Chapter 22


    She had no intention of bing the other woman in anyone’s story.


    Who Max held as his cherished memory was none of her business. Her aim was clear: she wanted to


    get back at a few members of the Dorsey family through Max. And she had to admit, getting tangled up


    with a guy like Max was no loss.


    The Priest sometimes showed mercy to the mortal women, and the way he mingled with the mundane


    was truly thrilling. To outsiders, he personified frost, but in bed, he was a different man.


    Brielle was worldly in her own ways, and after Max hadid out his theories, she found herself more


    drawn to him than ever. Knowledge was the highest form of allure, and every word he spoke seemed to


    entice her.


    And in Max’s eyes, her gaze was just as inviting. What happened next came naturally.


    When it ended, Brielle fell asleep in his arms. Both of their phones were buzzing with notifications, but


    they were ignored.


    The marks on her neck hadn’t faded before new ones were added.


    “Uncle Max,” she said, her cheeks flushed, shedding her usual decisiveness and rity, “The oxytocin


    and vasopressin you mentioned, they provide a longsting sense of happiness. Although dopamine is


    fleeting, it can draw people into a rtionship filled. with passionatemitment. That’s the reason


    why people choose to get married.”


    She hadn’t forgotten her earlier query, murmuring before she fell asleep, “I’m not like you. believe love


    isn’t an illusion but an instinct. Some are born with it, while others will never


    experience it.”


    Max looked down at her and couldn’t resist leaving a faint kiss on her lips. “You might be right,” he


    conceded.


    When Brielle awoke, it was already noon the next day in her familiar apartment. Her phone. was


    flooded with missed calls-from Lucinda, her colleagues, and one from Tanner.


    Tanner had called just once, probably having heard about her resignation, so he was checking in as a


    formality.


    Brielle remembered her unfinished business with Integral Elements Inc.-that wasn’t something she


    could just walk away from.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    She dialed Tanner’s number.


    “Ms. Brielle,” Tanner’s voice was unexpectedly warm. “Heard you left Dorsey International. Found a


    new gig yet?”


    Without that sincere prospectus, Tanner wasn’t keen on coborating with Dorsey


    16.06


    International. Brielle, however, was someone he wanted on his team.


    Brielle found it amusing. “How did this morning’s negotiation go, Mr. Tanner


    Tanner knew all the ins and outs of the business world and was aware she was setting trap. Even


    though she had included him in her schemes, he admired her for it and didn’t take offense, “Mr.


    Spencer and Ms. Lucinda still have much to learn, it seems.”


    It looked like those two hadn’t had much sess today. After all, Tanner was the sole architect behind


    Integral Elements Inc., a veteran of the business battlefield, not someone Spencer could easily handle.


    “Mr. Tanner, the terms we discussedst time are still on the table. I’lle to sign the contract myself,


    but I need to push the date back three days. Once I’ve secured the position of department head, I’ll


    contact you personally.”


    “Ms. Brielle, you’re twenty-three this year. Aspiring to a director’s chair is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?”


    Brielle had joined Dorsey International right after graduation, amounting to only three years of work


    experience. Even at anotherpany, she’d be considered a senior employee at best, let alone at the


    fiercelypetitive Dorsey International.


    How cutthroat was Dorsey International? On his first day, Max implemented a racehorse. mechanism


    for all departments and teams. Whether it was the staff or the products, everyone was put on the same


    starting line topete, and Dorsey International would allocate resources ording to the rankings.


    This survival of the fittest theory kept everyone on their toes, and though those ousted by Dorsey


    International were hotmodities elsewhere, no one wanted to be the one who failed in such an elite


    gathering.


    So for Brielle to aim for a director’s role at such a young age was almost a fantasy. Even if she was


    talented, the management wouldn’t agree.


    Nothing was absolute, so Brielle didn’t talk too much for fear it would be off-putting. What always


    moved a man like Tanner was capability and sincerity.


    “Mr. Tanner, I’ve read your early interviews. I wonder who influenced you five years ago when Integral


    Elements Inc. shifted from manufacturingponents to establishing a tech talent agency, and started


    coborating with several educationalpanies to create tworge private schools aimed at nurturing


    talent for Integral Elements Inc. It was an open innovation move, yet thepany’s market value has


    been dropping every


    year.”


    This was Tanner’s sore point. When apany reached its peak, it sought innovation. Everyone


    agreed with the decision at the time, but it led to disaster, leaving thepany in a position where it


    needed to be acquired.


    “Ms. Brielle, anyone can find out what you mentioned with a little research. It just shows


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