"And what do you think?" Jethro asked, his gaze steady on her. Darcy's heart skipped a beat, warmth creeping into her cheeks. "I think we should stick to our own plan. Don't let them disrupt us." Jethro gave her an appreciative look. "I agree." Darcy smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. Will you be attending the launch event?" He looked apologetic. "I have a critical meeting with an important client that day. I might not make it." "That's alright. We can handle it." As they walked back toward the office building, Jethro asked about her studies. "The interview is over?" "Yeah. Now we just wait for the results." "I'm sure you did well." Darcy paused, a little surprised. It was strange. She wasn't that close with her boss, yet he always seemed to have complete confidence in her. "Boss, why do you trust me so much?" Jethro offered a gentle smile. "Because you're trustworthy." Truthfully, he'd noticed her long ago. First for her professional skill, then for her character, and later... for more. His voice was clear and warm, his breath faintly brushing her ear. Darcy felt her heart race, her eyelashes fluttering. "Thank you, boss." ... March 16th, at the Platinum Hotel— SummitCore Tech had rented the entire hotel for their launch event. The entrance was a sea of floral arrangements and congratulatory cards from clients and industry peers. Zora, impeccably dressed, finished her final instructions and descended from the stage, gliding over to Zane. "You made it, Zane." Zane gave a small nod, glanced around at the setup, and asked, "Everything ready? The media?" "All taken care of," Zora said with a confident smile. "The press has been notified; they'll arrive shortly." She added, "We're also live-streaming the event. It'll be happening online and offline simultaneously. Today's social feeds will be SummitCore's playground." "Good work." Ever since learning about Darcy's true capabilities, Zane had found himself plagued by a nagging thought— If I hadn't brought Zora in back then, could everything have gone back to the way it was? But today, seeing the crowded, bustling venue, the sheer scale of it all, he felt a wave of relief. The launch was destined for predictable success.After today, SummitCore would enter its peak growth phase. An IPO was within reach. Once the company went public, his personal wealth would skyrocket. Securing his position within the Vance Group and finally giving his mother the respect she deserved was just a matter of time. The weight he and his mother had carried for so many years could finally be lifted. And he owed much of it to Zora. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. "You've worked hard, Zora. After this, take a good, long vacation. Get some real rest." Zora lowered her gaze, a faint, mocking smile on her lips. Just a vacation? Too cheap. Not interested. But when she looked up again, her smile was sweet. She moved closer, linking her arm with his. "Don't go yet. I want to show you something." "What is it?" Zane asked, frowning.Zora pulled out her phone and played a video sent by Kaia. Zane's expression changed. "Is that... Stratagem Tech's launch venue?" "Yes," Zora said, her smile widening. "According to Kaia, their place is quite empty. Aside from their own staff, only a handful of clients showed up. Should we send them a floral arrangement? After all, Ms. Gale used to work for you. It would be a nice gesture." But Zane was frowning for a different reason. "Why is Kaia over there?" Zora was taken aback. Her goal had been to share the joke with him, but his focus had shifted to this minor detail. Her eyes flickered. "I... I don't know. Maybe she's there to support Ms. Gale? You know, they're besties. "You told me they had a falling out," Zane said, his eyes fixed on her. Zora flustered slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Did I? I don't remember. I'll call her back right now."At Stratagem Tech launch venue— A client arrived with his assistant. Darcy and Zephyr went forward to greet them. "Mr. Walsh, thank you for coming." Darcy gestured for them to take their seats, but the man set down a gift bag with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Ms. Gale, Mr. Knight. Something came up, so we can't stay. Just a small token of congratulations." Darcy and Zephyr's smiles stiffened slightly. They exchanged a knowing glance. After they left, Zephyr frowned. "That's the fifth one." He was right. This was the fifth client to say something similar. Since the setup was complete, floral baskets had been delivered nonstop to the door. Darcy's phone had buzzed with calls and messages. But the number of clients and peers who actually showed up in person was pitifully small. And those who did come simply dropped off gifts and left almost immediately. Their excuses were eerily consistent.The hall fell into an uneasy silence.