His Last Command Came Back to Kill Him novel Chapter 85

"An internal data review like that didn't require an all-hands meeting," Whitley said evenly. "You deliberately gathered everyone in one room to give me a stage to prove myself, to completely eradicate their prejudices. Naturally, I couldn't let you down."

"You're very perceptive," Chisholm replied, his tone warm. "I just didn't want you to be constantly sidelined. It makes doing the actual work impossible."

"Honestly, they would have figured it out over time."

"It's not the same," Chisholm countered. "Once a bias takes root, you hit roadblocks at every turn. Ripping the band-aid off all at once makes your life much easier moving forward."

Whitley nodded slightly. "You really are better suited to being a CEO than a researcher."

Chisholm laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."

***

The PR crisis was far from over.

Restarting the stalled project required cross-departmental cooperation and a synchronized public clarification.

More importantly, their most pressing issue was securing a new medical equipment supplier.

However, Clive had already intercepted their primary lead and handed the contract directly to Yelena.

They desperately needed a public forum to clear the air.

Whitley worked straight through until the end of the day.

When she finally headed down to the underground parking garage and approached her car, a figure stepped out, blocking her path.

She frowned, looking up.

The man offered a polite, practiced smile. "Mrs. Sherwood, Mr. Sherwood would like you to get in."

Whitley's frown deepened, a wave of annoyance washing over her.

Standing in front of her was Cole, Clive's driver and assistant. He was deferential, leaning forward slightly, an impeccable, professional smile pasted on his face.

Whitley made her reluctance painfully obvious.

"I have plans. I'm busy."

Her tone was ice-cold. She reached for her car door again, but Cole subtly shifted, blocking her path once more.

He maintained his polite facade, but his stance was uncompromising. He exuded an air of absolute determination—she wasn't leaving unless she followed him.

It was a massive partnership agreement with the Vanguard Group. And on the line for the designated partner, her name was printed clearly.

All she had to do was sign it, and she would instantly receive enough top-tier resources to completely obliterate the plagiarism scandal, cementing her position in the industry once and for all.

It was the kind of comeback opportunity that most people would kill for.

Clive's voice was flat, devoid of any decipherable emotion. "This is the Vanguard contract. Sign it, and all the little problems you've been having lately will disappear."

He spoke so casually, as if he were handing her a spare pen.

But Whitley knew exactly what kind of humiliating degradation was wrapped up in this 'generous' offer. This entire PR nightmare—wasn't it all caused by Yelena in the first place?

And yet, he was still protecting her.

To put it plainly, Clive would rather blindly trust Yelena than believe his own wife.

He hadn't even bothered to investigate before assuming the fault lay with Whitley.

His loyalty to Yelena was truly unshakeable.

She snapped the folder shut. "I don't need it."