37 Chapter 37 – The Unwitting Bargaining Chip
37 Chapter 37 – The Unwitting Bargaining Chip
Claire stepped forward next, her earlier hostility replaced by awkward humility. “I’m sorry too, Elara. We’ve been under a lot of pressure with this project, but that’s no excuse for how we treated you.”
“Recent addition,” I replied coolly.
He nodded, accepting thi
“You’re right. And I was wrong. This solution isn’t just good -it’s exceptional. The kind of work we’d expect from…” He trailed off, looking almost confused by the quality of what he’d seen.
“I have connections,” Caleb said smoothly. “One phone call, and they could consult on your project. All I ask in return is that Elara transfers to my department.”
“Who sent it?” Jason asked, edging closer.
Leo’s face transformed as he read through the solution, his mouth slowly falling open. “This is… this actually works. The thermal transfer equations balance perfectly.”
“That’s quite an offer,” Jason murmured.
“It’s an approach I’ve been developing for some time,” I said simply.
Leo looked
from the papers, up
his face ashen. “You sent this?”
I watched my new teammates exchange meaningful glances. The temptation was clear in their eyes. Even after seeing my work, the allure of Dr. Wilson’s expertise was powerful.
“An email,” Ian said, still catching his breath. “I was checking my inbox and found it. The algorithm design is revolutionary–it accounts for all the thermal variables we kept missing.”
One by one, they offered similar apologies–some sincere, others clea. motivated by self–preservation now that they realized I might actually have influence. I accepted them all with the same measured grace. These weren’t the first colleagues who had underestimated me, and they likely wouldn’t be the last.
Leo snatched the papers from him, eyes narrowing as he scanned the contents. “Where did you get this?“/
37 Chapter 37 – The Unwitting Bargaining Chip
All heads turned toward me in unison. The same people who had been snickering just moments ago now stared with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.
“But this solution…” Leo’s voice trailed off as he flipped through the pages. “This incorporates neural network principles I’ve never seen applied to thermal systems. Leo handed the papers back to lan and approached me slowly. His earlier anger had evaporated, replaced by what appeared to be genuine contrition.
Leo hesitated, visibly torn. “Dr. Wilson’s team? You have access to them?”
Caleb’s smile tightened. “I’m sure she did something… helpful. But we’re talking about Dr. Wilson here, Leo. The same Dr. Wilson whose thermal system designs revolutionized the entire field. Think about what that could do for your department’s standing.”
Caleb’s eyes found me standing among the group. His expression flickered–surprise, then calculation, then determination.
“Do I get a say in this?” I asked, my voice cutting through their deliberation.
I stepped forward, facing Caleb directly. “You seem very comfortable offering Dr. Wilson’s services,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite my growing anger. “Did you ask for my consent before using Dr. Wilson as a bargaining chip?”
“You did,” I agreed, not making it easier for him.
Ian’s eyes found mine across the room. “Elara Dubois.”
“I appreciate the offer, Caleb, but Elará stays with us. She’s just provided a solution we’ve been chasing for weeks.”
“Leo,” he greeted with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I heard R&D was struggling with the new prototype. Thought I’d stop by to offer some assistance from my department.”
“Ah, Elara,” he said, as though just noticing me. “I didn’t realize you were part of Leo’s
team now.”
“Mrs. Sterling–Elara,” he corrected himself, “I owe you an apology. I jumped to conclusions based on… well, based on assumptions I shouldn’t have made.”
The name landed like a bomb in the room. Dr. Wilson–my alter ego–was something of
37 Chapter 37 – The Unwitting Bargaining Chip
a legend in engineering circles. Very few people knew the reclusive genius’s real identity.
I kept my voice level despite the satisfaction bubbling inside me. “Yes. That’s what I’ve been working on since I arrived. The file wasn’t empty–you just didn’t give it a chance to load completely.”
Leo straightened, his professional mask sliding back into place. “That’s kind of you, Caleb, but we’ve just had a breakthrough. We’ll be fine.”
I shook his hand, allowing myself a small smile. “I look forward to collaborating”
One by one, the team members approached to look at the papers, murmurs of appreciation replacing their previous derision. I remained at my desk, letting the moment wash over me. This wasn’t about gloating–it was about finally being seen for
my
marital status. my abilities rather than
Both men turned to me, Caleb with irritation, Leo with surprise.
Leo seemed to be genuinely considering the proposal, which stung after our moment of reconciliation. But then he shook his head.
Claire looked between Leo and Caleb, clearly calculating the benefits. “Dr. Wilson’s input would be invaluable…”
I felt a familiar disappointment settle in my chest. Once again, I was being treated as a commodity rather than a professional–now literally being traded like an asset.
“From a real engineer?” I finished for him.
Ian was the first to recover. “This is brilliant work,” he admitted, looking genuinely impressed. “The cooling efficiency would increase by at least forty percent with this implementation.”
Leo had the decency to look embarrassed. “From our top specialists, yes.”
Caleb turned back to Leo, his smile widening. “Perfect timing. I actually came to make you an offer, Leo. Give me Elara for my department, and I’ll arrange for technical support from Dr. Wilson’s team for your cooling system project.”
The tension in the room had just begun to dissipate when the door swung open again. This time, Caleb Sterling strode in, bringing with him a wave of expensive cologne and entitled confidence.
37 Chapter 37 – The Unwitting Bargaining Chip
“It’s solved! The core technical problem we’ve been stuck on for a month–someone actually solved it!” Ian’s voice cracked with disbelief.
“That’s impossible,” Claire muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.
The room fell silent again, but this time with a completely different energy. No longer contempt, but a dawning realization that they had severely misjudged me.
I watched as Ian waved the papers frantically in Leo’s face, his excitement palpable in the tense room.
Leo extended his hand. “Welcome to the team–officially this time. We’d be honored to have your input on the rest of the cooling system design.”
I felt my blood pressure rising. The audacity of this man, trying to use me as a bargaining chip while simultaneously dangling my own secret identity as bait.
The team shifted uncomfortably, clearly tempted by the prospect. I’d had enough.
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