She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 65

Hearing Brandon bring up the tech company again, Hulda smiled. "You seem exceptionally invested in this company, Brandon. You've brought them up multiple times."

Given The Conrad Atherton Institute's stellar reputation and Brandon's current authority, there was an endless line of corporations begging to collaborate. He received countless partnership applications every single year.

But simply applying wasn't enough. The institute always conducted rigorous, comprehensive evaluations before making any decisions. More often than not, to maintain strict transparency and fairness, they opted for an open bidding process.

Because of that, Brandon rarely showed this kind of blatant favoritism toward any specific enterprise. The final results always dictated the outcome.

"I wouldn't say I'm entirely invested," Brandon chuckled softly. "It's just that they genuinely have phenomenal potential. It's a real shame to see them bottlenecked by a single tech component."

Hulda nodded in understanding. Over the years, she had watched far too many brilliant startups crash and burn simply because they couldn't overcome a critical tech barrier.

"If you think highly enough of them to vouch for them, then I'll meet with them," Hulda agreed.

If the company was impressive enough to make Brandon feel sorry for them, they had to be doing something right.

"By the way, what's the name of this company?" she asked.

He had constantly referred to them as 'the tech company,' but with thousands of tech firms in the country, she still had no idea who they actually were.

"Ah, where is my head?" Brandon laughed. "Right, they're called H..."

"Dr. Lowe," a female voice interrupted, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Brandon turned and immediately waved the woman over. "Ah, Abby, come here."

Hulda looked at the newcomer. The woman appeared to be around her age, her hair pulled back into a severe, immaculate low ponytail, with black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She wore zero makeup, giving her a clean, plain, and highly academic look. Her entire demeanor radiated an aura of rigid professionalism and icy distance.

"Director Atherton, this is Abby. She's the assistant the institute has assigned to you. Since you've just returned and aren't fully up to speed with how things run around here yet, she'll assist you in getting settled as quickly as possible," Brandon explained.

"Hello, Director Atherton. I'm Abby Corbett," Abby said, offering a stiff nod without a trace of emotion.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Abby. I'm Hulda." Hulda smiled warmly and extended her hand. "I look forward to working together."

The Quantum Crystal Laboratory—the very project Hulda had spearheaded—was located on the absolute top floor.

Naturally, as the newly appointed R&D Director, Hulda's office was situated on that same top floor.

The space had been thoroughly prepped and cleaned, practically gleaming.

"Director Atherton, if there's nothing else, I'll get back to my work," Abby said, standing stiffly by the doorway. She checked her watch and looked back at Hulda. There was no outward disrespect in her eyes, but there was a distinct lack of basic courtesy, too.

Hulda took it all in stride, offering a calm, unbothered nod. "Actually, there is one thing I need you to handle for me."

Hearing that, a look of 'I knew it' flashed across Abby's face, quickly followed by a spark of irritation in her eyes.

She couldn't comprehend how a woman who had been out of the game for seven years, who had likely parachuted into this director role through some shady connections, could possibly have any real work for her on day one.

Even though Abby was currently just an assistant researcher, she had a mountain of actual scientific work to do every day. She had absolutely zero time or patience to play secretary for a 'director' who looked like she belonged in a beauty pageant instead of a lab.