Chapter 227: Chapter 227: How Does It Feel to Get the Cold Shoulder?

Vincent Grant’s expression was grim. Levin Sawyer’s remark about looking "like someone in the family had died" was clearly aimed at him.

But he didn’t get angry or rebuke Levin Sawyer. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Sophia Shaw and said, "Joanna and I have a purely professional relationship."

He was obviously explaining himself to Sophia Shaw.

Sophia Shaw, however, simply kept her head down, deaf to the conversation around her.

Jacobs could tell she was deep in thought.

He was grinning with delight.

’He really wanted to ask Vincent Grant: How does it feel to be so thoroughly snubbed?’

The three presidents beside them, however, exchanged meaningful glances.

For over a year, Vincent Grant had poured money and effort into supporting Joanna Sherman, and rumors had been circulating that he was head over heels for her.

The Shermans had spared no effort in promoting their relationship, and Joanna Sherman herself had always tacitly gone along with it.

And now it was just... a professional relationship?

Levin Sawyer snorted with laughter. He didn’t mock Vincent Grant further, instead turning his teasing gaze to Joanna Sherman.

Joanna Sherman had been fully expecting Vincent Grant to rebuke Levin Sawyer. She never imagined he would publicly clarify their relationship instead!

Levin Sawyer’s mocking gaze was like a knife, cutting through her facade and exposing the tattered ruin within!

The color drained from Joanna Sherman’s face.

Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over!

She shot a resentful glare at Sophia Shaw!

But Sophia Shaw was engrossed in her own calculations, oblivious to the external conflict.

After calculating for quite some time, she finally looked up. "Where did Representative Jacobs go? Is the meeting canceled?"

She made a move to get up, as if she were about to leave.

The concept she had discussed with Old Master Sloan earlier that day had sparked a new idea, and she was eager to get back and develop it.

Dale Jacobs had actually been keeping silent on purpose.

He had wronged Sophia Shaw in many ways before, and now that he needed something from her, it was only natural to give everyone enough time and space to settle their scores.

Hearing Sophia Shaw’s question, he quickly broke the silence with a placating laugh. "The meeting, yes, the meeting. We’re starting right now."

"I saw how focused you were on your calculations and didn’t want to disturb you."

Joanna Sherman ground her teeth in silent fury.

’In her mind, Sophia Shaw wasn’t really calculating anything; she was just putting on a show of concentration for everyone.’

’And yet, all these people were willing to humor her, letting her waste their time!’

’Just half a month ago, that special treatment had been reserved for her.’

The more she thought about it, the more a bitter, prickling sensation grew in her chest, making her sick with resentment.

Representative Jacobs quickly explained the reason for the meeting: they wanted Lead Aerospace and Zenith to collaborate on the launch of the three remaining satellites.

Joanna Sherman was the first to object. "We at Zenith are fully capable of launching the remaining three satellites on our own. We don’t need any outside help!"

Levin Sawyer had to hand it to her—for Joanna Sherman to still be so stubborn at a time like this was something else.

"You failed to get two into orbit, and you’re sure you can handle three?" Mr. Owen was the most anxious person in the room.

Previously, his company had been neck and neck with SwiftLink Corporation, their fiercest competitor.

But now SwiftLink had successfully launched a satellite and had already placed an order with Lead Aerospace for three more.

Any further delays on his end, and SwiftLink would leave him in the dust!

Mr. Owen’s anxiety made him blunt, and his sharp words made Joanna Sherman’s face turn deathly pale.

She gripped the documents in front of her, her knuckles white, and bit out, "We’ve been working overtime constantly. All our staff are working around the clock. We will absolutely get the satellite into orbit in the shortest possible time!"

"This time, we can guarantee there will be no mistakes!"

The words were barely out of Joanna Sherman’s mouth when President Reed interjected, "If I recall correctly, when we first went in on this together, we asked you how confident you were. Didn’t you say you were one hundred percent certain?"

"And what was the result? It blew up into a pretty firework in the sky, and our entire investment was lost!"

