All at once, she snapped out of the embarrassment of having been rejected in front of Elodie Thorne just moments ago.

Elodie might know a thing or two, but that was the extent of it. Despite getting some extra tutoring from Alexander Sterling for a while now, the only project Elodie had her name on was that VistaLink Technologies job from last year-and even then, she barely did anything.

She’d just scraped past the admissions threshold at Verdant University. Sure, Verdant was a gathering place for prodigies, but not all geniuses were created equal. If Elodie had only just made the cut, then she was at least forty points below her own score.

Each of those points was a chasm. Give Elodie another ten years, and she still wouldn’t catch up.

Even if Elodie became Mr. Sterling’s grad student, she was just a dilettante in the academic world. Hardly someone worth her attention.

“Honestly, I think you and that other top scorer got the worst luck,” Maurice Nilsson said, shaking his head. “Best grades, and all you get is a consolation spot.”

Sylvie Fielding thought of the other candidate who had aced the entrance exam, and somehow, that made her feel a little better.

Still, no one knew exactly how high that top scorer’s marks were the one who’d lost the graduate slot to Elodie. Sylvie guessed their scores must be pretty close. After all, every year the highest marks fell within that range.

At most, a difference of two or three points.

When Verdant University published the official list, she’d check again.

Maurice sighed, turning to Jarrod Silverstein. “Mr. Sterling taking Elodie on is probably his last time mentoring a student. I’m guessing it’s out of sentiment for his son-he wasn’t planning to take anyone, but made an exception. I doubt the professor will devote much energy to Elodie. His past students were all the cream of the crop. If Elodie can’t keep up, she’ll just end up with a fancy line on her résumé. No real impact.”

Jarrod lowered his gaze, visibly indifferent. He glanced calmly at Sylvie. “Do you have any other professors in mind?”

Sylvie pressed her lips together, genuinely considering it for the first time.

After the relentless stress of grad school exams and the recent product launch, Elodie finally hit her limit. She couldn’t push herself any further. Swallowing her pride, she took two days off to rest and recharge.

She checked the time, then scheduled her next round of chemo for a few days later.

Right now, she needed all the strength she could muster.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to handle the side effects.

Meanwhile, VistaLink Technologies was abuzz with activity these days.

Insiders from across the industry were calling the company nonstop.

Word had gotten out that she’d been accepted as Mr. Charlie Sterling’s graduate student, causing a minor stir.

People kept dropping by to offer their congratulations.

To spare Elodie the distraction, Alexander took over-fielding all the calls himself and chatting with everyone.

Elodie had asked about the date when Verdant University would publish the official list, but there was still no definite answer.

She decided to let it go for now.

Since joining VistaLink Technologies, she’d worked on projects while also collaborating with Alexander on innovations in flight control systems and breakthroughs in flight-control chips.

Just two nights ago, she’d been up talking with the professor until nearly midnight.

The conversation had opened up her perspective, clearing up questions that had been plaguing her for weeks.

Back at VistaLink Technologies, Elodie called a meeting with the entire tech department.

Every project, she reminded them, depended on flight control systems and chips.

These two components hadn’t seen any real advancements in the drone industry for years. All the technology used domestically was built on the same outdated foundation.

She wanted to break the cycle and create something new-something better.

A proprietary technology for VistaLink Technologies alone.

At the same time, Alexander brought in an update.

“Sylvie’s found a new advisor. Abbott-the old man’s very first protégé.”