The Billion Dollar Orphan

I understood now. Tiffany was less Caleb's capable assistant and more someone who knew precisely how to flatter him. She knew exactly which buttons to push.

He thought I was just a pretty face, probably because she'd been whispering poison in his ear. In that case, I might as well play the part.

I glanced at him, feigning helplessness. "And how would you like me to make it right?"

Caleb scoffed. "Call my father and tell him you're the one who wants to call off the engagement."

I nodded readily. "Fine."

With that, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts.

Caleb shot me a surprised glance, his lips tightening. "You'd better think this through. Once you make that call, the wealth and power of Vance Industries and the Vance family will have nothing to do with you."

I didn't respond, instead finding Harrison's number and dialing.

"That's not enough! I want her to bow and apologize to me in front of everyone!" Tiffany shrieked, her voice turning shrill. "Mr. Vance, I've worked for you for so many years, and everything I have, I've earned. I can't accept the way she humiliated me. If she doesn't apologize, I will never forgive her!"

A bitter laugh almost escaped me. The security guards were standing right there. Who was humiliating whom? I asked, "Tiffany, do you think everyone here is blind? You think they'll believe your twisted version of the truth? You ordered security to rough me up and even tried to hit me, and now you're claiming I'm the one who humiliated you."

Caleb stepped forward, shielding Tiffany behind him. "You must have provoked Tiffany. She was only defending herself. If you have any decency, you will apologize to her now. If you refuse, I'll have security escort you out."

He glanced at the security guards, who glared at me, ready to act on his command.

"I can assure you, Willow is extremely well-mannered. If you ask me, you and your assistant have just proven how shameless you both are."

A smooth, refined voice sounded from behind Caleb. It was Jasper Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Dynamics. He approached with a disarming smile, the small mole beneath the corner of his eye glittering under the lights.

Sterling Dynamics was Vance Industries' biggest rival, their businesses overlapping in many areas.

Jasper had taken over his family's business early on and had run it exceptionally well—so well that he and Caleb had always kept a respectful distance to avoid direct conflict.

But because of my AI algorithm, Vance Industries' latest "Prometheus" project had started to pull ahead of Sterling Dynamics.

Caleb was surprised to see Jasper at his engagement party. Then, his brow furrowed in displeasure. "Mr. Sterling, you've got a lot of nerve. Not only crashing your rival's engagement party, but now meddling in my private affairs."

I stood there in equal shock. I stared at Jasper's broad back as he stood protectively in front of me.

We had worked together once before, and it had been a pleasant collaboration. What I hadn't expected was that after the project's celebration dinner, he had suddenly tried to kiss me. It had scared me so badly that I fled back to my university lab that very night.

I had licensed this particular algorithm to Vance Industries solely because Alistair and Harrison were friends of several decades.

I never thought Jasper would still be willing to stand up and protect me like this.