Chapter 181
"George, do you think this will make me grateful to you, or help you feel better about yourself? No, you're wrong. All this does is make me see even more clearly how fake and arrogant you are. It only makes me more determined to cut ties completely with you and the Smith family."
I started the car, forcing myself to push all the anger and sarcasm down to the deepest part of my heart.
I couldn't bring this terrible mood to work, especially with the core code testing and optimization coming up.
Being emotionally unstable would seriously affect my focus and judgment, and the data accuracy couldn't afford any mistakes.
The car merged into traffic, heading toward Star Tech.
Back at the company building, after parking, I had just walked into the lobby when my stomach let out an untimely growl.
Only then did I suddenly realize that from handling my mom's company issues this morning, to going to the hospital, to that awful confrontation with Tom and George, in all the chaos and anger, I had completely forgotten to eat lunch.
No wonder my stomach felt so empty and was aching slightly. Being hungry and in a bad mood, I'd easily make mistakes when dealing with precise data and code later.
I rubbed my aching stomach, turned and walked into the convenience store on the first floor, grabbed a sandwich that looked like it would quickly restore my energy, and picked up a bottle of water.
After paying, I tore open the packaging and headed toward the elevators, mechanically chewing the dry bread without really tasting it.
My mind kept uncontrollably replaying those scenes at the hospital entrance, and George's disgusting charity.
Lost in my troubled thoughts, my phone in my left hand started vibrating and ringing again.
I instinctively reached into my pocket with my right hand holding the bread.
The bread wrapper slipped from my grip, and distracted as I was, I tripped over something. I lost my balance and lurched forward.
"Watch out!"
Just as I thought I was about to fall embarrassingly to the ground, a warm, strong arm reached out from behind and to the side, steadily catching my arm.
A clean, pleasant scent—like cedarwood mixed with a faint scholarly air—drifted to my nose.
"Are you okay?" A refined, somewhat concerned voice spoke behind me, its steady tone somehow reassuring.
Using that support, I hurriedly steadied myself, nearly dropping the bread I was holding.
"I'm fine, thank you..." I thanked him instinctively while turning around to see who had helped me.
I looked up to see an unfamiliar yet vaguely familiar male face.
He appeared to be around thirty, standing tall and straight in a well-tailored dark gray casual suit. He wore no tie, and his shirt collar was casually unbuttoned, making him look less formal and more elegantly relaxed.
He was strikingly handsome, with deep, well-defined features, especially his eyes—calm yet bright, now looking at me with a faint smile, gentle and focused.
Beyond his good looks, he radiated a composed and powerful presence, like a silent mountain that somehow didn't feel oppressive but rather reassuringly inclusive.
I was certain I didn't know him, but somehow he seemed oddly familiar.
Had I seen him somewhere before?
The elevator doors slowly closed, and the car rose smoothly.
I tried to calm myself from nearly falling, and from the discomfort in my stomach caused by hastily swallowing the bread.
When I pressed 28, Star Tech's floor, the clean, well-formed hand beside me reached out almost simultaneously, pressing the same number.
I paused slightly, instinctively turning to look at the man beside me.
He was also looking at me, and meeting my slightly surprised gaze, his lips curved into a very faint smile.
"Sir, are you going to Star Tech for business?" I took the initiative to ask, my tone professionally polite.
The man nodded slightly, his voice warm, "Yes."
He paused, his gaze falling on the Star Tech ID badge I'd forgotten to remove from my chest, a flash of understanding in his eyes, "I didn't expect you to be a Star Tech employee too. What a coincidence."
His words were very courteous, with a natural sense of respect.
I nodded. Since we were both going to the company and he was a potential partner, basic courtesy was necessary.
I adjusted my expression, completely suppressing those personal emotions, extended my hand to him, and showed a standard professional smile, "Hello, I'm Grace Brown from Star Tech, mainly responsible for technical R&D. Welcome to Star Tech."
Hearing my name, a flash of surprise crossed the man's eyes—not the reaction of meeting a stranger for the first time.
But he quickly resumed his warm, polite demeanor, extending his hand to shake mine lightly. His palm was dry and warm, the pressure moderate, releasing immediately with perfect propriety.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Brown," he looked at me and clearly stated his name, "Harris Aviation Technology Group, Mark Harris."
Harris Aviation Technology Group, Mark?
My brain felt like something had lightly struck it, going blank for a moment, then filling with enormous shock and disbelief.
Mark!
This name was practically legendary in tech circles, business circles, and even broader fields.
Born into a top-tier wealthy family, he had relied entirely on his own abilities and iron-fisted methods to lead the family business to global heights in just over a decade. He himself had repeatedly ranked among the world's richest, a true business legend who reached the top through merit.
What made him most admired and respected wasn't just his wealth.
It was that the Harris Aviation Technology Group he led firmly occupied the leading position in global aerospace and cutting-edge communications, with core technology leading the world, and maintaining long-term deep strategic cooperation only at the national level, with profound connections and transcendent status.
Rumor had it he started participating in core company decisions at fifteen, officially took control at twenty, and now at just thirty-three, was already the largest shareholder or strategic partner of multiple top domestic and international research institutions and Aviation Administrations, truly leading Harris Tech to become number one in the world.
Such a figure standing at the pinnacle, beyond the reach of ordinary people, had personally come to Star Tech?
William had only mentioned that someone from Harris Aviation Technology Group wanted to meet me, never mentioning it would be Mark himself.
My surprise was too obvious. For a moment I forgot to withdraw my hand or hide the shock on my face, just staring at him blankly.
Mark didn't seem surprised by my reaction.
He calmly let me look him over, even raising an eyebrow slightly, his tone teasing, "Does Ms. Brown think there's something wrong with what I'm wearing today? Why do you keep staring at me?"
His voice pulled me back from my shock.
I immediately realized my impropriety and quickly looked away, my face warming slightly.
But I quickly recovered, apologizing somewhat flattered, "I'm sorry, Mr. Harris, that was rude of me."
I steadied myself and explained, "I'm just a bit surprised. I didn't expect you to come in person. If there's anything lacking in our hospitality or preparation, please forgive us."
My attitude was respectful but neither humble nor arrogant.
Hearing this, Mark smiled faintly. That smile softened his overly striking features, but the aura of control in his eyes remained unmistakable.
"Ms. Brown needn't be so formal," his voice was steady, "I've always been this way—for projects or people I truly care about, I prefer to handle things personally."
As he said this, his gaze seemed to linger on my face for a moment, his tone casual yet carrying some elusive deeper meaning.
Projects or people?
That phrasing seemed pointed somehow.
But given his status and position, he probably wouldn't have any particular interest in me personally.
I automatically interpreted it as his level of attention to this technical cooperation, not reading into any possible subtext.
I smiled and responded, "No wonder people say Mr. Harris is humble and approachable. Meeting you today, that reputation is well-deserved."
Mark's lips curved slightly, showing a meaningful smile, "Is that so?"