To the millions of viewers watching the broadcast, Anya was the villain who stole the microchip, and Maeve was the victim who nearly forfeited the match.
But Andres saw right through it. He knew Maeve had played on Anya's desperate ambition, carefully setting a trap.
She used the chaos to seamlessly showcase two separate inventions to the world.
And through Pineapple's sassy commentary, she casually dropped the bombshell that beyond the NannyBot and the VR helmet that materialized desires, she had a vault of other revolutionary creations.
Maeve didn't look the least bit guilty that Andres had exposed her grand scheme.
If Anya had played fair from the start, she never would have fallen into the trap.
Since she chose to step into the snare, she had to suffer The Backlash.
"How many people called you begging for a partnership after the broadcast ended?" she asked.
"Besides the Fulton Group, Leonardo Salazar and Slade Thorne both reached out through me to discuss collaborations," Andres replied.
"And that's just the people who have a direct line to me."
"Once the hype really peaks, I guarantee the line at my door is going to get a lot longer."
"Maeve, you purposely stole the show at the Intelligent Competition. Are you setting up a bigger chessboard?"
Thinking back on it, her genius was truly terrifying.
She had likely been setting up the board since they were in Lumiere City.
Using Leonardo Salazar's medical crisis to deliberately leak her identity as The Shadow Healer.
Then, in front of all those heavy-hitting elites, she smoothly transferred all the favors and social debts onto his shoulders.
Now, everyone in their inner circle knew that the only way to reach Maeve was through Andres White.
That was exactly why his phone had been blowing up with people trying to cozy up to him the second the broadcast ended.
Maeve finished half her yogurt. Facing Andres's probing look, she offered a sweet, knowing smile.
"Yep, I'm setting up a board. A very fun one."
"Can I play?" Andres asked smoothly.
"If you think there's profit in it for you, be my guest," she shrugged.
Andres reached over, gently wiping away the yogurt mustache on her upper lip.
"Talking about profit makes us sound like strangers."
"I just want in so I can run interference and handle the headaches for you."
Maeve didn't say yes, but she didn't say no either.
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