The afternoon stretched on as both teams hammered out the details of their potential partnership. By evening, Veronica and Dario had successfully laid the groundwork for a business alliance between their companies.
Two days passed before they returned to Stellar to finalize the contract negotiations. The sleek glass building gleamed under the afternoon sun as they made their way to the executive floor.
Vincent welcomed them at the elevator, his professional smile firmly in place. They were led to the main conference room where Dalton Brady, one of Stellar's senior executives, was supposed to join them.
The mahogany table was already set with documents and refreshments when Dalton finally appeared, slightly out of breath and checking his watch.
"My sincere apologies for keeping you waiting," he said, straightening his tie as he approached. "I was caught up in an urgent meeting with Mr. Dennis on the fifteenth floor. Please forgive the delay."
Veronica's pulse quickened involuntarily. Cullen was in the building.
She forced herself to maintain composure as she and Dario exchanged handshakes with Dalton. "No problem at all," she managed smoothly.
With all parties present, they dove back into the contract specifications. The numbers and clauses blurred together as Veronica found her concentration wavering, wondering if Cullen knew she was here.
Twenty minutes into their discussion, the conference room door swung open without warning.
Neither Veronica nor Dario initially looked up, assuming it was simply another Stellar employee entering briefly.
But Vincent and Dalton immediately rose to their feet, their postures shifting to one of clear deference.
"Ms. Crystal," they said in unison.
Veronica's pen froze mid-signature.
She lifted her head to find Niall standing in the doorway, impeccably dressed in a tailored navy blazer and carrying herself with the confidence of someone who belonged. Dario's eyebrows drew together in surprise.
Niall's eyes swept the room, landing briefly on Veronica before addressing the men. "Don't let me interrupt your business. I'm simply observing today. Please continue."
Both Vincent and Dalton nodded eagerly, with Dalton quickly signaling to Gina Hogan, his assistant, who immediately began preparing premium coffee service for their unexpected guest.
The level of attention they showered on Niall made one thing abundantly clear—they treated her as if she were already the future Mrs. Dennis, with all the authority that position would entail.
Niall acknowledged Dario with practiced politeness. "Mr. Reid, good to see you again."
"Ms. Crystal," Dario responded with a professional nod, though his curiosity was evident.
Gina placed an elegant porcelain cup before Niall, who had settled into the leather chair they'd hastily arranged for her. She lifted the cup gracefully, inhaling the aroma before taking a measured sip.
Then her attention turned to the contracts spread across the table.
"Would it be possible for me to review these documents?" she asked, though her tone suggested it wasn't really a request.
"Absolutely," Dalton replied without hesitation, his eagerness almost embarrassing.
When he noticed the questioning looks from Veronica and Dario, Dalton quickly elaborated. "Ms. Crystal is Mr. Dennis's partner. Cullen maintains complete transparency with her regarding all business dealings and contract negotiations."
The message was unmistakable—Niall had insider access, and confidentiality concerns were irrelevant.
Dario smiled diplomatically. "That certainly puts our minds at ease regarding discretion."
Veronica remained silent, her gaze fixed on the papers before her.
The irony wasn't lost on her. Throughout her years living in Cullen's home, his private office had been strictly forbidden territory. Carlos, the butler, had made that crystal clear on her very first day at the estate.
She had never once been permitted inside that room, let alone been privy to sensitive business information.
Yet here was Niall, casually reviewing confidential corporate documents while Stellar executives watched approvingly. The contrast couldn't have been more stark or more telling about where each woman stood in Cullen's life.
Niall seemed acutely aware of the dynamic she was creating. She could sense both Dario's intrigue and Veronica's discomfort, understanding that their reactions stemmed from more than simple business protocol concerns. They were witnessing firsthand the intimate access she enjoyed to Cullen's professional world.
After thoroughly examining the contract terms, Niall glanced toward Veronica, who had kept her eyes carefully averted throughout the entire exchange. The avoidance was obvious and deliberate.
Niall's lips curved into a subtle smile as she reached for her coffee again.
Her presence dominated the room despite her claim of merely observing. She radiated the quiet authority of someone who knew her opinions mattered deeply to the man who controlled this entire operation.
During a brief lull while Dalton made revisions to a particular clause, Dario decided to satisfy his curiosity.
"Ms. Crystal, have you considered joining Stellar permanently? It seems like a natural fit."
Niall set down her cup and met his direct gaze without flinching.
"Cullen has extended that invitation multiple times, actually. But I believe in earning my success independently. I don't want anyone to question whether I've taken the easy path, so I've respectfully declined his offers."
Before Dario could formulate a response, Dalton jumped into the conversation with enthusiasm.
"Ms. Crystal is being far too humble about her capabilities. Everyone in this industry knows she's brilliant in artificial intelligence development. Her relationship with Mr. Dennis aside, nobody here would ever consider her presence anything less than a tremendous asset. If she joined our team, our productivity would increase dramatically. Ms. Crystal, I really hope you'll reconsider Cullen's proposition."