Chapter 469
Chapter 469:
Belle gasped. Her face turned chalk white. She stumbled backward and nearly slipped on the wet tiles.
Daron sneered and pointed a finger at Isolde.
“Strategic partner?” Daron mocked loudly. “Looks more like a bed partner to me. We all know how women get these fancy titles p>
Grayson’s hands shook. He didn’t tell Daron to shut up this time. The toxic, burning jealousy in his chest made him want to believe the filthy accusation.
Isolde finally spoke. She didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t look angry.
“People with dirty minds see dirt everywhere,” Isolde said calmly. “Daron, if you used half of that imagination on engineering, InnoTech wouldn’t be relying on outdated concepts you probably salvaged from my five-year-old trash p>
She stood up. Water cascaded off her black swimsuit.
“Carter, let us go,” Isolde said. “The air in here just got polluted p>
Carter pushed himself out of the water immediately.
“Whatever you say, Partner,” Carter said, emphasizing the word.
𝖭𝗲𝘸 𝗐𝗲e𝗸𝗹𝘺 c𝗵𝘢𝗉𝘁е𝘳𝘀 o𝗻 ѕ.𝘤𝗈𝗺
They grabbed their towels and walked out of the spa side by side, leaving the InnoTech team standing in absolute, humiliating silence.
Grayson stared at the empty doorway. His chest felt hollow. She hadn’t denied the accusation. She had simply walked away with him.
Belle grabbed Grayson’s shoulder.
“You see?” Belle whispered venomously. “She didn’t deny it. She basically admitted they are sleeping together p>
Grayson closed his eyes. The pain in his back flared violently.
“Enough,” Grayson rasped. “I will see you all at the competition tomorrow p>
Back in the private changing room of the villa, Isolde’s hands were shaking slightly as she tied her robe.
Carter handed her a dry towel.
“You did great out there,” Carter said quietly. “Don’t let them see you bleed p>
Isolde took a deep, steadying breath. “I am not bleeding. I am just disgusted p>
“Then use that strength to shut their mouths permanently,” Carter said. “Tomorrow is the presentation. I want you to go on stage. Personally p>
Isolde looked up in surprise. “Me? Arland or Harper usually handles the pitch deck p>
“No,” Carter insisted. “The mind behind this project has to be the one to present it. A ghostwriter can’t convey the soul of the machine. It’s time for the architect to step out of the shadows p>
Isolde turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She saw the dark circles under her eyes, but she also saw the fire burning in her pupils. Hiding in the shadows was over.
“Okay,” Isolde said. “I will do it p>
Carter smiled — a predatory, victorious smile.
“That is the genius I know,” Carter said.
That night, the lights in the Merlot Villa stayed on until dawn. Isolde paced the floor, rehearsing her data points.
In the main building, Grayson lay awake in the dark. He stared at the ceiling, his mind tortured by the image of Carter’s arm wrapped around Isolde’s shoulders.
The main conference hall of the Sterling Estate was massive. Hundreds of chairs were arranged in a semicircle around a brightly lit stage, packed with the top aerospace engineers and venture capitalists in the world.