerns can be discussed directly with our team. Please, Nexus Analytics, let’s not silently delay progress.] With this project, Elodie had no patience for drawn-out timelines.

She just wanted problems solved quickly and precisely.

Yet, even after tagging them, she waited in silence. No response came from the other side.

Not that she was surprised.

She glanced at the clock. Twenty minutes had passed since her message.

Twenty whole minutes, and neither Jarrod nor Sylvie had replied.

Still, Elodie’s expression didn’t flicker.

Esmeralda, seeing Elodie’s direct message, called her.

“Nexus Analytics is backed by The Silverstein Group, so of course they act untouchable,” Esmeralda grumbled. “Sylvie doesn’t even talk to us about her doubts—she just runs straight to Jarrod and starts questioning our project strategy?”

Was Nexus Analytics always this high-handed?

Elodie checked the time again. “Where’s Alex right now?” she asked.

Esmeralda thought for a moment. “He’s at the civilian drone expo. That thing won’t wrap up for a while yet.”

Elodie went quiet, deep in thought.

Jason must have noticed that Jarrod and Sylvie still hadn’t replied.

He finally chimed in:

[Ms. Thorne, Mr. Silverstein and Ms. Fielding are probably busy and haven’t seen

the message. Group chats might be on mute, or they could have too many notifications to keep up. I’d suggest adding them directly-Mr. Silverstein’s account doesn’t require approval for friend requests.]

Elodie glanced at Jason’s suggestion.

Then she exited the app.

At the expo.

Jarrod and Sylvie arrived and immediately spotted Naylor across the room. Naylor glanced their way, then walked over. “Mr. Delacroix didn’t make it?” Sylvie smiled politely. “Maurice is out of town, but Joseph will be here soon.”

Naylor gave Sylvie a knowing smile before turning to Jarrod.

“I heard Nexus Analytics is working with VistaLink Technologies now. Mr. Silverstein, do you know much about them? Five hundred million wired in just a few days?” He nodded toward another group. “And Mr. Sterling’s here too. Maybe we can all sit down and talk later?”

Jarrod offered a faint, disinterested smile. “Not sure. I suppose VistaLink Technologies has its own connections.”

Naylor looked puzzled as well. VistaLink Technologies wasn’t exactly a giant-this fast, easy funding seemed too good to be true.

Sylvie glanced down at her phone.

Her brow arched slightly.

She looked up at Jarrod. “VistaLink Technologies just messaged in the group chat. Can you take a look?”

Jarrod leaned over, scanning Sylvie’s screen.

He saw Elodie’s pointed message, as well as Jason’s attempt to smooth things

over.

Jarrod’s gaze swept over the chat history, dark eyes giving nothing away.

But Sylvie felt a thread of suspicion flicker in her mind.

Even if VistaLink Technologies wanted an update, it should’ve been Alexander, Esmeralda, or one of their engineers reaching out.

Instead

Elodie had specifically tagged Jarrod.

Sylvie’s lips twitched in a silent, knowing smile.

She was starting to understand Elodie’s angle.

“What’s up?” Naylor noticed the tension.

Sylvie slipped her phone away, keeping her composure. She didn’t respond to the group chat just yet.

“VistaLink Technologies is following up on project details.”

Naylor nodded toward a nearby cluster. “Isn’t Mr. Sterling right there? You could

talk in person—more efficient that way.”

Sylvie laughed lightly, shaking her head. “It’s not a big deal. VistaLink Technologies’ assistant is just nudging Jarrod about the schedule.”

Assistant?

A cool, poised figure took shape in Naylor’s mind.

What kind of assistant could approach Jarrod directly?

Shouldn’t she be talking to Nexus Analytics or at least to Sylvie?

A suspicion began to form.

Bypassing Nexus Analytics and Sylvie to reach out to Jarrod-wasn’t that an oddly direct move?

Maybe even a clever way to get his attention-

Just then, Alexander finished his conversation across the room and headed over

to join them.