The Queen Returns—And She's Unforgiving novel Chapter 288

Back at the venue, Jeremy couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer. "Ms. Reed, how old are you this year? Where did you do your postgraduate studies?"

Evelyn smiled mildly. "I just turned 25. I didn't do a postgraduate program, and I don't have a mentor."

If she hadn't gotten married back then, she would have proudly said that Graham had taken her on as his student.

Hearing her answer, Jeremy was genuinely stunned.

He had assumed someone with her depth of knowledge must've gone through an accelerated master's and PhD program. Her understanding of complex concepts wasn't just sharp—it was profound. Beyond the fundamentals, her insights had depth and nuance, and some of her views even made him pause and rethink.

Sebastian, watching from the side, noticed every subtle shift in Jeremy's expression.

He raised his brow and smiled. "She's our best engineer at Flying Seal Group, Mr. Harmon. I hope we'll have more chances in the future to exchange ideas on the technical side."

Jeremy nodded, still amazed. "That would be great. Flying Seal Group is really full of hidden talent. Truly remarkable."

This bidding event was turning out to be very interesting.

Evelyn gave a slight, composed smile.

The formal bidding process soon began.

It was layered and complex, starting with the unsealing of bids, followed by a comprehensive evaluation by the panel. Finally came the announcement of the winning bidder.

When it was officially confirmed that Flying Seal Group had won, Evelyn exhaled, the pressure in her chest finally easing. This partnership with the military wasn't just a contract—it was a landmark moment.

Flying Seal Group would leap forward, solidifying their position in the domestic market.

She had once thought that only after her confidentiality agreement expired could she lead Flying Seal Group into this tier. After all, despite Justine's investment and Sebastian's leadership, the company had only been around for less than four years. Evelyn hadn't even been with them from the start.

In the national tech landscape, Flying Seal Group wasn't yet first-tier. That meant they often had to wait to be chosen rather than do the choosing.

But now, without having to wait for her NDA to expire, they had already secured this government-level opportunity.

In the current brutal tech landscape, where companies fought tooth and nail for recognition, this was a rare head start.

Technically, the plan had been to divide the technology fairly, do joint R&D, and promote equal collaboration. But Flying Seal Group wasn't even giving them the chance anymore.

Before the decision to submit a joint bid, both parties had signed a clear agreement that outlined the responsibilities and structure. Flying Seal Group would lead the project while Arrowpoint Solutions would take on a significant portion of the R&D in areas where each side had expertise.

Normally, that kind of clause meant the lead party would manage direction and oversight, but there was still an understanding of shared development.

How was that any different from being a glorified assistant? It made Tiffany feel completely disrespected.

Evelyn closed the contract folder and looked up, her tone cool and firm, leaving no room for argument. "Arrowpoint Solutions approached us. Ms. Moore, are you clear on where you stand in all this? Or are you planning to stall progress again, like what happened with NovaTech Group after we gave you the lead authority?

"You mentioned dividing up areas of technical strength. The agreement does state a collaborative effort, but let's be clear. Flying Seal Group has no technical weaknesses. We're fully capable of managing this project end-to-end. There are no areas that we don't specialize in.

"If you're not happy with the arrangement, the contract clearly outlines your option—you can walk away and assume full responsibility."