Chapter 87
Someone from across the table laughed, looking at Professor Liam. “Old Liam, you really can’t help yourself, can you? We’re supposed to be eating and you’re still going on about work p>
Another person chimed in, grinning. “He was doing the same thing at the exhibition. Spent forever talking Miss Brown’s ear off about encryption protocols or something p>
The attention shifted toward their end of the table.
Professor Liam smiled but didn’t take the bait. “You all usually shove me off to your engineers the second I start talking technical details. Now I’m having a conversation with someone who actually understands, and suddenly you care p>
A few people chuckled.
One of the older alphas, someone from the French delegation, glanced between Sienna and Elodie. “I have to say, it’s refreshing to see young women so interested in AI and programming these days. Times really are changing p>
“They absolutely are,” someone else agreed. “Old Liam was just saying earlier how impressed he’s been with the new generation of talent. Said he’s optimistic about the future of the industry p>
Another person jumped in, a smile directed at Sienna. “Well, Miss Brown here is a talented graduate from a world-class university. She’s definitely part of that rising talent everyone’s talking about p>
The compliments kept coming. Genuine-sounding.
Sienna smiled, modest but pleased. “You’re all too kind p>
It made sense that people would focus on her. She was sitting next to Dante, and Dante’s status carried weight. People naturally paid more attention to whoever he brought along.
Elodie was just… there. Beautiful, sure… several people had noticed that but she was Johnny’s employee. No notable family background. No pack connections worth mentioning.
Easy to overlook.
The food started arriving. Plates and dishes spread across the table, steam rising, the smell of expensive ingredients filling the room.
Sienna picked up her chopsticks and selected a piece of something, fish, maybe and placed it on Dante’s plate.
He accepted it without comment. Naturally. Like they’d done this a hundred times before.
The conversations around the table shifted. Opened up and people started discussing the exhibits from earlier. The innovations. The future applications.
One of the German pack representatives leaned forward, gesturing with his chopsticks. “By the way, Mr. Wilson, I have to say, your company’s self-driving vehicle technology pairs incredibly well with Mr. Gray’s intelligent traffic programming. It’s almost too perfect.” He paused, grinning. “Are you sure you two aren’t planning to collaborate? Because honestly, it’s making the rest of us pretty eager to see what that would look like p>
They’d been sitting there for a while now, eating and talking, but Dante and Johnny hadn’t said a word to each other.
Not directly, anyway.
The question about collaboration hung in the air.
Dante picked up his napkin, wiped the corner of his mouth. Casually and unhurriedly. Then he looked at Johnny and smiled. “I’ve thought about it, actually. What do you think, Mr. Gray p>
Johnny didn’t hesitate. Business was business, and this was too good an opportunity to pass up.
“It would be an honor for Cole to work with you, Mr. Wilson p>
He said in a simple and professional tone. The kind of answer that left the door open without committing to anything specific.
Sienna felt a small flicker of satisfaction.
If Dante and Johnny actually partnered up, that would be good for her. The two men working together meant more opportunities for interaction. More chances for her to be involved. More ways to stay close to Dante and prove her value.
She glanced across the table at Elodie in a cold and dismissive stare.
Elodie had been talking to Professor Liam for most of the meal. Barely paying attention to anyone else. She seemed… fine. Unbothered by the whole situation.
It was almost annoying how unbothered she seemed.
But whatever. If Johnny wanted to collaborate with Dante, Elodie wouldn’t stand in the way. She had no reason to turn down potential profit for Cole.
The meal was winding down. Plates had been cleared, tea had been poured, and people were starting to shift in their seats. Some stood, stretching. Others migrated toward the sofas on the far side of the room where the real business conversations would happen.
Dante had mentioned the possibility of working with Cole, but whether anything would actually come of it remained to be seen.
Kevin, though, one of the other executives who’d been at the table, seemed genuinely interested.
Before dessert had even been served, Kevin and his management team were already deep in conversation with Johnny. Leaning in and asking questions. Clearly serious about exploring a partnership.
Elodie followed Johnny over to the sofas.
She understood her role here. Technology? That was her domain. She could talk about algorithms and infrastructure and security protocols all day. But negotiations? Deal-making? That was Johnny’s thing.
So she sat quietly and listened. Didn’t interject unless someone asked her a direct technical question.
At one point, she noticed Johnny’s teacup was empty. She reached over, and picked it up. “I’ll get you more p>
Johnny glanced at her, and smiled. “Thanks p>
She stood and headed toward the tea service set up along the side wall.
