<b>Chapter 179 </b>


    Noreen waited at the entrance for about five minutes before Wade arrived.


    She personally helped him out of the car, steadying him by the arm.


    Wade asked if she’d been waiting long, and Noreen quickly shook her head, insisting she hadn’t.


    Even though she denied it, Wade could tell she’d been there a while, and he was quietly pleased with her attitude.


    “Being punctual is important,” Wade said as they walked. “Anyone who wants to achieve great things needs to treat time as their most precious resource–n every task with method and care.”


    Whatever Wade had to say, Noreen listened with genuine humility.


    By the time they reached the private dining room, everyone else was already seated.


    As soon as Wade entered, the entire room stood up to greet him.


    Some called out, “Big brother.”


    Others addressed him as “President Harcourt.”


    But everyone’s demeanor was respectful to the point of reverence.


    Even though Noreen had mentally prepared herself for this dinner–knowing full well every guest was


    a major yer in their own right–it was something else entirely to stand before them in person.


    Any one of these people, she realized, could shake up the entire businessmunity of Rivercrest City with just a word.


    She recognized a few faces; others she’d only ever seen on television.


    Yet all of them, no matter how influential, treated Wade with clear deference.


    It was then that Noreen remembered Wade held another title: President of the Rivercrest Chamber of


    Commerce.


    The Chamber was a nonprofit association, drawing together the city’s most prominent businesses across manufacturing, finance, trade, pharmaceuticals, education, real estate, tech, and the inte–an organization dedicated to serving, uniting, and advancing the Rivercrest business


    sector.


    Itswork included the top resources in the city’smercial world.


    And as President, Wade had mostly kept a low profile in recent years–rarely organizing events unless absolutely necessary.


    The fact that he’d personally convened this gathering was extraordinary. Every major member of the Chamber was present, all eager to see what Wade had nned or what instructions he might give.


    Wade gestured for everyone to take their seats, making a point to ce Noreen next to him at the


    table.


    The move drew immediate attention.


    11:19


    Curiosity flickered in every nce as the others sized Noreen up, silently wondering who she was, what her background could be, and how she’d earned a ce beside Wade–the man who’d practically retired from public view.


    Some recognized her as Seth’s secretary and spected that Wade might be paving the way for Seth’s advancement.


    But once everyone was seated, Wade asked Noreen to pass out her business cards to the group.


    When they read them, the reaction was swift–Noreen was listed as General Manager of Winrich Capital.


    No one had ever heard of thispany.


    Wade quickly addressed their confusion, exining that Winrich was a <i>newly </i>established investment firm, small in both assets and scale.


    But the fact that such an obscurepany could win Wade’s personal support spoke volumes. These were savvy people–they caught the message immediately and treated Noreen with the utmost courtesy.


    With introductions out of the way, Noreen had the chance to present the project she was currently


    working on.


    When she mentioned she was the investment partner for InnoCore, Chase Naylor–the CEO of Naylor Automotive Group–perked up, his eyes lighting with interest. He struck up an animated conversation with Noreen without hesitation.


    Word traveled fast.


    Others around the table had at least heard of InnoCore, and soon Noreen found herself fielding questions from other guests as well. But none were as enthusiastic as Chase.


    “My son told me he thinks Al algorithms can optimize our vehicles,” Chase said. “He ims we could achieve advanced intelligent driving with limitedputing power, reduce costs, and–by integrating multiple sources of data–analyze sensor information in real time. That way, our cars could make better decisions inplex situations: urately identify obstacles, n safe routes, and improve autonomous driving overall.”


    “Al really can do all of that,” Noreen replied. “Not only can it optimize vehicle performance, it’s also driving innovation across the whole automotive industry. It speeds up research and development, elerates new features, and pushes the industry forward as a whole.”


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