209 Chapter 209- Maic Convergence

    209 Chapter 209 – Maic Convergence

    After exchanging pleasantries with her family and Nate, she was about to inquire about Marco’s whereabouts when she turned slightly and spotted him across the room.

    The Crystal and Mack immediately swarmed toward them like moths to a me.

    Marco turned back to Nate and Isaac with practicedposure. “Excuse me gentlemen, I need to make the rounds.” Without waiting for a response, he cut through

    the crowd.

    His sentence died mid–air when his gaze crashed into Veronica across the room. “Son

    of a bitch.”

    Jade remained ice–cold in her assessment. “Patience is key here.” The game was far from over between Dario and Veronica.

    Watching Dario’s obvious regard for Veronica stirred something unpleasant in Aurora’s

    chest.

    Maverick remembered Isaac mentioning that Niall and Cullen would be making an appearance tonight. Rising from his chair, he nodded decisively. “Perfect. Text me when your grandfather wraps up his business.”

    That rejection had left them nursing a grudge against her that still festered.

    Bonnie’s carefully applied smile froze on her face as she watched Marco’s bodynguage. There was something in the way he held himself around Veronica that made Bonnie’s stomach clench with an emotion she refused to name.

    The bitter irony wasn’t lost on her. She hade here specifically to see Marco, only to discover him entirely captivated by the one person Bonnie viewed as beneath her

    station.

    Dario straightened slightly. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Valerie.”

    “Likewise, Mr. Valerie.” Mary’s smile was warm but measured.

    Mary’s ears perked up at the name. She remembered Thomas and Phillip discussing this man before, and her curiositypelled her to study Marco more carefully.

    She was actually here.

    209 Chapter 209 – Maic Convergence

    The revtion made perfect sense to Sophia and Jade, who nodded with bnewfound /bunderstanding. DataPulse’s reputation in the industry was legendary.

    “Absolutely.” Maverick and Kolton made their way toward the exit. The moment they disappeared through the doorway, Marco and Nate walked into the gallery.

    The Crystal and Mack had been watching Marco’s movements, expecting him to schmooze with some industry heavyweight. Instead, they witnessed him paying his respects to Dario and, more surprisingly, to Veronica and Mary.

    The gallery’s ambient lighting cast shadows across Marco’s face, but Bonnie could bsee /benough to recognize that this was not mere business courtesy. The way he angled his body toward Veronica, the focused attention he gave her words, the subtle rxation in his usually rigid posture – these details carved themselves into Bonnie’s memory with painful rity.

    He was deep in conversation with Veronica.

    Marco extended his hand to Isaac in a firm handshake. Nate surveyed the crowded room with calcting eyes. “I thought Cullen and Niall were supposed to be here tonight. Have they not arrived yet?”

    But Marco had been conspicuously absent from her lifetely. When Niall mentioned Marco would be attending tonight, she spent hours perfecting her appearance before making her way to the venue.

    Given this context, they dismissed Marco’s polite treatment of Veronica and Mary as purely strategic maneuvering.

    “Mr. Reid, Ms. Murray.” His voice carried just enough authority to make both Dario and Veronica pivot in his direction.

    While Dariomanded obvious respect, Marco’s deference to Veronica and Mary caught them off guard.

    Veronica’s charmed existence was living on borrowed time.

    Marco quickly assessed the obvious closeness between Veronica and Mary, his business instincts connecting the dots. He offered Mary a respectful nod. “You be Madam Jayden. The pleasure is entirely mine.”

    t

    The Crystal family had burned bridges trying to secure a partnership with DataPulse,

    209 Chapter 209–Maic Convergence

    only to be shut down because of Veronica’s interference.

    Dario was approaching Veronica and Mary at that very moment, his attentionpletely focused on them.

    Nate provided the exnation with clinical detachment. “Marco is knee–deep in a crucial business deal with Dario right now. Veronica wields considerable power at DataPulse. Dario actually threatened to pull the plug on their entire coboration because of some issue with Veronica. Marco had to swallow his pride and y nice with her to keep the deal alive.”

    Aurora tightened her grip on Jade’s arm and whispered conspiratorially, “I had no idea Mr. Reid was so protective of Veronica.”

    She forced herself to breathe normally, to maintain herposure, but her manicured nails dug crescents into her palms. Bonnie had dressed to perfection tonight, had hoped to reim Marco’s attention, but here he waspletely absorbed by another

    woman.

    Marco, oblivious to hispanion’s sudden tension, followed Nate‘ stare until his own eyes found Veronica. Something dark and unreadable flickered across his features.

    Once Cullen finally went through with the divorce, Veronica would be damaged goods – a single mother with baggage. Would the prestigious Reid family ever wee a woman carrying that kind of history?

    Jade’s eyes narrowed as she observed Marco’s courteous behavior. She leaned toward Nate with barely concealed curiosity. “Mr. Dante, what exactly is happening over there?”

    Bonnie chose that moment to make her entrance. She had initially nned to skip the art exhibition entirely, having zero interest in pretentious gallery showings.