Chapter 43
943 Words
She answered in a cool professional tone, her voice unrecognizable.
Isabel's voice was practically dripping with respect.
“Hello, Dr. N. I apologize for the sudden call.”
“I'm Isabel Natalia Anderson's daughter.”
“I've come to you with a very exciting proposition.”
“The Knight Corporation has invited you to join its R and D team with my mother's endorsement.”
“Would you consider—”
“Not interested,” Ruby cut in, her modulated voice cold as steel.
Isabel began to protest, but Ruby interrupted.
“I only consult for companies under Mrs. Anderson's direct ownership.”
“Don't call me again.”
And with that, she ended the call, leaving Isabel with the face of a smoking volcano.
It was Monday morning when Ruby dropped the puppy off with Matilda and headed to work.
Out on the street, she was debating between a taxi and the subway when a sleek Bentley glided to a stop beside her.
Owen stared straight ahead through the windshield.
His tone flat.
“Get in.”
Ruby didn't move.
“I don't think that's a good idea,” she shot back, not wanting to blur any professional lines.
Owen's words were slow and deliberate.
“Grandma asked me to give you a ride.”
“Oh, come on. You can just tell her you did.”
She shrugged.
He finally turned to look at her.
“She'll ask for proof.”
Ruby sighed.
“Fine.”
She slipped onto the leather seat beside him.
Owen raised his phone for a selfie.
Ruby leaned in with a peace sign and a charming smile.
As she turned, a few strands of her hair brushed against his cheek and an unexpected jolt shot through him.
For a fraction of a second, he froze.
From the passenger seat, Leo frowned.
He didn't remember Matilda asking Owen to give Ruby a ride.
Maybe I spaced out, he sighed, his eyes still on them through the rearview mirror.
Once the photo was taken, Ruby focused on her phone.
The drive ended in silence at Knight Corporation's garage.
Leo and Owen took the CEO elevator while Ruby went to R and D.
She arrived during a tense department meeting, so she turned around and left for the archives instead.
Meanwhile, the R and D Director announced:
“Carter Knight has been promoted to Vice President and will oversee all technical matters in R and D.”
“Effective immediately.”
Startled by the sudden change, someone piped up.
The director cleared his throat.
“Because Carter successfully recruited Dr. N for technical support.”
“While Doctor N won't keep regular hours, we can direct all technical issues through Carter.”
“Now let's hear from our new VP.”
Carter rose, ambition radiating, as he said:
“All R and D staff will report directly to me.”
“Now, Dr. Rhodes.”
“Is that clear to you?”
Julian, looking haggard in casual clothes after pulling an all-nighter all weekend, scoffed.
“The company also has a rule against going over a superior's head to assign tasks.”
“If you want to give my people work, you go through me.”
Carter's face darkened.
“Dr. Rhodes, I'm not sure you have the bandwidth to manage your own team.”
“Let alone this project.”
“Have you solved that core problem yet?”
“We may be split into teams, but we're one department.”
“Your failure is holding up everyone's progress.”
Julian shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
“You studied new energy in college, didn't you?”
“You know damn well how hard this is.”
“You make it sound so easy, like you could just waltz in here and solve it yourself.”
Carter remained infuriatingly calm.
“I can't, but I know someone who can.”
“Need me to run it by Dr. N for you?”
Julian sneered.
“And since when are you so generous?”
A flicker of something predatory crossed Carter's eyes.
“We're in this together.”
“I'll help you, but I need one of your people.”
“That new intern transferred to me as liaison to Dr. Ren.”
Julian knew instantly he was talking about Ruby.
“Absolutely not,” he said, his voice dropping.
“I'll handle it myself.”
“Don't bother Dr. N on my account.”
Carter's expression darkened.
“Don't think you can do whatever you want just because Owen is on the board, Rhodes.”
“Stalling the entire department's progress is negligence of duty.”
“I'm giving you two days.”
“If that problem isn't solved by then, I'll have your job.”
“Then you can try.”
Julian shot back, turning and walking straight out of the room.
He kept a brave face until the door clicked shut behind him.
Then his expression turned grim.
He knew that if Carter really decided to push this, it would be a massive headache, even with Owen in his corner.
Julian stormed into Team One's lab and kicked an empty chair out of his way.
Chris, who had just slid in late, tiptoed to his desk.
Doing his best to avoid the boss's warpath.
He booted up his computer, opened his email, and froze.
He had an unread email from Ruby.
The subject line said:
Assignment Completed.
Chris's eyes widened.
“No way,” he gasped.
“Has she actually done it?”
“Has Ruby solved the core problem?”
- Writer
