Rivalries at the Expo

Elara's POV

The exhibition hall buzzed with activity. Tech professionals, investors, and industry leaders mingled in clusters throughout the space. I smoothed down my navy pantsuit, grateful I'd made it on time despite the car disaster.

Julian stood beside me, already in his element. His warm smile and confident demeanor attracted people like moths to flame. Within minutes, we were surrounded by curious onlookers eager to learn about YodaVision's latest innovations.

"Dr. Vance was instrumental in developing our new interface," Julian explained to a potential investor, his hand lightly touching my shoulder. "Her understanding of human-AI interaction is unparalleled."

I felt a flush of pride at his words. It had been years since anyone had acknowledged my expertise so openly.

"The algorithm adapts to user behavior in real time," I added, finding my voice stronger than expected. "We've reduced response lag by forty percent."