Chapter 5 Silence settled over the room until notification pings began spilling in from every direction. Standing on stage, I noticed color draining from Patrick's face. I grabbed my phone, and the push notification froma financial news outlet came up. "Brimble Network Secures over 1 Billion in Investment from the UK's Rothschild Fund, Doubling AI Chip Project Valuation." Gasps filled the air as all eyes turned to the entrance. Arabella, dressed in a burgundy evening gown, strutted into the hall in her heels with a smirk. Behind her was a group of foreign executives in suits.

The manat the front was none other than the managing director for the Rothschild Fund of the region. "Tm sorry for the fashionably late entrance." She gave me a wink. "My flight was delayed, almost running our pitch presentation." I stood in daze as Arabella came on stage and took over the microphone. "The technology that Ms. Simms just presented will be the Brimble Network's strategic direction for the next five years." Arabella's gaze roamed the room until her eyes fell on Patrick's face for a second.

"Rothschild Fund has completed its due diligence, and the billion-dollar investment will be in next week. Oh, that reminds me. Mr. Suede, you might not know this..." She grinned. "Several Suede Corporation's major suppliers gave me a call last night, open to renegotiating their contracts." The room burst into an uproar. Patrick scowled hard. Istared at him, feeling absolutely nothing. As it turned out, once I moved on, his misery, embarrassment, and bruised ego were nothing more than a drama unrelated to me. Arabella took my hand without qualms.

"The very foundation of Brimble Network's future AI chip rests on Skye Simms, our chief engineer's shoulders." She faced the audience, her voice loud and clear. "Tf anyone thinks they can hurt her, they have to go through me." Istared at the bold, unapologetic woman next to me. My mind flew back to the umbrella held over my head five years ago. Camera flashes went off. Patrick stood frozen, his expression ashen. His marketing director leaned in to whisper something, but Patrick pushed him away.

As our shoulders brushed, Patrick stopped and murmured, "Are you seriously doing this to me, Skye?" I didn't even look at him. Arabella shielded me behind her and said with a smile, " Have a good evening, Mr. Suede. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. By the way, the security at the entrance mentioned that your car is double-parked. Mind moving it?" Patrick clenched his fists, his knuckles popping. In the end, he walked away without another word. That night, the business news channels replayed the dramatic moment ina loop.

Nestled in my office sofa, Arabella scrolled through the comments on her phone and doubled over with laughter. "Check this one out. The CEO of Suede Corporation turned sour as Brimble Network's Power Duo took home the win. This journalist sure has a way with words. They deserve a raise. Hahaha!" Theld my coffee cup up and said indifferently, "Are you sure it's wise to do this to him?" Raising a brow, she looked at me. "Mixing emotions with business is just playing dirty. Besides, it's not like you were living the life when you were with him. That says enough about him.

I'm a girlboss with money and power. I can get any man I want. Why would I waste my time on him?" Iburst out laughing. Arabella said awkwardly, "To be honest, I was just hooked on the fact that you were the one stealing him from me. Sometimes, I couldn't tell whether I was fighting you or myself." I met her gaze and chuckled. "Do you have an answer now?" Dumping her phone, Arabella came to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. "You know, it's just strange. I can't put my finger on why I was so hostile toward you.

Right now, no one matters more to me than my chief engineer." I believed I might know the reason. We were once bound to the System's narrative. At last, we had broken free from its clutches. Together, we would have our happily-ever-after. u oP Support share