Chapter 3

Simon could barely contain his delight.

He'd spent a good six months negotiating the project with Robert, and things had remained deadlocked the entire time. However, after just one conversation with me, there was finally some progress.

Maya's expression soured even further. She'd spent the entire afternoon preparing for her moment in the spotlight. But in the end, I'd stolen all the attention from her.

From that day onward, Simon's attitude toward me changed noticeably. He didn't exactly show me any fatherly affection, but at least he'd started allowing me access to the Gibson family's connections.

These were industry heavyweights, influential figures in finance, and leading academics whom even Alvin had a hard time meeting. But now, all I had to do was ask, and Simon would readily put me in touch with them.

After all, as long as the Anglorian project with Robert hadn't been finalized, Simon would continue to consider me a useful pawn to ensure the deal went through.

I was perfectly happy with that arrangement. As it was, I'd suddenly discovered just how wonderful it was to take shortcuts in life.

There were plenty of prestigious academic forums I'd never have been able to get into before. Now, all I had to do was mention the Gibson family, and the organizers would practically fall over themselves to send me invitations.

Some of the big names I'd previously only ever seen mentioned in the acknowledgments sections of academic papers were now willing to set aside time specifically to answer my questions.

After getting into Clearidge University, I thought I had to suppress the urge to show off. But now, I was itching to get started on my life's quest once more. With so many big shots helping me out, how could I not seize this chance to make a grand show of myself?

Meanwhile, Maya was on the verge of losing her mind.

Ever since the party, she kept looking for all sorts of ways to pick on me, but she soon discovered that I simply didn't have time for her.

She wanted to set me up and make it seem like I'd pushed her down the stairs, but she ended up falling on her own before she'd even formulated her speech. And by then, I'd already disappeared with my backpack.

She also tried to accuse me of sneaking something she was allergic to into her food. However, I took all my meals in the study. She couldn't even get me to sit at the same table as her.

Whenever Maya cried wolf to Alvin, he would bring up my lack of upbringing and complete disregard for proper etiquette.

However, to his absolute shock, Simon would praise me instead, saying I was clever and eager to learn. He even said there wasn't any harm in me being a little more laid-back about these things.

Simon even took the initiative to bring me into the company and get involved with Robert's project.

Alvin finally couldn't sit still anymore. After all, the way he saw it, the Gibson family had always been his to inherit. I was nothing more than a daughter who'd popped out of nowhere after almost two decades, so what right did I have to lay claim to the family's company?

Personally, I couldn't care less what Alvin thought of me. But unexpectedly, Gibson Corporation ran into a spot of trouble. The crisis was so huge that the company's market value fell by billions of dollars in a single day.

I happened to be at the company that day.

Isaac Sherman, the successor to Sherman Capital, Gibson Corporation's biggest competitor, sat at the head of the conference table. He didn't even bother showing the Gibsons any courtesy.

"You're here to discuss a plan to acquire Gibson Corporation?" Alvin immediately lost his composure and shot to his feet. "There's nothing to discuss! Gibson Corporation will never agree to a takeover!"

Isaac snorted. "Is that so? Then, how exactly do you plan to plug the company's funding shortfall, Alvin?"

Alvin forcibly put on a show of composure. "Gibson Corporation's actual business value far exceeds what the current temporary market fluctuations suggest! Given enough time, the share price will recover. Besides, what matters most in business is long-term strategy, not short-term—"

Isaac let out a mocking laugh, looking like he'd just heard the funniest joke. "Don't tell me you seriously think real-world business works like some case study in a business school classroom."

For a moment, the conference room was silent. Alvin's expression darkened, but Isaac had no intention of sparing his dignity.

"You keep going on about long-term value and strategic planning, but do you even know how much money Gibson Corporation is burning through every day right now?

"Do you know the banks are already preparing to call in their loans? Do you know why your business partners are suddenly pulling their investments? Or are you telling me…"

Isaac leaned back in his chair, his tone dripping with derision as he continued, "Aside from memorizing a few business buzzwords, you actually don't know a damn thing about running a business?"

I wanted to laugh. It seemed as though Alvin really hadn't learned a thing all these years.

Isaac was roughly his age, but when it came to a real battle in the corporate world, Alvin could only spout empty theories that sounded good on paper. He was about as mature as a college student pretending to be an entrepreneur.

Just then, Maya rose from her seat, puffing herself up with the airs of an elegant young socialite, like she always did. She even flashed what she clearly thought was a bewitching smile.

"We're all respectable people here. There's no need to take things this far, is there? Besides, there's no reason Gibson Corporation and Sherman Capital can't continue working together.

"I heard you're still single, Mr. Sherman."