When Elodie heard that Naylor was already downstairs in the VistaLink

Technologies lobby, she didn’t even look up from her work. News about TerraCore Technologies’ latest maneuvers always managed to reach her ears, and she knew Naylor was eager to break into the drone manufacturing market. If he wanted in, he’d have no choice but to rely on her new flight control system.

Alexander, on the other hand, was far more decisive. He turned to his assistant and said, “Please let Mr. Whitaker know I’m out of the office. Ask him to come another time.”

He hadn’t forgotten Naylor’s past remarks about Elodie-always laced with bias and condescension. The last thing VistaLink Technologies wanted was to let someone benefit from their hard work and still look down on them.

Elodie had no objections.

Downstairs, the assistant found Naylor waiting by the reception desk. With a polite smile, he said, “Mr. Whitaker, I’m afraid Mr. Sterling is out at the moment. Sorry you had to come all this way.”

Naylor frowned immediately. “Any idea when he’ll be back?”

The assistant’s expression didn’t change. “I’m afraid I don’t know, Mr. Whitaker. My apologies.”

Naylor wasn’t naïve. If VistaLink Technologies had even a shred of goodwill left, they’d have suggested rescheduling. Instead, even though their excuse was paper-thin, they didn’t bother pretending otherwise.

They weren’t even trying to be polite.

Naylor’s face darkened. He was about to press further when a voice called from behind him.

“Mr. Whitaker?”

He turned to see Sylvie approaching, and his expression softened a little. “President Fielding, are you here to discuss the flight control system patent too?” Sylvie looked calm and collected. “Yes. VistaLink Technologies is driving the whole industry forward—at this point, we can’t afford to ignore their system.”

She glanced at the assistant, who hadn’t left yet. “Could you please let Mr. Sterling know I’d like to speak with him?”

The assistant, recognizing Sylvie, offered a helpful suggestion. “Mr. Sterling is out, but Ms. Thorne is upstairs. Would you like to try scheduling a time with Ms. Thorne instead?”

That suggestion stung.

Sylvie’s brows knit together, her expression sharpening. So if Alexander wouldn’t see her, she was supposed to humble herself and ask Elodie for a meeting?

What a calculated move on Elodie’s part.

Was she just waiting here to humiliate Sylvie?

Elodie barely had any real authority at VistaLink Technologies-she was just an investor who happened to land a seat at the table. Today’s little performance was clearly orchestrated to put Sylvie in her place.

“No, thank you,” Sylvie replied coldly. “This is important—I want to speak directly with Mr. Sterling.”

She was certain Elodie was putting on airs, trying to force her to beg for an appointment. And if she actually gave in, who knew how Elodie would twist things to her own advantage?

The assistant smiled politely. “In that case, there’s no need to wait-Mr. Sterling isn’t available for meetings today.”

Sylvie blinked, surprised by just how blunt he was.

Even Naylor was taken aback. Wasn’t this a bit too direct? Did they have no tact at all?

With a courteous nod, the assistant turned and headed back upstairs.

And now, the message was crystal clear: VistaLink Technologies was deliberately shutting them out.

Alexander was almost certainly upstairs, just refusing to see them. Forcing Sylvie to ask for Elodie was nothing short of an insult.

“President Fielding, maybe we should just go,” Naylor said quietly. “It looks like VistaLink Technologies won’t be meeting with us anytime soon.” He understood now-VistaLink Technologies had the upper hand in the industry, and there was nothing he or Sylvie could do about it.

Sylvie pressed her lips together, lowering her gaze in thought. “It’s fine. In this line of work, I never mix personal grudges with business. Even if VistaLink Technologies is making things difficult, we’ll just have to find another way.”

Naylor, now equally frustrated, managed a small, respectful nod. “That’s very magnanimous of you, Ms. Fielding.”

He could see it now-Elodie was probably just getting her revenge on Sylvie. After hitting a wall with Jarrod, she needed someone else to take the fall, and Sylvie was the perfect target.