Chapter 410


    The once-a-week Financial Theory ss for the postgraduate finance students was a lot to handle.


    As an associate professor, Cordelia juggled between mentoring her postgraduate students and working


    on her research papers. It was a busy life.


    One day, her female postgraduate student, Sally, informed her, "Ms. Haselwood, there''s a basketball


    game this afternoon on the campus court. It''s an interschool match involving all the universities in


    Birchwood. Would you like toe and watch?"


    "Oh, I have a meeting scheduled this afternoon. But you guys go ahead," Cordelia replied politely.


    "Well, Ms. Haselwood, I''ve saved a ticket for you. If you get back early, you can join us."


    "Sure."


    That afternoon, Empower Operations scheduled an investment meeting to discuss various investment


    policies and determine the direction and amount of investment in coboration with the invested


    Cordelia didn''t know with whom they were coborating with, as Empower Operations hadn''t provided


    her with the relevant documents yet.


    She slipped into a crisp white blouse and a modest skirt and headed to the conference room of


    Empower Operations.


    "Ms. Haselwood, our coborative investment partner this time is Lumos Enterprises. Both parties


    attach great importance to this deal. We didn''t inform you earlier due to confidentiality concerns. The


    documents are all on the table. You may want to look through them," said Peter, who was seated at the


    head of the conference table.


    Cordelia was seated just one person away from Peter. Her mind was buzzing, and she didn''t catch


    most of what he said. However, the words "Lumos Enterprises" stood out clearly.


    She had left due to her disappointment in Ronan and her hopes that Callum would not encounter any


    more hardships. But the world turned out to be so small that Lumos Enterprises was to invest with


    Empower Operations.


    She was curious about who from Lumos Enterprises was attending the meeting. However, she knew


    that asking such a question would seem inappropriate to Peter. So, she lowered her head and focused


    on the investment coboration documents.


    As she nervously leafed through the documents, the movement at the door caught her attention. Peter


    had risen from his seat in a hurry and was extending his hands in a handshake gesture.


    "Mr. Emerson, wee. Please have a seat," Peter said.


    "Peter, sorry to have kept you waiting," another voice responded.


    Cordelia''s seat was facing away from the door. She hadn''t seen who had entered, but the voice and the


    name Mr. Emerson told her that it was Emerson, the CFO. It was only expected that he would be here


    to discuss the investment matters.


    Emerson walked towards the end of the conference table, not yet having noticed Cordelia.


    "Oh, Mr. Emerson, let me introduce you to our team. This is ourpany''s deputy head..." Peter began


    to introduce the person next to him.


    Cordelia pretended to be engrossed in the documents, but her mind was racing.


    Emerson had noticed her by then, and he looked quite surprised.


    "This is our newly appointed independent director, Ms. Cordelia Haselwood..." Peter pointed to


    Cordelia''s seat.


    Cordelia felt incredibly awkward, but she maintained herposure, giving Emerson a simple nod in


    acknowledgment.


    Emerson, on the other hand, was taken aback and didn''t respond immediately to Peter''s continued


    conversation.


    The meeting then proceeded to discuss the investment. Representatives from each department


    presented their slides, and everyone deliberated on the potential investments in various sectors.


    Emerson listened quietly, asionally ncing at Cordelia.


    The meeting ran all afternoon, but they didn''t reach a final decision.


    "Everyone has worked so hard on thisprehensive research. I''ll report today''s progress to Mr.


    Evans. Perhaps next time, we''lle together," Emerson said, casting a nce at Cordelia when


    mentioning Mr. Evans.


    Cordelia kept her gaze fixed on the documents, but hearing Mr. Evans stirred up her emotions. She


    didn''t want him to know anything about her, but the world was too small.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    After the meeting, Emerson said, "Goodbye, Peter," and left.


    Cordelia thought he might stop to chat with her, but he didn''t. Perhaps he didn''t want Peter to know


    about his prior acquaintance with Cordelia due to work rtions, or perhaps there were other reasons.


    Cordelia''s mind was in turmoil. She didn''t know what to do.