Thursday night's elite gathering glittered with San Francisco's finest. Veronica arrived on Dario's arm, her entrance causing a subtle ripple through the crowd. Fresh from his business trip, Dario guided her through the door with his hand resting gently against her lower back.

The grand ballroom sparkled with crystal chandeliers and the murmur of influential voices. Veronica immediately noticed Niall and Bonnie hovering near the champagne fountain, their eyes tracking her movement across the room.

Bonnie's face contorted with displeasure. "Why is she everywhere?" she hissed to Niall, loud enough for nearby guests to hear.

Veronica maintained her composure, deliberately avoiding their direction. She and Dario approached their host, exchanging pleasantries with practiced ease. The conversation flowed naturally—business prospects, market trends, upcoming charity events—the standard repertoire of high-society small talk.

From her peripheral vision, Veronica spotted Lester making his way toward them. She knew he wasn't a regular at these functions; his presence tonight was calculated. He'd somehow secured an invitation after learning she would be attending—a fact she found both amusing and slightly irritating.

Her black gown hugged her curves perfectly, the simplicity of its design making a bold statement against the backdrop of overly embellished dresses that dominated the room. Her straight, dark hair cascaded down her back like a silk curtain, completing her elegant yet understated appearance. She embodied sophistication with an air of mystery that was impossible to ignore.

Lester's eyes widened briefly as he approached, his admiration poorly concealed. This wasn't the first time he'd seen her command attention at such events, yet she managed to surprise him each time.

"You're here too?" Veronica asked coolly, knowing full well his presence was no coincidence.

Lester quickly regained his composure. "Yeah," he replied, as if his attendance was merely happenstance.

Whispers circulated throughout the venue that Morton Reyna, a renowned figure in AI development and Preston's close associate, was among the attendees. Both men commanded similar respect in technological innovation, their contributions to artificial intelligence revolutionizing multiple industries.

Niall had encountered Morton twice during her doctoral studies. Though their interactions had been brief, she hoped he might remember her. Upon confirmation of his presence, she navigated through the crowd toward him.

"Mr. Reyna, long time no see," she greeted with practiced charm.

Morton acknowledged her with a perfunctory nod, just enough to indicate recognition without encouraging further conversation.

Encouraged by this minimal acknowledgment, Niall prepared to engage him further, her lips parting to form her next carefully chosen words.

Before she could continue, Morton turned away abruptly. "Well?" he asked his assistant. "Are Murray and Reid here yet?"

"They've arrived," the assistant confirmed.

Morton's expression transformed instantly, his eyes brightening with genuine interest. He addressed the group surrounding him, "I've heard Murray and Reid are here. Please excuse me, I'll catch up with everyone later."

"So eager to chat with Mr. Reid?" the host teased, amused by Morton's sudden enthusiasm.

"No, I'm more interested in Murray. I think she's much more impressive," Morton replied without hesitation, offering quick goodbyes before making a beeline toward Veronica and Dario.

Niall's face stiffened at the dismissal, her professional smile freezing in place.

Bonnie, witnessing the interaction, couldn't contain her indignation. "What's with him? Isn't he supposed to be Preston's friend? He sees you and—"

"Enough," Niall cut her off sharply, her darkening expression silencing Bonnie immediately.

Meanwhile, Morton approached Veronica with undisguised enthusiasm, extending his hand. "I've read your paper multiple times—it's absolutely fascinating."

Veronica accepted his handshake with grace. "Mr. Reyna, you flatter me."

Her groundbreaking paper, published merely days ago, had already attracted attention from prestigious international AI conferences. Organizers had bombarded her with invitations to speak, all of which she had politely declined, unwilling to travel abroad.

Determined to meet her, Morton had flown in specifically for this opportunity. Now face-to-face with Veronica, he launched into an animated discussion about her work, quickly expanding into broader AI topics with increasing excitement.

The conversation flowed seamlessly from AI history to developmental trajectories. Veronica responded to each point with remarkable precision and insight, her knowledge clearly extending far beyond her published work.

When Morton referenced specific papers—mentioning authors, publication years, and topics—Veronica effortlessly connected each reference to its broader significance, highlighting crucial innovations while naturally introducing two or three related studies that complemented or challenged the original work.

She distilled complex theoretical frameworks into clear concepts, engaging Morton in a discussion that rapidly evolved beyond superficial exchange into a profound exploration of artificial intelligence's future. Her intellectual acuity matched his own, creating a conversation that stood apart from the typical banquet small talk happening around them.