Well, "being stuck under Abel or Sophia" is not a problem for a white and a grey Edwin. Since I replayed from the beginning, some hints and stuff are clearer (unfortunately not all) now. While Abel certainly has a position for Edwin in his hostile takeover of PC, he also definitely likes Edwin from their first meeting onwards.
It is openly implied that van Doren and his firm are major players in the medical business and research. Edwin being there would certainly set him on the way up to the top.
I am really sorry to tell you that you do not get my mindset on a grey Edwin playthrough nearly at all! A little help from me. On all "white hat" and "grey hat" playthroughs I have (3 each for my prefered girls), Edwin wants to help people and is an inquisitive voyeur. He and Ian are "bros forever", Edwin brought him to think about his future and told him about his mom´s plans. (He also knows that Ian wants to be a history teacher/prof.)
I want to stress again that "grey hat" Edwin still wants to and does help other people, e.g. Ian, Felicia, etc., but that there are cases where his own gains come absolutely first (and they do not have to be money, since you are so focused on that).
Also you are obsessed with playing Edwin like an neurotic as..., which he is not!
As for Veronika, in the beginning "grey" Edwin had sympathy for her plight, but that changed the more he learned. How stupid and/or rash can Veronika be? She is in the games for the money, knowing that it will not help much! (that is different from both Feli and Rosi, who if they win get what they want/need) She ruined her happy marriage for that fracking gym and more, she could cut her losses, start anew and live her dream in a different gym. Even Samson mentioned that she could simply live her dream in another new gym she owned after cutting her losses with this one (and remember, the gym was already failing before Samson started his meddling. He added to the woes, but the gym was going down even before he popped up on the scene) instead of letting Kath have "fun" with her.
I had to shake my head when Veronika accused Felicia during the punishment game that if she wins two girls in need are hosed. We know that Feli would give the money Rosi needs without blinking if we ask her. (Even if that is not a problem anymore if we let August handle "just Oliver"
)
If Veronika "wins", all(!) three loose. Since for Veronika even a win is simply a band aid, which will run out sooner than later, esp. when she could just walk away. But she is too stubborn and seems to life her life with blinkers on.