Niall's face went rigid, her lips forming a tight line.
That cold dismissal was the last thing she had expected to hear.
Malcolm reached for the door handle, ready to walk away, when Niall rushed forward, her voice slightly breathless.
"Mr. Blair, wait. What exactly do I need to work on?"
He stopped mid-step, not bothering to turn around completely.
"Stay current with industry developments. Put in actual research hours instead of coasting on past achievements."
His words cut deeper than she cared to admit.
Cullen's footsteps echoed in the hallway just as Malcolm delivered his verdict.
"I've fulfilled my obligation here," Malcolm said to Cullen without preamble. "I'll be in touch within the week."
Cullen nodded. "Understood."
The door clicked shut behind Malcolm, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.
Cullen studied Niall's face, reading the disappointment written across her features.
"That bad?" he asked.
"He turned me down flat." Niall's voice carried a bitter edge. "No negotiation, no second chances."
"Walk me through what happened. Every detail."
Niall recounted the entire exchange, from Malcolm's probing questions to his final assessment. She didn't sugarcoat his criticism or her own stumbling responses.
Cullen listened without interruption, then leaned back in his chair.
"His feedback isn't wrong," he said carefully. "You have the raw talent, but talent without dedication doesn't impress someone like Blair."
The truth hit Niall like a slap. She had been sliding by on natural ability, spending more energy on her racing hobby than on advancing her professional knowledge. The industry publications piling up unread on her desk suddenly felt like evidence against her.
Had Malcolm seen through her immediately? Did he recognize that she was treating her career as something that would simply fall into place without real effort?
The realization stung, but it also brought unexpected relief. Her rejection wasn't about lacking intelligence or potential. It was about work ethic.
"This isn't over," Cullen said, watching her process the feedback. "Blair's door isn't permanently closed."
"You're right." Niall straightened her shoulders. "I can fix this."
If she recommitted herself to serious study, if she demonstrated genuine passion for the field, she could prove herself worthy of his mentorship. The months she'd wasted on racing circuits instead of research felt like a costly mistake now.
Meanwhile, Malcolm arrived back at the villa to find domestic chaos in full swing.
Veronica and Dario had transformed the kitchen into what looked like a battlefield, with ingredients scattered across every surface as they prepared an elaborate stew.
"That was quick," Dario observed, looking up from chopping vegetables.
Malcolm hung his coat on the back of a chair, his expression unreadable.
Dario exchanged a knowing look with Veronica as she emerged from the kitchen carrying serving bowls.
"No new protégé joining our little family, I take it?" Dario asked with barely concealed amusement.
Malcolm accepted a bowl from Veronica and settled into his usual chair without responding.
His silence was answer enough.
Dario grinned and shot Veronica a triumphant look.
"Called it from day one. That girl had 'mediocre' written all over her."
Veronica rolled her eyes and nudged him toward the kitchen.
"Your ego is showing. Go get the rest of the food."
As Dario returned with platters of meat, his curiosity got the better of him.
"Seriously though, how would you rate her technical knowledge? On a scale of completely hopeless to actually competent?"
"Marginally better than a typical PhD candidate. Nothing exceptional."
"That's about what I figured."
The conversation highlighted something both men understood implicitly. The AI field had exploded over the past decade, with their country leading innovation that left other nations scrambling to catch up.
Malcolm operated at the absolute pinnacle of this world, surrounded by breakthrough technology and extraordinary minds on a daily basis.
By ordinary standards, Niall's capabilities were genuinely impressive. Among the elite circles Malcolm moved in, she barely registered as above average.
Dario and Veronica existed in an entirely different stratosphere. They weren't just exceptional; they were the kind of once-in-a-generation talents that redefined what was possible.
The brutal reality was that Niall, at twenty-five, still couldn't match what Veronica had accomplished with ECHO years earlier. Age wasn't an excuse when true innovation was concerned.