Chapter 232
As the elevator doors slid shut, the haughty, imperious smile on Audrey’s face vanished without a trace, like a curtain drawn between performances.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, Mr. Flynn,” she said, her tone calm and composed.
Randy turned slightly to glance at her. “Mind telling me what that was about?”
Just moments ago, Audrey had spoken to him with sincerity and poise, her demeanor graceful and her words measured. It was a stark contrast to the barbed, almost theatrical confrontation she’d just had with Talia.
“I actually admire Ms. Price quite a bit,” Audrey replied thoughtfully. “Yes, she stands on the shoulders of her family’s legacy, but it takes real ability to lead a team, even with a platform like that.”
In this world, true fairness is a myth, something spoken of more often than seen.
Corporations, especially the large and powerful ones, are rarely built in a single lifetime. They are the accumulated achievements of generations, meant to shelter descendants and elevate successors.
That Talia was born into privilege wasn’t her fault, merely her fortune. But it would be unjust to dismiss the effort she’s put in to hone her capabilities, simply because her starting point was higher.
Of course, this was business.
And in business, admiration does not preclude strategy. Talia was, after all, a rival, and rivals must be kept off balance when the stakes are high.
“She’s Mr. Price’s favorite granddaughter,” Audrey added with a subtle smile, casting Randy a knowing look. “It’s not hard to imagine he’s hoping for a husband who can match her, support her.”
There was no need for further explanation.
When Edmund met with Randy, he hadn’t pushed him to join StellarCore. Instead, he’d shown a curious concern for Randy’s personal life, clearly hoping to nudge him toward Talia.
A marriage would bind Randy to the Price family for life, far more effectively than any employment contract ever could.
Randy, as a technical specialist, might only serve the company for a few years. But as Talia’s husband, he’d be theirs forever.
This had been Audrey’s speculation before they met. But after meeting him, she was certain.
Randy was no dull, socially awkward engineer. His short hair had been carefully permed into soft waves; his clothes were fashionable, his wit dry and quick.
The only giveaway was how seriously he took his profession. When discussing technical matters, he became almost obsessively precise, unwilling to tolerate even a single misused word.
The look he’d given Talia earlier had been telling, conflicted and uncertain. Clearly, Edmund had spoken to him already. But the woman he’d just met was not the one he’d been told about, and the mismatch had left him unsettled.
Add to that Audrey’s deliberate provocation, which had coaxed out Talia’s natural assertiveness, it was no wonder Randy was now questioning whether he could accept a woman who was not only powerful and driven, but also came with a formidable family behind her.
He let out a quiet laugh, amused by how well Audrey had played her part. Beneath that innocent façade, she was sharp and calculating.
Talia, meanwhile, soon received a message from Jocelyn.
There had been no recent movements from FlexiTech Group, which could only mean one thing. Audrey had approached Randy for reasons entirely
unrelated to that.
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Chapter 232
Talia’s car had been parked outside the hotel the whole time. Once she saw Audrey leave, she returned for her second visit.
Audrey handed Baldwin the revised formula that Steven had helped refine.
Now that Baldwin knew who she truly was, his entire demeanor had shifted. In front of his employees, he still played the role of the executive. But when alone with Audrey, he bowed and scraped so much she had to suppress a laugh more than once.
“Rest assured. I’ll personally keep an eye on the production line!” Baldwin promised, smiling obsequiously as soon as the production manager stepped
out.
“That won’t be necessary,” Audrey said, waving a hand lightly. “But make sure the proportions are exact. Once it hits the market, I want it to claim a meaningful share.”
“I’m truly honored to be brought in by you,” Baldwin said enthusiastically.
Others would have jumped through hoops just to get a foot in the door. He, by some twist of fate, had landed directly in Audrey’s good graces.
In hindsight, turning down Jocelyn had been the best decision he could’ve made. Opposing Audrey would’ve spelled doom for Baldwin Biotechnology.
As soon as she left, Baldwin rushed to call Miguel, instructing him to begin sourcing the necessary herbs for processing. “Just trust me. Don’t ask questions now. You’ll understand soon enough.”
That was how business worked. Everyone played their role in the chain, and when profits came in, they shared the spoils.
But Paul hadn’t missed a beat. He showed up just as Audrey was preparing for her next trip.
“Hey, don’t forget I did you a favor,” he said, half–complaining. “You promised to bring me into the fold.”
Without a word, Audrey handed him a file. Sales and logistics would be handled entirely by Stride Commerce, his role officially established.
With everything settled, Audrey boarded the flight back to Ashbourne with Yann by her side.
As Clayton stowed his backpack in the overhead compartment, he happened to glance sideways, only to catch a glimpse of Audrey.
He was just about to greet her when he saw a tall man shielding her, guiding her gently toward the business class cabin.
Behind them followed Calvin, Emilia, and Ryder.
“Emília!” Clayton called out urgently.
She turned, motioned for Calvin and Ryder to go ahead, and paused at the aisle.
“You’re headed to Ashbourne too?” he asked, stepping toward her.
Emilia smiled faintly, her tone composed. “Looks like we all are.”
There was a beat of awkward silence before Clayton shifted his gaze toward business class. “Who’s the guy with Audrey?”
But Emilia didn’t answer. Instead, she offered a deflecting question. “You feeling better?”
“You really can’t wait to see me behind bars, can you?” Clayton’s voice was low, laced with restrained bitterness. “I’m going to donate bone marrow, not make a run for it. And I didn’t hurt Audrey badly enough for a heavy sentence. You know that!”
Emilia nodded silently, clearly unwilling to engage further.
She said nothing. Neither did he.
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But their presence blocked the aisle, hindering other passengers from boarding. A flight attendant came over and asked them to take their seats.
Emilia turned and walked toward business class. Clayton, after a brief hesitation, requested an upgrade.
The thought of Audrey being so physically close to another man gnawed at him. It was like having a splinter lodged deep in his throat. He couldn’t swallow it down, nor could he ignore it.
Soon, Clayton stepped into the business class cabin. His eyes swept across the seats, but neither Audrey nor the man were anywhere to be seen.
He sat down beside Emilia. “Where’s Audrey?”
Emilia looked at him, stunned, then turned to glance toward the rear of the cabin.
“Are you out of your mind? Go back to your seat!”
“I upgraded,” Clayton said, craning his neck in every direction. His eyes suddenly met Calvin’s.
+39
Calvin’s face was unreadable, but his stare was razor–sharp. Without a word, he clenched his fist, the sound of cracking knuckles echoed like a warning.
A cold dread crept up Clayton’s spine. He shrank into his seat and stopped looking around.
Only after Calvin turned away did Clayton dare to lean closer to Emilia and speak under his breath. “Where is she? I saw her walking this way.”
Out of reluctant sympathy, perhaps for old times‘ sake, Emilia raised her hand and pointed discreetly.
Clayton followed her gesture, but saw nothing.
“Where?”
She pointed again, then whispered, “First class.”
Clayton had thought that upgrading might give him a chance to smooth things over with Audrey.
Even if they didn’t speak, at least he could sit near her and watch her for a while. That alone would’ve been enough.
But he hadn’t expected the distance between them to feel so vast now, so unreachable.
Ryder returned from the first–class cabin. As he passed Calvin, he bent down and murmured something to him, then took the seat next to Clayton.
Clayton glanced at Emilia, his eyes filled with yearning. After a moment’s thought, she picked up her phone, typed something, and handed it to him.
[Let it go. Audrey is doing well now.]
Of course she was.
If Audrey had been living in misery after the divorce, Clayton wouldn’t have kicked her while she was down, but he also wouldn’t be finding it so hard to
