Chapter 82
SIENNA’S POV~
I stared at Dante, trying to process what he’d just said.
“What do you mean he doesn’t think highly of you p>
That didn’t… it couldn’t mean what I was thinking, right?
Dante’s expression was so calm. Too calm. Like he’d just told me the weather forecast instead of admitting that one of the most influential minds in pack technology basically thought he was… what? Incompetent? Unworthy?
How was he so unbothered by this?
“Exactly what I said.” Dante turned his attention back to the stage. He was being dismissive. Entirely done with the conversation.
But I wasn’t done.
“But that doesn’t make sense. You’ve built one of the most successful tech companies in the Bellini Pack. You have connections across Europe. Why would he p>
“He doesn’t respect how I do business.” Dante’s voice was quiet. Matter-of-fact. “We have different philosophies. It’s fine p>
It’s fine?
No. No, it wasn’t fine.
This was Professor Nolan. Having his approval could open doors that even Dante’s alpha status couldn’t. And he was just… accepting this? Giving up?
I wanted to say more, but the way Dante’s jaw set told me the conversation was over.
Fine.
Whatever.
If he wanted to throw away opportunities, that was his problem.
The conference dragged on. More speakers, more technical jargon that made my eyes glaze over. I smiled and nodded at the appropriate moments, but my mind was elsewhere.
Planning… Calculating.
Finally… finally… it ended.
The host thanked everyone for coming, and immediately the room shifted. People were standing, their voices rising, that chaotic energy of networking was about to begin.
Then someone near the front, one of the German pack representatives, said something that made everyone pause.
“Professor Nolan isn’t leaving yet p>
The words spread like wildfire.
Within seconds, people from the back rows were pushing forward. They were so desperate and eager. All wanting their moment with the great Professor Nolan.
But by the time most of them reached the front, it was too late.
A wall of bodies had already formed around him. All the important people. The ones who’d been sitting near him, who had proximity and therefore priority.
I was one of them.
I should’ve been one of them.
Except I was stuck on the outside of the circle, and Dante… Dante was just standing there, not even trying to get closer.
What was wrong with him?
I glanced around, looking for an opening. Some way to push through without looking desperate.
That’s when I saw Aunt Lauren.
She was several rows back, waving frantically. At me. Her face was urgent, gesturing for me to come over.
Moon goddess.
Really? Now?
I forced a smile and made my way through the crowd toward her.
“Aunt Lauren p>
She grabbed my arm the second I was close enough. “Why aren’t you talking to Professor Nolan? This is your chance p>
“I know, but he’s surrounded by p>
“Then push through! Make an impression! That’s what these events are for, Sienna p>
Her voice had that edge it got when she was disappointed. When I wasn’t living up to expectations.
My jaw tightened.
“Right now everyone around him is a major pack alpha or company head,” I said, keeping my voice level. Patient. “If I force my way in, I’ll have maybe thirty seconds before someone more important takes my place. Dante said there will be other opportunities p>
“Dante said.” Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “And you’re just taking his word for it p>
Was she serious?
“He knows Nolan better than we do,” I pointed out. “If he says p>
“Sienna.” She leaned closer, her voice dropping. “You need to stop relying on Dante for everything. Make your own connections. Show initiative p>
Heat crawled up my neck.
I was showing initiative. I was here, wasn’t I? In the front row, dressed perfectly, saying all the right things.
But apparently it wasn’t enough.
It was never enough.
“I already know most of the people here,” I said. Defensive now, hating how I sounded. “Thanks to Dante, they’ve been very welcoming p>
“Because of Dante.” Lauren’s smile was tight. “Not because of you p>
The words hit like a slap.
I stood there, hand clenched around my purse, trying to breathe through the anger building in my chest.
“I should get back,” I managed.
Lauren nodded, but her expression said everything. Disappointment. Frustration. That look that meant you’re wasting opportunities.
I turned and headed back toward the front, weaving through the crowd.
People made way for me.
They knew I’d been sitting with Dante. Knew I was… whatever I was to him. And that association meant something here.
I slipped back to Dante’s side, and one of the alphas, from the German pack, I think, smiled at me. “Miss Brown is truly talented and beautiful. Dante really has excellent taste p>
The compliment landed warmly. Genuine, even.
I smiled back graciously. “You’re too kind p>
Another alpha chimed in, saying something about my resume, my composure. They meant it. I could tell. These weren’t empty platitudes, they actually seemed impressed.
And why shouldn’t they be?
I was talented. I was capable.
I’d worked hard to be standing here.
Dante smiled beside me. Didn’t say much. Just let them compliment me, letting the conversation flow.
___________
ELODIE’S POV~
The conference was winding down and I watched Professor Nolan leave.
