Chapter 96 Against the Great Families
Dr. Harrison set down his water glass. The condensation left a ring on the white tablecloth.
"Have you ever heard the name Charles Sterling?" he asked.
Veyra nodded. "Professor Sterling. Xiomara’s mentor. The one who got her into the top university."
Dr. Harrison’s eyebrows rose. "You know about that?"
"I know a lot of things."
He studied her for a moment. Then he continued.
"Professor Sterling called me a few days ago. He recommended Caspian for the partnership."
Veyra’s jaw tightened. "Of course he did."
"Professor Sterling and I have worked together for years. He’s never asked me for a favor before." Dr. Harrison paused. "He said Caspian was the most capable candidate he’d ever seen. That his company was solid. That he would be an asset to any collaboration."
Veyra said nothing.
"I told him I would consider it," Dr. Harrison said. "But I made no promises."
Veyra’s fingers curled around the edge of the table.
"Professor Sterling recommended him," she repeated.
"Yes."
"Because of Xiomara."
Dr. Harrison hesitated. Then he nodded. "Probably."
Veyra exhaled slowly. She stared at the tablecloth. The white fabric was spotless.
"Professor Sterling’s influence is strong," Dr. Harrison continued. "He has connections everywhere. If he pushes for Caspian, other doors will open. Investors. Regulators. Distributors."
Veyra looked up. "Are you saying—"
"I’m saying that by recommending Caspian, I’m also maintaining a relationship with Professor Sterling. A relationship that could benefit SN1818 in the long run."
Veyra’s voice was flat. "So he’s riding Professor Sterling’s coattails."
Dr. Harrison did not disagree.
"Professor Sterling is a powerful ally," he said. "Having him on our side could smooth a lot of obstacles."
"Even if it means working with Caspian?"
"Even then."
Veyra shook her head. "I can’t believe you’re even considering this."
Dr. Harrison leaned forward. His voice was quiet. Serious.
"I told Professor Sterling that I would only recommend candidates of exceptional ability. I made it clear that the selection of a business partner is no trivial matter. He understood."
"But you still recommended him."
"I recommended him because he is suitable. His company is solid. His resources are substantial. By the numbers, he’s one of the top candidates." Dr. Harrison paused. "I also recommended him because Professor Sterling asked me to."
Veyra stared at him.
"Does that make you uncomfortable?" Dr. Harrison asked.
"It makes me angry."
"I understand."
"You don’t understand." Her voice rose. "You don’t know what he did to me."
She stopped. Her throat was tight. She pressed her palm flat against the table.
Dr. Harrison waited.
When she spoke again, her voice was quieter.
"There is existing bad blood between us."
Dr. Harrison’s expression shifted. "Bad blood?"
"Yes. I can’t work with him. I won’t." She didn’t explain any further.
Dr. Harrison was quiet for a long moment.
Then he said, "I recommended him because of the numbers. Because of Professor Sterling’s influence. Because I thought it was the right business decision."
He paused.
"But the final decision is yours, not mine or Professor Sterling’s but ours."
Veyra looked at him.
"If you say no, I will remove his name from the list," Dr. Harrison said. "I will tell Professor Sterling that the partnership went to someone else. And I will never mention Caspian name again."
Veyra’s throat tightened.
"You would do that?"
"I would do that."
She looked down at her hands. The black gloves were still on her fingers. The metal knuckles caught the light.
She thought about Caspian. About the way he had grabbed her in the restaurant. About the way he had demanded explanations he was not entitled to.
"I don’t want to work with him," she said. "I can’t."
Dr. Harrison nodded. "Then we won’t."
Veyra exhaled. The tension in her shoulders eased.
"Thank you," she said.
Dr. Harrison waved a hand. "There’s no need to thank me. I should have asked you about him from the beginning."
She shook her head. "You didn’t know."
"I should have guessed." He sighed. "The way you reacted when you saw his name. The way you spoke about him. I should have known there was history."
Veyra said nothing.
Dr. Harrison picked up the tablet. He swiped the screen. Caspian’s photo disappeared.
"Let’s move on," he said. "Who else is on the list?"
She leaned forward. "Show me the others."
He swiped again. A new photo appeared.
Xavier Lala. Round glasses. Calm expression. Dark hair neatly parted.
