Veronica understood that her conflict with Maverick wasn't rooted in deep hatred. Their previous clash had been circumstantial, and while she hadn't been at fault, she recognized there was no need to maintain unnecessary hostility indefinitely.
When Doran personally intervened, it created an opportunity for reconciliation that she could respect.
Still, something in Doran's tone gave her pause.
His voice carried that familiar warmth as he continued, "Ver, don't feel pressured to decide immediately. Consider it thoroughly and let me know your thoughts when you're comfortable."
She kept her response measured. "I appreciate that."
Doran's next words surprised her with their directness. "Regarding Maverick, handle the situation as you see appropriate. Don't factor my request into how you treat him personally."
"Understood," Veronica replied simply.
Her concise answer seemed to amuse Doran, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "Perfect. I'll let you get back to your evening. We should catch up properly soon."
"Sounds good. Take care."
Once the call ended, Veronica stared at her phone for several minutes before scrolling to Malcolm's contact. She needed a second opinion from someone who understood the business implications.
Malcolm's phone went directly to voicemail. When he finally called back thirty minutes later, his greeting was characteristically brief. "What do you need?"
Veronica outlined Doran's proposal and the potential collaboration with Maverick, keeping her explanation factual and concise.
Malcolm's response carried weight. "Doran Harris doesn't extend personal favors lightly. Whatever decision you make will have lasting consequences." His assessment confirmed what she had already suspected about Doran's reputation.
"Thank you for the insight, Mr. Blair," Veronica said.
Malcolm ended the call without further comment, leaving her to weigh her options.
The following morning, after a restless night of consideration, Veronica placed the return call to Doran.
Doran had correctly predicted that she would seek Malcolm's counsel before responding, so her delayed callback didn't catch him off guard.
When she delivered her decision, his tone reflected genuine gratitude. "I'm grateful for your consideration, Ver. This means more than you know."
"No need for excessive thanks," Veronica replied before disconnecting.
Doran set down his phone and exhaled deeply.
A colleague passing by his office noticed his expression and grinned. "Something troubling you, Mr. Harris?"
Doran leaned back in his chair. "Sometimes I think having a daughter would have been simpler."
"At our age, you should be focused on finding your son a suitable wife rather than wishing for more children. Your wife has done enough."
Doran's laugh held little humor. "If only my son would cooperate with that plan."
By afternoon, news of the collaboration approval had reached Maverick, prompting his immediate trip to DataPulse's headquarters.
Veronica had already briefed Dario about Doran's involvement and her decision to move forward.
When Maverick arrived requesting a meeting, Dario deliberately kept him waiting in the lobby for ninety minutes before agreeing to see him.
Maverick's desperation to secure the partnership was evident in his upgraded proposal, which offered significantly better terms than his original pitch.
Despite the improved offer, Dario maintained his professional detachment, offering only a perfunctory, "We anticipate a productive partnership."
Maverick accepted the handshake eagerly. "Likewise." His conflict had been with Veronica specifically, not with Dario or DataPulse as a company.
As their meeting concluded, Maverick glanced at his watch. "Since we're approaching lunch hour, perhaps we could continue our discussion over a meal and outline our next steps?"
Dario's smile carried a hint of calculation. "Excellent suggestion. Ver will be joining us, naturally. I trust that won't be an issue, Mr. Harris?"
Maverick had assumed that Dario agreed to the collaboration solely because of Doran's influence on Malcolm, who then pressured Dario. In his mind, Veronica remained irrelevant to the actual business decisions.
While her presence wasn't welcome, he recognized that professional obligations now superseded personal animosity.
"Certainly not, assuming Ms. Murray is equally amenable," he responded diplomatically.
Dario said nothing further and instructed his assistant to extend the lunch invitation to Veronica.
The message reached Veronica within minutes, and she responded that she would join them promptly.
Maverick had prepared himself for potential awkwardness, expecting Veronica to either express resentment about the forced collaboration or create tension by challenging Dario's decision in front of him.
Instead, when Veronica entered the conference room, she approached him with composed professionalism, extending her hand with steady confidence. "I look forward to our collaboration."