Chapter : 184
Now that Ariel could land a dinner with Carlos just through her connection to Chad, Nancy couldn’t help but feel a wave of contempt.
“I just saw her giving Mr. Carlos a gift,” she said casually after taking her seat.
“A gift?” Matt laughed. “What’s that going to do for her? Giving her an opportunity is like handing a top–tier university’s acceptance letter to someone who can’t even read. It’d be a total waste.”
She was a housewife with only a bachelor’s degree. The only reason she even got to meet Carlos was because Chad was obviously blinded by lust.
Even if Chad wanted to polish her image, Ariel had to be capable of being polished.
Nancy glanced at Matt with amusement. “You really don’t sugarcoat it, huh?”
He shrugged. “Truth tends to sound harsh.”
Then he turned to Jayson. “Jaydon, what do you think Chad’s trying to do? Why did he bring Ariel to meet his dad? Has something been going on between them?”
“No,” Jayson dismissed Matt’s assumption.
Nancy couldn’t help watching him closely to look for any flicker of emotion.
Thankfully, there wasn’t any–just cold indifference.
But then again, it made sense. Coming from a family like Chad’s, where everyone was a heavyweight in national scientific research, how could he possibly fall for someone like Ariel?
Jayson took a sip of tea. “Faye Tech has a new project coming up. Ever wonder why they’re meeting with Mr. Carlos now?”
Perry finally chimed in, “Their past projects never had this kind of lineup. Either Mr. Carlos is personally overseeing the technical side, or it’s a government–prioritized initiative.”
Nancy’s face grew serious. “You’re saying it’s likely Mr. Carlos is involved behind the scenes?”
Perry only said, “I’m not sure.”
But even as he said that, doubt lingered in his mind.
If Carlos really was backing the project, it should have been a major industry breakthrough. Opportunities like that didn’t come often.
Perry looked over at Jayson, who had remained calm and composed throughout.
Suddenly, he asked, “By the way, when will your divorce be finalized?”
His one sentence made Nancy look at Jayson too.
Jayson raised his brow slightly. “Around a month from now. Why ask?”
Perry leaned back, turning his phone in his hand. “No reason. It just seems like it’s been dragging on for a while.”
Meanwhile, things were going smoothly on Ariel’s side.
Before coming, she’d gone out of her way to buy some of Carlos‘ favorite desserts. He was clearly in a good mood
now.
She and Chad told Carlos about the tech innovations in Faye Technologies‘ new project.
Carlos pushed up his glasses and gave a slight nod. “You’ve finally put that brain of yours to good use. If you’d spent even half the energy on your career that you wasted on men, you’d be world–renowned by now.”
Ariel had no comeback for that.
Chad picked up a bite of food and said, “Old man, don’t gaslight her. If she really goes all–in on her career and gives up marriage and kids, her grandma will come after you with a broom.”
“Ariel’s not like you. She’s got vision. No matter how it turns out, at least she’s experienced love. You, on the other hand, have been a lifelong bachelor. And you don’t even seem embarrassed about it.” Carlos scoffed.
Chad was rendered speechless.
Fine. Guess he should shut up and behave today.
Ariel chuckled softly.
Then Carlos asked, “Will Ariel be credited as the lead on this project?”
That was a real question.
She had taken the lead, been involved from the ground up, and essentially carried the entire development on her
own.
But if she accepted credit publicly, it would confirm that she was the core of Faye Technologies.
Plus, the non–disclosure agreement wasn’t up yet. There were a lot of constraints still in place.
“Of course, she will,” Chad said without hesitation. “She led the whole thing. How does it make sense to show everyone else’s faces except hers?”
And honestly, it was time people saw how truly capable Ariel was.
Ariel herself didn’t seem to care too much.
She lowered her gaze and thought for MUNDO
a took a deep breath.
Suddenly, she looked at Carlos and sald,
possible?”
-7
ment, t
Tos, I’d like to apply to be your graduate student. Is it still…