24 Chapter 24 – An Unexpected Defense and a Shocking Revelation.
24 Chapter 24 – An Unexpected Defense and a Shocking
Revelation
“This should keep you busy for the afternoon,” he said dismissively.
“I think we do.” Caleb approached us, pointedly ignoring me. “I want Mrs. Sterling transferred to my team immediately.”
Caleb looked stunned. “You’re turning down a chance to meet Dr. Wilson? For her?”
“I’m sure.” Jalen turned to me. “Let’s see what the CEO’s wife is really made of.”
Jalen approached, drawn by lan’s exclamation. “What’s going on?”
“Top of your class?”
“You implied it.” His voice dropped lower. “Said I was worth ten of Caleb.”
I nodded, working to steady my breathing. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
“If you have one, yes.”
He had the grace to look embarrassed. “Well, um… do you want another assignment?”
Caleb’s lip curled. “You hate nepotism. You’ve made that abundantly clear. So why protect Arthur’s little wife?”
Ian frowned, reviewing my solution. His frown deepened as he scrolled through my work. “This is… actually correct.
Arthur actually laughed at that–a rich, genuine sound that sent a flutter through my stomach. “I’m sorry I missed that part.”
I shrugged. No need to brag about my perfect GPA.
“Thank you,” I finally said. “You didn’t have to step in.”
lan’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? That’s our core technical issue. We’ve been stuck for a month.”
Caleb’s face had gone completely white, his mouth still working silently as he tried to process what Arthur had just revealed. I almost felt sorry for him–almost.
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“Done,” I announced, saving my work,
“Of course not, sir.”
“Did you expect it not to be?” I couldn’t keep the edge from my voice.
“Mr. Finch,” Arthur acknowledged with a slight nod.
I stared at him in shock. Just this morning, he’d been doing everything possible to push me out. What game was he playing?
He placed a hand on my elbow, guiding me away from Caleb. I was too shocked to
resist.
Before I could decide, Ian returned to check on me. His eyes widened when he saw my completed work.
“Thank you,” I said instead.
Arthur’s arm remained firm around my waist, his touch both possessive and
protective. I should have felt uncomfortable with this display, but instead, warmth bloomed in my chest. For once, someone was standing up for me.
I felt the blood drain from my face. Working directly under Caleb would be a
nightmare.
I nearly choked on my water. “I did not say that!”
With that, he strode away, leaving me alone with Jalen. An awkward silence fell
between us..
“Come on,” he said, checking his watch. “You’ve got lunch with the CEO, and I’ve got
work to do.”
“Saying I have good stamina?” he supplied, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Jalen’s eyebrows shot up. “You know Dr. Wilson?”
I glanced at the parameters. This was more like it–still well within my capabilities, but at least somewhat challenging. I immersed myself in the problem, barely noticing when an hour passed.
We all turned to see Jalen Finch stepping out from behind a bookshelf, his arms crossed over his chest. Great. Just what I needed–another witness to this humiliating
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scene.
“That’s not your call to make,” Jalen replied. “Now, I believe CEO Sterling asked you to leave.”
Jalen’s expression didn’t change. “My personal feelings about nepotism don’t override my responsibility to my team. She’s staying in R&D.”
“Ian, give her The Problem.”
“I–I didn’t know,” he finally stammered, his eyes darting between us. “Uncle Arthur, I had no idea she was your-”
“I’ll be discussing your behavior with the board,” Arthur continued. “In the meantime, I suggest you leave. Now.”
I just nodded, careful to keep my expression neutral.
Jalen’s eyes narrowed as he examined my work. “Where did you study?”
Arthur leaned back in his chair, watching me with those piercing eyes. “Either way, I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
“How so?”
“Actually, it does. Mrs. Sterling works in my department. Under my supervision.” Jalen’s voice was cool and professional. “And I don’t tolerate harassment of any kind against my team members.”
As Ian transferred the files to my workstation, I fought to keep my expression neutral. This was it–the moment of truth. Could I solve their problem without revealing too much of my expertise? Or was I about to expose myself as Dr. Wilson, the very scientist they all revered?
Ian wandered off, and I set to work. Thirty minutes later, I was done. I sat back, debating what to do next. I could pretend to still be working, or I could ask for something else…
For a moment, I feared Jalen would cave. Meeting Dr. Wilson was his dream–he’d said so himself during orientation.
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Heat crept up my neck. “I was just-”
“Oceanion University,” I replied. “Double major in biochemistry and physics.”
“She solved it,” lan said, sounding stunned. “The Thompson equations. She balanced them perfectly.”
“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice lowered for my ears only.
