After concluding their discussion, Veronica and Dario shifted their focus to work-related matters, reviewing upcoming projects and deadlines.

Not long after, Veronica's phone lit up with Gareth's name. He inquired if she could attend next week's AI symposium at Coleman University.

The original invitation had reached DataPulse two weeks prior, addressed solely to Dario. However, the landscape had dramatically changed following the publication of Veronica's groundbreaking paper. Her research had created waves throughout the academic community, elevating her status virtually overnight.

The university administration, recognizing the value her presence would add, extended a belated but enthusiastic invitation for her to join the symposium panel.

Initially, Veronica hesitated. Despite her work's significant impact, she had deliberately maintained a low profile, declining interview requests and public appearances.

"Many students are eager to meet you," Gareth explained, his voice earnest. "They're hoping to gain insights from your experience and methodology."

After careful consideration and Gareth's persistent encouragement, Veronica finally agreed to attend.

The symposium had attracted an impressive roster of participants—renowned experts, distinguished scholars, and corporate representatives from across the industry.

On the scheduled day, Coleman University's campus hummed with excitement. Conference halls filled with attendees, and animated discussions echoed through the corridors.

Niall arrived representing Stellar, her position bolstered by recent industry developments. Preston's trip to Ophelia had inadvertently revealed that Niall was among his PhD students, a detail that significantly enhanced her professional standing.

Gareth greeted her cordially upon arrival, exchanging pleasantries before directing her toward the registration area.

Student representatives, upon learning of Niall's connection to Preston, approached her with undisguised admiration. Being mentored by someone of Preston's caliber represented an unattainable dream for most of them.

Several bold students gathered around her, peppering her with technical questions about advanced algorithms and theoretical frameworks. Niall handled their inquiries with practiced ease, earning appreciative nods and impressed glances.

Her growing audience attracted attention from established experts, who joined the circle to introduce themselves. For a brief moment, Niall found herself at the center of a small crowd, basking in the reflected prestige of her mentor's reputation.

The atmosphere shifted perceptibly when Veronica and Dario entered the venue.

While Preston's name carried significant weight in academic circles, news had spread that this legendary figure had personally traveled to meet with Veronica and Dario. This information transformed a simple entrance into an event.

Their arrival sent a ripple of excitement through the gathering. Conversations halted mid-sentence as heads turned toward the entrance.

Prior to her paper's publication, Veronica remained relatively unknown visually—many had studied her work but wouldn't recognize her face. Now, students and seasoned professionals alike craned their necks, eager for a glimpse of the researcher whose ideas had challenged established paradigms.

Noticing their arrival, Gareth turned apologetically to Niall. "Excuse me, Mr. Reid and Ms. Murray have arrived. The chancellor and I need to welcome them."

Niall's expression tightened slightly. During her earlier conversations with students, she had overheard their excited discussions about Veronica. Their enthusiasm for meeting the author of the revolutionary paper was palpable, making Niall's smile dim further as she watched Gareth walk away.

After formal introductions between the chancellor, Gareth, Veronica, and Dario, the assembled scholars finally connected the striking woman beside Dario with the brilliant mind behind the research that had recently transformed their field.

"My goodness, she's absolutely stunning," whispered one attendee to another.

"It's unfair enough that her professional abilities are exceptional, but to look like that too? I'm beyond jealous," another muttered.

"They make such a perfect pair," observed a third, glancing between Veronica and Dario. "Both at the pinnacle of their respective specialties. Talented, attractive, and clearly compatible. Truly a match forged in academic heaven."

As conversations swirled around them, Veronica maintained her professional demeanor, though she couldn't help but notice Niall watching from across the room, her expression unreadable.