Chapter 401
Communication?
There was pretty much zero of that happening between them.
Not that it mattered, with so many people around. He had no reason to confide in Professor Mack, anyway. They barely knew each other-just two ships passing in the night.
He put on a polite, half-hearted smile. “Whatever you say, Professor.”
Professor Mack was a pretty big name in the American Al scene.
The Hawkins and Spencer families thought Stewart would show Vesta extra respect, seeing as she was Dr. Smith’s PhD student.
And now, hearing Professor Mack sing Vesta’s praises, Leah shot a smug look over at Charlene.
Her sister was a doctoral student of someone as legendary as Dr. Smith. And Charlene? What did she have, really?
Next to her sister, Charlene didn’t amount to much.
Maureen Spencer and Laverne Hawkins seemed to be thinking the same thing.
Thorne called Vesta while Maureen and Henley Hawkins were both present. When they heard there was a dinner happening, they decided to tag along.
Not that they were just there for the free food, of course.
Honestly, they just wanted to eat at the same place.
Professor Mack, realizing they were Vesta’s family, invited them to join the dinner.
After inviting them, he turned to Stewart. “Mr. Ferguson, I hope you don’t mind—?” Stewart glanced at Charlene.
Charlene just shrugged-she didn’t care.
Professor Mack was older, so Stewart didn’t want to be rude and refuse.
He hid his true feelings behind a smile. “Mr. Henderson’s hosting tonight. If he’s okay with it, then so am I.”
The group made their way into the private dining room.
Charlene sat down next to Stewart. Gaylord took the seat on her other side.
Vesta sat between Thorne and Professor Mack.
After a little small talk, Professor Mack started chatting with Vesta about Kevitt Smith.
They hadn’t been talking long when Vesta’s phone chimed with a new message. She glanced at it, smiled, and told Professor Mack, “Looks like the latest issue of NMI just dropped.”
That wasn’t exactly breaking news-practically everyone there, aside from Maureen, Leah, and a couple of other family members, kept up with the latest Al journals.
So, Vesta clearly had something else in mind.
She turned to Professor Mack. “My PhD advisor, Dr. Smith, was a reviewer for this issue. He just texted me he says there’s one paper in particular that’s
outstanding. He thinks it’s worth everyone’s attention.”
That got the whole table’s attention, including Charlene and Stewart.
Professor Mack perked up.
Given Dr. Smith’s standing in Al, if he was this impressed by a paper, it had to be something special.
“Which one is it?” Mack asked.
Vesta held up her phone and read the title Dr. Smith had sent her.
Everyone made a mental note of it.
Stewart raised an eyebrow at the title, glanced at Charlene, and grinned.
Charlene just smiled and took a sip of her coffee.
The latest issue of NMI-both print and online had just gone live worldwide.
For a paper to get this kind of praise from Dr. Smith, Professor Mack was itching to read it for himself.
But, with dinner underway, he had to restrain himself.
Still, he couldn’t help but say, “Sounds like it’s something to do with attention mechanisms, isn’t it?”
Vesta nodded. “That’s right.”