It wasn't even a big deal. Yet his cousin had made such a public spectacle, humiliating him in front of everyone. The more Jasper thought about it, the angrier he got. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. Don't think he didn't get it—his cousin wasn't doing this because of a simple typo. This was personal. Retribution for Darcy. All because he'd authorized that company-wide reprimand email this morning. Already rushing to her defense? Hah. So even Mr. High-and-Mighty has his moments of blind loyalty. What would Grandpa think of this match? A cold smirk twisted Jasper's lips. He lifted his gaze to meet Jethro's. "Is this really why you called me up here, Mr. Blackwood?" Jethro narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing. "What, you think it's trivial? A single termite can bring down a dam. Don't dismiss the importance of details. You can't just focus on the big picture and ignore the foundation." Jasper's resentment simmered. Hah. Another lecture. They were both Blackwood heirs. Who was he to act so superior? What gave him the right to look down on him? He opened and closed his fists several times before finally releasing a heavy, controlled breath. His voice was hard. "Understood. I'll have my team correct it immediately." He turned to leave, but Jethro stopped him. Jethro's gaze was sharp. "That assistant of yours—incompetent, with a nasty temper. Can't even handle basic tasks like preparing a proposal. I suggest you find a replacement. I can make recommendations if needed. You want someone sharp by your side. Someone reliable."He was hinting that Jasper should fire Jenna. Getting scolded was one thing. Now he wanted to meddle with his personnel? No way. Jasper replied coldly, "Ms. King is just a little high-strung. She hasn't made any critical errors. I'll keep her in line." Jethro raised a brow. "Is that all? I hear she's fond of tattling and prone to exaggeration. Be careful with that type. She could easily make you a target." Jasper's jaw tightened. This confirmed it. Today's charade was purely to avenge Darcy. Because Darcy and Jenna didn't get along, his cousin was subtly pressuring him to fire her. How thoughtful. Every little thing for Darcy's sake. The thought made Jasper let out a derisive snort. "Oh? And who told you that? Could it be Ms. Gale? They might have their differences, but I didn't expect her to go over my head to complain. Guess she doesn't care who her direct boss is. "Next time, if she bypasses the chain of command again, please let me know. We can't have people breaking protocol." Jethro frowned. "You're overthinking. She understands procedure perfectly well." Jasper laughed without humor, "Am I? I thought you called me here specifically to get back at me for her. Seems I was mistaken." He watched Jethro's face closely as he spoke. But Jethro's expression was steady. No guilt, no dodge. Jasper's face darkened further. "If there's nothing else, I'll go revise the proposal." After Jasper left, Rowan finally dared to knock and enter. "Mr. Blackwood, the Sales Director would like to have lunch to discuss channel expansion for H2. Shall I schedule it?"Jethro tapped his pen, thinking for a few seconds. "Hold on that." "Of course. I'll leave it pending." Once Rowan was gone, Jethro picked up his personal phone and called Darcy. "Hello? Why are you using your personal phone to reach me?" Darcy was surprised. At work, he usually called from his office line. He used his personal number outside of business hours. This was unusual. Jethro smiled, "Because I'm calling as your boyfriend right now." Darcy felt a warmth spread through her cheeks. She covered the mouthpiece and slipped into a small meeting room, closing the glass door. "You know, don't you?" she whispered. If nothing was wrong, he wouldn't have called like this. The only thing urgent enough was the email incident from the morning. A current of warmth flowed through her chest. She looked down. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I was careless yesterday. I got too used to the old way of doing things—just letting you know and leaving. I'll be more careful from now on. I'll follow the process." Jethro felt a pang of heartache. It was a minor issue, blown out of proportion by his cousin. They both knew Jasper was making an example of her. "Darcy," he began, his voice gentle, "I have several other companies under my name. Also in tech. They're wholly owned by me, separate from the Group. If you want..." He couldn't bear to see her being bullied. The woman he cherished shouldn't have to put up with this. But to his surprise, Darcy gently declined. "Thank you, Jethro. It means the world to know you have my back. But... I can't rely on you for everything. I have my own path to walk. The bumps I should face, I have to handle myself. Jasper and I don't have a personal grudge. I think, with a bit more time and communication, we can clear up the misunderstandings."