Crossroads

Chapter 271

-East side of downtown, top floor of the Innovate Group building.

On the 65th floor of the towering skyu ver, Vincent stond before the special idar wall, peering though a telescope at the beastling city stree below. The people looked like ants from up here, their heads time specks against the sprawlingcityscape

In the spacious CEO’s office, two others were deep in discussion about fallion dollar projects Vincent stepped away from the telescope, glancing at Dominick, a thought crossing his mind. In the face of capital, fairiess wava myth. Human lives, umetinies, were as Doignific and Berting R

“Are we going public with all these projects?” Vincent askeil, curiosity prejurd

“Dominick’s already signed off on it. We got some samples Hown in from Nova Valley Lot work. Fyr alin lined up the material and factories here at home, ready to pump out the first bunch. Next month, I’m headed to the Nivalas Al New Product Conference“:

Vincent excitedly patted Scott’s shoulder, smirking slyly “Gurs [better double down on my Innovate Group stuck then. That price i gonna skyrocket when these new products drop”

g nangrech or quantum computing here:

Scon couldn’t help but throw a wet blanket on Vincent’s excitement. “Hold your horses. We’re not talking i This is just your everyday Al assistant robot.”

Ignoring Scott Vincent partied his attention to Dominick, who was poring over documents at lavalesk. With his usual playful demeanor, Vincent quipped, “What do you say. Dominick! You wouldn’t let me go broke, would your

Ever since Dominick returned from surgery in Serenburg, he had become colder and more difficult to read than ever before

Dominick didn’t look up but unexpectedly teased. “If you go broke, you can finally crawl back to the Hayes family”

Scott chuckled. Vincent was a unique case. He refused to help with the family business. Every time they saw his father at some kind of meeting, they would hear him scolding Vincent for being ungrateful.

Vincent sighed deeply. “My mom is always telling me to get married. I don’t even dare to go home anymore

“Dude, you’ve dated so many girls. Why haven’t you accidently knocked someone up by now? Just marry her then Everyone will be happy? Scon said, his darker side emerging in private.

Vincent quickly defended himself. “Hey, 1 have morals, okay! I don’t sleep with all of them. And even if there was an accidental pregnancy, why should I be forced to marry her?”

At this point, both Vincent and Scout’s expressions turned a bit awkward. They y knew that

pregnant.

Dominick had marned Stephanie because she got

In their world, the usual solution to such situations was simple – either pay the woman off to have an abortion and avoid the mess, or let her have the kid and send her away.

Vincent knew that Dominick and Stephanie had been having a rough patch lately. He could also tell that Dominick wasn’t keen on hearing anything about Stephanie, so he and Scout tactfully avoided mentioning her in front of him.

Vincent scrutinized the man across from him for a while. “Dominick,” he cautiously asked, “you still don’t remember Stephanie?

Scott was concerned as well and looked over.

desk hesitated, his pen pausing mid–air. He looked up at them, his thin

came through. “Mr. Wellington,

on business. She had been the head of Hit, but last month she’d been promoted to Product Director. Domnick, had entrusted her with the group’s confidential Al project, increasing her power and influence within

sconded, remembering Dominick’s plan from three months ago to move Hayley to Paente. The idea was to

Dominick said flatly

Vincent and Scott, she smiled and said, “Hey guys, good to weer you both. This we jisjert is a pretty big deal. The group’s first public Al research is bound to make some waves, so we could really

my problem” Vincent replied coldly, barely bothering with

the product quality, but for promotion. I need your

had

and extensive

Chapter 271

however, wasn’t thrilled. “I’m a hat bany

home a wife for your mom” Soact retorted immediately as he saw Vincent’s sour expression. He knew Vincent was close to Stephanie, and working with Hayley might be awkward for him.

“We’ve got a Mi–second commercial to shoot for the Nivalis E. next month. The spokesperson needs to be fluent in Eldranian and have the right look for the product. The people there love their arty adi in we’re really counting on you. Mr Hayes:

face hardened. It seemed like he’d picked the wrong

produrt positioning with a poker face. Occasionally, he would interjert

however, didn’t seem very interested

documents aude, he stood up and walked over to the glass wall on the east

a high–powered telescope. Normally, he wouldn’t bother with it, but suddenly, feeling

of surprise and urinsity

they were done, it was almost

to the factory with his team that afternoon to check out some new materials, so he had to take off early, leaving Dominick alone with Hayley.

on, Hayley, there’s no way you couldn’t find someone to grab lunch with. People at the Innovate Group

called her

fine–dining restaurant. The dishes were pre–ordered, and the waitress quickly served them. It was very light, with the main attraction being a big

know me at all, do you! What made you order this stu

seats, but Dominick bailed, so you got dragged into this. I know the manager

her eyebrows at this. “This soup is meant for Mr. Wellington, huh?”

probably not sleeping well. When the company gets busy, he forgets to eat. I’m worried his old stomach problems are daring

stomach troubles were actually much worse. When he had an episode, his

The i

her ex–husband darkened Chloe’s expression. She looked across the table and teased, “Hayley, you really

a bowl with soups and took a slow sip.

Stephanie’s children died. Chloe

paused; her face looked strange, and

are dead. Stephanse is no threat to you. They only need to sign the divorce

unattainable, Hayley sundled helplessly, wondering if all her efforts meant

to have grown up a lot. Looking at her friend,

tickle thing. But if you become a part of his Tandy, he won’t be able to easily discard you Look, Mary invited you to stay with the Wellingtons, you get along with

need a marriage for business reasons. Besides you, who else does Dommack,