The Internet A+ Conference was scheduled for this Wednesday at the International Convention Center.
With two days to go, Stella Sterling was forced to memorize the Rhodes Harbor Group's company profile at the insistence of Howard Warner.
After finally managing to survive until quitting time, Stella drifted out of the office like a wandering soul.
As she reached the ground floor, a call from an unknown number dragged Stella back to reality.
"Hello, who is this?"
The voice on the other end was saccharine sweet. "Hello, Miss Sterling. This is True Match. I'm your personal matchmaker, Honey."
Stella stopped in her tracks. "Actually, I…"
"Mhm, yes, Miss Sterling. Go on."
"I actually…"
"Mhm, yes, Miss Sterling. I'm listening."
'So sweet.'
She just couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Stella wiped her face. "It's nothing. You go ahead."
Matchmaker Honey's voice became even more charming. "Miss Sterling, here's the situation. Based on your partner preferences, we've specially selected three high-quality candidates for you. One of them, a Mr. Howard, would like to meet you in person. Would that be convenient for you?"
Stella stared at the tips of her shoes. "No, that's not really convenient."
The matchmaker wasn't discouraged. "In that case, would you be willing to add Mr. Howard as a friend? You could start by connecting online. What do you think?"
This time, Stella agreed to the matchmaker's suggestion.
'It's just chatting online, after all. A way to kill time.'
The matchmaker mentioned a few more things to keep in mind, and before hanging up, asked Stella to leave a five-star review.
After taking the subway home, Stella opened the app.
Sure enough, she saw a friend request and the profile information sent by the matchmaker.
[Mr. Howard: Age confidential, single for three years, currently employed at a financial institution.]
[Motto: A wise man doesn't fall in love.]
Stella: "?"
Stella then clicked on his profile picture. It was a half-body shot of him leaning against a car door.
The photo was dimly lit and his face was blurry, clearly out of focus on purpose.
But if you zoomed in, you could clearly see the logo on the steering wheel: Land Rover.
'A classic stealth brag.'
Stella pursed her lips, most of her interest vanishing.
She didn't rush to accept the friend request, instead putting her phone down and going to the bathroom to take a shower.
The fiery sunset clouds outside the window were as brilliant as ever, promising another day of good weather.
By the time Stella finished her bath, twilight had fallen.
She had long forgotten about the earlier friend request. Instead, it was a call from Ian Jarvis that reminded Stella she still had something to take care of.
...
Night fell.
In the CBD's Sino-Capital Tower, the entire 27th floor was brightly lit. Employees moved between their cubicles, busy yet orderly.
On the north side of the work area was the boss's office.
The roughly 300-square-meter office was decorated in a minimalist style, prioritizing function over form with an emphasis on practical simplicity.
At that moment, Roman Rhodes stood before the panoramic windows, which were so reflective they could serve as a mirror. His broad-shouldered back almost blended into the night outside, and his entire being radiated an aura of distinguished aloofness.
Brandon Coleman knocked and entered, walking up behind the man. "Mr. Rhodes," he said, "the organizers of the Internet A+ Conference just called to ask if you will be attending."
Roman Rhodes turned and walked back to his large executive desk. "When does Steve arrive?"
Brandon Coleman replied, "He lands in Calderin at five p.m. tomorrow."
The man lightly spun the pinky ring on his left hand with the pad of his right thumb, pondering for a moment. "Have Steve go in my place."
"Understood." Brandon Coleman committed his boss's instruction to memory and continued his report. "The due diligence report on OmniConnect is out. This is the acquisition proposal. Once you've signed off on it, Mr. Rhodes, Steve will lead the team to negotiate with OmniConnect during the conference."
Pen in hand, Roman Rhodes was about to sign when his gaze suddenly froze for several seconds.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment.
When no instruction was forthcoming, Brandon Coleman grew uneasy.
'The OmniConnect acquisition plan had been finalized at the beginning of the year, and the proposal itself was drafted in strict accordance with the corporate laws of both relevant jurisdictions. Could there be an unexpected change?'
Brandon Coleman didn't dare to speculate; he could only sneak glances at his boss's face, trying to read his expression for any clues.
A moment later, Roman Rhodes signed his name in neat, block letters, his expression as impassive as ever. "The Internet A+ Conference. Steve and I will attend together."
Brandon Coleman froze for a second, then quickly recovered and agreed, "Yes, Mr. Rhodes."
After leaving the boss's office, Brandon Coleman stood in the hallway for a few seconds, mulling it over.
'So, Mr. Rhodes changed his mind and decided to attend the Internet A+ Conference after all. That has to be what he meant, right?'
'They say a leader's mind is hard to read, and it's absolutely true.'
Brandon Coleman returned to the Director's Office and set about informing the conference organizers.
Later, while organizing the documents, he happened to recall seeing a familiar name on the list of attendees for the negotiation.
Brandon Coleman quickly flipped to the last page of the proposal, and then—
He stared at the two words—Stella Sterling—and fell into a long silence.
...
「The next day: Wednesday.」
The Internet A+ Conference arrived right on schedule.
The conference was held at the International Convention Center and would last for three days.
The opening ceremony was at ten in the morning, followed by forum meetings in the afternoon.
Stella Sterling arrived at the convention center with her company's team before nine o'clock.
After picking up their credentials from the registration desk, the group went to the waiting area to rest for a bit.
"Sterling, you're familiar with the Rhodes Harbor Group materials, right?"
When Director Howard Warner asked Stella for the umpteenth time, she forced a stiff smile. "I am. Want me to recite it for you?"
'Familiar' was an understatement.
After a full day and night of cramming, Stella could now recite the Rhodes Harbor Group's profile backward and forward.
Howard Warner clapped Stella on the shoulder with an air of great importance. "Good, as long as you're familiar. The department's most important task this time is in your hands."
Stella nodded in agreement.
But inwardly, she was deeply puzzled.
'They were a support department, not a technical one.'
'What kind of negotiation would require the head of a support department to be the spokesperson?'
At nine-thirty, representatives from the participating internet companies began to file in.
Aside from the company's CEO and the head of the tech department, Stella and the others were merely observers, seated in the back rows.
Lost in the crowd, Stella decided to take the opportunity to catch up on sleep.
However, just as her consciousness began to blur, the text she had memorized flashed through her mind like a movie clip: The Rhodes Harbor Group, headquartered on Vesper Island, owns multiple industries including healthcare, real estate, construction, jewelry, port operations, and shipping...
Sleep attempt: failed.
Stella opened her eyes, her gaze unfocused as she looked ahead. And then she saw it.
There were still ten minutes until the opening ceremony.
A small commotion suddenly erupted near the main stage up front.
The organizers and other important figures all rose to their feet, turning their attention to the entrance.
Whispers began to ripple through the back half of the auditorium.
Someone asked, "Who's here?"
Someone answered, "I think it's the delegation from Vicenza."
Soon after, the delegation from Vicenza, led by Roman Rhodes, appeared before the stage, walking at a measured pace.
The instant Stella saw him, she instinctively looked away.
But for some reason, she couldn't resist sneaking a second glance.
In her line of sight, the man walked at the very front, dressed in a crisply tailored black business suit.
Among the diverse crowd, he alone possessed an air of refined indifference.
And as he then shook hands and spoke with the organizers, the man's calm, collected posture exuded the relaxed assurance unique to those in high positions.
From across the sea of indistinct figures, Stella Sterling gazed at Roman Rhodes with a complicated expression.
The next second, the company profile she had memorized once again drifted through her mind.
Chairman of the Board of the Rhodes Harbor Group, Roman Rhodes, a native of Vesper Island, graduate of...