Chapter 63


    The young man paused and slowly adjusted his camera lens. The camera settled on Brielle’s face, and


    the chat erupted once again.


    “Yep, that’s Brielle. Man, you gotta ask her what she’s doing at the g.”


    “Could she have been, you know, taken under the wing by someone influential? There were always


    whispers about her being a bit of a wild card.”


    “I’ve always been curious, where do all these rumorse from? I was in ss with Brielle, and she


    always kept to herself.”


    “Must be someone close to her spreading the gossip. I remember some forum posts about her


    supposedly being harsh to her sister, or was it a foster child? Anyway, she’s crafty.”


    The


    young man frowned slightly at the relentless stream ofments.


    Anyone who graduated from Beaconsfield College in thest couple of years would recognize Brielle,


    but Brielle was so discreet, turning down all extracurricrs, that her ssmates hardly ever saw her.


    Her looks were too striking, voted the belle of the campus on her first day, but soon after she vanished,


    only to be seen asionally in lectures.


    The rumors about her grew wilder, with photos of her in luxury cars surfacing and forum insiders spilling


    an abundance of details, making it hard for people to warm up to her.


    “Looks like the CEO of Hartley Group is chatting with Brielle? What could they be talking


    about?”


    “Man, scoot a bit closer, see if there’s some shady deal going down.”


    The young man had no choice but to inch closer discreetly.


    Brielle was indeed standing with the CEO of Hartley Group, Flynn, who had approached her first. He


    was the epitome of a gentleman, first confirming if she was Max’s plus-one. Upon her affirmative, he


    showered her withpliments.


    Brielle, recalling Dustin’s earlier reveal, figured everyone knew about Max’s rumored indifference to


    romantic pursuits, which exined Flynn’s curiosity about her.


    Their conversation flowed from the final lot, Salvator Mundi, to the works of


    Jacques-Louis David.


    Brielle could tell Flynn was a romantic at heart. He believed in the nobility of failure over sess,


    viewing victory often as a counterfeit or vulgar.


    Brielle lowered her gaze, instantly finding a way in, as his romanticism had a


    philosophical edge.


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    13:21


    “Philosophy can merge with the business framework. Take Taleb’s books, for instance. They discuss an


    idea called ‘optionality.”Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She cleverly shifted from personal interests to business, toasting Flynn with a smile. “It’s about having


    options, based on three principles.”


    Flynn looked at her approvingly, his eyes soft, “You mean like the ck Swan?”


    Brielle nodded, “The Hartley Group has cleverly applied these rules. You’re a visionary


    leader.”


    Flynn smiled, casually sipping his wine, “I’m pleased. You must’ve seen my graduation speech when I


    was seventeen.


    He had spoken then about the potential impact of a ck Swan on his corporation; a theory that, when


    broken down into simplenguage, raises the question-


    Who could possibly take down Hartley Group? It was unpredictable.


    The investments apany made could have honlinear returns.


    Thepany should create more options, that is, taking controlled risks for ck Swan-level


    innovations.


    And Brielle had just alluded to optionality and the ck Swan. She was smart, knowing how to whet his


    appetite.


    “Ms. Brielle, representing Dorsey International, you’re here for the autonomous store systems, aren’t


    you?”


    “Yes, I believe your coboration with Dorsey International will bring about favorable


    ck Swans.”


    They both understood that a ck Swan represented the unforeseeable.


    “Mr. Flynn, to wager a controlled cost for a limitless return has always been the essence of Hartley


    Group. Dorsey International offers aprehensive retail technology package. All you need is to open


    it up to third-party tforms. In the future, department stores, bars, restaurants, and more might adopt


    this core self-service system, and Hartley Group’s impable business model could forge a moat that


    nopetitor could cross.”


    It was the first time Flynn had met a woman so knowledgeable about a partner’s business. In the


    financial world, women often stood in men’s shadows, but Brielle was different, a cut above as Max’s


    companion.


    Without hesitation, Flynn raised his ss, “Ms. Brielle, you’re quite captivating. I’m looking forward to


    our partnership.”


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