Chapter 319

Camille remained silent.

Gabriel glanced at the resume again. "Well-written. But how's his actual performance?"

"Impressive. With less than two years of study, he's already outperforming PhD candidates from Ivy League schools."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "A prodigy then." He tapped the document. "You want to keep him?"

"I'm considering it, but—"

"Worried he won't stay?"

Camille nodded. Though Declan showed genuine interest in Nexa and Horizon-CM, too many variables surrounded him.

"Put him on probation. We can always terminate if he doesn't fit." Gabriel suggested.

"Agreed."

Meanwhile, Declan became the instant center of attention upon entering the arcade. His tall frame and aristocratic bearing drew admiring glances.

Several women hesitated to approach. His aloof expression and tightly pressed lips created an invisible barrier.

No one dared break it.

When his phone rang, the excited voice on the other end blurted, "How'd it go? Did Hartwell fall for your charms?"

"Please tell me she bought the love-at-first-sight act!" The caller laughed. "Use more tricks—make her obsessed—"

Declan's face remained impassive. He spotted Selene entering just as he ended the call.

"You disappeared without a word." Selene stopped before him. "Your family panicked. They thought something terrible happened."

She nearly called him reckless, but swallowed the word at his defiant silence.

"I know why you're back. If it's for NovaSight Labs's tech, I support you completely." She studied his reaction. "But if this is about me—if you plan to make Camille fall for you just to break her heart—"

"That's my fight. Stay out of it."

Declan's gaze lingered on her face.

Selene touched her cheek. "Something on my face?"

"No." He looked away.

"About what I said—"

"I'm leaving." Declan walked off without another word.

"Don't do anything stupid!" Selene chased after him.

Ignoring her, he stepped into the elevator. As he reached his car, he spotted Damien watching from another vehicle.

"Long time." Damien smiled.

Declan gave him a curt nod before turning to Selene. "Take care."

Before she could respond, he drove off.

Selene frowned at the departing car.

Next morning, Camille found flowers on her desk.

"From the new R&D guy—Declan," a colleague announced.

Camille showed no reaction. She simply moved the bouquet aside and began working.