Just like that. One moment he was surrounded by all those important people, alphas and executives and whoever else mattered enough to stand in the front row and the next he was checking his watch, making polite excuses, and walking away.
Everyone let him go. Of course they did.
You didn’t argue with someone like Professor Nolan.
Around me, technical staff from other companies were still talking. They were in deep conversations about encryption methods and security protocols and things I actually understood, things I could contribute to without feeling like I was faking my way through.
It helped. For real.
It meant I didn’t have to think about the front row. Didn’t have to think about how Sienna had tried to talk to professor Nolan and he’d dismissed her with two words before walking away.
I’d seen it. Couldn’t help but see it, even from back there.
Johnny suddenly touched my elbow. “Come on p>
I blinked. “What p>
But he was already guiding me away from the cluster of tech staff we’d been talking to. His hand firm on my arm, purposeful.
“Where are we p>
“Just trust me p>
We slipped out of the conference hall. The noise faded behind us,all those voices, that desperate networking energy. The hallway was quieter now. Cooler.
My heels clicked against the floor as we walked toward the parking lot.
“Johnny, what’s going on p>
He checked his phone. “Nolan wants to meet p>
I stopped walking.
“He—what p>
“He messaged me while everyone was scrambling to talk to him.” Johnny’s mouth twitched. Almost a smile. “Asked us to meet him in the lot p>
My stomach flipped. “Why didn’t you tell me p>
“I’m telling you now. Come on, we’re going to be late p>
Late. Right.
Because apparently we had an appointment with Professor Nolan and I looked like p>
I glanced down at myself. Wrinkled blazer. The tablet I’d been clutching all day. I probably had coffee breath.
God.
We pushed through the exit doors, and the night air hit me. It cleared some of the fog from my head.
The parking lot was nearly empty. Most people were still inside, still networking, still trying to squeeze value out of every remaining second.
And there, standing next to a sleek black car, illuminated by the harsh overhead lights was Professor Nolan.
He was looking at his phone. Typing something. His expression unreadable behind those frameless glasses.
I froze.
Johnny kept walking, pulling me along.
“Teacher,” I heard myself say.
My voice came out smaller than I wanted. Shakier.
Nolan looked up.
His gaze landed on me first. Then Johnny, then back to me.
“Mm p>
That was it. Just that sound. An acknowledgment without warmth.
I wanted to say something. Wanted to what? Thank him for meeting us? Ask how he’d been? Tell him it had been too long?
But my throat closed up.
Nolan’s eyes swept over both of us, as though he was assessing us.
“I’ve looked at your exhibits p>
Oh goddess. Here it came.
“They’re passable p>
Those words hit like a slap.
Three years of work. Three years of late nights and failed prototypes and arguments with engineers who didn’t understand the vision. Three years of pouring everything into making something that mattered.
“But p>
There was always a ’but’ with Nolan.
His gaze sharpened. “It’s been three years. This is the best you can do p>
The disappointment in his voice was worse than anger. Worse than anything.
I felt myself shrinking. Getting smaller under that stare.
Beside me, Johnny shifted uncomfortably. “We’re already preparing new products. The prototype should be ready by next year p>
His voice was confident. I wished I could sound like that.
“Mm.” Nolan nodded once and sharply. “Until it’s ready, don’t come to see me p>
“Yes,” Johnny said quickly.
“Yes,” I echoed. Barely audible.
My chest felt tight. Like something was pressing down on my ribs, making it hard to breathe properly.
This was… we’d been so proud of the security system. The biometric integration, the encryption layers. It was good. It was good.
But Nolan had seen it and found it lacking.
Had seen us and found us lacking.
“Tonight,” Nolan continued, his tone unchanged, “send me a review of what you’ve seen today p>
Johnny and I both nodded. “Yes p>
This was standard. Nolan always did this, always made us analyze other people’s work, break down the technology, understand what made it succeed or fail.
It was how we learned.
How we got better.
Except—
“Uh, Teacher,” Johnny started. His voice was careful. “One night might be a bit… difficult p>
I wanted to kick him. Difficult there was the century’s most understatement.
Nolan’s gaze fixed on Johnny, waiting for him to finish.
“I mean—” Johnny was backtracking now, I could hear it. “There were a lot of exhibits. The technical summaries alone would be, what, tens of thousands of words? Maybe we could have a month? Would that work p>
Silence fell.
Nolan just stared at him.
I’d forgotten what that stare felt like. Like he could see through every excuse, every weakness, every moment of laziness or doubt.
Johnny cracked first. “Got it. We’ll make sure to finish the task. Tonight. We’ll get it done p>
“Good p>
Nolan turned back to his phone. His dismissal was clear.