"What were you talking about with Dr. Connors just now?" After seeing off the concerned Dr. Connors, Gwen, now dressed in casual wear with her golden hair tied in a ponytail, approached.
The blonde girl who had recently been promoted from intern to researcher had joined Umbrella along with her mentor, Dr. Connors.
With a glass of juice in hand, she walked up to Sean. Wrinkling her nose, she said, "You haven't shown up in class for ages, young billionaire. Careful not to fail your finals."
"Sorry to disappoint, Miss Stacy." A smile played at the corners of Sean's mouth, "I just need to complete enough credits to graduate from this school. And as a genius, why would I worry about failing?"
The two classmates bantered back and forth. Since Oscorp's press conference, Sean had become the talk of SUNY... a young billionaire, a genius scientist with groundbreaking research... exaggerated media reports and Oscorp's deliberate promotion had placed one dazzling halo after another upon this young man's head.
"I heard President Macken wanted you to be this year's opening ceremony speaker?" Gwen sipped her juice curiously.
Sean shrugged lightly, "Perhaps that's just the president's small gesture after hearing I wanted to donate a library to the school..."
Gwen frowned momentarily, then she clenched her fair fist and deliberately put on a fierce expression that only made her appear more charming and lively, "Hmph, even the president has been bought by you... Be careful or I'll report you!" she said, exuding youthful energy.
As the daughter of NYPD's police chief, Gwen was no delicate hothouse flower. She understood well the true face of the world... The adult society was always filled with various transactions, compromises, and exchanges of interests.
So this blonde girl who still maintained some innocence didn't feel particularly averse to Sean's blunt words, though personal feelings might have played a part too...
"It feels like everyone has changed..." Gazing at Sean's young face, Miss Stacy sighed inexplicably, "Harry inherited the family business, and is working hard to learn how to run a company. When I last saw him, I almost didn't recognize him. And Peter... he always seems so busy, whether at school or elsewhere, he's always in a hurry... Sometimes, he even falls asleep in class and gets called out by teachers..."
Sean chuckled inwardly...
Peter had to juggle academics, his part-time job at the Daily Bugle, while also playing New York's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man fighting crime and maintaining order.
Switching identities day and night exhausted the young hero, especially his complicated relationship with Mary Jane and Harry, which the young Spider-Man had no idea how to handle.
"But you've changed the most, Sean." Gwen covered her mouth with a light laugh, "Everyone says Sean Cyphers is a genius, but I still remember your first time in Dr. Connors' lab... you couldn't even rinse a flask properly, you were so clumsy..."
Sean coughed twice as his embarrassing past was revealed, fixing Gwen with an intense gaze that made her cheeks flush pink.
"You forgot someone... the carefree Miss Stacy is now an official scientist-in-training... Dr. Gwen, hmm, that sounds pretty good."
At the teasing directed at her, the embarrassed Gwen abandoned ladylike pretenses and gave chase as Sean turned to run.
Other staff members joined in the fun... Since joining Umbrella, they'd discovered this young boss dubbed "Stark 2.0" was nothing like the arrogant 'difficult to get-along with' Stark. On the contrary, he was quite approachable, even joking around privately.
"Hello, Mr. Cyphers." An unpleasant voice interrupted, "I'm Wilton Hamilton from Worthington Industries."
Sean frowned at the well-groomed middle-aged man dressed in an impeccable suit who introduced himself. Exuding the steady demeanor of a successful businessman, the man's eyes held faint arrogance and carried a subtle condescension... especially when mentioning Worthington.
Of course, Mr. Hamilton didn't realize his micro-expressions were all noticed by Sean. He believed this media-hyped young man was just a lucky fellow who happened upon a gene therapy formula by accident, gaining immense fame and fortune.
As a pharmaceutical company representative, Hamilton knew very well the costs and efforts required to develop new drugs... even world-class teams needed extensive time with uncertain outcomes.
How could a college student and a disabled scientist barely scraping by as a teacher/lecturer possibly develop gene therapy?
Masking his disdain, Hamilton said solemnly, "Mr. Cyphers, I'd like to speak on behalf of Worthington Industries."
Gwen, who had been close to Sean, resumed her reserved public demeanor... She smiled sweetly before walking away...
"Worthington Industries?" Sean's eyes flickered.
After brief pleasantries, he understood the other's purpose.
Sitting under the white canopy with Worthington's representative, Sean feigned regret, "I've already signed a contract with Oscorp. Violating it would mean not only huge penalties but possible jail time."
"None of that is a problem." Hamilton smiled confidently. Lowering his voice, he continued, "Mr. Cyphers, you must understand Worthington is an established pharmaceutical leader with unshakable industry position, while Oscorp is too young... not that youth is bad. It's energetic, vibrant, but it also means lack of support and stability..."
"...And as I understand, Oscorp's new CEO is mediocre in business. The only reason he's kept the struggling company afloat is your gene therapy temporarily stabilizing their plummeting stocks and buying them breathing room."
Sean deliberately adopted a humble expression, though his smile betrayed him, "Not at all, Harry is the one who turned things around for Oscorp. I just did some minor work."
Hamilton understood inwardly... he was dealing another overconfident fellow. As a senior executive in market operations, he'd met many like Sean; young people achieving what others couldn't, intoxicated by praise, believing themselves world-changing geniuses... All until harsh reality exposed the industry's dark side...
"I heard you hold some Oscorp shares, Mr. Cyphers?" Worthington's representative asked pointedly...
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Read ahead on my P@treon...
[email protected]/MayaMatengele01