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 gala.”

“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 rumors come from? I was in class 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 of comments.

Anyone who graduated from Beaconsfield College in the last couple of years would recognize Brielle, but Brielle was so discreet, turning down all extracurriculars, that her classmates 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 occasionally 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 with compliments.

Brielle, recalling Dustin’s earlier reveal, figured everyone knew about Max’s rumored indifference to romantic pursuits, which explained 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 success, viewing victory often as a counterfeit or vulgar.

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

13:21 “Philosophy can merge with the business framework. Take Taleb’s books, for instance. They discuss an idea called ‘optionality.”

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 Black 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 Black Swan on his corporation; a theory that, when broken down into simple language, raises the question-

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

The investments a company made could have honlinear returns.

The company should create more options, that is, taking controlled risks for Black Swan-level innovations.

And Brielle had just alluded to optionality and the Black 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 collaboration with Dorsey International will bring about favorable Black Swans.”

They both understood that a Black 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 a comprehensive retail technology package. All you need is to open it up to third-party platforms. In the future, department stores, bars, restaurants, and more might adopt this core self-service system, and Hartley Group’s impeccable business model could forge a moat that no competitor 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 glass, “Ms. Brielle, you’re quite captivating. I’m looking forward to our partnership.”