Veronica's face hardened instantly. "Niall? Are you referring to Niall Crystal? The one who just returned from Bella?"
Dario nodded, clearly surprised by her reaction. "Yes, that's her. Are you acquainted with her?"
"She's my half-sister," Veronica replied, her voice turning flat.
Dario sat there, momentarily speechless. Though he had some knowledge of Veronica's family background, this coincidence caught him completely off guard.
A chill entered Veronica's eyes as she added, "She's also Cullen's lover."
The car lurched to an abrupt stop as Dario slammed on the brakes. His eyes widened in shock. "You—"
Veronica shook her head, maintaining remarkable composure despite the topic. "I'm fine. I just don't think it's appropriate for her to join our company."
Without a moment's hesitation, Dario responded, "I support your decision completely."
His immediate backing touched Veronica deeply. "Thank you."
After a brief silence, she sighed. "This means you'll be losing a potential genius, though."
Dario laughed softly, shaking his head as he glanced at her. His voice carried absolute sincerity as he replied, "She may be brilliant with algorithms, but compared to you, she doesn't even register on the scale."
His words stunned Veronica. Sensing her disbelief, Dario added, "I'm simply stating facts."
Veronica hadn't expected such a straightforward compliment. After collecting her thoughts, she asked, "It's been quite some time since her interview. Why hasn't she started working yet?"
Dario shrugged as he resumed driving. "She mentioned having personal matters to address. I didn't push for details."
Approximately fifteen minutes later, they arrived at their destination.
Noticing Veronica's distant expression, Dario asked, "What's occupying your thoughts?"
"I'm trying to understand her motivation for wanting to join our company specifically."
Their company was certainly successful, but there were larger corporations throughout the country. With Niall's impressive credentials and educational background, she could have her pick of employers.
Although Veronica held substantial shares in the company, her identity as a major shareholder wasn't public knowledge for particular reasons. Niall likely had no idea about Veronica's connection to the company, which eliminated the possibility that she was targeting Veronica directly.
Dario rubbed his chin thoughtfully before his face brightened with realization. "During our conversation the other day, she specifically mentioned our company's programming language. She expressed particular interest in Echo."
Echo was the programming language Veronica had developed with a team when she was just seventeen years old.
Initially, many industry experts had dismissed it as ordinary. However, in recent years, it had evolved into the company's most valuable asset.
Numerous professionals had attempted to analyze and replicate it, but all had failed. Now, it stood as an industry benchmark, admired and envied by competitors.
It seemed Niall's primary interest was this revolutionary programming language.
"Now that you mention it," Dario reflected, "many talented individuals have joined our company specifically because of Echo over the past few years."
This pattern hadn't occurred to Veronica before.
Dario smiled warmly, gently ruffling her hair. "That's precisely why I say she's insignificant compared to you."
Having worked alongside Veronica for years, Dario understood better than anyone the extent of her genius. This appreciation was especially meaningful coming from him, as before Veronica's arrival, Dario himself had been regarded as the foremost genius in their field.
His subtle acknowledgment of her superior talent was both a humbling admission and a profound compliment. Despite his own impressive capabilities, Dario had never shown any resentment toward Veronica's brilliance. Instead, he had always supported and championed her innovations, recognizing true genius when he saw it.
As they sat in the car, the tension from the revelation about Niall gradually dissipated. Veronica found herself grateful for Dario's unwavering support, especially regarding such a personal matter. The knowledge that her half-sister—who was also involved with her ex—might soon be working in close proximity was unsettling, but having Dario firmly on her side provided considerable comfort.
The coincidence seemed almost too perfect to be random. Why, out of all the tech companies in the country, had Niall chosen theirs? If her interest truly centered on Echo, what exactly did she hope to achieve? Was it merely professional curiosity, or did she have ulterior motives?
These questions swirled in Veronica's mind as she gazed out the window. The cityscape blurred past, tall buildings reflecting the afternoon sun. She would need to approach this situation carefully, balancing professional objectivity with personal concerns.
One thing was certain—Niall's potential presence at the company would complicate matters significantly. Veronica had worked hard to build a peaceful, productive life after the mess with Cullen. Having constant reminders of both betrayals in her workplace would be challenging at best.
Dario seemed to sense her internal struggle. Without drawing attention to it, he subtly changed the subject to their upcoming project, giving Veronica space to process her thoughts while still keeping her engaged in the present.
This was one of the qualities she most appreciated about him—his intuitive understanding of when to push forward and when to redirect. Unlike many of the people in her life, Dario never required explicit instructions on how to support her. He simply knew.
As they pulled into the parking lot of their destination, Veronica made a decision. She would not allow Niall's potential presence to disrupt the life and career she had built. Whatever her half-sister's motivations might be, Veronica would face them head-on, with the confidence of knowing exactly where she stood—and with whom.