Chapter 3: The Last Thing They Wanted

Evelyn Carter was having a perfectly good morning until her assistant ruined it.

"There's been a call from the U.S. government," Michael said, standing stiffly in her office doorway. "They need AI developers for a classified project."

Evelyn barely looked up from her laptop. "Tell them to send an NDA. I'll have legal review it."

Michael hesitated. "They already chose the companies involved."

Evelyn's fingers paused on the keyboard. No one chose for her.

Michael swallowed hard. "…Novacore and Infinity Dynamics."

Evelyn's head snapped up. "Excuse me?"

Michael adjusted his glasses, clearly regretting his career choices. "You and Ji-Ah Park are expected in Washington next week. They want both of you on the project."

Evelyn sat back, processing. This had to be a joke.

She had spent the last month crushing Infinity Dynamics—undercutting their deals, taking their investors, making sure Ji-Ah Park regretted ever stepping on the same stage as her.

And now, she had to work with her?

"Find out who made this decision," Evelyn ordered coldly. "And set up a call. I'm not sharing my work with some—"

"Government contract," Michael interrupted carefully. "Classified. High stakes. Billions on the table. No room for negotiation."

Evelyn exhaled slowly.

She was going to kill someone.

Ji-Ah's Reaction – Seoul Office

"Absolutely not."

Ji-Ah Park leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, glaring at her assistant.

"They said it's non-negotiable," Min Hye-Jin replied. "And you did say you wanted to expand in the U.S.—"

"Not by working with her."

Ji-Ah wasn't an idiot. She knew how powerful government contracts were. One successful deal, and Infinity Dynamics would have permanent footing in America.

But… Evelyn Carter?

That woman would rather set fire to the contract than work with her. And frankly, Ji-Ah would probably hand her the match.

"Can we back out?" Ji-Ah asked, already knowing the answer.

"Nope," Hye-Jin said cheerfully. "They'll blacklist us from future bids."

Ji-Ah muttered something in Korean that was not CEO-appropriate.

"This is going to be a nightmare."

Hye-Jin grinned. "Or fun."

Ji-Ah shot her a deadly look.