"My company, Bridgeway Corp, can’t be compared to Interlink or SwiftLink. They’re huge. For them, one failed launch is a minor issue. This satellite is everything Bridgeway Corp has. We can’t afford to gamble with it!"

President Morgan was even more blunt. "Miss Sherman, do you have no self-awareness? You’re not up to the task, yet you insist on dragging us down with you. You kept accusing Lead Aerospace of gambling with their clients’ money, but it seems to me you’re the one who’s been doing the gambling!"

"Exactly!" President Reed had actually tried to discuss this with Joanna Sherman in private many times, but she always used the contract to shut him down.

President Reed had been furious with her for a long time.

"If you hadn’t spent all your time putting down Chief Engineer Shaw, saying she had no experience and no talent, that she was less capable than you, we never would have fallen for this!"

"It was our mistake to trust you so easily, but you deceived us, and that makes you culpable! We could technically sue you and have you put in jail!"

They threw all the disparaging remarks Joanna Sherman had made about Sophia Shaw right back at her like sledgehammers. This was more than just a slap in the face; it was an attempt to rip out her very roots!

Joanna Sherman’s face was flushed with fury, her eyes blazing. She shot to her feet.

But before she could say a word, Vincent Grant pulled her back down.

"We agree to collaborate with Lead Aerospace," he said. "And Representative Jacobs, I’ve already reached out to Chief Engineer Shaw privately. I’ve been awaiting their response."

Joanna Sherman stared at Vincent Grant in shock. "You... How could you..."

Vincent Grant forcibly pulled her back into her seat. "Joanna, I already discussed this with you!"

’But she hadn’t agreed!’

’She’d adamantly refused!’

The tears welling in Joanna Sherman’s eyes finally spilled over, dripping down her cheeks.

Representative Jacobs glanced toward the two of them and cleared his throat. "It’s for the best that you’re so forthright, President Grant. To be honest, this meeting was called at the insistence of the three presidents."

"If I hadn’t stepped in to mediate, they would have taken their complaints to a higher authority. Losing face at that level wouldn’t be good for Zenith, or for any of you."

Representative Jacobs gave Joanna Sherman a pointed look.

’She’s being offered a way out and she doesn’t even know how to take it. Does she really want to fail one more time and completely ruin her career before she’s satisfied?’

’She’s not thinking straight.’ 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

After his glance at Joanna Sherman, he turned to solicit Sophia Shaw’s opinion. "Chief Engineer Shaw, we’re really in a bind here. I’m asking for your help, if only for the sake of our city government’s performance record."

Levin Sawyer spoke up before she could. "Lead Aerospace can’t very well refuse to give face to Crestfall City Hall."

Hearing that there was a chance, Representative Jacobs’s face lit up.

"Wonderful!"

"But I have one condition," he added, jutting his chin toward Joanna Sherman. "If Lead Aerospace is to be involved, then Chief Engineer Sherman must be out!"

"Impossible!" Joanna Sherman reacted violently, leaping to her feet.

Her eyes, blazing with fury, were fixed on Sophia Shaw.

"I am the director in charge of Zenith! All of Zenith’s projects have always been under my leadership! I will not withdraw!"

Even Vincent Grant frowned.

Sophia Shaw took it all in, her lips pressing into a thin line.

’Vincent Grant invested in Zenith for Joanna Sherman’s sake. Levin Sawyer’s proposal was putting him in a very difficult position.’

Representative Jacobs looked mortified.

Everyone knew he had built the launch base for Joanna Sherman. Without her, the satellite launch would be meaningless to him.

Politics and business have always gone hand in hand.

Though the Grant Group’s satellite launch had failed, they were still a top-tier entity in the city—not someone to be crossed.

’An impossible demand.’

’A truly impossible demand!’

Representative Jacobs fell silent, his only hope now resting on Sophia Shaw.

’He hoped she would be magnanimous and not haggle over such a trivial matter.’

Sophia Shaw kept her eyes downcast, her long lashes concealing her expression. She remained perfectly still.

She didn’t say a word.

’If it were anyone else, she might have helped, said a few kind words, played the saint.’

’But Joanna Sherman didn’t deserve such kindness!’