Chapter 552
Chapter 552:
Manuel felt his temper boil over, but a nagging fear held him back. What if Yelena, out of sheer spite, sabotaged the machine on purpose and shifted the blame to him if he tried to intervene? Gritting his teeth, he swallowed his pride and stepped aside, letting her take the reins.
“Stop messing around,” he growled, trying to mask his unease.
After all, his job was on the line now that Cayson was also here.
Surprisingly, Cayson didn’t even bat an eye at Yelena’s brazen behavior. But as soon as Manuel voiced his disapproval, Cayson’s expression darkened, his cool composure slipping into something far more menacing. A chill crept down Manuel’s spine, wrapping around him like an icy shroud. It was as if he’d stumbled straight into a frozen cave, the cold biting through him, making him shiver uncontrollably.
Had he overstepped? Was Cayson angry at him for shouting at Yelena?
When their gazes locked, Manuel felt the weight of Cayson’s piercing stare. It wasn’t just sharp—it cut through him like a scalpel, leaving no room for doubt.
“Let her handle it,” Cayson said, his tone brooking no argument.
Forcing an awkward smile, Manuel quickly backed down. The penny had dropped, and he knew better than to argue. He stepped aside, swallowing his frustration as he played the obedient subordinate.
Cayson’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Everyone, clear out. Get back to your positions.” As the vice president, Cayson’s words carried undeniable weight. His command was law, and in no time, the room cleared as everyone hurried to obey.
Yelena, clearly satisfied with the space to herself, got back to work without a second glance.
Bella, meanwhile, hung back, quietly observing with a smirk that clearly indicated she was up to something. A sly idea crossed her mind, and before anyone noticed, she whipped out her phone and snapped a few discreet photos of the scene.
Cayson, on the other hand, watched Yelena with an intensity that betrayed his interest. While others might not have a clue, Cayson had a soft spot for mechanical tinkering. He admired anyone bold enough to tackle something as intricate as this machine, though he wouldn’t have dared to try fixing it himself.
𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆: 𝗀ⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝗌﹒ⅽ𝗈𝗺
Cayson hadn’t anticipated Yelena’s skill or the level of focus she brought to the task. Watching her work, as if she might actually fix the machine, was unexpectedly thrilling. Whether Yelena succeeded or failed didn’t seem to matter to him; the machine was just a machine, and Yelena was free to treat it however she saw fit.
Bella, however, wasn’t buying it. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, waiting for the inevitable crash and burn. To her, Yelena was just playing pretend, putting on a grand performance with no substance behind it.
Bella used to think Yelena had a sharp mind, but in that instant, she realized her judgment might have been off. Sometimes, being too clever for one’s own good could land them in a bit of a pickle.
After what felt like an eternity, Yelena finally paused, straightening up as if she’d just solved an age-old mystery.
“Is it done?” Cayson blurted out, his tone edged with impatience.
“It should be,” Yelena said with a shrug. “Flip the switch, and let’s find out p>
Yelena pressed the button with all the confidence in the world. But instead of a triumphant whir or a hum of life, the machine sat there, as silent as a graveyard.
The stillness was so deafening that even a pin dropping might’ve caused a stir.
“What… what’s happening p>
Bella couldn’t hold it in anymore. She erupted into laughter, the kind that bubbled out uncontrollably. Realizing she’d overstepped, Bella quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I didn’t mean to.” Oh, but she absolutely did.
And why shouldn’t she? Yelena was the one squirming now, not her.
“Is there something wrong here? Just a moment ago, before it was ‘repaired,’ it could at least power on. Why isn’t it even moving now?” Manuel asked, his tone deliberate. He felt powerless, trapped in a very tight spot.