Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Vincent Grant Helps Joanna Sherman, Trampling Her Underfoot

He gestured toward Vincent Grant’s party. "Joanna Sherman. Miss Sherman."

"Joanna Sherman?"

Sophia Shaw felt as if she’d been struck by something, her mind going briefly blank.

When she came to her senses, she was met by Joanna Sherman’s victorious gaze.

She stood, clasping her hands elegantly. "Thank you all for your trust."

"Hah!" Levin Sawyer, who had been sitting ramrod straight, leaned back against his chair, the serious look on his face replaced by a sarcastic sneer. "So this is the result of your discussion?"

"Making a thing like her the Project Director?"

"Is there something wrong with you experts’ heads?"

Sophia Shaw’s gaze, however, was fixed on Professor Lane.

In a flash, she suddenly realized why Professor Lane felt so familiar: they had met before!

He had once been working on a project that almost failed due to a lack of funding, and it was Vincent Grant who had helped him, investing tens of millions!

She connected this to how polite he had been to Joanna Sherman last night, and how he had completely ignored her.

’So, it’s Vincent Grant helping Joanna Sherman!’

’Even if Joanna Sherman doesn’t have the skills, Vincent Grant will still fulfill her wish!’

’Once again, for Joanna Sherman’s sake... Vincent Grant chose to sacrifice me!’

One painful gash after another was carved across Sophia Shaw’s heart.

Every mark was a scar left from a time Vincent Grant had hurt her for Joanna Sherman’s sake.

There were already too many to count!

"President Sawyer, please watch your tone!" As expected, Vincent Grant immediately began defending Joanna Sherman again.

The sarcastic look on Sophia Shaw’s face deepened.

’Levin Sawyer called his precious goddess a "thing." How could he possibly stand for that?’

’If this meeting weren’t so critical to his goddess’s fate, he probably would’ve already picked a fight with Levin Sawyer.’

"My apologies. I got carried away and misspoke," Levin Sawyer immediately corrected himself.

The government representative had become extremely nervous hearing how furious Levin Sawyer was.

Both parties were major local taxpayers, gods of wealth that could not be offended.

He was terrified the two would start fighting.

Hearing Levin Sawyer take the initiative to apologize, his taut nerves suddenly relaxed.

’Thank goodness, thank goodness.’

"How could Miss Sherman be considered a ’thing’? Wouldn’t that be an insult to the word ’thing’?" Levin Sawyer added unhurriedly.

’Oh my god!’

The representative’s heart, which had just settled, shattered against his ribs with a CLANG.

The elegance Joanna Sherman had been struggling to maintain instantly cracked, and she glared angrily at Levin Sawyer.

Professor Lane spoke with a stern face. "We made this decision after careful consideration. Didn’t you hear me just now? The expert panel took this matter very seriously. We even skipped the banquet and held the meeting on empty stomachs."

"You would’ve been better off eating more. Better to be a glutton than an idiot!"

Levin Sawyer didn’t back down an inch, completely unafraid of offending people.

He had always been personable and gotten along with everyone; despite his extraordinary family background, he had never looked down on anyone.

He was friendly and polite to all.

This was the first time he had ever attacked someone like this, and so nastily.

Professor Lane and the seven other experts’ faces turned livid.

Professor Lane, suppressing his fury, said, "This Miss Shaw only studied aerospace engineering. She didn’t even graduate and has made no societal contributions. In contrast, Miss Sherman not only graduated with a doctorate with outstanding results, but she also successfully launched a rocket within a year."

"Comparing the two, Miss Sherman is obviously more suitable to be the Project Director!"

"We made this change out of consideration for the project’s security. How can you, Mr. Sawyer, make such outrageous claims and speak so viciously?"

Above his low-hanging glasses, Professor Lane glared with a pair of beady eyes and shook his head.

’Young people these days... absolutely no manners!’

Levin Sawyer lazily brushed non-existent dust from his pant leg.

’I was planning on showing these old geezers a little respect.’

’But now I see there’s no need for that at all.’

"Professor Lane, which of your eyes saw my Faye making zero contributions to society?"

"If I’m not mistaken, you didn’t even look at her resume, did you?"

He didn’t even bother with a polite address, speaking to him directly.

