59 A Father’s Biased Appeal
Julian Croft looked down at his phone, checking the time. Elara had been gone almost ten minutes. The next presentation would start soon, and they couldn’t afford to miss anything if they wanted to meet Newman’s impossible deadline. U
The crowd in the exhibition hall shifted, and Julian spotted Alistair Dubois making a beeline toward him. His posture was upright, confident, with an easy smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Beside him walked Vivienne, elegant in a tailored navy suit, and Lennox, whose piercing gaze seemed to evaluate everything in her path.
Julian tensed. This wasn’t random. They had deliberately waited until Elara was
elsewhere.
“Mr. Croft,” Alistair extended his hand, his voice smooth as polished marble. “I’ve been hoping to meet you. I’m Alistair Dubois.”
Julian accepted the handshake with professional courtesy. “Mr. Dubois. A pleasure.”
“Please, call me Alistair. His smile widened as he gestured to his daughter. “This is Vivienne. I believe you might have crossed paths with her already.”
Vivienne offered her hand. “Mr. Croft. Your presentation yesterday was impressive.”
Thank you,” Julian replied, keeping his tone neutral. He nodded to Lennox, who merely smiled in return.
Alistair positioned himself to block Julian’s view of the restroom hallway. “I understand you work closely with Elara.”
The mention of Elara’s name without her surname was deliberate. Julian knew this game all too well.
“Yes, Elara Vance is my business partner at YodaVision.” Julian emphasized her last name deliberately.
Alistair’s smile tightened for a fraction of a second. “Of course. I’ve known her since she was a young girl.”
“Is that so?” Julian kept his face professionally pleasant.
“Indeed.” Alistair lowered his voice conspiratorially. “She’s always been… challenging to
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59 A Father’s Biased Appeal
deal with. Brilliant, of course, but stubborn to a fault.”
Julian fought to keep his expression neutral. “Interesting perspective.”
“I worry about her sometimes,” Alistair continued, his voice dripping with false concern. “She tends to isolate herself, makes things harder than they need to be.”
Vivienne shifted slightly, her eyes darting to the left. Julian noted her subtle discomfort.
“I’m glad she has someone like you looking out for her at YodaVision,” Alistair pressed on. “She needs a steadying influence.”
Julian met his gaze directly. “Elara is the steadying influence at YodaVision. Her vision guides our entire operation.”
Alistair’s smile wavered before snapping back into place. “How generous of you to say so. Though I’ve always found her to be somewhat… inflexible in her thinking”
“Different approaches yield different results,” Julian replied evenly. “Her particular approach has revolutionized our field.”
Lennox stepped forward. “Vivienne has been doing remarkable work with neural interface theory at Cuap. Perhaps you’ve seen her recent publication?”
“I have,” Julian acknowledged. “It was excellent work.”
Vivienne offered a genuine smile. “Thank you. I’ve been considering expanding my research. YodaVision would be an ideal environment for that.”
The intent was clear. Julian watched as Alistair’s expression grew more expectant.
“Vivienne would be an asset to any organization, Alistair added smoothly. “She adapts well to team environments, unlike some who prefer to work in isolation.”
The comparison hung in the air, unmistakable.
Julian maintained eye contact with Alistair. “Elara is my friend,” he said simply. The words carried weight beyond their simplicity. “And her talent is unmatched.”
Alistair’s smile froze. Vivienne glanced at her father, then back to Julian.
“Of course,” she said, smoothly redirecting. “I admire your loyalty. It’s reassuring to see professionals supporting each other.”
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Julian recognized her pivot. She was smarter than her father, realizing this approach wouldn’t work.
“I’m more interested in meaningful connections than specific companies,” Vivienne continued. “The work is what matters.”
Julian nodded, appreciating her tactical shift. “Agreed. The field benefits when talented minds collaborate, regardless of organizational boundaries.”
Lennox watched this exchange with calculating eyes. “Perhaps we could arrange a more formal discussion over dinner sometime? Professional connections are invaluable.”
