Cullen reached for his phone without hesitation and dialed Veronica's number.
The call went straight to silence as Veronica declined it immediately.
Cullen stared at his phone screen for a long moment before speaking. "Your mother isn't taking my calls either."
"She's probably swamped with work and missed it." There had to be a reasonable explanation. Veronica would never ignore Cullen's calls under normal circumstances.
"Perhaps." Cullen slipped into his tailored suit jacket and grabbed his black overcoat from the chair. "I have business to attend to. Take the security detail if you decide to leave the house."
"I'd rather wait for Mom to come with me..." Despite her occasional frustration with Veronica's rules, she craved her mother's presence during outings.
Her lower lip jutted out in a small pout as she pressed, "Dad, hospital visit to check on Niall first, or straight to Dennis Group?"
"Hospital, then the office." Cullen's finger gently flicked her forehead in an affectionate gesture. "Behave yourself while I'm gone."
Two more attempts to reach Veronica yielded the same result - no response. Resigned to her fate, she allowed the bodyguards and Chelsea to escort her for an afternoon of activities.
The ski slopes that usually thrilled her felt flat and uninspiring without her preferred companion. Her enthusiasm evaporated quickly, and she requested to return home within hours.
Following his hospital obligations, Cullen made his way to Dennis Group headquarters.
Nate appeared in his office shortly after his arrival. Cullen's eyes found him immediately, prompting Nate to flash a knowing smile. "Wouldn't miss this particular performance."
Cullen remained silent as Frank approached with an announcement. "Mr. Bell has arrived for your appointment."
"Send him up immediately." Cullen instructed.
Frank guided Leon into the executive conference room where Cullen waited. The two men exchanged a firm handshake before settling into their respective seats.
Leon wasted no time on pleasantries. He retrieved the divorce papers from the previous day's signing session and placed them directly in front of Cullen.
Cullen's hands closed around the documents.
Nate had made a special weekend trip to witness whether Veronica would follow through with her threat to sign the papers. The sight of the official documents made him lean forward eagerly. Upon spotting Veronica's unmistakable signature, his voice rose in genuine shock. "She went through with it?"
Cullen studied her signature with an unreadable expression before redirecting his attention to Leon for their remaining business discussions.
As their meeting approached its conclusion, Cullen addressed the practical concerns. "The asset division involves substantial complexity - multiple properties, corporate shareholdings, investment portfolios. I'll require adequate time to execute the necessary legal transfers. You'll hear from me once everything is properly arranged."
Leon acknowledged with a professional nod. "Completely understood."
Cullen signaled to Frank. "Please escort Mr. Bell to the exit."
Upon departing Dennis Group's offices, Leon immediately contacted Veronica to provide a comprehensive update on the meeting's outcome.
Her voice carried a note of impatience. "What kind of timeline are we looking at?"
"That entirely depends on Mr. Dennis's efficiency in handling the transfers."
"I see." Veronica's tone remained businesslike. "I appreciate your assistance, Mr. Bell."
The following morning brought a return to her established routine at DataPulse.
During an afternoon strategy session with Dario, his phone interrupted their conversation with an unexpected call. Dario examined the caller identification with visible confusion.
Veronica noticed his puzzled expression. "Something troubling you?"
He extended the phone so she could see the display. "Maverick Harris is calling."
Professional networks ensured that industry leaders maintained each other's contact information despite infrequent direct communication.
Their previous encounter at Stellar had ended on such hostile terms that Dario assumed all future interactions were permanently severed.
Maverick's sudden outreach defied all logical expectations. Dario accepted the call with considerable skepticism.
Several minutes later, he ended the conversation and faced Veronica with raised eyebrows. "He's proposing a collaborative venture."
Veronica's current projects had generated significant industry buzz, with confirmed government partnerships virtually guaranteeing their success.
Given such promising prospects, potential collaborators would inevitably begin circling DataPulse like sharks sensing opportunity.
The official announcements hadn't even been released to the public, yet Maverick had already positioned himself to make contact.
Dario allowed himself a cynical smile. "Doran's reputation as a cunning strategist remains well-deserved."