Watts stood up and shook Alexander’s hand.

His gaze landed openly and unflinchingly on Elodie. “Ms. Thorne, we meet again.” Elodie gave a polite nod. “Mr. Aldridge, please, have a seat.”

Watts’s lips twitched in amusement; the formality of “Mr. Aldridge” struck him as oddly proper, almost old-fashioned. He chuckled softly.

Alexander, having been briefed about Watts’s background over the phone, was still processing the surprise. The man sitting before him was here on behalf of Eldrion Global, a powerhouse in defense manufacturing. Watts himself had been recruited from abroad as a top-tier executive—a fact that was impressive in itself.

“What made you consider technical collaboration with VistaLink Technologies?” Alexander asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

He understood exactly what Eldrion Global represented-the kind of influence and reach that made such a partnership both exciting and daunting.

Watts didn’t lay out all his cards, but replied smoothly, “I’m here on behalf of our president, President Barnes.”

President Barnes—a name Alexander recognized immediately. An extraordinary woman, renowned across the industry.

“As for me personally,” Watts continued with genuine warmth, “I’d already familiarized myself with VistaLink Technologies while I was overseas. I’ve always admired the projects you’ve led, Mr. Sterling; I even did some academic research on a few of your products.”

He sounded genuinely sincere.

Elodie, however, fixed him with a direct look and got straight to the point. “I imagine, Mr. Aldridge, you’ve heard the recent buzz about Neural Intelligence. Many believe they have far more connections than VistaLink Technologies does. Are you interested in partnering with Neural Intelligence instead?”

She didn’t shy away from the subject. Even Ivan and the Harcourt family had switched allegiance to Neural Intelligence for the sake of profit.

Watts’s gaze lingered on her face. “My interest lies solely with VistaLink Technologies.”

That answer genuinely surprised Elodie.

“May I ask why?”

He met her curious eyes, smiling with easy confidence. “Honestly? I trust my

instincts. And, well, I go with my gut feeling about people.”

Elodie arched an eyebrow, skeptical. Was this a business meeting or a matchmaking session?

Even Alexander found himself thrown off by the candid approach. Was this how young executives did business these days?

“Did you also study aerospace engineering, Mr. Aldridge?” Elodie couldn’t help but ask.

Watts’s eyes sparkled-full of youthful energy without a trace of arrogance. “Let me introduce myself properly. I graduated from Cambridge, studied aerospace engineering and finance, and just finished my doctorate in engineering.”

That revelation caught Elodie off guard. She hadn’t expected to find a bona fide prodigy sitting across from her-one who was, remarkably, free of any conceit.

“Please, both of you, feel at ease,” Watts said, his tone reassuring. “We’re here for an initial discussion, just to get to know each other. As for any formal collaboration, we’ll see where things go. My only goal is to express the goodwill of Eldrion Global-and my own.”

He didn’t want VistaLink Technologies to feel any pressure coming from the corporate giant behind him.

Elodie nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful.

“But there’s one more thing,” Watts added, lifting an eyebrow as a flicker of something softer flashed in his eyes. “I’ve heard for years that U.N2 was developed by someone at VistaLink Technologies. The rumors said it was Mr. Sterling, and, to be honest, that was one of the reasons I chose this field. The person behind that project is my personal hero.”

Alexander, mid-sip of water, nearly choked.

He couldn’t help glancing at Elodie-who, for all the world, appeared calm and detached, as if none of this had anything to do with her.