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I smiled. “Just an intern, Mr. Sterling. Just an intern.”
“That’s my contact name in your mother’s phone,” I explained, keeping my
neutral.
“She’s sleeping. I’ll tell her you called.”
voice
“It’s quite late, Ms. Dubois,” I replied, my voice digitally transformed into a deeper, slightly accented tone.
“Do you hear me? You’ll never be a Sterling,” Fiona’s voice rose. “I’m the one marrying into that family. Caleb and I will run the Sterling Group one day, and your precious
Arthur will answer to us.”
“That sounds impressive,” I said mildly.
“An intern helping with our most critical project?” Caleb laughed. “Come on, Leo. She’s barely qualified to make coffee.”
I hung up before she could protest, switching to my secure phone. As expected, it rang minutes later. I activated my voice modulator before answering.
After he walked away, a polished woman in a sharp suit approached me. “Ms. Dubois? I’m Claire, Mr. Sterling’s assistant. Please follow me.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” Fiona sneered. “You’ve never accomplished anything. Now put Mother on the phone.”
“You expect us to believe you solved a problem our entire department couldn’t crack?” Caleb laughed, but uncertainty crept into his voice.
“She’s Arthur’s wife,” Caleb said, as if it explained everything. “Better to keep her somewhere harmless. My team can find her something simple to do.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“South? You answered to ‘South‘?” Fiona’s voice cracked with incredulity. “I was calling Mother. Your contact name is… South?”
“But sir, it’s about the coolant problem,” Ian insisted, eyes bright with excitement. “I
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think we have a solution!”
“Hello, Fiona,” I said calmly, mind racing. “I suppose we have something to discuss.”
Leo crossed his arms. “Why do you want her?”
“Please, call me Caleb. We’re practically family now.”
Relief washed over me. She hadn’t discovered my Dr. Wilson identity after all.
Caleb’s smile tightened. “Leo and I were just discussing your placement. I think you’d be more comfortable on my team.”
Monday morning arrived with pale sunlight streaming through my curtains. I dressed carefully, choosing a modest pencil skirt and blouse that wouldn’t draw attention at Sterling Group where I’d be working today.
These insults had lost their sting years ago. I sat down at my desk, opening my laptop while she continued her tirade.
“Mr. Finch, your new team member has arrived,” she announced.
“That’s the idea. I am going to work, after all.”
“We’re prepared to offer whatever compensation you require,” Fiona pressed. “The Sterling Group has unmatched resources.”
“Are you threatening me?” Leo asked incredulously.
“I’d like that,” I replied honestly.
Caleb’s friendly facade dropped. “Listen carefully, Finch. Your project is six months behind schedule. The board is getting restless. One word from me about your incompetence, and you’ll be clearing out your desk.”
I typed my password, pulling up emails while she ranted.
Before Caleb could respond, a young man burst into the conference room, clutching a
tablet. “Mr. Finch! You need to see this!”
“Thank you, Mr. Finch. I’m looking forward to contributing.”
“Dinner tonight?” he asked casually. “Grandmother wants to see you.”
“Run the simulations,” I suggested calmly. “The results will speak for themselves.”
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I met his incredulous stare steadily. “Yes, it would.”
“We have powerful allies,” she boasted. “Dr. Wilson is working with us now. The most brilliant mind in new energy research. Arthur’s little R&D department will be obsolete once we unveil what Dr. Wilson is developing for us.”
lan thrust the tablet toward Leo. “I found this email in our shared inbox. Someone
solved the thermal conductivity issue!”
“No.” Leo’s response was firm. “Elara stays with my team.”
Her breathing quickened. “That’s not true. Caleb is brilliant-”
I bit back a laugh. If only she knew she was bragging about me to myself.
“Ms. Dubois, I select my projects based on scientific merit, not financial incentives,” I said coldly. “From what I understand, Mr. Caleb Sterling’s department lacks the necessary expertise to implement my research effectively.”
Caleb’s face flushed red. “This must be a mistake. She must have copied it from
somewhere.”
“I have meetings all day, but Leo knows you’re coming. My assistant will show you to
R&D.”
“Dr. Wilson,” Fiona’s voice was suddenly honey–sweet. “This is Fiona Dubois from Sterling Group. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Leo studied me with new interest. “Elara, is this your work?”
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Worming your way into Arthur Sterling’s bed,” Fiona hissed. “Everyone knows you’re just his toy. A temporary amusement before he gets bored.”
“You can’t just transfer people between departments on a whim!” Leo Finch’s voice carried through the glass walls.
