The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 245

Chapter 245

Nina strode into the lavish, spacious suite with her team, full of confidence and energy.

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All the while, not a single person spared a glance at Vera, who stood ghostly pale in the corner, blending into the background like she was invisible.

“Vera, what are you looking at?” Vera’s new boss snapped her out of her thoughts with a commanding tone.

He glanced over at the suite where Nina was. “Oh, isn’t that your old boss, Nina?”

Vera’s boss looked like he’d just stumbled onto something interesting.

He said with a mix of teasing and pressure, “Since you guys go way back, why don’t you go ask Nina if she’d be willing to let us have her suite?”

Vera’s face went ghostly pale in an instant.

Her lips mumbled, but before she could even think of an excuse, Warner jumped in. “No.”

Just then, Warner, who’d been giving them a hard time all night, quickly waved his hands to stop them.

His voice sounded almost scared. “Don’t. Seriously, don’t bring bad luck on yourself.”

He lowered his voice, all traces of arrogance gone. “Ms. Summer’s Annine Vaccine just got major national funding; it’s officially recognized at the highest level.

“She’s throwing a celebration tonight, and you want to go up there and try to take her suite? That’s just asking for trouble.

“I don’t want to get on the bad side of the next big name in academia.”

As he spoke, he shot Vera and her boss a look of pure disdain.

It was as if he was blaming them for coming up with such a terrible idea. “Alright, just find somewhere to sit. It’s just a meal. Where we eat doesn’t really matter.”

Vera’s voice shot up, her words breaking with shock. “Nina’s project actually landed a top-level government grant?”

“It’s 100% legit,” Warner, who always had the inside scoop, confirmed.

When he brought up Nina, his smug look melted into awe and a touch of envy. “They just locked it in this afternoon; the news and official announcement are dropping tonight.

“Nina’s probably the youngest lead this initiative has ever seen. Talk about a rising star. Too bad her project doesn’t need any outside investors.”

As he spoke, Warner turned to Vera, his tone downright rude and dismissive. “Tsk, I heard you used to be on Ms. Summer’s team. What happened? Did you get axed because you couldn’t measure up?”

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Chapter 245

Before Vera could even get a word in, he just kept going, his words cutting like a knife.

He said, “No wonder. Never heard about any impressive academic work from you. Just see you hustling for investors and sucking up at business dinners.

“Guess you really couldn’t hack it in academia, so now you’re stuck picking up scraps on the sidelines.”

His words didn’t just rip away Vera’s last shred of pride.

He dragged her out-of-touch boss down with her, humiliating them both.

Warner looked at the two of them like they were dirt.

He said, “You got cut from the team, and he has no clue how things work, actually thinking you could barge in on a national project team’s celebration.

“Teaming up with people like you is just embarrassing. Count me out. This investment? Forget it.”

With that, he turned and walked off without a single look back.

Vera’s boss freaked out, didn’t care about his dignity anymore, and scrambled to catch up, desperate to fix things.

Her boss rushed out, trying to explain himself, leaving Vera rooted to the spot.

Vera stared at the tightly shut suite door, and she could almost hear the laughter and cheers coming from inside. She finally fell apart.

If she hadn’t gotten so greedy back then and if she hadn’t shown off in front of the team just because she had a few investor connections, maybe she’d be in there right now, celebrating with everyone else, raising a glass as she belonged.

Vera’s boss stormed back, yanked her into a corner, and let loose a furious tirade. “Weren’t you always bragging about how you could pull in investors and schmooze with the money guys?

“Well, now it’s clear. Those investors weren’t fawning over you because you were some big deal; they were chasing after Nina’s project.”

He got more worked up with every word, jabbing a finger right at Vera’s nose. “They only cared about the team behind you, not you. Without Nina, you’re nothing.”

With that, he spat out one last cold line. “I don’t keep slackers around, and I sure as hell don’t keep fools. Pack your stuff and get out now.”

When Vera heard that, her last bit of pride shattered. She couldn’t hold it together anymore and burst into tears in front of everyone, all dignity gone.

But behind that thick red wooden door, it was a whole different world.

“To national recognition, cheers.” The crisp sound of glasses clinking filled the air as Nina and her team raised

their drinks in celebration.

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Chapter 245

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Whether it was wine or juice, every glass was brimming with the same joy.

There was no office politics here, just genuine happiness among like-minded people.

Looking at the team she’d fought alongside, Nina let out a soft sigh of relief.

The Annine Vaccine project had finally grown from a fragile seedling she had to tend day and night into something that could stand on its own.

From here on out, things would finally get on track, running like clockwork.

The experimental batches would be put through the next round of testing as planned, gradually narrowing down to the best formula until it was ready for clinical trials.

The toughest part was finally behind them, and the road ahead was looking clearer than ever.

Nina happily knocked back a few drinks, her cheeks turning a cute shade of pink.

The assistant couldn’t help but ask, her curiosity getting the better of her, “Ms. Summer, do you have some kind of secret for staying so healthy?

“Back when you were flying solo at the start, and now leading the whole squad, you actually look better than ever.”

“Seriously,” the others agreed, “the first time we met you, you looked way too thin. Now you look so much healthier, not nearly as fragile as before.

“We spend all day cooped up in the lab too, but we’re practically running on fumes.”

Nina absentmindedly touched the sports watch Quentin had given her, and couldn’t help but smile.

Honestly, she owed it all to Quentin, rain or shine, he’d drag her out of bed for morning training at the gym, and always made sure she got those Hayes Nutrition Meals.

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