Veronica slipped her phone into her pocket and headed downstairs. She found Cook in the kitchen and casually mentioned that Cullen wouldn't be home for dinner.
Cullen never came home that night.
The following morning, Cook was furious when she discovered his absence. "This is absolutely unacceptable. I understand his work demands are significant, but staying out all night crosses every line of decency."
Veronica offered only a knowing smile in response to Cook's indignation. While Cullen certainly maintained a demanding schedule, his failure to return home wasn't about business obligations. Everyone needed sleep, regardless of their professional commitments.
The memory of Niall's distinctive voice filtering through the phone last night lingered in Veronica's mind. Cullen had clearly found more appealing accommodations for the evening. His absence suddenly made perfect sense.
Over at DataPulse Co., Veronica had spent the previous forty-eight hours meticulously outlining their major projects for the upcoming two years. Dario believed their concepts deserved collaborative refinement, so he forwarded several detailed documents to Malcolm, hoping to gain valuable perspective from his extensive expertise.
Malcolm's schedule was notoriously unpredictable, and his availability remained consistently scarce. Both Veronica and Dario had mentally prepared themselves for an extended waiting period, possibly stretching into weeks before receiving any meaningful feedback.
Their collective astonishment was complete when Malcolm's call came through unexpectedly. "Impressive concepts."
Receiving Malcolm's endorsement sent waves of confidence through both Veronica and Dario regarding their proposed projects. His standards were legendarily exacting, making even his characteristically brief acknowledgment feel like extraordinary recognition from someone of his caliber.
Malcolm's voice continued with measured precision. "Your submitted materials demonstrate solid understanding of established foundations and recent developments within artificial intelligence advancement. The work meets acceptable standards."
His words were clearly directed toward Veronica specifically, causing an unexpected tightness in her throat and a sharp sensation behind her eyes.
Before she could formulate any response, he pressed forward relentlessly. "However, your approach shows concerning negligence. Continuous advancement is essential to maintain relevance. Your skills have deteriorated noticeably, Veronica."
Veronica's response came immediately. "I completely understand, Mr. Blair. I commit to intensive study to recover the knowledge and skills I've lost during recent years."
"Acceptable." Malcolm's communication style avoided unnecessary elaboration entirely. His silence indicated the conversation's natural conclusion.
Veronica sensed unusual availability in Malcolm's demeanor and decided to seize the opportunity. "Mr. Blair, do you have availability this evening? I would appreciate the chance to share dinner with you."
Dario hadn't enjoyed a meal with Malcolm in countless months. Hearing Veronica's invitation, he eagerly supported her suggestion. "Absolutely, Mr. Blair. Would that arrangement work for your schedule?"
Malcolm's response carried his typical detached tone. "My evening is already committed."
Both Dario and Veronica felt their hopes deflate instantly. She prepared to inquire about future availability, wanting to extend a proper dinner invitation when convenient.
Malcolm's next words stopped her completely. "Cullen scheduled our meeting."
The revelation left both Veronica and Dario speechless. Dario recovered first, glancing meaningfully at her before asking carefully, "June we ask what business Mr. Dennis wishes to discuss with you, Mr. Blair?"
"Cullen mentioned wanting to facilitate an introduction." Malcolm terminated the call immediately without additional explanation.
Dario studied Veronica's expression intently before voicing their shared suspicion. "Cullen's planning to introduce Niall to Mr. Blair, isn't he?"
Dario had remained unaware of the Crystal family's technology enterprise until their recent encounter. Niall's original interest in joining DataPulse Co. stemmed entirely from her obsession with accessing Echo, the revolutionary programming language.
Industry consensus credited Malcolm as Echo's primary architect, working alongside a select team of elite programmers during its development.
With DataPulse Co. no longer an option for Niall, establishing direct contact with Malcolm represented her most viable path toward continued Echo research. The possibility of securing mentorship under his guidance would be an invaluable opportunity she couldn't ignore.
This realization struck Dario like a physical blow. His face darkened with fury as the implications became crystal clear. Cullen was actively working to provide Niall with exactly what she wanted most, using his connections to open doors that should have remained firmly closed.
The betrayal cut deeper than professional disappointment. Cullen was systematically dismantling every barrier between Niall and her objectives, regardless of how his actions might impact Veronica or DataPulse Co.'s interests.
Dario felt his blood pressure spike as anger coursed through his system. "This is absolutely infuriating."
Veronica remained silent, processing the devastating implications of Cullen's maneuvering. Her husband was orchestrating introductions that could potentially undermine everything she'd worked to rebuild professionally. The calculated nature of his assistance to Niall revealed a level of dedication that spoke volumes about his true priorities.
The weight of Cullen's choices settled heavily in the room. His willingness to leverage his relationship with Malcolm for Niall's benefit demonstrated commitment that extended far beyond casual friendship or professional courtesy.
Veronica felt the familiar ache of being systematically excluded from her husband's considerations. Once again, Cullen's actions prioritized another woman's ambitions over their marriage's stability or her professional recovery.