No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1104

Mr. Brown took the stage and spoke eloquently for half an hour, detailing his accomplishments over his fifteen-year tenure.

Finally, in a solemn tone, he announced, "After careful consideration and numerous recommendations, the new chairman of The Guild of Commerce will be Mr. Ian Goodwin."

The announcement was not entirely unexpected.

Still, it sent a wave of shock through the attendees and the media for a few seconds, followed by thunderous applause.

Amid the ovation, Ian rose calmly and walked to the stage. He hugged Mr. Brown, who clapped him on the shoulder as if passing on a great responsibility.

At that moment, an attendant approached, and Mr. Brown personally took the certificate of appointment from a tray and presented it to Ian. Ian accepted it with both hands, his silver-gray hair glinting coolly under the lights.

After the brief handover, Ian stood at the podium. His gaze swept over the audience, finally resting on Eleanor. Even from a distance, his eyes were deep and bright.

Following a brief self-introduction, he stated in a low, firm voice, "My first resolution upon taking office will be to establish a technology development fund, with a focus on supporting innovative scientific research projects."

Eleanor was stunned. The proposal was clearly designed to pave the way for advancements in scientific research.

In the audience, some business leaders were supportive, while others clearly disapproved. Among them, Walden Wells, sitting in the front row, looked particularly grim.

He had also been on the list of candidates for the chairmanship. He never expected the final choice to be Ian, a man not yet thirty. He surpassed Ian in both experience and seniority, and his achievements were certainly on par with the young man's.

At his age, he cared more for prestige than profit.

Walden Wells let out a cold laugh and stood up abruptly. His voice boomed, "Mr. Goodwin, I have a question. You propose establishing a technology development fund, but where will the funding come from? Surely you don't expect all of us businesses to be forced to contribute!"

The room instantly fell silent. Everyone could hear the dissatisfaction in Walden Wells's tone, and many who had also expected him to be the new chairman felt a sense of injustice on his behalf.

Ian's expression remained unchanged.

He replied calmly, "That's an excellent question, Mr. Wells. The initial funding of five billion will be provided by Goodwin & Co. Subsequent contributions will be on a voluntary subscription basis."

His gaze swept across the room. "I trust everyone here understands that technology is the future."

Walden Wells snorted, refusing to back down. "And what about management? Don't tell me Goodwin & Co. will have complete control!"

Immediately, murmurs of discontent rippled through the crowd.

Eleanor overheard two business figures whispering beside her, "I heard Walden Wells was very confident about this election. He probably thought the chairmanship was his."

"He likely never imagined Ian would snatch the position from him."

"That confrontational tone? Yeah, that's pretty clear he's not happy."

After the meeting concluded, most of the attendees lingered, taking the opportunity to network with leaders from various fields. As Eleanor stood up, she saw Ian standing in a crowd, looking directly at her.

She understood. Setting aside their history, she walked over to him. This was a connection she needed to make.

As soon as Eleanor reached Ian's side, he led her to a spirited-looking elderly man. "Eleanor, this is President Larkin of Permanence Pharmaceuticals." Then, turning to the older man, he said, "And this is Dr. Eleanor Sutton from Ashford Medical University."

"President Larkin, it's an honor to meet you. I've heard so much about you," Eleanor said with a smile, extending her hand.

President Larkin's eyes lit up as he warmly shook her hand. "Dr. Sutton, I've been following your breakthroughs in medicine with great interest. You're truly a remarkable young talent! If there are any opportunities for collaboration in the future, please don't hesitate to find me at Permanence Group."

"Thank you for the compliment. I look forward to working with you," Eleanor replied graciously.

Ian then introduced her to several other business titans, men who were typically elusive and rarely seen in public. All of them showed great interest in Eleanor.

After a series of introductions, they found themselves near Walden Wells, who sneered, "Mr. Goodwin, you're certainly going to great lengths, aren't you? So eager to pave the way for Dr. Sutton."

Ian responded coolly, "Providing a platform for exceptional scientists is the duty of The Guild of Commerce."

"Is that so?" Walden Wells retorted. "Mr. Goodwin, you should be careful not to abuse your position for personal gain. I heard you two used to be married."

His words were a blatant challenge, and the surrounding area fell silent.