Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 1255

Robert frowned, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “So, did you say yes back then?”

The assistant shook his head. “No, I didn’t. Honestly, The Smith Group just isn’t as strong in this field compared to the competition. Plus, they’ve had some scandals—bad press, a reputation that’s not exactly great.”

He hesitated, then added, “And there’s a weird connection. Mr. Wilson’s partner used to be married to the president of The Smith Group. Things went south between them, and she ended up leaving Harrisburg.”

That caught Robert’s attention even more. “What actually happened? Give me the details.”

The assistant nodded, clearly having done his homework. “Mr. Smith didn’t value his ex-wife at all. He actually sided with a mistress, the one who ruined their marriage. Because of that affair, he forced Mr. Wilson’s partner out of The Smith Group. But here’s the twist—she was the real deal. After the divorce, she teamed up with Mr. Wilson, and together they built a system that blew everyone away. That’s how N.Z. Tech was born…”

Robert listened, his eyes narrowing as he took it all in. “I never realized there was so much going on behind the scenes.”

He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “So what do you think? Do you really believe The Wilson Group is being as open as they seem, or is there something else going on?”

He couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to this rivalry between The Wilson Group and The Smith Group. Business was always about profit, after all. Robert might be a research guy, but he wasn’t blind to how these things worked. The Wilson Group seemed sincere, but he had to consider every angle.

The assistant smiled, almost knowingly. “There’s always more to it. Like they say in Estonia, everyone’s chasing their own interests. No one does anything for nothing. Maybe they want to win, maybe they’re trying to block The Smith Group, who knows? But honestly, whatever their real plan is, it doesn’t really affect us. The important thing is, I think they’re genuinely respectful. They even brought a doctor over just for you today. That says a lot.”

He paused, then continued, “When you agreed to work with them, you could see the surprise on their faces—it was real, not an act. And honestly, NextGen Technologies and N.Z. Tech both have real talent. The Smith Group might have money, but their reputation is already shaky. You’ve seen plenty of rich companies, right? You get to pick, and you can afford to be picky.”

Robert laughed, feeling a little lighter. “Those two—Mr. Wilson and Ms. Williams—they’re just kids, really. Who’d have thought I’d get outplayed at my age? Still, I have to admit, I’m happy with the way they’ve been taking care of my health.”

“They found a great doctor, that’s for sure,” the assistant agreed. “And he can actually help with your old problems. So, should I turn down The Smith Group?”

They headed back to The Smith Group’s office and called Jordan Smith, who was still overseas in Cabinda.

Jordan listened to the report, his brow furrowing deeper with every word. AI tech had been a major focus for The Smith Group for years. After Camila Davis left, his new team had made some progress, but nothing groundbreaking. Robert was supposed to be their game-changer.

He’d thought everything was lined up before leaving the country, but now this.

Alison’s voice was tight with nerves as she spoke on the phone. “We don’t know why Robert changed his mind, and now he won’t even meet with us. We were hoping you could come back to handle this personally…”

Jordan didn’t even let her finish before cutting the call, his frustration boiling over. “Useless, all of them,” he muttered. “Everything was set, and they still manage to screw it up.”