"I asked her myself. Miss Shaw would have no reason to downplay her own academic qualifications, would she?" Professor Lane’s eyes bulged with anger.

"So, you didn’t look at her resume, then?" Levin Sawyer shot back.

"If you haven’t even seen her resume, what right do you have to compare my Faye to whatever this is in front of me!"

’Comparing Joanna Sherman to Sophia Shaw? Who do you think you’re insulting!’

"President Sawyer!"

No matter how much self-control Joanna Sherman had, she couldn’t take it anymore after Levin Sawyer insulted her repeatedly and belittled her as worthless.

"You’ve gone too far."

"This was the result of the experts’ discussion. I didn’t ask them to say this. Why are you being so aggressive?"

"The experts did this for the good of the project. Lead Aerospace is the primary party; you stand to gain more if it succeeds. President Sawyer, surely you wouldn’t ignore such simple math out of personal bias."

The other experts chimed in, "That’s right. We’re also being responsible toward Lead Aerospace. As the auxiliary party, Zenith doesn’t stand to gain much no matter how well Miss Sherman performs."

"We’re doing a thankless job only to get cursed out for it. That’s uncalled for, President Sawyer."

"Based on Miss Shaw’s resume, there’s no way she could be the Project Director anywhere. President Sawyer, even if you want to promote someone, this isn’t the way to do it."

As soon as the word "promote" was spoken, Vincent Grant’s gaze shot over.

It locked onto Sophia Shaw.

Sophia Shaw ignored Vincent Grant’s gaze and remained seated quietly.

A cold smile touched the corners of her lips.

’Professor Lane kept insisting he’d asked me personally.’

’He only asked questions that would benefit Joanna Sherman.’

’My work experience, my successful projects, who my mentors were... he didn’t ask a single thing about any of it.’

Levin Sawyer noticed Vincent Grant’s glare and deliberately leaned closer to Sophia Shaw to speak. "How about you pull out your resume and shut these old bastards up for good?"

His voice was very soft, speaking almost directly into Sophia Shaw’s ear, making the two of them appear incredibly intimate.

Across from them, Vincent Grant’s face grew darker.

The hand resting on his knee tensed so tightly that the veins on it bulged!

Sophia Shaw let out a soft laugh. "Why should I show them my resume? I won’t!"

"Alright, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to!" Levin Sawyer acted as if he would do anything Sophia Shaw said.

He said it loud enough for Vincent Grant to hear.

To an outsider, those doting words looked just like flirting!

The experts were still trying to persuade Levin Sawyer to change his mind.

Even the representative, wiping away his sweat, came before Levin Sawyer. "President Sawyer, why don’t we... just leave it at that?"

"At worst, we can just announce to the public that Miss Shaw is the Project Director, can’t we?" Joanna Sherman said loudly. "We’re all doing this for the good of the project, not for fame or fortune."

"Oh, what a noble ’not for fame or fortune’!" Levin Sawyer shot a sidelong glance at Joanna Sherman. "If it’s not for fame or fortune, then withdraw! Why did you even bother getting involved in this project?"

’Shameless creature. It’s bad enough she forced her way into a perfectly good Lead Aerospace project, but now she has the audacity to try and snatch the Project Director position.’

’The audacity!’

Joanna Sherman seemed to be angered and opened her mouth. "Since President Sawyer is so unwelcoming, then..."

Vincent Grant grabbed her, cutting her off.

Sophia Shaw coldly watched their little exchange.

’A man as smart as Vincent Grant turns into a complete idiot in front of Joanna Sherman.’

’Joanna Sherman was just putting on an act to maintain her holier-than-thou, untouchable goddess persona.’

’Even if Vincent Grant hadn’t stopped her, she would never have actually said the word "withdraw."’

Vincent Grant looked over at her as well. "Miss Shaw, what conditions will it take for you to withdraw?"

Sophia Shaw slowly stood up. "I don’t need any conditions. I’ll withdraw."

"This Project Director position... I don’t want it. I’ll hand it over to Miss Sherman."

"Faye!" Levin Sawyer called out in a low voice, trying to stop her.

Sophia Shaw gave him a slight smile.

Enjoying a rare moment of malice, she waited until she saw a victorious smile reappear on Joanna Sherman’s face before continuing, "I now announce that the Cathan Rocket Rideshare project is officially canceled!"