Chapter 832 What Do You Want?
“Exercising” before going to bed really helped with sleep. Catherine had a good night’s sleep, sleeping straight through until morning without any dreams. If it weren’t for Branden waking her up in the morning, she would have been late.
As soon as Catherine entered the laboratory building, she ran into Marshall. Unlike yesterday, he seemed lively and energetic today.
“Professor Hartley,” Catherine greeted him.
Marshall warmly responded, “Hey, come on. Let’s go upstairs together.” Just as they got to his office, they heard a student delivering a message. ”
Professor Hartley, Mr. Farrell wants to see you in his office!”
Marshall had intended to chat with Catherine, but he hadn’t expected Ultan to summon him so early. Guessing it might be about a donation, Marshall had no choice but to go. “You go to the lab first, and find me at noon. We’ll talk then,” he told Catherine.
As Marshall was about to leave, the student delivering the message awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said, “Professor Hartley, Mr. Farrell instructed that if Miss Swann is with you, she should come along too.”
Hearing this, Marshall frowned. Not only did he have to go, but he also had to bring Catherine along. He glanced at Catherine, who promptly agreed to accompany him. They then walked together to Ultan’s office, where they found not only him but also several well -dressed men.
As soon as Marshall and Catherine entered, Ultan stood up and introduced them, “This is our school’s renowned professor, Marshall Hartley, and this is his best student, Catherine Swann. If you are familiar with our school, you’ve probably heard her name!”
The two men stood up simultaneously and greeted Marshall and Catherine. ” Professor Hartley, Miss Swann, nice to meet you!”
Marshall looked puzzled at Ultan, not understanding what was going on. Catherine, showing no interest in shaking hands, kept her hands in her pockets without any intention of taking them out. She was willing to sacrifice her pride for the sake of others.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward. Marshall, who knew Catherine well, stepped in to defuse the situation. Even though he didn’t think Catherine needed to greet them, considering they were brought by Ultan, he felt obliged to show Ultan some respect.
“Sorry, she’s been focused on her research projects and isn’t accustomed to socializing. She is quite introverted, so please don’t mind,” Marshall said, trying to smooth things over.
The other party didn’t show any discontent, “Professor Hartley, no need to apologize. We’ve heard of Miss Swann’s reputation. It’s quite normal for someone as talented as her to be entirely focused on her experiments.”
With the awkwardness dissipating, Marshall repeatedly signaled to Ultan, urging him to explain the current situation. Ultan then introduced the identities of the two visitors. ”
Marshall, these two gentlemen are the General Manager and the Finance Manager of Reelyne Technologies. They are here today to discuss donating to our laboratory,” Ultan explained.
Marshall’s face immediately darkened, and he had a foreboding feeling.
The General Manager of Reelyne Technologies quickly approached Marshall with a warm smile. “Professor Hartley, we have great respect for a distinguished professor like you. Our company has always been committed to promoting the development of experimental projects in various universities. We have long admired Styre University, and if there is an opportunity to contribute, we would be very willing to do so.”
The General Manager of Reelyne Technologies appeared humble on the surface, but there was an underlying sense of arrogance in his demeanor. When it came to sponsoring schools, it was usually the schools seeking sponsors. Although Styre University had a good reputation, he felt that their company was in a superior position by taking the initiative to offer support.
Learning the purpose of their visit, Catherine stood up. “Mr. Farrell, Professor Hartley, it’s time for the laboratory. I’m leaving now!”
With those words, Catherine left without looking at anyone, maintaining a haughty demeanor. Not only did she leave the two representatives from Reelyne Technologies dumbfounded, but even Ultan was left bewildered.
Marshall immediately spoke up, his gaze fixed on Ultan. “Mr. Farrell, Catherine’s experiment is crucial and cannot afford any delays!”
Understanding the importance of the experiment, Ultan had no choice but to let Catherine go.
Once Catherine left, Marshall had no desire to stay any longer. Instead of putting on a show for the capitalists, he preferred to stay in the laboratory and review reports. “Sir, I sincerely support your company’s dedication to public welfare. However, we have sufficient sponsorship, so you should sponsor another research group. Our group doesn’t need it.”
The representatives from Reelyne Technologies were taken aback. They had expected a warm reception but were now directly rejected. It was no wonder that their president had arranged the task with such seriousness, insisting that they must accomplish it. It seemed to be quite a challenge.
The General Manager of Reelyne Technologies, who had just planned to display a high-handed attitude, immediately softened his tone. ” Professor Hartley, we both know that experimental projects require a substantial amount of funding. It’s better to seek support from a more capable company for long-term sponsorship. In this regard, Reelyne Technologies will be the best choice.”
“Are you trying to threaten me with money?” Marshall thought to himself. ” Not a chance.” He casually remarked, ” If you’ve been keeping up with online news, you should be well aware of the company sponsoring us. If it’s not the best choice, it’s unlikely that we’ll find a more capable company domestically!”
“How dare you claim that you’re better than the Duncan Corporation?” Marshall murmured inwardly. “Are you guys asking for trouble?”
The response left the other party unable to reply, and the atmosphere became awkward again. Ultan had to step in to smooth things over, allowing Marshall to find an excuse to leave. At such a critical time for the experiment, having so many people offering sponsorship wasn’t a good sign. Nothing came without a price. If these people were only here for their gain, that would be manageable. If their intentions went beyond that, that would be troublesome.
After returning to the laboratory, Catherine immediately turned on her computer and had Wantel investigate Reelyne Technologies’ background. Before long, Wantel had gathered all the information and sent it to Catherine’s computer. “Catherine, this company appears to be controlled by Eskanese on the surface, but in reality, they were acquired by a family from Loewe six months ago. Currently, the Meltons from Loewe hold the controlling stake behind the scenes.”
“I see.” Catherine promptly hung up the phone. “The Meltons from Loewe, huh?” She murmured inwardly, dialing a number she hadn’t contacted in a long time. “Tell me what exactly you want to do?”