“I meant professionally,” I muttered, though we both knew that wasn’t entirely true.
“How much did you hear, anyway?” I asked, suddenly self–conscious.
Arthur’s lips twitched into what might have been a smile. “I imagine it was quite satisfying.”
Jalen sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I don’t like office politics or nepotism. But I like bullies even less.”
If only he knew how close he was to Dr. Wilson right now.
Ian looked me over skeptically. “Sure thing, boss.”
Ian hesitated, then pulled up a more complex problem. “I’ve been stuck on this for a week. See what you can do.”
Jalen snorted. “Caleb’s lying. No one knows who Dr. Wilson really is. The man–or woman–is famously private. Besides, I’d rather earn that meeting through my work than through office politics.”
“My father does,” Caleb said smugly. “One word from me, and you could have that meeting you’ve been wanting for years. All you have to do is transfer one unqualified employee.”
Caleb’s jaw clenched so tight I could almost hear his teeth grinding. He shot me a venomous look before backing away. “This isn’t over,” he muttered.
“Mr. Sterling.” Jalen’s gaze shifted to Caleb. “I saw and heard everything, Caleb. You were harassing Mrs. Sterling.”
I stiffened. Dr. Wilson was my alter ego–the identity I used for my scientific papers and patents. No one knew that brilliant scientist was actually me.
“Yes, it is,” Arthur stated with finality. “Unless you want it to become a formal HR
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complaint.”
Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. Finch has been trying to meet that scientist for- years.”
“I’ll leave Mrs. Sterling in your capable hands, then. I trust there won’t be any further
incidents.”
Arthur turned his attention to Jalen. “Mr. Finch. I appreciate your intervention.”
Jalen frowned. “We have nothing to discuss, Caleb.”
I bit back a retort. This was elementary–level work–I could do it in my sleep. But arguing would only reinforce their belief that I was just the CEO’s entitled wife.
I quickly changed the subject. “Jalen Finch surprised me today.”
“You should have seen Caleb’s face when he realized who you were,” I said, picking at my salad in Arthur’s office an hour later.
“That’s CEO Sterling,” Arthur interrupted coldly. “And whether you knew or not is irrelevant. You threatened and manhandled an employee of this company.”
Arthur’s gaze returned to me, his expression unreadable. “Don’t forget our lunch appointment. I’ll wait in my office.”
“I don’t think so,” came another voice.
I followed him to an empty workstation where he pulled up a basic simulation problem.
“Jalen,” he called out. “I need to speak with you.”
I nodded. “It wasn’t very difficult.”
The moment he was gone, Arthur’s arm dropped from my waist. The sudden absence of his warmth left me feeling oddly bereft.
“You’re making a mistake,” Caleb warned. “What if I told you I could introduce Dr. Wilson?”
With one last glare, Caleb turned and stalked out of the library.
you to
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“It was,” I admitted. “Though not as satisfying as kneeing him in the groin.”
Caleb’s expression hardened. “This doesn’t concern you, Jalen.”
“I said no. She stays in R&D.”
“I’m turning down your attempt at manipulation,” Jalen corrected. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Mrs. Sterling and I have work to do.”
Before I could respond, Caleb reappeared at the end of the aisle. His earlier fear had been replaced by determination.
Jalen shrugged. “Just doing my job, sir.”
Jalen crossed his arms. “No.”
Once we were out of earshot, I found my voice. “Why did you do that? You could have
met Dr. Wilson.”
“Excuse me?”
“This is lan,” he said. “Ian, give Mrs. Sterling something simple to work on. Keep her occupied.”
Instead, Jalen shook his head. “Not interested.”
Caleb took a step back, his earlier arrogance evaporated. “This is a misunderstanding.
We were just talking-”
“He stood up for me against Caleb. Even turned down a chance to meet Dr. Wilson just to avoid transferring me.”
I approached cautiously, still not entirely trusting his sudden change of attitude.
Ian, who had been hovering nearby, looked skeptical. He reviewed my solution, his eyes growing wider with each passing minute. “How did you…? This is brilliant.”
“You’re finished already?”
“Mrs. Sterling,” Jalen called when he spotted me. “Come here.”
“Enough.” His eyes met mine across the desk. “Including your impressive defense of your husband’s honor.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise. Jalen Finch, the man who had treated me with open
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disdain from the moment I arrived, was coming to my defense?
Caleb’s nostrils flared. “She doesn’t belong in R&D. She’s not qualified.”
Back in R&D after lunch, I found Jalen in deep conversation with a lanky man I recognized as Ian Coleman, his senior engineer.
Jalen and lan exchanged a look. Then Jalen nodded decisively.
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