After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 135

Lawrence’s maddening calm finally set Waldo off. As soon as he got into the elevator, he punched the wall, hard.

“Damn it. Does that broke loser have no pride at all? Or is his skin just that thick?”

Waldo yanked at his tie, irritation simmering in his chest. He rarely lost his cool, but Lawrence always managed to get under his skin.

Back in the office, Lawrence held the invitation in his hand. His gaze grew colder by the second, sharp as a blade drawn fresh from its sheath. He checked his watch, then picked up the phone. “Book the five thirty flight for me. I want to be back on the ten o’clock return.”

“Yes, Lawrence.”

***

At Harrisburg Institute of Technology, Catherine was having dinner in the cafeteria when a man in his early thirties slid into the seat across from her.

“Catherine, mind if I join you?”

“Of course.” She smiled and nodded.

The man was Owen, an engineer from Nexus Dynamics and a top graduate of the institute. He was here for the same reason as Catherine.

“Catherine, do you feel confident about this?” Owen asked. He was also hoping to secure the Project Apex Initiative.

Catherine thought for a moment, then nodded. “I do.”

Owen’s eyes brightened, but as he glanced toward Shirley sitting not far away, his expression faded. “I don’t think I stand much of a chance.”

“Don’t get discouraged. Eat first, worry later,” Catherine said, offering him a reassuring smile.

Owen wasn’t alone in feeling shaky. The other visiting students looked just as uneasy. Shirley’s Resonance AI was a perfect fit for the Project Apex Initiative, both in concept and in the underlying tech.

Who could compete with the so-called ‘Mother of Resonance AI’?

It was enough to make anyone lose confidence. Rumor had it that the entire Project Apex Initiative was practically designed for Shirley.

She had it all: the title of Mother of Resonance AI, the full support of The James Group, a genius reputation at Nexus Dynamics, and connections everywhere.

Owen let out a long sigh and focused on his food. Catherine glanced at Shirley but didn’t comment on her skills. She knew Shirley didn’t always win by pure technical merit. She was just better at pulling resources together and leveraging outside help.

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