The next day...

Elena officially joined Ascend Core and took over the vice president’s position. Once she finished her paperwork, she finally came to her office and found Elias waiting for her.

He approached her with a smile. "Finished with the paperwork?"

Elena nodded. "Yes, it’s done."

Elias stepped closer. "I told you last night. I have an important task for you."

He glanced at Owen, who handed Elena a folder. "Mr. Knox has arrived. He is waiting in the conference room."

Elena looked at him briefly before turning her focus on the folder in her hands. It contained Zenith Core’s AI project proposal.

It was almost the identical project Sinclair Group had wanted to work on with collaboration, extending their own ideas. But that collaboration had never happened.

A sharp glint flashed through Elena’s eyes. ’This will be my first step to get revenge on Noah.’

And for that, she had to crack the deal first.

"Mr. Knox approached us up front," Elias added. "He seems quite desperate about this project. And he should be."

He paused for a moment. "The project has enormous potential. But I want the highest possible profit share. I hope you can negotiate that for us."

Elena looked at him with confidence and determination. "Leave this to me. I’ll close the deal and secure the maximum profit for the company."

She headed to the conference room.

The employees stared at her in surprise and disbelief as she walked past them. Some looked doubtful, while others whispered among themselves.

"She just joined the company. And she is already handling such an important meeting," someone murmured. "This is too much."

"Mr. Knox is an important client," another one said. "The CEO himself should attend the meeting. Why is he sending a newcomer? Does she even know who Mr. Damien Knox is?"

"Mr. Rowan is going to regret this," a man said. "He shouldn’t have sent her to the meeting."

"She is going to ruin the negotiation."

"Maybe she has some connections with Mr. Rowan," someone whispered.

Soon, speculations spread rapidly throughout the office. Everyone became increasingly curious about Elena’s relationship with Elias.

Inside the conference room...

Elena entered and found Damien Knox sitting with his assistant.

"Mr. Knox," she greeted him with a smile.

Damien’s eyes widened in complete shock. "What?" He immediately stood up. "Miss Hart?"

His disbelief was obvious. "You joined Ascend Core?"

Elena nodded, her smile lingering on her lips. "Yes."

Damien laughed, still surprised. "Uh... Looks like I was too late." A faint disappointment crossed his eyes. "I thought about asking you to join my company. But someone else was faster."

"You are flattering me."

"No. I mean it. I genuinely wanted you on my team. But I am happy that I still have a chance to work with you."

"It’s an honor for us to have a chance to work with you." Elena gestured to the chair. "Please take your seat."

They all sat down.

"I’ve reviewed the project file," Elena started. "The project is undoubtedly promising, and the future market potential is enormous."

"I know. You already saw the proposal back when you were working at Sinclair Group. I honestly thought the project would start back then, but..."

He didn’t finish the sentence.

Elena also fell silent, her face downcast. She still remembered how everyone in the office had cursed her, blamed her, and called her unprofessional afterward.

"I heard everything," Damien added. "You shouldn’t have taken the blame for that incident. Instead, you should have exposed that arrogant woman."

Elena smiled bitterly. "I wanted to leave the company anyway," she replied. "Noah said he would accept my resignation only if I took responsibility for everything. I have to agree..."

"What?" Damien couldn’t believe it. "He is your fiancé. How could he do that to you?"

"I already broke up with him," she replied with a trace of hesitation. "And I’m married to Elias now."

"Really?" Surprise crossed his face. Then he laughed. "You are way smarter than I thought, Elena."

Elena chuckled. "Let’s discuss the deal."

Damien leaned back lazily. "Since you are handling the negotiation personally, I already know I’ll lose." He sighed dramatically. "So go ahead. Tell me how much profit share you want."

Elena slightly narrowed her eyes. "Aren’t you afraid I might ask you to sign your entire company over to us?"

At that, Damien burst out laughing. "You know how to keep people on edge."

"On a serious note," she started, "this project needs a lot of funding, advanced research facilities, and a long-term market expansion. Ascend Core is willing to provide full financial support and international market access."

She opened a file and slid several documents toward him.

"We’ve already analyzed the future growth curve..."

She continued to describe, her hands moving in gestures.

Damien checked the documents while listening to her intently.

"Zenith Core has innovation," she went on. "Ascend Core has capital, influence, and global reach. Without large-scale backing, this project will take years to stabilize. Competitors will overtake you."

Damien was aware of it, and that was why he wanted to start the project as soon as possible.

"With us, the development will be faster. The faster you deliver the product, the quicker we earn the profit."

Then she looked directly into his eyes. "In return, Ascend Core wants fifty percent of the profit share."

Damien said nothing. He simply stared at her for a moment. "Fifty percent is huge," he said seriously.

"It is," she admitted. "But so is the risk we are taking. We are taking all the financial burden and future market liabilities. And honestly, Mr. Knox... Zenith Core needs us more than we need you."

Silence fell in the room. Even Damien’s assistant looked stunned by how directly she said it.

But Damien kept staring at her for a long moment before laughing helplessly. For the first time in years, he felt completely outmaneuvered in a negotiation. And strangely enough, he wasn’t angry at all.

"Okay, you win."

He signed the papers. Then Elena signed them.

She extended her hand. "Happy collaboration."

Damien smiled and shook her hand firmly. "I can’t wait to start working on this project."

The deal was officially sealed.

The news spread across the company soon. What surprised everyone was the profit share Elena had secured. Those who had doubted her earlier changed their opinion swiftly.

"She is incredible," a woman exclaimed with excitement and pure joy. "She actually secured the deal with Zenith Core."

"It’s not just about securing the deal," a man chimed in. "She made Damien Knox agree to a fifty percent profit share. That’s insane."

Even Elias was genuinely surprised. He had confidence that she would crack the deal in their favor, but this... He had not expected her to convince a seasoned businessman like Damien Knox to agree to such conditions.

When Elena came to find him after the meeting, he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. "You did it better than I expected."

"I told you. I’ll bring you the best." She smiled.

That smile — bright, confident, and full of life — instantly drew Elias in.

"Since you secured such a huge deal," his voice softened, "I should reward you."

Elena grew intrigued. "What reward?"

"You will find out in a few days."