How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

The room fell instantly silent.

Someone even stifled a laugh, as if the whole thing was too ridiculous to take seriously.

Sprague arched a brow. "Elodie, what exactly are you offering? How do you plan to handle this? I understand where you're coming from, but don't worry no one's trying to undermine Jarrod. I'm just heading to headquarters to sort this out, and we're only here to discuss my appointment."

Elodie shot him a sidelong glance. "And what do you think my job is? Who do you imagine I deal with on a daily basis?"

The moment her words landed, Sprague's expression faltered.

Even Lucinda, ever composed, gave Elodie a subtle, sidelong glance.

Tall but slender, Elodie looked as though a strong breeze might carry her away. Yet, standing before this gathering of seasoned corporate sharks, her face betrayed not a hint of fear.

"I can promise you all, right here and now, that any signatures or paperwork we need-I'll handle it directly with the senior board. My connections are exactly what you need. I've already spoken with Colonel Whitaker from the Defense Department, and my mentor, Mr. Sterling. That's more than enough to get us a seat at the table. I control the negotiations-how we talk, who we talk with. So ask yourselves: are you questioning me, or the weight of the people backing me?"

Her tone was calm, steady-never rising, never rushed.

But her words settled deep, impossible to ignore.

Everyone here had spent years in this field; they all knew exactly what it meant for Elodie to invoke those two names.

With contacts like that, one call could open any door.

being groomed as Charlie Sterling's

be walking

in a tense

was a scientist-but he hadn't realized

not with Colonel

Sterling, sure, he had talented

influence to

by calling in favors

now-it's a stopgap, and I can respect that. But staffing decisions aren't really yours to

edat

coolly. "Do you really think this can be solved just by talking? If you don't trust me, I'll

the table. "Here's the Nexus Analytics equity agreement. If I fail, you can have

fell

what Nexus Analytics

A multi-billion dollar firm.

everything

now did Sprague rise to his feet, his expression turning icy. "Isn't

at

l.ne

the lucrative project away from Jafrod. He hadn't expected Elodie to be watching so closely-or to respond so quickly, wielding both her connections