Chapter 147
Elena's POV
As I was still contemplating William's suggestion, Dennis entered the living room, carrying a steaming cup of coffee.
"Here," he said, offering me the drink. "You looked like you needed this."
"Thanks." I accepted the mug gratefully, then decided to ask his opinion. "Dennis, what would you think if I approached Pinnacle Engineering Group directly, instead of going through Oliver?"
The change was immediate and startling. His entire body tensed, eyes sharpening with an intensity I'd never seen before.
"What? Absolutely not!" The vehemence in his voice surprised me.
"Why not? If I—"
"Elena," he cut me off, his tone suddenly authoritative, "we're working under Oliver's recommendation. If you bypass him to approach Pinnacle Engineering Group directly and he finds out, he'll never let us off the hook."
Without pausing, he continued, "Oliver put his reputation on the line to get you this opportunity. If you go behind his back and the executives tell him, you've not only burned that bridge but potentially damaged his standing within the company."
His analysis was shockingly sophisticated. "But if I offer to share the profits—"
"That's not the point!" Dennis's voice rose sharply. "In the business world, especially at this level, trust and loyalty matter more than short-term profits. What Oliver needs is your loyalty. Betrayal shows you're willing to sell him out for personal gain. No one will want to work with you after that."
I felt my jaw literally drop. This was Dennis—a college student with no business experience—lecturing me like a seasoned corporate executive.
"How do you know all this?" I asked slowly.
Dennis seemed to suddenly realize his mistake. His fingers began fidgeting nervously with the hem of his shirt.
"I... learned it in class," he stammered, his earlier confidence evaporating. "It's just my advice, I don't want you to make a mistake that could ruin everything."
"I see," I said neutrally. "Well, thank you for your advice."
---
I spent most of the night tossing and turning, thinking about both their suggestions.
I was making coffee when the doorbell rang. Opening the door revealed William.
"William? How did you get here?"
He stepped inside, removing his sunglasses. "I caught the first flight in. I know you were hesitant about my suggestion, so I thought I'd come in person to discuss it."
"That wasn't necessary—"
"It's no trouble. I believe in this opportunity, Elena. I'll accompany you to meet with Pinnacle Engineering Group's executives."
Thinking back to Dennis's warning, it makes a lot of sense, but risks come with opportunities. Oliver only gave me a small project, and I can't afford to wait. Plus, I have the ace up my sleeve with the Atlas bonds; it might be worth taking a gamble.
Before I could answer, I heard movement on the stairs. Dennis appeared at the top, his hair disheveled from sleep.
"Dennis? You're up? William is here. He wants to accompany me to meet with Pinnacle Engineering Group directly."
Dennis's face darkened with naked hostility, his posture suddenly rigid. Without a word, he turned and stormed back to his room, slamming the door with enough force to rattle the pictures on the wall.
I was surprised by his reaction.
"What was that about?" William asked cautiously.
"I don't know," I admitted, genuinely confused. "He was against the idea last night, maybe he's concerned about me."
William's expression grew thoughtful.
I decided to leave Dennis alone for now. But as we prepared to leave, the bedroom door upstairs creaked open.
"Wait!" Dennis called, his voice completely different from his earlier angry outburst. "I'm coming too!"
He hurried down the stairs, now wearing oversized black-rimmed glasses. His entire demeanor had changed—shoulders hunched, head slightly bowed, the picture of an awkward, insecure young man.
"Elena, please," he said softly, eyes downcast behind the glasses. "I want to go with you."
The shift was so dramatic I could only stare at him in confusion.
He looked up, his expression now one of wounded innocence. "I'm sorry. I just... worry about you." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "Please don't leave me behind."
When I didn't immediately respond, Dennis's shoulders slumped further, and he let out a small, defeated sigh that, despite my suspicions, still tugged at my heart.
"Fine," I relented, reaching out to ruffle his hair through his beanie.
His face instantly brightened, teeth flashing in a wide smile.
William had observed the entire exchange in silence, his expression complex.
--
A sleek black car pulled up to the entrance of Silver Moon Hotel. My mind was racing with thoughts about the upcoming meeting.
"We're here," William announced, turning to face me from the front passenger seat. "Remember, let me do most of the talking initially."
I nodded absently, my thoughts already focused on the documents in my bag. The driver opened my door, and I stepped out into the crisp morning air.
William quickly caught up to me as I headed toward the entrance. He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Elena, I think it would be better if Dennis waited downstairs."
Before I could respond, he turned to Dennis, who was exiting the car behind us.
"Dennis," William said with practiced politeness, "you should wait for us in the lobby. We're meeting with a high-level business representative, and having too many people might make him uncomfortable."
Dennis stepped around William as if he hadn't heard him, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he responded.
"What exactly would make him uncomfortable?" His voice was flat, devoid of the nervousness he'd displayed earlier. "I came specifically to accompany my cousin to meet clients."
Without waiting for William's reply, Dennis walked past us toward the hotel entrance. I followed, hiding my surprise at his directness.
William's jaw tightened. I could practically feel his frustration radiating as he caught up to us. He really doesn't like Dennis, I thought.
The hotel lobby was a marvel of modern luxury—crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and plush seating areas. As we waited for the elevator, Dennis leaned close to me.
"What exactly are we negotiating here, Elena?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm planning to discuss some bonds," I replied quietly.
Dennis's eyebrows shot up. "Bonds? Where did you get bonds?"
I smiled slightly, appreciating his surprise. "Years ago, I helped Atlas Research Group through a crisis. Instead of taking cash payment, I accepted bonds as compensation. Atlas has been doing extremely well lately, which means these bonds should be quite valuable now."
"Atlas Research Group?" Dennis's eyes widened in shock.
I nodded, feeling a small surge of pride at his reaction. The elevator arrived with a soft chime, and we stepped inside.