Chapter 558
Chapter 558:
While he spoke, Isolde sat in the audience, her gaze fixed on the tablet in her hands, scrolling rapidly through the presentation slides for the next speaker. Her expression was one of cold, focused concentration.
Daron McKnight, introduced as InnoTech’s lead technical consultant, strode onto the stage next and stepped into a blue spotlight. Behind him, a massive screen displayed a rotating three-dimensional model of the Phoenix-X7 engine.
It was beautiful. It was sleek. It was polished to the point of distraction.
“The future of supersonic travel is here,” Daron announced with rehearsed confidence, throwing buzzwords like confetti — synergy, quantum leap, optimization. “This is the masterpiece our team has spent three years perfecting. It completely solves the heat dissipation problems of supersonic cruise p>
The investors nodded along. They liked the words.
The presentation advanced to a complex schematic of the cooling system.
Isolde smiled. It was a cold, quiet smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
That was her discarded design draft from two years ago — the one Belle had salvaged from the trash and treated like a discovery.
𝖣o𝘸n𝗹оа𝖽 рD𝗙s 𝘧𝗿𝖾𝘦 о𝗇
Daron concluded with a flourish. Applause followed.
“Questions?” the moderator asked.
Director Sterling raised his hand.
“Mr. McKnight,” Sterling said, his tone polite and precisely sharp. “Impressive visuals. But I have a question about the liquid cooling cycle on page seven. During high-G maneuvers, how does the return valve guarantee it won’t rupture p>
Daron froze. He was the public face of the project — the presentation, the confidence, the smile. He did not understand the underlying technology.
“Uh…” he stammered, his confidence deflating visibly. “Our simulation data shows no issues p>
Sterling was unmoved. “I am not asking about simulations. I want the specific fluid dynamics parameters p>
In the audience, Belle broke into a cold sweat. She made frantic, barely concealed gestures in Daron’s direction, trying to signal something he couldn’t begin to interpret.
Daron’s desperate eyes swept the crowd and landed on Isolde. A malicious idea sparked immediately — a way to deflect the question and humiliate her in a single move.
“Actually,” Daron said, a smirk settling onto his face, “that might be a question for Ms. Isolde Carson, seated in the front row. She was involved in some of the more menial work on this project, after all p>
Every eye in the room swiveled to Isolde. The implication was unmistakable — he was painting her as a glorified assistant, a footnote.
A few snickers rippled through the crowd. “That ex-wife? What does she know about fluid dynamics p>
Grayson’s jaw tightened. His knuckles went white against the armrest. He was a half-second from standing up and shutting the whole thing down.
Isolde rose first.
She handed her tablet to Arland without a word, smoothed the collar of her white suit, and stood. The bandage on her cheek was a stark contrast against the pristine fabric.
“Since Mr. McKnight appears unable to answer,” she said, her voice carrying across the hall without a microphone, clear and entirely unhurried, “I don’t mind doing it for him p>
She began walking toward the stage.
“This is a technology summit, not a housewife’s tea party!” Belle’s voice cut through the hall, shrill with barely concealed panic.