When the elevator doors slid open at her destination, Veronica stepped out without sparing Niall and his companions a second glance. She didn't waste time dwelling on their presence, immediately immersing herself in the tasks that awaited her.
Later, while deep in conversation with Vincent about project details, Veronica caught movement at her department entrance. Lifting her gaze briefly, she spotted four women standing there—Sophia, Jade, Penny, and Bonnie. Their presence, though unexpected, wasn't entirely surprising.
Vincent, noticing Veronica's fleeting glance and subsequent dismissal, leaned in and whispered helpfully, "Those are Ms. Crystal's grandmothers and mother."
Veronica lowered her eyes to the documents before her, responding with a noncommittal hum that betrayed no emotion.
The women at the entrance had also noticed Veronica. They weren't particularly shocked by her presence, likely aware of the collaborative projects between DataPulse Enterprises and Stellar that necessitated her visits.
Sophia and Penny's reactions were coldly indifferent—they quickly averted their eyes as though Veronica were a stranger, not worth acknowledging. Bonnie, however, seemed pleased to witness Veronica essentially working for Niall's company, while Jade allowed herself a smug smile.
Bonnie took the lead, guiding the group directly toward Veronica's workstation.
The women had arrived at Stellar the same afternoon that Cullen had transferred company shares to Niall. Their stated purpose was to inspect this generous gift with their own eyes, making their identities known to everyone in the building.
Vincent quickly set aside his work when he noticed their approach, greeting them with appropriate professional courtesy. "Hello, Madam Crystal, Madam Mack, and Mrs. Crystal."
Sophia and Jade responded with practiced smiles that masqueraded as warmth. Feigning interest in company matters, Sophia asked, "I understand there were some issues with the autonomous vehicle systems. Has your team resolved them?"
"Everything's progressing smoothly," Vincent assured her. "We expect to have complete resolution by this afternoon."
Sophia chuckled softly, deliberately ignoring Veronica's presence as she addressed Vincent. "Excellent. Keep up the good work."
"We're simply doing our jobs, Madam Crystal. You're too kind." Vincent was about to make introductions when Bonnie interjected, fixing her gaze directly on Veronica.
"I haven't been with Stellar long," Bonnie remarked with unmistakable sarcasm, "yet your systems have experienced several failures in a short period. One has to wonder if certain service providers are incompetent or simply delivering subpar work. Perhaps that explains why these systems require such frequent maintenance and upgrades."
The attack was transparent—Bonnie clearly intended to provoke Veronica.
Vincent stared in shock, knowing full well that Bonnie possessed zero technical knowledge about their systems. He opened his mouth to correct her misrepresentation, but Veronica spoke first.
"If you believe our services are inadequate or our commitment questionable," Veronica said coolly, "you're welcome to terminate our agreement."
"Why, you!" Bonnie sputtered, realizing too late she'd stepped into dangerous territory.
Though she lacked understanding of artificial intelligence, her time at Stellar had taught her enough to know that DataPulse Enterprises had established itself as the preeminent authority in artificial intelligence nationwide. Challenging Dario's company's technical capabilities would be foolish for Stellar.
Bonnie scoffed, attempting to recover. "Such arrogance. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were claiming to make executive decisions for DataPulse Enterprises"
Veronica's response came with icy precision. "Have your company draft a contract violation agreement and see if I'll sign it. Then you'll discover whether I call the shots or not."