Chapter 5
706words
As an industry titan, Garrett was naturally a central figure. In previous years, Sylvia would have prepared exhaustive materials, drafted his speeches, and even anticipated tricky questions with prepared responses.
This time, he could only bring Vivian and several executives. Vivian clutched thick folders, trailing nervously behind him, terrified of making even the slightest error.
The venue buzzed with industry elites, champagne glasses clinking. Garrett quickly became a focal point, surrounded by people eager to exchange pleasantries. He navigated the crowd smoothly, but his eyes kept searching for one particular figure.
Then he saw her.
She'd actually come. Not as his assistant like previous years, but alone—champagne in hand, standing in a discreet corner, listening attentively to the speaker. Her elegantly tailored navy satin dress accentuated her porcelain skin and serene demeanor, drawing numerous appreciative glances.
Garrett felt a twinge of discomfort. In what capacity was she here? As a soon-to-be ex-employee?
At that moment, Lawrence Langford, ClearCore Technologies' CEO and a featured summit guest, took the stage. Young, accomplished, and charismatic, Lawrence represented the industry's rising generation and was Garrett's formidable competitor across multiple sectors.
Lawrence's speech on "Technological Innovation and Humanistic Care" showcased clear thinking and fresh perspectives, earning enthusiastic applause. As he neared his conclusion, he pivoted unexpectedly with a smile:
"…Speaking of innovation, I'm reminded of a fascinating case. Last year, during discussions on smart city security, I encountered an unadopted proposal combining 'distributed edge computing with dynamic encryption anchors'—a brilliantly forward-thinking concept that elegantly balanced efficiency with security. It left quite an impression."
Murmurs rippled through the audience. The concept sounded vaguely familiar.
Lawrence's gaze swept the room almost imperceptibly before landing squarely on Garrett, his smile remaining pleasant yet carrying a barely detectable edge.
"I later discovered this inspired proposal came from a brilliant mind at Grayson Enterprises. Sadly, it was rejected for being 'too idealistic and lacking short-term profit potential.'" He paused, his voice resonating clearly. "Personally, I believe true innovation often requires a healthy dose of idealism. It's unfortunate such talent hasn't been given room to flourish."
The room erupted in shocked whispers!
All eyes turned first to Garrett—curious, amused, even sympathetic—so Grayson had buried talent in his ranks? Then, following Lawrence's earlier gaze, attention collectively shifted to Sylvia standing quietly in the corner!
Indeed! That proposal had been Sylvia's three-month labor of love! Garrett had barely glanced at it before dismissing it as "impractical."
He remembered how her eyes had dimmed, though she'd said nothing, simply tucking the proposal away.
Now Sylvia stood as the center of attention. She appeared momentarily surprised before quickly regaining composure, her expression unreadable as she lowered her gaze.
Garrett's face burned with humiliation—as if he'd been publicly slapped! Embarrassment, rage, and uncontrollable jealousy coursed through him!
Lawrence Langford! This was deliberate! Not only was he publicly humiliating Garrett and painting him as shortsighted, but worse—the way he looked at Sylvia, with undisguised admiration and obvious recruitment intent, was infuriating!
"Mr. Grayson…" Vivian whispered worriedly beside him.
Garrett gripped his wine glass until his knuckles whitened, barely maintaining his composure. He forced a magnanimous smile, meeting Lawrence's gaze directly. "You're too kind, Mr. Langford. Grayson Enterprises has always fostered innovation. Some concepts may not align with current strategy, but they certainly enrich our technological foundation. As for talent," his gaze shifted meaningfully to Sylvia, "we absolutely provide the best opportunities and environment."
His words both saved face and contained an implicit warning and retention offer to Sylvia.
Sylvia raised her head and met Garrett's gaze from across the room. Her calm, undisturbed eyes reflected his awkwardness and bluster like a cold mirror.
Lawrence offered a knowing smile from the stage and elegantly concluded his speech.
For Garrett, the remainder of the summit was pure torture. He felt countless eyes boring into his back.
What troubled him more was watching Lawrence head straight for Sylvia after leaving the stage, the two soon engaged in quiet conversation in a corner.
Sylvia nodded occasionally, a faint smile playing at her lips. That smile pierced Garrett like a knife.
How long had it been since she'd smiled at him like that?
