The Surrogate He Discarded

Claire hesitated.

Only for a second, but Isobel noticed.

”The product specifications.”

”Which specifications?”

Claire’s expression tightened.

”The updated ones.”

”Which version?”

Claire blinked.

For the first time, a trace of irritation replaced her usual confidence.

”The latest version.”

Isobel almost smiled.

There were three versions of the specifications, and the latest one had been completed only two days before her attack.

If Claire was truly working closely with Dean on the product launch, she should have known exactly which version she needed.

Instead, she had given the safest answer possible.

”The latest one?” Isobel repeated.

”Yes.”

Claire let out a derisive laugh.

”Why are you questioning me as if I’m stealing something?”

”I didn’t say you were.”

”But the way you’re questioning me certainly makes me feel that way.”

Her tone was sharper now. She was a Marketing Director, not some junior employee being reprimanded. She wasn’t accustomed to being questioned, especially by someone younger than her and who joined the company just recently.

Isobel didn’t argue.

Her gaze shifted to the binder in Claire’s hands.

The cover hadn’t been closed properly.

A corner of the document inside was visible.

Isobel recognized it immediately. It wasn’t the updated specification. It was a design blueprint.

An internal R&D document that wasn’t supposed to leave the department.

Her expression changed.

Claire noticed.

Before Isobel could say anything, she snapped the binder shut.

”I’ll give this to Dean.”

She turned toward the door.

”Claire.”

Claire stopped.

”That’s a blueprint. Marketing doesn’t need access to that.”

Claire slowly turned around.

Her eyes hardened.

”You’re making things unnecessarily difficult.”

”I don’t think so.”

”You’ve been back for less than a day, yet you’re already questioning how other departments do their work.” Claire folded her arms. ”You’re acting as though you’re the boss.”

Isobel’s expression remained calm.

”I don’t need to be the boss to know that confidential R&D documents shouldn’t be taken out of the department.”

Claire’s jaw tightened.

Then she smiled coldly.

”Morgan doesn’t seem to have a problem with how I handle my work.”

She deliberately invoked Morgan’s name, expecting it to end the argument.

It didn’t.

Isobel’s eyes sharpened.

”Then you can ask Morgan to authorize it.”

For a moment, neither woman spoke.

Claire hadn’t expected that answer.

She quickly recovered.

”There’s no need to make such a big issue out of it. Dean asked me to get the information, so I’ll take it directly to him.”

She lifted the binder slightly.

”Unless you’re saying Dean doesn’t know what he’s doing?”

Isobel didn’t take the bait.

”Give it to Dean here.”

Claire’s smile stiffened.

”I’ll return it when I’m done.”

”Claire.”

Isobel’s voice remained quiet, but firm.

”That document stays in R&D.”

Claire stared at her.

The younger woman’s calmness irritated her more than an outright confrontation would have.

Finally, she gave a dismissive scoff.

”Fine.”

She put back the binder in its place. Then she turned and walked out.

But instead of heading toward the elevator, Claire walked several meters down the hallway before stopping.

She glanced back.

The door to Isobel’s office was still open.

Isobel was standing there, watching her.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, Claire’s expression froze.

Then she smiled. A perfectly polite, almost friendly smile.

She turned and continued toward the open R&D area where Dean was working.

Only when Isobel was out of sight did the smile disappear.

Claire’s fingers clenched hard until she felt the pain.

She hadn’t expected Isobel to return so soon.

She had assumed the girl would spend at least another week recovering in the hospital.

More importantly, she hadn’t expected her to notice the blueprint.

Claire had looked into the contents of the binder but the document she was looking for wasn’t there.

Someone had moved it.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

The original draft of the blueprint was still useful, though.

She only needed a photograph.

But that wouldn’t be easy.

Cameras covered the entire R&D department. Every corner, every workstation, every hallway was monitored. Taking out her phone and photographing the blueprint would be reckless.

She would need an opportunity.

And she would need to make sure no one was watching.

Claire’s grip tightened.

She would get it.

She always did.

Meanwhile, Isobel remained in her doorway, staring down the hallway.

Something about Claire’s behavior had unsettled her.

She didn’t know what Claire was hiding yet.

But she was certain of one thing.

Claire was hiding something.

...

A few minutes later, there was a knock on Isobel’s door.

”Come in.”

The door opened, and Dean stepped inside.

He straightened immediately when he saw Isobel and gave her a respectful nod.

”Miss Lancey.”

”Please, sit down, Dean.”

Isobel gestured toward the chair across from her.

Dean sat, though he couldn’t completely shake the awkwardness settling over him.

This was the first time Dean had met Isobel face-to-face and alone in her capacity as his superior. Previously, it had always been his immediate manager who dealt with her.

Up close, she still looked surprisingly young.

She looked young. Far too young, Dean thought, to be overseeing one of Aioryx’s most important projects.

A few months ago, he had barely paid attention to her whenever she came to the R&D department. She had been inexperienced then—quick to become flustered whenever senior employees challenged her, and often hesitant when speaking to people older than her.

This time was different.

The woman sitting across from him wasn’t fidgeting or searching for the right words.

She was watching him.

Calmly.

As if she had all the time in the world and was waiting for him to reveal something.

Dean shifted slightly in his chair.

There was no trace of the uncertainty he remembered.

Instead, Isobel carried herself with a quiet confidence that made her seem older than she was. Even her gaze had changed. It was clear, steady, and strangely difficult to avoid.

For a moment, Dean was reminded of Morgan.

That same calm.

That same ability to make people feel as though nothing escaped their notice.

He suddenly understood why Morgan had entrusted Project Lexan to her.

Isobel might still look young, but the young woman he remembered was nowhere to be found.

She had changed.

Dean cleared his throat.

”Miss Lancey, you called for me?”

”Sir Morgan mentioned that you took over my responsibilities for Project Lexan while I was away.”

”Yes, I did.”

Dean nodded.

”Is there a problem?”

”Nothing is wrong.” Isobel leaned back slightly. ”I just want to be brought up to speed. Start with the latest developments, especially the work Claire Landers has been handling for the project.”

Dean’s expression changed but only for a fraction of a second.

His shoulders stiffened, and his eyes flickered toward the door before returning to Isobel.

It was a small reaction.

But Isobel noticed. She said nothing.

She simply waited.

Dean hesitated before answering.

”Claire?”

”Yes.”

Isobel’s voice remained calm.

”What exactly has she been working on?”