Darcy felt a growing sense of unease. She had no idea why Clara wanted to see her alone. By all logic, Stratagem Tech was just a subsidiary—small in size, smaller in value. A chairwoman shouldn't even bother. Full of anxiety, Darcy followed the server into the private room. "Ms. Gale, please have a seat. Ms. Silva will be here shortly." Darcy felt a slight relief. Good, she's running late. Gives me time to prepare myself. It was strange. Darcy felt she'd developed a thick skin after years in the corporate world. Yet, hearing that Clara wanted to see her still made her nervous. Was it because of her position as Chairwoman, or because she was Jethro's mother? Darcy shook her head, refusing to dwell on it.A pot of coffee was on the table. Darcy poured a cup and brought it to her nose. The aroma was exquisite. Pricey, for sure. The door opened from the outside. "Hello, Ms. Silva." Darcy sprang to her feet and nodded at the woman whose clothes and bearing screamed money and power. Clara looked her over and nodded. "You're even prettier in person than on TV." She sat down, and a server poured her coffee. Clara took a small sip, her lips curving slightly. "I watched the district award ceremony. Congratulations on the Most Groundbreaking Individual Award. I hear it's the most prestigious one." "Thank you. I owe it all to the company. Without such a great platform, it'd be hard to win on my own," Darcy replied modestly. She knows how to be humble, not taking all the credit. That's good. Such a shame her background is so far beneath my son's. And she seems a bit too ambitious. Clara set down her cup and had the server pass the menu to Darcy. "Order whatever you like. Don't be shy." Darcy wouldn't dare order freely. She named two simple vegetarian dishes and respectfully handed the menu back with both hands. Clara's heart stirred slightly. She glanced at Darcy again. A girl who knows her manners. Clara then asked about Stratagem Tech's recent developments and future plans. Darcy answered each question seriously and fluently, showing genuine capability. She hadn't reached her position by relying on a man. No wonder my son is drawn to her. Pretty, poised, capable, knows her boundaries, and highly skilled in her field. A girl like this would be popular with many young men.Clara valued talent. Much of her initial prejudice against Darcy faded. Her plan to assert dominance also quickly drifted away. She pulled a pre-prepared photo from her bag and placed it on the table. Darcy was stunned, but also relieved. Finally, we're getting to the point. She leaned forward slightly. When she saw it was a photo of her and Jethro in the car last night, her heart sank. In the photo, Jethro was holding the charm, looking at her, while she gazed back with a shy smile. It was hard not to suspect their relationship. Darcy's face paled. "Who took this?" In such a private setting, it could only have been taken secretly. Clara ignored her question, her voice grave. "Ms. Gale, know your place and stay away from my son. Between you two, it's strictly boss and subordinate. Nothing else." Darcy's face turned ashen, her heart aching. Even though she'd repeatedly told herself she and Jethro were just boss and employee, being warned so blatantly was still humiliating and degrading. Her hands under the table clenched into fists. She replied tremulously, "Mr. Blackwood and I are just superior and subordinate. The one reading too much into it is you. "And you actually had someone take secret photos? That's pretty nasty." Displeasure flashed across Clara's face. Any goodwill she'd felt toward Darcy vanished. She snorted, "Whether I'm mistaken or not, you know the truth." Then, she pulled another photo from her bag. It was from the day Jethro caught her by the waist as she nearly fell outside the restaurant. "Once is a misunderstanding. Twice too? Ms. Gale, your scheming is written all over your face!" Darcy felt her heart tear open, as if someone were pouring salt into the wound. She'd always thought she'd hidden her feelings well, constantly telling herself to be cautious. She never realized her emotions were so obvious. So, has Jethro known all along? Could it be... he asked his mother to warn me on purpose? Darcy didn't dare think further. She felt like a fish washed ashore, unable to breathe, her chest painfully tight. Seeing this, Clara grew even more disdainful. She said lightly, "I heard about your history with the Vance family's second son. You managed to climb up to the Vance level but didn't appreciate it. Now you're trying to aim even higher. Greed never ends." "Enough!" Darcy stood up abruptly. "I'll say it one last time. My relationship with Mr. Blackwood is purely professional. If you don't believe me, ask your son. Don't just keep questioning me."