Chapter 81
Chapter 81
“If she’d stuck with her PhD and stayed in research, she’d be miles ahead of me by
now.”
“That’s some world–class hopeless romantic thinking right there!”
“Honestly, her résumé should just say ‘foraged wild greens for seven years.”
“She was given a brilliant mind, yet chose to spend it raising a family.”
“Why is Director York’s old classmate suddenly signing up for a math competition again?”
Gavin couldn’t make sense of it either. He just sighed, “One day, I hope I get to work alongside Senior Thompson.”
The elevator doors slid open and he stepped out.
Inside, the other employees couldn’t stop gossiping. “Selene suddenly joining a math competition? Must be something going wrong in her marriage.”
“If her husband actually supported her, wouldn’t he have encouraged her to compete in the ALI event?”
“If he was really behind her, why’d she only get her bachelor’s?”
“Ugh! Why let a man dictate your life? No degree, no love–at the end of the day, you’re on your own to carve out a future.”
As they left the elevator, someone muttered, “Man, the AC in there is freezing.”
Now only Harrison and Secretary Burnett remained. Burnett kept her eyes down, not daring to look at Harrison.
After all, the one who just took first place in the ALI Math Competition prelims was the CEO’s wife. These people must have a death wish, airing out the truth like that.
Harrison slid a hand into his suit pocket and strode out, heading straight for the
conference room.
The Vaughn Enterprises shareholders had been waiting for him. As soon as he appeared, they hurried over.
“Mr. Vaughn, congratulations! Your wife took first place at the ALI Math Competition!”
“She’s made headlines everywhere! I heard journalists from the National Broadcast
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apter 87
Network are already lining up to interview her!”
“Harrison, don’t let this talent get away! Bring her into the company–who knew she was such a prodigy in mathematics? If she joins the tech department, IBM’s president will be even more confident in us! He’s agreed to add another 6 billion to
our tech investment if she comes on board.”
Harrison looked up. On the conference room’s big screen was the president of Morgania Investments, dialing in from another time zone.
“Harrison, congratulations. Your wife outperformed the technical advisor I spent a fortune to hire.”
Even through the screen, the Morgania president’s respect was unmistakable.
The room buzzed with congratulatory chatter, encouragement, and excitement, but Harrison’s face remained as unreadable and cold as ever.
“It’s only the prelims,” he replied, voice modest.
“My wife hasn’t competed much before. She doesn’t know that most contestants hold back in the prelims–they only do just enough to qualify, never showing their real level or wasting time on extra problems.”
He added with a faint note of disdain, “But she… she went all out and scored the highest. Now she’s the one in the spotlight.”
The Morgania president laughed. “You Aldonians are always so humble!”
A shareholder waved his phone. “I got an advanced copy of Mrs. Vaughn’s interview with National Broadcast Network–let’s watch it together!”
They were all hoping IBM would confirm the extra 6 billion investment today. The shareholders wanted to show the IBM president just how outstanding Selene was.
The IBM president perked up. “Excellent, please put Mrs. Vaughn’s interview on the screen. I know a bit of English–I’ll be able to follow along.”
Harrison’s lips parted slightly. He realized his first instinct was to intervene, but then caught himself–was he seriously feeling nervous? The thought was almost amusing.
What did he have to fear?
Selene entered the ALI Math Competition to prove herself to him, didn’t she?
Many top finishers in previous ALI competitions had gone on to hold senior posts at Vaughn Enterprises.
08.10
Maybe Selene was still waiting for Harrison to swallow his pride, beg her to return to the Vaughn family, beg her to join Vaughn Enterprises.
A bitter, scornful laugh rumbled in his throat.
Then Selene’s voice, clear and resolute, echoed through the vast conference room, her interview broadcast for all to hear:
“Does your daughter share your surname?”
“Yes!”
“May I ask about your husband-?”
“I’m divorced. My ex–husband isn’t worth mentioning.”