Across the room, Sienna and Lauren were watching.
Lauren leaned closer to Sienna, her voice low. “Look at that. She’s playing secretary p>
Sienna’s eyes followed Elodie as she refilled Johnny’s cup. Watched the way she moved, efficiently, unobtrusively, like someone used to staying in the background.
It confirmed what they’d already suspected.
Elodie’s role at Cole wasn’t anything important. She was probably just there to assist Johnny. Fetch things. Handle administrative tasks. Maybe do some basic technical work when needed.
Nothing significant.
Nothing worth worrying about.
Lauren’s expression relaxed further. “Well. At least she knows her place p>
Sienna didn’t respond. Just watched as Elodie began to return to the sofa, to hand Johnny his tea.
Elodie, at her end, was walking back with the teacup, not really paying attention to anything except not spilling it, when someone turned around suddenly.
Right into her path.
She didn’t have time to stop. The person’s shoulder clipped hers and she stumbled, off-balance, the cup tilting in her hand.
She fell forward. Straight into someone.
Not just anyone but into Dante.
The room went entirely quiet.
Not completely silent, but that sudden hush that happens when something unexpected occurs and everyone’s attention snaps to it at once.
Elodie’s hands had come up automatically, catching herself against his chest. The teacup had fallen, she could hear it hit the floor somewhere, the soft crack of porcelain.
And she could smell him. Pine and winter. That scent her wolf still recognized even though everything else between them had fallen apart.
For half a second she just stood there, frozen, her brain trying to catch up with what had just happened.
Then she felt his hands on her shoulders.
His hands were not gentle. Never gentle. Not comforting.
Just… pushing her away immediately. Creating distance between them.
His expression was cold. Completely detached. Like having her pressed against him was something unpleasant he needed to correct as quickly as possible.
She stumbled back, finding her footing.
Her face went blank. Neutral. Refusing to show anything.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered.
Then she turned and walked away.
Fast. Before anyone could say anything. Before the moment could stretch out any longer.
Around the room, she could feel eyes on her. People were staring and judging, that’s what the world was good at.
Wondering was it an accident? Or had she done it on purpose?
Because what were the odds, really, that she’d fall directly into Dante’s arms? Out of all the people in this room, all the different directions she could’ve stumbled into p>
Some of the men were looking at her differently now. She could feel it without even seeing their faces. That particular kind of attention that came from being young and female and conventionally attractive in a room full of powerful men.
She was beautiful. Everyone knew it. Slender figure, delicate features, with pale skin.
And now they were wondering if she’d used that. If she’d thrown herself at Dante deliberately to get his attention.
But Dante hadn’t looked interested. Hadn’t looked anything except mildly annoyed.
He’d pushed her away immediately, barely even touched her beyond what was necessary to steady her.
No hesitation. No moment of weakness.
Just that cold dismissal. As though she had a disease.
Sienna and Lauren had watched the whole thing.
Lauren leaned closer to Sienna, her voice low but sharp. Impressed even. “See? I told you she couldn’t just behave herself p>
Sienna’s expression was tight. “It doesn’t matter. Look at how he reacted p>
“Exactly.” Lauren smiled, satisfied. “He couldn’t have been clearer. That kind of reaction? That’s the kind of thing that makes a woman feel secure. You’re so lucky that Dante has only eyes for you, Sienna p>
Sienna’s face softened slightly. She glanced at Dante, who’d already turned back to his conversation like nothing had happened.
Like Elodie hadn’t just been in his arms thirty seconds ago.
“You’re right,” Sienna said quietly.
Logan was frowning, watching Elodie walk away. He’d thought, well, he’d thought she was smarter than this. Quieter. Less prone to these kinds of desperate moves.
But apparently he’d been wrong.
Apparently she had more tricks than he’d given her credit for.
Johnny had been mid-sentence with Kevin when it happened. He’d looked up at the sudden quietness, and saw Elodie stumbling away from Dante, saw the broken teacup on the floor.
He excused himself and crossed the room quickly.
“You okay p>
Elodie nodded but didn’t look at him.
“Did you hurt yourself?” He glanced down at her feet, at the way she was standing. “Your ankle p>
“Just a little,” she said.
Her voice was flat and empty.
Johnny studied her face. She wasn’t meeting anyone’s eyes. Just staring at some point on the floor, her expression completely shut down.
He’d seen that look before. Usually right before she disappeared for a while to pull herself back together.
“Come on,” he said quietly. “Let’s get you sitting down p>