Veronica maintained her composed facade, as though she had anticipated this partnership from the very beginning.
Maverick assud Dario had briefed her beforehand and responded with asured politeness. "I look forward to our collaboration."
Outside the upscale restaurant, as Veronica and Dario stepped from their vehicle toward the entrance, Maverick spotted Cullen and Niall approaching from the opposite direction.
He hesitated montarily before acknowledging them. "Mr. Dennis, Ms. Crystal."
Cullen and Niall had already noticed their presence. Cullen offered a curt nod. "Mr. Harris, Mr. Reid."
Dario's smile appeared cordial but carried an unmistakable edge of insincerity. "Mr. Dennis."
Before Cullen could respond, Dario interrupted smoothly. "Please don't let us keep you. We have a reservation waiting."
Without another word, he guided Veronica toward the elevator.
Maverick had witnessed Dario's obvious disdain for Cullen during their previous encounter at Stellar, but this display of barely concealed hostility caught him off guard.
Whatever history existed between these two n ran deeper than professional rivalry. Yet Cullen continued to maintain his diplomatic composure, which only made Dario's behavior more striking.
As Cullen and Niall watched the elevator doors close, Niall's curiosity got the better of her. "Since Mr. Harris is dining with Mr. Reid, I assu their contract negotiations concluded successfully?"
Maverick's expression remained neutral. "They did indeed."
Niall recalled how Maverick's previous deal with DataPulse had collapsed spectacularly after he had crossed Veronica. Dario had been ruthless in his rejection, cutting off all possibilities for future cooperation.
She had expected Maverick to suffer the sa fate as herself, permanently excluded from Dario's business circle because of his connection to Veronica.
Yet here he was, apparently having salvaged not just the deal but his relationship with Dario entirely.
Did this suggest that Dario's feelings for Veronica had limits? That when substantial business interests were involved, he would ultimately choose profit over personal loyalty?
Perhaps Veronica's influence over him wasn't as absolute as Niall had believed.
This realization brought a satisfied smile to her lips. "How wonderful for you."
Maverick acknowledged her congratulations with a brief nod before turning his attention to Cullen. "Actually, Mr. Dennis, there's a particular project your company is developing that has caught my interest. Would you be available to discuss potential collaboration?"
Cullen's response was imdiate. "My schedule is relatively open this week. Contact whenever convenient."
After agreeing to follow up, Maverick excused himself and made his way to the private dining room.
Dario and Veronica were already settled at the table, perusing the extensive nu when he arrived.
Dario glanced up with apparent amusent. "Finished with your social obligations, Mr. Harris?"
Maverick chose a seat deliberately positioned at a comfortable distance from Veronica, maintaining professional boundaries. Rather than react to Dario's pointed tone, he asked with genuine curiosity, "Is there so personal history between you and Mr. Dennis?"
Dario's smile turned razor-sharp. "History would be putting it mildly. We're enemies."
The casual way he delivered such a loaded statent suggested either complete honesty or deliberate exaggeration.
Since Dario clearly had no intention of elaborating, Maverick decided not to pursue the matter. Watching them collaborate on their food selections, he gestured toward the nu. "Please consider this my treat. Order anything that appeals to you."
Dario didn't even glance up from the nu. "Obviously. We had no intention of restraining ourselves."
Maverick found himself montarily speechless.
Once Dario and Veronica had made their extensive selections, Maverick added a couple of modest dishes and attempted to steer the conversation toward their business arrangent.
The food began arriving in steady waves.
When Dario had declared they wouldn't hold back, Maverick had assud he was engaging in typical dinner banter.
As servers continued filing into the room carrying an seemingly endless parade of plates, each featuring the restaurant's most expensive offerings, Maverick felt the beginning of a headache forming behind his temples.
The table groaned under the weight of their selections, yet more dishes kept appearing.
Dario appeared completely oblivious to Maverick's growing discomfort, focusing entirely on ensuring Veronica's plate remained filled with choice selections. "Don't rush, Ver. We have all evening."
His attentiveness toward her was both tender and possessive, a reminder that whatever business arrangent they had forged, the personal dynamics remained complicated.
Maverick watched this display while ntally calculating the rapidly escalating cost of their "business dinner." Dario had certainly taken him at his word about ordering freely.
The irony wasn't lost on him that while he had successfully negotiated a lucrative contract with DataPulse, he was now paying for that success in more ways than one.
As Dario continued his solicitous attention to Veronica's dining experience, completely ignoring the minor fortune accumulating on their table, Maverick began to wonder if this extravagant al was less about celebration and more about establishing exactly who held the power in their new partnership.
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