Chapter 358
She didn’t spare Naylor so much as a glance.
Nor did she offer him any comforting “I forgive you” in response to his awkward
apology.
A tightness welled up in Naylor’s chest. He stared at her profile for a long moment, and for the first time in his life, understood just how hard it could be to ask someone for a favor.
Klein let out a sigh of relief, a flicker of gratitude toward Elodie crossing his face. “You’ve put up with a lot, Elodie. If this kid does anything else out of line, I’ll handle it myself. I’ll apologize on his behalf too. And if anything comes up in the future, you can always come to me.”
Alexander arched an eyebrow, his mind racing as he quickly raised his glass in a toast to Klein. “You’re being too kind, sir. If VistaLink Technologies has the chance to do Mr. Whitaker a favor, it’s our privilege-especially where Elodie’s reputation is at stake. Clearing things up today was simply the right thing to do, not meant to cause any unpleasantness. I hope you’ll understand.”
Klein caught the meaning in Alexander’s words, pointing at him with a laugh. “You’re a sharp one, aren’t you?”
Just like that, the matter was smoothed over-everyone walked away with their dignity intact.
Glasses clinked.
The ordeal was finally over.
Elodie eased off, her sharpness fading as she returned to her usual gentle, unruffled self.
She hadn’t come here to cause a scene. With Klein’s status, pushing things too far would have accomplished nothing. By airing her grievance but then letting it go and showing Klein some respect, she actually ensured the Whitaker family owed her a favor.
Charlie, on the other hand, seemed genuinely angry. He didn’t touch his food, and when Klein and Naylor got up to leave, he couldn’t even be bothered to come out and see them off.
Klein realized he’d probably offended the old man with the stubborn streak.
He’d have to find another way to make it up to him some other day.
As they stepped out of the Sterling family’s home, Naylor was still reeling when Klein suddenly kicked him hard in the shin. “If you can’t keep your mouth shut from now on, don’t bother telling anyone you’re my son!”
Naylor had been stewing all evening. Now, with that sharp kick, he could only sigh
in exasperation. “Well, you’re not exactly young enough to have another kid anyway, are you?”
Klein glared at him.
Naylor quickly changed the subject. “Dad, I’ve been wondering how did you know Elodie was married? Do you know who her husband is?”
He also found it odd how polite his father was with Elodie-sometimes even making small talk with her, which was anything but typical for him. Naylor knew his father’s temperament, and this was unusual.
Maybe it was because Mr. Sterling had taken Elodie on as a protégé?
But even so, that was no reason for his father to treat her with such courtesy.
He couldn’t shake the feeling he was missing something, but for now, he just couldn’t put his finger on it.
Klein’s face was stone-cold as he strode toward the car, tossing back three words: “You know him.”
Naylor froze.
That was a heavy hint-
He knew the guy?
And if his own father was aware of the man’s identity, this wasn’t just anybody.
He began running through every possibility in his mind.
Just as he was about to ask more questions-
Bang!
Klein slammed the car door, told the driver to floor it, and left Naylor standing there with a face full of exhaust and no ride home.
Naylor stared after the car, dumbfounded.
Did his own father really just ditch him like that?
The next day.
Naylor dropped by VistaLink Technologies-this time, no obstacles in his way.
Elodie didn’t bother to see him herself, leaving it to Alexander and Esmeralda to handle the reception and contract signing.
That afternoon, Elodie learned that Joseph Delacroix had shown up too.
Truth be told, she had little fondness for anyone from Jarrod’s circle, but she couldn’t deny that Joseph had helped her find a doctor, and introduced her to Elias Warwick.
She’d said from the start that she owed him a favor for that.
Now, with everything settled, the debt was paid.
If it hadn’t been for the Elias situation, she wouldn’t have bothered doing The Delacroix Group any favors.
When the contract was signed, Elodie looked up at Joseph, her voice calm and even. “This patent settles the debt between us, Mr. Delacroix. From now on, we’re square.”