Jilted Ex-wife Billionaire Heiress

Chapter 52 Partnership

Darya knew this was a make-or-break meeting.

Either she went along with Reece's idea, or Paragon would lose the chance to work with Solaro.

Putting aside personal feelings, she had to admit that Zenith was a powerful ally to have.

Darya made up her mind.

She forced a polite smile and picked up one of the wine glasses on the coffee table. To our shared future."

Reece and Micah joined in the toast.

Once she got over the awkward feeling of having to work with her ex-husband, Darya launched into a detailed discussion about the project.

Micah put in a few words now and then, but let her hold court.

When they'd nailed down the revised plan for the first phase of the joint venture, Reece stood up and stretched.

He glanced back and forth at his new business partners, smiling. 'Miss Miller, the first dance is about to begin. He laid a hand on Micah's shoulder. 'I think the two of you would look great together on the dance floor."

Darya resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Reece was well aware she'd come here with Avery.

Smiling bashfully, Darya shook her head.

She said diplomatically, 'I'm not a good dancer, and I'm sure Mr Cavanaugh would rather dance with his date.'

The corner of Micah's mouth twitched.

Darya and Timothy Barrett had danced in Amanti less than twenty-four hours ago.

'I'll let my assistant contact yours for any follow-up.' Darya shook hands with Reece. 'If you'll excuse me.'

She had no intention to dance with Micah.

After the door shut behind her, Reece said to Micah, 'I did what I could.'

Reece was a family friend of the Cavanaughs and viewed Micah as a nephew.

It didn't escape his notice that Micah seemed to want his ex-wife back and Reece tried to help, in vain.

Micah said nothing.

He took another sip of his wine, lost in thought.

'Don't worry.' Reece patted his shoulder. 'The three of us will be seeing plenty of each other once phase one of

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Chapter 59 Partnership)

the project is launched

As Fleece admired the gift Darys presented, he wondered what was going on

between the two young people.

Darya dismissed Micah from her mind as soon as she left the rom

Avery was waiting for her in the hallway outside

'You should've asked me to come with you,' he said.

Half an hour ago, he was distracted by the deputy mayor for a moment and Darya just disappeared from the

ballroom

She texted him to say she was meeting up with Reece Cooke.

Avery stayed back, willing to give his sister the stage.

But he didn't know Micah would be there, too.

'How did it go?' He took Darya's arm and walked back to the ballroom.

'The pie has to be sliced three ways now.' Darya sighed. 'Solaro won't work with us unless Zenith participates

as well.'

Avery frowned. "That's not what Reece told me last week. Do you want me to talk to him?

'There's no need. He said he owed the old Mr Cavanaugh a favour and Zenith's involvement was non-negotiable." Avery slowed down his steps as he pondered the change. 'I assume you took the deal?'

"Darya nodded. 'To be frank, Solaro and Zenith are a better fit than Solaro and Paragon. Reece has the battery

and the hardware. Micah's company has the software. We are just the moneybags.'

Avery agreed that the deal made better sense, business-wise.

But he was worried about the personal aspect.

'How do you feel about working with that man?' he asked.

If Darya didn't want to see Micah's face again, there were only two options.

Either Paragon withdrew from the project, or Darya was replaced as the project leader.

As the president of Paragon, Avery would not go for option one.

Knowing how important this project was to his sister, he expected that Darya would say no to option two.

Darya shrugged. 'I'm fine with it. We won't be meeting that frequently, anyway. The project is still in its early

stages.

'Okay.' Avery held the door open for Darya. 'I trust you.'

He was confident that his sister could separate work from personal life.

'How about a dance?' Avery bowed slightly as the band struck up the tune of Hernando's Hideaway.

'My pleasure.' Darya smiled.

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Standing some distance away, Micah watched their interactions with a stony face.

'So the rumours are true. They are a couple, then.' Reece stood next to him.

"They are not,' Micah refuted automatically.

There was no way Avery and Darya were a couple, despite what everyone else was saying.

He had seen the way Darya looked at Avery,

There was affection there, sure, but there wasn't love.

Reece shot him a surprised look. 'Are you still hung up about your ex-wife?'

Micah said nothing.

But Reece knew him well.

Micah's silence was tantamount to an admission.

Since Reece himself had married and divorced the same woman twice, he could understand what Micah was

going through.

Smiling, he patted Micah's back. 'I'll help you out one last time then.'

After the first song was over, he walked over to the raised platform and took the microphone. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to my son's birthday party.'

The guests applauded politely.

It was an open secret that Reece and his wife had been trying to have a baby for

years.

'I have one more piece of good news to share,' Reece continued. 'Solaro has

found two partners for the personal healthcare robot project.'

His gaze fell on Avery and Darya. 'We are honoured to be working with the Paragon Group.'

Then he nodded at Micha. 'As well as Zenith.'

Shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Reece maintained a polite smile as if he had not just dropped a bombshell.

He knew at least two dozen of the guests here today were angling for a share in

the project.

Sadly, they would go home empty-handed.

Reece waved at Darya and Micah.

As the two of them joined him on the podium, he took Darya's hand and placed it

in Micah's. Then he announced to the crowd, 'Let's celebrate the beginning of our new partnership with a dance!'