Chapter 446: Seraphina Elopes with Someone (2)

Chapter 446: Chapter 446: Seraphina Elopes with Someone (2)

"I think you should consider The Faulkner Group. Hale Corporation’s business is also solid, and isn’t the patriarch of the Hale Family celebrating a major birthday soon? Who knows if Hale Corporation will use this as an opportunity to announce some shocking news! The last few times, they announced major developments at the birthday banquet, causing their stock to soar. And then there’s the Fenton Family’s bank. The Fenton and Hale families have a special relationship—though not everyone knows about it, Hale Corporation has always been the primary backer for Fenton Private Bank. Anyone who’s anyone in the industry knows that!"

This was the conclusion Marshal had reached after a full night of analysis, research, and comparison. He had been worried that Seraphina Sterling would make her selection so casually, so he had prepared this information just in case. Now it was coming in handy. It seemed all his hard work hadn’t been for nothing!

Hearing Marshal’s analysis of The Fenton Group, Shelby Fenton felt a surge of pride, and her smile became tinged with arrogance. "Marshal, who exactly is competing against Director Patterson—you or Seraphina Sterling? She’s already picked her stocks, so why are you meddling! Seraphina Sterling, since you’ve already made your choice, you can’t change it now! President, just go ahead and buy them! All these two can do is run their mouths; you’re the one who has to actually execute the trades!"

Shelby Fenton absolutely did not want Seraphina Sterling to win. While she didn’t understand the market herself, she had understood Marshal’s analysis perfectly. In short, the three stocks Seraphina had bought were garbage, and her chances of winning were slim! Victory was right there—how could she let Seraphina get a do-over?

"That’s enough, Marshal. I know you’re worried," Seraphina Sterling said. "But since I’ve already made my choice, I’m not changing it. My luck has always been great, you know that. Besides, if I changed my mind now, wouldn’t that be cheating?" From start to finish, she maintained a nonchalant expression, as if she wasn’t taking the matter seriously at all. To her, it seemed this wasn’t a competition, but merely a game.

The person most shocked of all was Preston Patterson. ’I can’t believe there’s such an expert among the new members!’ Marshal’s analysis had been nearly identical to his own. Crucially, the stocks Marshal recommended were the exact same ones he had intended to choose. ’If Seraphina Sterling actually takes his advice, I’ll be in for a real struggle!’ Though he had a few backup options, for maximizing short-term profit, the three Marshal had suggested were the absolute best combination.

"Director Patterson, I’m finished. How much more time do you need?" Seraphina Sterling glanced at the time. If he didn’t make his choice soon, the market would be closing.

Preston Patterson snapped out of his thoughts and walked to the trading console. "The Faulkner Group, The Hale Antique Collection, and Fenton Private Bank!"

Uh—

Everyone instinctively turned to stare at Marshal. What was happening? Did Director Patterson steal the advice Marshal had given Seraphina, or was it just a coincidence that their forecasts were identical?

"Well, Seraphina Sterling? Regretting it now?" Marshal said, crossing his arms. "This is what you get for ignoring my advice! Now someone else has swooped in and snatched them up, haven’t they?" He wore a teasing smile, his true feelings impossible to discern.

"What do you mean, ’snatched them up’? Marshal! You should think before you speak!" Shelby Fenton shrieked, jumping to Preston’s defense. "Director Patterson is a senior who’s about to graduate! He actually finished all his coursework as a junior—if it weren’t for the university’s residency requirement, he could have graduated already! With all his years of stock trading experience, do you really think he needs to pick up someone else’s scraps?" Her shrill voice was so loud it made everyone’s ears ring.

"I’ll admit, you have some talent," she continued, her voice dripping with condescension. "Otherwise, your eye for stocks wouldn’t have been as sharp as Director Patterson’s. But that’s all it is—a little talent. Don’t get a big head over it. You’d be wise to learn some humility. It’s best to leave yourself a way out, lest you lose face completely!"