Chapter 16 Attack!

Chapter 16 Attack!
The moment he stepped into the meeting room and caught sight of Miles, he felt something about him change.

A powerful resentment overwhelmed him and forced him to pause at the door. Aika and Miles exchanged glances as they watched Gabriel close his eyes.

"Mr Auralis?" Aika called tentatively but Gabriel did not respond.

It took him a long silent minute to suppress the storm inside.

"I'm sorry about that," he apologized to Aika, then strode in as if nothing had happened.
"Mr Oswald" he nodded a greeting as he pulled back the chair directly across from him.

"Mr Auralis, it's nice to finally meet you." Miles rose and offered a handshake as Gabriel was about to sit.

"We've met" Gabriel replied, nodding again. As he lowered himself into the chair, he opened the button of his suit.

Miles smiled back awkwardly and glanced at Aika but she seemed preoccupied with her tablet.

"I apologize for that, it was a tense day," he replied and adjusted his seat. For some reason, Gabriel unsettled him. Perhaps it was the undisguised curiosity in his eyes?

The awkwardness in the room turned thick. But it seemed only he felt it. Gabriel had a grin on his face as he studied a file, Aika was preoccupied with something while he just sat there staring between both of them.

Fortunately, Zina walked in at his time, her heels clicking softly on the floor. Wearing a body-fitted black dress, she had in her arms a bulk of files which Aika rushed to take from her.

"Hello. I apologize for the slight delay. Mr Oswald, Mr Auralis, Gabriel, Oswald" she introduced, gesturing with her hand as she sat at the head of the table.

Aika handed over a bulk of files to Gabriel who nodded a thanks to her as she returned to her seat at the table corner closest to Zina.

"Miss Zade isn't joining us today?" Zina glanced around the table and asked, her gaze paused on Gabriel.

"She had a meeting with a few clients" Gabriel replied, his attention seemingly captured by the files before him.

"About that. I did a bit of research, and Auralis Technologies seems to be divided."

Sensing her testy tone, Gabriel looked up from the documents in front of him.

"It's not. Just myself and Miss Zade" he replied.

Zina was visibly startled and she kept her gaze on Gabriel a second longer.

"I'm sorry" Miles interjected at this point.
"Are we talking about Andrea Zade?" he asked.

Gabriel's response was immediate, "We aren't". The emphasis on 'We' all too clear.

Miles faltered, his lips slightly parted as he stared at Gabriel dumbly.

Zina squinted and glanced at Aika who shrugged cluelessly.

"I didn't expect Extra Technologies to be joining us" Gabriel turned to Zina, a slight coldness in his tone.

"It was a last-minute adjustment," Zina explained quickly. Gabriel seemed off today. She noticed it from the moment she walked into the room.

"Then let's settle this quickly." He put his hands on the table and leaned slightly forward, staring at Zina, making her lower her head reflexively.

Pretending to peruse through files to hide her subconscious backstep, she drew in a long breath.

"Mr Oswald," she called and looked up at Miles, a small smile on the corner of her lips.

"I did some research on Extra Technologies' version of Z359 and I have a few questions that might resolve our dispute"

Miles felt very unsettled by that smile. Zina had not smiled at him for a very long time. And seeing that glow in her face, he was not happy, because he knew her well enough to know it was a smile of victory.

"I'm afraid I will be unable to comment on the chip, I am a lawyer, not an engineer," he quickly deflected to blow her off before she could start.

"Oh, that's okay, these you can answer, nothing complex." Zina waved, and Miles's frown deepened.

Did she just insult him?

"I was going through the article written on Z359, and its capabilities differ from the technology I have." Zina started sliding over a file.

Miles smiled awkwardly. He glanced at Gabriel and found those blue eyes watching him like a hawk.

Perusing the file for a few seconds, he closed it and looked back up at Zina.
"We've advanced from the original version of Z359, however the core technology remains the same"

"Then it's not Z359, is it?" Gabriel asked, his left hand rhythmically tapping on the glass table.

Zina turned to him, her gaze moved to his hand and the tapping rhythm. Lips slightly parted she glanced at Aika and found her watching Gabriel's hand too.

"Mr Auralis, Z359, is the foundation for the chip we have now. It remains the core. We might not offer this to clients anymore because it is outdated but it remains a property of Extra Technologies"

"About that," Zina raised her brows and turned to him.

"What does Z359 do exactly?" She asked.

Miles opened his mouth for a second but found himself speechless.

"As I said, I am only a lawyer"

"Without any clue what you are doing, it seems," Gabriel muttered offhandedly, a bored expression on his face as he relaxed in his seat and continued to tap.

"Mr Auralis, I do not appreciate the snide remarks" Miles frowned.

"Not snide at all Sir. You either have a case or you don't. As a lawyer, you cannot impulsively throw accusations of patent infringement. Unless your Engineers at Extra Technologies have shown or at least explained to you exactly what has been stolen. I am not a lawyer, but I know this." Gabriel's tone remained even, but his words hinted at annoyance.

"I believe you are here with a similar claim" Miles shot back.

"And I am an Engineer. I created Z359" Gabriel replied, a small grin on his face and a squint in his eyes.

At the corner of the table, Aika's eyes widened, and she turned sharply to Zina, only to see her entranced as she stared at Gabriel.

The corner of her lips twitched and she subtly kicked Zina's foot under the table.

Cheeks reddened, Zina looked away from Gabriel and buried her head in the document in front of her.

"I recommend we settle" She broke the tension between the two men, directing her words at Miles.

"Mrs Freeman, I do not appreciate being blindsided and ambushed like this," Miles said, his tone frosty.

"Oh?" Zina questioned with an exaggerated look of confusion on her face.
"But you were aware of the reason for this meeting and that Mr Auralis would be here," she said.

"If anything, he was ambushed," she pointed at Gabriel, but stopped herself from looking at him.

Miles sat on the other side of the table, his gaze moving from Zina to Gabriel. Without another word, he gathered the documents Zina had offered him and rose, marching forward to the door.

"Mr Oswald," Zina called just as he reached the door.
"I suggest we settle," she repeated, her tone threatening.

Letting out a scoff, Miles pushed open the glass door and marched out.