Chapter 369: Indirect Kiss (Part 1)
"Going crazy? Don’t be so dramatic! Aren’t you managing Keystone Technologies just fine? What are you so worried about?" Seraphina hopped over the trash on the floor. ’This apartment was perfectly fine, but after just a few days of her living here, it’s turned into a dump!’
"Keystone Technologies might be on track now, but that’s only because I’m managing it your way! Without your business plan, it would probably still be a complete mess!" Nadia Chapman cleared a spot on the sofa for Seraphina Sterling to sit.
"A plan is just a plan if no one executes it. Don’t sell yourself short; you’ve done a great job! Getting the hang of it in such a short time is something not everyone can do. From now on, don’t come to me about Keystone Technologies unless you run into a problem you can’t solve. Your foundational knowledge is solid, you just lack experience. Once you’ve faced more difficulties and handled more issues, you’ll naturally learn how to manage a company."
Seraphina Sterling wasn’t exaggerating. Nadia Chapman was truly intelligent and had a natural aptitude for business; she could grasp things with just a little guidance, making her perfectly suited for commerce.
"I hope it’s really like you say." Nadia Chapman was well aware of her own capabilities. ’I just don’t get it. Seraphina is younger than me, so how is she so incredible at business? I’m about to graduate from college, and she’s just a freshman. Some things in life are just unpredictable!’
"We can talk about that later. What are we going to do about Leo Fenton’s situation? Didn’t you tell me to stall him for half a month? I already passed that message along, and just like you asked, I’ve spent this past half-month poring over these dense stock market analyses, market trends, and economics books. But I don’t get it! Why did you make me read all this? You don’t actually want me to start playing the stock market, do you? Let me tell you, I can’t do it! I don’t know the first thing about it!"
Nadia Chapman felt like she’d killed off half her brain cells in the last half-month. She’d never been exposed to economics or finance before, and being suddenly forced to read so many technical books—and what’s worse, not understanding them—was truly driving her insane.
"I never asked you to master any of this, just to get the gist of it! It’s so you don’t end up making a fool of yourself when talking business with clients, saying something completely off-topic and blowing our cover." Looking at her exhausted face, which rivaled that of a stressed-out high school senior cramming for exams, Seraphina Sterling couldn’t help but find it a little amusing. ’She’s way too tense.’
"What do you mean?" Nadia Chapman suddenly had a bad feeling. Seraphina Sterling never did anything without a purpose. ’What has she been planning behind the scenes? Why do I have a premonition that a heavy burden is about to be placed on my shoulders?’
"I registered an investment and wealth management company a while back, but I never found the right person to run it. The company opens tomorrow, so I’m entrusting this crucial mission to you!" Seraphina Sterling’s eyes curved into a smile. This was the second reason she’d been in a hurry to return to Aethelgard. Because of her, many things were happening ahead of schedule. She wasn’t sure by how much time events had been moved up, but this was an opportunity she absolutely could not miss.
"An investment company?" Nadia Chapman gulped, staring at Seraphina Sterling in shock. "I can handle managing Keystone Technologies, but you want me to run an investment company? With my limited abilities? No way! The stock market is so complicated, so unpredictable and volatile. I’ve only studied this for half a month, and you want me to start trading stocks? I’d lose all our clients’ money!"
"Don’t overreact! I’m only asking you to manage it, not to handle the investments yourself. Relax. First of all, our investment company won’t have many clients, so you’ll only have to deal with a few people. Plus, I’ll be handling the actual stock trading myself. Your job is just to liaise with the clients and make them think you’re the one making all the moves." Seraphina Sterling held a glass of water, sipping it slowly. ’Ah, an ice-cold drink on a hot day is the best.’