“I’d be happy to discuss collaborative opportunities, Julian replied diplomatically. “With the entire YodaVision executive team, of course.”
Alistair’s Jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. His plan to isolate Elara was failing.
“Wonderful,” Lennox said, though her tone suggested otherwise. “We should-”
She stopped mid–sentence, her eyes focusing on something beyond Julian’s shoulder.
Julian turned to see Elara standing near the hallway entrance. She had frozen in place, her expression carefully controlled as she observed the group. The momentary hesitation in her posture spoke volumes.
Lennox’s lips curved into a knowing smile. Their eyes met across the distance.
Elara squared her shoulders and began walking toward them.
Julian watched the subtle shift in Alistair’s demeanor – the slight straightening of his spine, the recalibration of his expression from conspiratorial to formal.
“Ah, speaking of Elara, Alistair said, his voice louder than necessary. “There she is.”
Vivienne turned, her face composed into a polite mask. But Julian didn’t miss the flash of something – not quite discomfort, not quite guilt–in her eyes before it disappeared.
Elara approached with measured steps, her face revealing nothing of what she might have overheard. Her eyes met Julian’s briefly, a silent question in them.
“You must be proud of your daughter’s accomplishments,” Julian said to Alistair,
50 A Fathers Blased Appeal
deliberately changing the subject. “Both your daughters, in fact.”
The emphasis was subtle but unmistakable. The air between them seemed to crystallize with tension.
Before Alistair could respond, Lennox stepped slightly forward, positioning herself like a buffer between the parties. “Elara has always been… determined, she said, her smile not reaching her eyes. “Even as a child.”
Julian turned his full attention toward Elara as she reached their small circle. Her composure was absolute, revealing nothing of what she might be feeling
“I apologize for the interruption,” Elara said smoothly. “Julian, we should hurry if we want to catch the next presentation.”
Julian nodded, grateful for the exit she provided. “You’re right. We’re on a tight
schedule”
“Always rushing.” Alistair commented, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “Some things never change.”
Elara met his gaze directly. “Some things don’t,” she agreed, her voice calm. “While others change entirely.”
For a brief moment, father and daughter stood locked in silent communication, years of unspoken history passing between them.
Vivienne cleared her throat softly. “We should let you get to your presentation,” she said, her professional demeanor firmly in place. “It was nice meeting you properly, Mr. Croft.”
Julian nodded. “Likewise.”
As they prepared to part ways, Lennox caught Elara’s eye one final time. The knowing smile remained, a silent acknowledgment of the game being played.
Elara’s expression remained impassive, but Julian saw the slight tension in her jaw.
They turned and walked away, maintaining professional postures until they were safely
out of earshot.
“What was that about?” Elara asked quietly, her eyes fixed ahead.
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59 A Father’s Biased Appeal.
Julian hesitated, weighing his response. “Your father expressed concern about you.”
Elara’s step faltered for just a moment. “Concern?”
“The manipulative kind,” Julian clarified. “He was trying to undermine you.”
A small, bitter smile touched Elara’s lips. “That’s not new.
“He also tried to position Vivienne for opportunities at YodaVision.”
Elara absorbed this information with a slight nod. “Also not new.”
They reached the entrance to the next presentation hall, pausing before entering.
“How much did you hear?” Julian asked.
“Enough,” Elara replied simply. She straightened her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. We
have work to do.”
Julian studied her face. The composed mask was firmly in place, revealing nothing of the hurt she must be feeling.
“Elara-”
“Not here,” she said quietly. “Not now.”
Julian nodded, respecting her wishes. As they entered the hall, he noticed her hands. were perfectly steady as she prepared her tablet for notes. Her focus was absolute, her discipline impressive.
But he didn’t miss the moment when she glanced back toward where her father and sister stood, their heads bent together in conversation, Lennox watching the crowd with calculating eyes.
In that brief, unguarded moment, the depth of Elara’s isolation was painfully clear.
Then the moment passed. Her mask returned, perfect and impenetrable.
The presentation began, and they both turned their attention to the task at hand – the impossible deadline still looming over them like a guillotine blade.
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