"This is Xavier Lala," Dr. Harrison said. "He runs Solstice Pharmaceuticals. His capabilities are on par with Caspian’s. Maybe better."
Veyra studied the photo. The same man who had stepped in earlier. Who had faced down Caspian without flinching.
"He was at the restaurant tonight," she said.
"I know. He introduced himself."
"He helped me. When Caspian grabbed me."
Dr. Harrison raised an eyebrow. "Did he?"
"Yes and he stepped in. Didn’t back down."
"Interesting."
Veyra looked at the photo again. "What else do I need to know about him?"
Dr. Harrison hesitated. His fingers hovered over the screen.
"He’s capable," he said slowly. "Smart. Connected. Runs a tight ship."
Veyra waited.
"But—" Dr. Harrison paused. "He has a history. A conflict with the Mo family."
Veyra blinked. "The Zed family?"
"Yes."
She stared at him. "The Zed family. As in—"
"As in one of the three great noble families of the Aethelred Empire." Dr. Harrison set down the tablet. "Commerce. Politics. Military. They control everything."
Veyra’s mind raced. She had heard of the Zed family. Everyone had. They were untouchable. Ancient. Powerful.
"What happened?" she asked.
Dr. Harrison shook his head. "I don’t know the details. But the feud is real. Xavier crossed them. And they don’t forgive.".
Veyra looked at Xavier’s photo again. His face was calm. His eyes were steady.
"Crossed them how?"
"I don’t know. But whatever it was, it was serious enough that the Zed family has been blocking his company’s growth ever since."
Veyra frowned. "Blocking how?"
"Contracts. Licenses. Government approvals. Everything takes longer. Costs more. His competitors get priority treatment." Dr. Harrison paused. "He’s still successful. But he could be so much more if they weren’t in his way."
Veyra leaned back in her chair.
"So if I partner with him, I’ll be dragged into his feud."
"Most likely."
"Even with the Thorne family’s backing?"
Dr. Harrison hesitated. "The Thorne family is powerful. But the Zed family is ancient. They have resources and connections that span generations." He paused. "It would be a significant burden."
Veyra was quiet for a moment.
She thought about Xavier. The way he had stepped in without hesitation. The way he had faced Caspian without fear.
She thought about the Zed family. The weight of their influence. The potential cost of standing against them.
Dr. Harrison sighed. "I originally favored Caspian. He had fewer complications. Better connections. No feuds."
Veyra said nothing.
"Professor Sterling’s backing would have opened doors," Dr. Harrison continued. "Investors. Regulators. Distributors. Everything would have moved faster."
"But you can’t work with him," Veyra said.
"I can’t. You can’t. So we move on."
He swiped the screen. Xavier’s photo remained.
Veyra studied the face on the tablet.
Round glasses. Calm expression. Eyes that had not looked away when Caspian threatened him.
"What do you think?" she asked. "Of him."
Dr. Harrison considered the question.
"He’s capable. He’s loyal. He doesn’t back down." He paused. "He would be a good partner. But he would also be a difficult one."
"Difficult how?"
"Difficult because his feud will always be there. It will never go away. Every success will be harder won. Every deal will face more obstacles." He looked at her. "Are you ready for that?"
Veyra looked at Xavier’s photo again.
She thought about her own life. The obstacles she had faced. The battles she was still fighting.
"I don’t care about the Zed family," she said.
Dr. Harrison blinked. "Veyra—"
"I don’t care about their money. Their influence. Their ancient power." Her voice was quiet. Steady. "I care about finding someone I can trust."
Dr. Harrison was silent for a long moment.
Then he nodded slowly.
"Xavier Lala is trustworthy," he said. "I’ve known him for years. He’s never broken a promise. He’s never lied to a partner. He’s never backed down from a fight."
"Then that’s who I want."
Dr. Harrison’s expression flickered. Concern. Worry.
"Veyra, are you sure?"
"I’m sure."
"You understand what you’re getting into?"
"I understand."
Veyra set her hands flat on the table. The black gloves pressed against the white cloth.
"Xavier Lala is my choice," she said. "Not Caspian. Not any of the others. Him."
Dr. Harrison stared at her. His mouth opened. Closed.
Then he nodded.
"Then it’s settled," he said. "I’ll contact him tomorrow."
Veyra leaned back in her chair as she had made her choice.
"I choose him," she said.