Chapter 446

Chapter 446:

Grayson watched with a look of distaste. It was tacky. It was brutal. But he didn’t stop it.

“Anyone else?” Belle asked, beaming. “Going once… going twice p>

Isolde didn’t move. She didn’t raise her voice. She picked up her wine glass and took a slow, unhurried sip.

“Arland,” Isolde said softly.

“Yes, boss?” Arland replied, his tablet already in hand.

“Process their resignations immediately. Effective now p>

“Done,” Arland said, tapping the screen.

і𝗻t𝖾𝗻𝗌𝗲 𝗿o𝗺a𝘯𝖼e 𝘰𝘯 gа𝘭ո𝘰vе𝘭𝘴.𝗰𝗈𝗆

Isolde looked calmly at the seven people standing behind Belle.

“Good luck,” she said. “You’re going to need it. Because money buys labor, but it doesn’t buy vision p>

“Keep your vision,” Belle laughed, linking her arm through Grayson’s. “I’ll take the workforce. Let’s go, everyone — drinks are on me at the bar p>

She swept off, her new entourage trailing behind her like ducklings.

Grayson lingered for a moment. He looked at Isolde, expecting defeat. Tears. Something.

Isolde met his gaze. Her eyes were dry.

“You missed a spot,” she said, pointing to a crumb on his lapel.

Grayson frowned, brushed his jacket, and turned away. He had expected to see her shattered. He was beginning to understand she wasn’t built that way.

When they were gone, five people remained at the table — Arland, Harper, and three junior engineers who looked terrified but stubborn.

Isolde smiled. A real smile.

“Well,” she said. “The trash took itself out. Now we can actually get some work done p>

She raised her glass. “To loyalty p>

The three juniors raised their glasses, hands slightly unsteady, eyes shining.

“To loyalty p>

Outside the restaurant, the air was cool and smelled of exhaust and rain.

Belle was piling her new hires into Ubers, laughing loudly.

Harper was kicking a concrete planter. “Three years! I trained Tom for three years! That ungrateful p>

“Stop it,” Isolde said, checking her phone. “He has a mortgage. Belle exploited a weakness. It’s strategy p>

Grayson was standing by the curb, waiting for his car. He sent Liam away and walked over to Isolde. He fumbled with a silver cigarette case, managing to extract one with his left hand. He placed it between his lips, then struggled for a moment with the lighter, the flame flickering unsteadily before catching. He took a long drag, the smoke a gray plume against the city lights — a habit he only indulged when he was stressed.

“That was brutal,” Grayson said, exhaling.

Harper lunged at him. “You let her do that! You coward p>

Liam stepped forward to block her, but Grayson waved him off.

“It’s business, Harper,” Grayson said. He looked at Isolde. “Carson Dynamics is gutted. You have no senior staff. You can’t compete in the Daedalus Gauntlet.” He took a step closer. “Sell to me. Sell Carson Dynamics to SkyLine. Now. Before the company is worthless. I’ll give you a fair price. You can keep your title. You can just… design. No stress. No money worries p>

It sounded like kindness. To him, it was kindness. He was offering her a golden parachute back into his cage.

Isolde laughed — a dark, hollow sound.