“Dr. Wilson speaking.”
“I believe that’s Mr. Finch’s decision,” I replied. “Arthur specifically arranged for me to
work under his supervision.”
“Smart woman,” I said with a small smile.
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4
“Elara,” he recovered quickly, smoothing his features into a practiced smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”
The stunned silence on the other end stretched for several seconds. Then came a high–pitched, disbelieving laugh.
I leaned back in my chair. “What makes you think I’m available for consulting?”
I nodded. “I noticed the issue while reviewing your project files. The solution seemed straightforward.”
Caleb scoffed. “Your team has been stuck on that for months.”
Arthur nodded, then surprised me by reaching for my hand. Before I could react, he’d pulled out his phone and snapped a selfie of us.
I ended the call, smiling to myself. Fiona would be furious, but she’d never connect Dr. Wilson’s rejection to her earlier conversation with me.
“What was that for?” I asked, blinking from the flash.
“Good morning,” I greeted, sliding in beside him.
“I apologize for the hour,” she gushed. “We’re just so excited about the possibility of working with you. My fiancé, Caleb Sterling, is now Vice President of R&D. We’d like to offer you a consultant position.”
That got my attention. “Is that what Caleb promised you?”
I clenched my jaw, staying out of sight.
“This can’t be right,” he muttered, scrolling through the complex equations I’d sent last night. “This would require advanced thermal physics knowledge.”
The mention of Arthur made Caleb’s eye twitch. “My uncle doesn’t understand the technical requirements of our department.”
Leo stepped forward. “Elara, welcome to the team. We’re glad to have you.”
“Why would she save you as South? That’s her maiden name,” Fiona spat. The confusion in her voice quickly morphed into familiar venom. “Did you change it yourself? Are you that desperate to pretend you’re part of this family?”
“Brilliance is subjective. Results are not.” I cut her off. “I decline your offer. Goodnight.”
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He glanced up. “You look professional.”
“Perhaps not,” I agreed mildly. “But I’m sure he understands organizational hierarchy.”
“You’re pathetic, hanging around Mother like a sycophant. Arthur will throw you away you crawl just like Caleb did,” she continued. “And when he does, I’ll be there to watch back to this house with nothing.”
She led me to the elevator, swiping a keycard for the restricted R&D floor. “Mr. Finch is expecting you. Your security clearance has been arranged.”
“Who are you?” he whispered.
“Dr. Wilson starts consulting next week,” Caleb continued. “He’s agreed to help with the coolant problem you can’t solve. In exchange, I want the Dubois girl transferred to my team.”
“Mr. Sterling,” I greeted him coolly.
As promised, Arthur’s car arrived at ten. He sat in the backseat, scrolling through emails on his phone.
“Don’t call her that!” The shrillness of her voice made me pull the phone away from my ear. “She’s not your mother. You’re nothing but the help’s daughter.”
We rode in comfortable silence until reaching Sterling Tower. In the lobby, Arthur stopped.
“As Vice President, I have that authority,” Caleb replied smugly. I recognized him immediately–tall, blond, and wearing the same arrogant expression he’d had when he dumped me on graduation day.
“Grandmother wants proof I’m treating you well,” he explained, showing me the photo.
“She doesn’t trust me.”
Leo nodded to lan, who practically ran from the room, eager to test my solution. Caleb stared at me with a mixture of disbelief and dawning horror.
I checked my calendar for tomorrow’s meetings, half–listening to her predictable
insults.
“She’s assigned to my team,” Leo argued. “She’s been helping with the micro–reactor project.”
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The R&D department was a hive of activity. Glass–walled labs lined one side of the floor, while the other held workstations filled with engineers and scientists. Claire led me to a conference room where a heated discussion was already underway.
Leo took the tablet, scanning the contents with widening eyes. Slowly, his gaze lifted to me. “Elara, did you send this?”
I’d heard enough. I nodded to Claire, who knocked on the door before opening it.
“I’m explaining reality,” Caleb replied. “Transfer the girl to my team, or start updating your resume.”
“Straightforward?” lan echoed in disbelief. “This is brilliant! The variable viscosity approach could save us months of development time!”
I rolled my eyes, grateful she couldn’t see me. “I didn’t choose the name, Fiona. Perhaps you should ask your mother.”
“Not now, Ian,” Leo said tiredly.
All heads turned toward me. Caleb’s face darkened as he snatched the tablet from Leo.
All
eyes turned to me as I walked in. Leo looked relieved, while Caleb’s expression
froze in shock.
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