After Sabrina and Marco disappeared into the evening crowd, Cullen and Niall slipped into their vehicle and drove toward the upscale restaurant district.
Within minutes of settling into their reserved private dining room, Malcolm made his entrance.
"Mr. Blair." Both Cullen and Niall rose from their seats as Malcolm pushed through the door.
Malcolm's face betrayed nothing when his eyes landed on Niall.
"Hello, Mr. Blair. I'm Niall Crystal. We crossed paths at the technology exhibition," Niall said, extending her hand with practiced politeness.
"I remember." Malcolm's tone was flat as he offered a perfunctory handshake.
Once Malcolm had taken his place at the table, Niall positioned herself strategically beside him. "I've followed your work for years. Meeting you feels like a dream come true. I've been dying to pick your brain about the AI landscape."
Cullen's phone vibrated against the table. He pushed back his chair. "Sorry, I have to grab this call. Don't wait for me."
Niall gave him an understanding nod.
The moment Cullen vanished through the doorway, Niall reached for the leather-bound menu and slid it toward Malcolm. "Should we get some food ordered while we chat?"
Malcolm's hand moved the menu away from himself without hesitation. "Not necessary."
The rejection caught Niall off balance for a split second.
Before she could recover, Malcolm cut straight to the heart of the matter. "You're looking to become my protégé?"
His directness would have rattled most people, but Niall had spent years in academic circles where intellectual heavyweights didn't mince words. She straightened her shoulders.
"Absolutely. AI fascinates me on every level. Learning from someone of your caliber would transform my understanding of the field."
Niall had spent weeks preparing for this moment.
She pulled her laptop from her bag with deliberate confidence. "I'd love to walk you through my doctoral research project."
Malcolm's fingers moved across her trackpad as he navigated through her work. His eyes scanned data sets and algorithmic structures with mechanical precision. After several minutes of silence, he delivered his verdict with clinical detachment. "For doctoral-level work, this exceeds typical standards."
Niall's pulse quickened. Her smile grew wider as confidence surged through her veins.
She opened her mouth to respond, but Malcolm released the mouse and fixed his gaze on her instead of the screen. "When did you finish this?"
Uncertainty flickered across Niall's features. Was he disappointed and hoping for additional impressive work, or was he underwhelmed but willing to give her another opportunity?
But doubt had never been her weakness. Throughout university, she had dominated every academic challenge. Awards and recognition had followed her like shadows. Her doctoral advisor had sung her praises to anyone who would listen.
Her advisor wasn't just anyone either. He commanded respect throughout Bella's AI research circles and had contributed to multiple national aerospace initiatives.
His endorsement meant everything.
Drawing strength from these memories, Niall steadied herself. "Actually, I spent considerable time analyzing the AI technologies featured at the recent exhibition. I'd be happy to share my insights."
Niall launched into an exhaustive technical breakdown of an autonomous vehicle that had been showcased at the event. She dissected its three fundamental components: perception, planning, and control systems. Her presentation stretched beyond ten minutes as she dove deeper into algorithmic complexities and implementation challenges.
Cullen reappeared briefly, muttering something about another urgent call before vanishing again.
Just as Niall prepared to transition into her next talking point, Malcolm's voice cut through her momentum. "Stop there."
Her words died in her throat.
Malcolm rose from his chair and delivered his final judgment with the same emotional detachment he might use to discuss the weather. "Your theoretical foundation shows promise, but you haven't reached the level where I'd consider mentoring you."
The words hit Niall like cold water. She sat frozen as Malcolm moved toward the door, leaving her alone with her laptop screen still glowing and her carefully prepared arguments hanging in the silence. The confidence that had carried her through countless academic triumphs crumbled in the face of his indifferent rejection.
Her hands trembled slightly as she closed the laptop. Years of academic excellence had led to this moment, and it was over before it had truly begun. The restaurant's ambient lighting suddenly felt harsh against her skin as the reality of Malcolm's dismissal settled into her bones.