Other than Darcy, which leader ground harder than their own team? When there was a project, she led the charge. When deadlines were tight, extra tasks landed on her desk. And now, for this competition, she was the one overseeing everything from start to finish, while the rest of the team focused on their code. Heh. As the saying goes, why stress yourself out when you can let the boss take on all the stress? The team piled into the elevator, but before anyone could press a button, Jenna's high heels clicked into view down the hallway. "Ms. Gale. The boss wants to see you." Darcy was taken aback. "Now?" Jenna looked impatient. "Yes, now. Hurry up." Darcy stepped out, turning to the team. "Head down to the garage. I'll meet up with you shortly."She followed Jenna, knocked, and entered Jasper's office. "Mr. Blackwood. You wanted to see me?" "The contact at Aethelburg Bank reported a system error. It could indicate a major vulnerability. They need you to go fix it immediately." Right now? Darcy frowned. "But my team and I are scheduled to be at the FinTech Challenge finals this afternoon. Could I possibly go after the finals conclude, and—" "Aethelburg Bank is our number-one priority client. We must respond to their needs with the highest priority. Nothing is more critical right now than being on-site at the bank immediately." "What would you have me do, then?" "Drive to the client site now and handle the system error. As for the competition, I will send someone else in your place." Darcy stared at him for a long moment.Finally, she took a deep breath. "Alright." She stood to leave, but Jasper called her back. "Email me all the presentation materials." Darcy's hand paused on the doorknob. "Who are you planning to send? I'd recommend Mr. Knight. Aside from me, he's the most familiar with the project." Jasper's gaze was sharp. "You focus on your task. I'll handle the rest." Darcy lowered her eyes, struggling internally for a few seconds before nodding. "Fine." Once outside, she called Zephyr to explain. Zephyr was silent for a beat. "He's doing this on purpose." Darcy gave a rueful smile. "Even if he is, what can we do? He's the boss. He has the final say." She then tried to sound encouraging. "Just cooperate with him. I'll be waiting for your victory lap." Zephyr sighed, "You're comforting me? You're the one who needs comforting here. Should I ask Jethro to step in...?""No. Don't tell him. He has more important things to deal with right now." Zephyr muttered, "What could be more important than his girlfriend?" Darcy smiled faintly, "You'll find out later." She hung up, emailed the presentation pack to Jasper, and drove to Aethelburg Bank. The project manager at Aethelburg Bank was astonished. For a minor system glitch, the vendor's Vice President had shown up in person? It made the manager almost embarrassed. "Ms. Gale, you really didn't have to come yourself. That's too kind." "Of course I did," Darcy replied. With the vendor's VP personally on-site, the manager took the chance to return the favor. So, after the issue was resolved, they discussed next year's cooperation plans, and the manager even introduced her to the head of the bank's tech division.The meeting went so well that by the time Darcy left, it was already dark outside. Just then, several news notifications popped up on her phone, all related to the same person. "Stratagem Tech's New CEO Leads Team to Victory in Aethelburg's 2nd FinTech Innovation Challenge! Everything You Want to Know About the Handsome CEO." Darcy was momentarily stunned. She tapped the link. So, Jasper ended up taking the stage himself? The article included a short video clip. There was Jasper on stage, looking confident and composed. But the content of his speech was entirely from the script Darcy had painstakingly written during a week of all-nighters. The article detailed Jasper's family background and educational pedigree. The writer deliberately elevated his image, portraying him as a handsome, capable, and approachable heir.The comments section was flooded with admirers, leaving all sorts of fawning remarks. Darcy pressed her lips together and closed the news app. By the time she drove home, Cindy was calling to console her. "Darcy, are you okay? Jasper is such a lowlife—stealing your win right in front of everyone like that! You must be totally crushed. Come on, let's go out—I'll treat you to a fancy dinner." Darcy managed a light laugh. "I'm fine. I'm really happy the team won." "But—" "Really, I'm okay. Don't worry about me." Cindy cautiously changed tack. "Has my brother called or texted you at all?" "Nope." Cindy sighed silently on the other end. Over the next few days, Darcy carried on as usual, going to work and leaving on time, showing no outward sign of distress. Jasper, meanwhile, reaped the rewards. His striking looks and standout performance at the competition earned him a wave of new admirers. Unlike Jethro's trademark low profile, Jasper was decidedly more flamboyant. First came an exclusive interview with a financial magazine, followed by an invitation to be a guest on a popular TV talk show.