Chapter 166
Chapter 166:
Crawford Love, the billionaire head of the Love Media Group, was seated on a leather sofa in a sharp, dark suit. He stood the moment June entered and poured her a glass of warm water.
“You look exhausted, June,” Crawford said, his deep voice carrying genuine concern. “Apex Bio is important, but your mind is your greatest asset. Protect it p>
June accepted the glass. “Thank you, Crawford. Let’s get straight to the data p>
She drew a sleek tablet from her bag and opened the preliminary clinical models for the Neuro-X second-generation drug. Crawford leaned in, his sharp eyes moving over the complex, highly advanced data with focused intensity. He was a predator in the business world, and he recognized the immense, world-changing value of June’s intellect the moment he saw it laid out before him.
He looked up from the screen. His eyes settled on her face with quiet, complete attention.
“June,” he said, his tone shifting into absolute seriousness, “the Love Group’s venture capital fund is going to lead the Series A funding for Apex Bio. I want a deep, strategic partnership p>
June’s eyes widened slightly. This was a decisive victory — one that secured the future of her research.
“I accept,” she said firmly.
Crawford smiled. It was a confident, effortlessly attractive smile. “I have one condition p>
“Name it,” June replied.
𝖨𝗻𝘁еnsе 𝘳𝗈𝘮𝗮n𝘤𝘦 o𝗻.сo𝗺
“Next week is the Love Group’s annual charity gala,” Crawford said, his gaze dropping to her lips for the briefest fraction of a second before returning to her eyes. “I want you to attend. As my personal guest of honor p>
June sat in the VIP lounge, her mind turning rapidly.
The Love Group’s annual charity gala was the most exclusive, high-powered event on the East Coast. Every major Wall Street player, tech billionaire, and media mogul in the country would be in that room.
If she walked in as Crawford Love’s personal guest of honor, it would send a shockwave through the financial world and instantly legitimize Apex Bio in the eyes of every investor present.
It would also be a very public declaration of war against Cole.
June thought of Cole’s arrogant face. She thought of the freezing rain and the Polaroid of Caleb. Her chest felt hollow. Cole’s anger meant nothing to her anymore.
She looked directly into Crawford’s eyes, her posture perfectly composed, the boundary between them clear and professional.
“Thank you for the invitation, Crawford,” she said, her voice calm and steady. “For the sake of Apex Bio’s future, I would be honored to attend p>
Crawford’s eyes warmed with genuine appreciation. He respected her intelligence far too much to press for anything beyond that. “Excellent,” he said. “My styling team will contact you tomorrow to handle your wardrobe p>
Later that afternoon, June returned to Apex Bio headquarters and called her core team into the glass conference room. When she announced that the Love Group would be leading their Series A funding, the room erupted in cheers. The weight of financial uncertainty that had pressed down on all of them finally lifted.
June walked back to her office. Abbie followed her inside, tablet in hand.