267

Downstairs from the apartment, a black Mercedes business vehicle had been waiting there for some time.
After getting in the car, Andrew noticed Ryan in the front passenger seat.
“Hi, Boss, good morning,” Ryan turned around and said with a mischievous smile.
Andrew glanced at him coldly and instructed the driver to start driving.
The car slowly left the residential area and entered a smooth main road.
Ryan leaned over, grinning as he said to Andrew, “Boss, I came to pick you up on the way, don’t be too moved.”
“Ryan, the route from your home to my home is not the same,” Andrew replied indifferently.
Ryan touched his nose, still smiling mischievously, not the least bit embarrassed at being exposed.
“The project for the old town planning is quite large, and there aren’t many companies in Ithaca Town capable of taking it on. There are only a dozen companies at today’s bidding site, among which three have decent proposals. However, those with secure jobs aren’t very hardworking. The rest are medium to large joint-stock companies with good overall strength. There’s only one small private company whose qualifications barely meet the requirements. I wonder who they know…”
Ryan was rambling on when Andrew finally interrupted him impatiently, “Get to the point.”
Ryan’s long-winded preamble was all nonsense to him.
Ryan coughed awkwardly and said honestly, “Scarlett works at that small private company and should be attending today’s bidding meeting.”
“A small private company?” Andrew asked, still looking through the documents in his hand, his tone indifferent and casual.
“Registered capital of ten million,” Ryan said with some guilt.
“Do you think a company with a registered capital of ten million has the strength to bid for a project worth billions? Ryan, are you working without using your brain now?” Andrew’s tone was flat, but his gaze at Ryan was sharp.
“It was my mistake,” Ryan admitted honestly. The qualification review of the company was the responsibility of the marketing department, which he, as the executive vice president, oversaw. No matter what, Ryan couldn’t shirk the responsibility.
“Let the head of the marketing department go,” Andrew said coldly.
“You suspect he’s one of Thomas’s people?” Ryan asked belatedly.
“Not necessarily,” Andrew’s eyes narrowed, his gaze deep and cold.
The position of marketing director was too important for Thomas to easily place his own people. But even if this director wasn’t Thomas’s person, he must have been bribed or had some leverage against him. Otherwise, how could he make such a low-level mistake and deliberately avoid Ryan’s oversight?
“Thomas has really gone to great lengths to bring Scarlett back into the game,” Andrew laughed coldly, his blue eyes unfathomable.
“Boss, Thomas overestimates Scarlett’s importance to you. I’ll eliminate this small company in the first round, making his efforts in vain,” Ryan snorted.
Andrew said nothing, tacitly agreeing.
The car slowed down as it passed by the headquarters building of the Turner family conglomerate. Andrew glanced slightly to the side and saw that the main entrance of the company was a bit crowded. Over a dozen security guards stood at the main entrance, each holding a metal detector, conducting security checks on every entering visitor.
“Ryan, what’s this about?” Andrew asked, frowning.
Ryan glanced out the window and replied, “Charles came up with this, saying it’s for your safety.”
This ostentation was comparable to meeting the president-so exaggerated that it might be in the news tomorrow.
“Is Charles too idle lately?” Andrew coldly remarked.
Ryan shrugged, looking innocent.
The car slowly entered the underground garage and stopped in Andrew’s designated parking space.
Ryan was the first to get out of the car, eagerly opening the door for Andrew. Every time he made a mistake, he was especially attentive. However, his repeated mistakes were really troublesome.
Andrew stepped out of the car with his long legs and walked straight toward the elevator.
As the elevator continued to ascend, Andrew said to Ryan, “Ryan, I took a look at these dozen or so companies. At least half of them are just for show. I’ve marked them; eliminate them in the first round.”
The purpose of those companies was clear: to inflate the low bids. But Andrew had always been intolerant of such practices.
“Yes, I understand,” Ryan nodded.
The two of them got off the elevator one after the other and headed towards the multimedia conference room. The bidding meeting was scheduled to start at nine o’clock in the morning. Ryan instinctively raised his arm and glanced at his watch. It was eight fifty-nine, just in time.
Andrew always had a strong sense of punctuality.
At the entrance to the conference room, assistant Nathan and several senior executives responsible for this project were already waiting.
“Boss, representatives from all the bidding units have taken their seats,” Nathan stepped forward and said respectfully.
“Well, let’s go in,” Andrew nodded and walked straight into the large conference room. The senior executives followed behind him.
As soon as Andrew appeared, he became the focus of the entire room. All eyes were on him, everyone eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary and low-profile Andrew Turner.
Among those gazes was naturally Scarlett’s.
When she saw him walk in, dressed in a perfectly tailored pure black handmade suit, his deep eyes and indifferent expression made him unreadable.
He had one hand in his pocket and the other holding a document, and he walked to the front of the stage under the escort of the senior executives. Nathan stood respectfully behind him, whispering a few words in his ear. Andrew nodded indifferently, his face showing no emotion, making it impossible to read his thoughts.
They probably hadn’t seen each other for four or five years. Now, Andrew had shed his previous impulsiveness and naivety, growing into a mature, steady, and charming man.
At this moment, Scarlett felt a myriad of emotions.
“Scarlett, I didn’t expect the legendary CEO of the Turner family conglomerate to be so handsome. Just one look at him can make you pregnant,” her assistant whispered, starry-eyed.
Scarlett glanced at her without much emotion, “Are you here to work or to drool over him?”
The assistant, realizing her mistake, sat up straight obediently.
On the other side, at the front of the conference room.
After Andrew sat down, his deep eyes habitually scanned the room. Scarlett was sitting in the front row, impossible to miss.
She was dressed in a well-fitting professional suit, her hair neatly styled. Her face was meticulously made up, but it couldn’t hide the fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She looked more mature than her actual age.
A woman like that usually had an unhappy life. A happy woman wouldn’t look old, like Isabella, who was pampered by Andrew like a child.
At exactly nine o’clock, the bidding meeting officially began.
Assistant Nathan stood in front of the microphone, smiling as he addressed the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. The Turner family conglomerate’s old town planning project bidding meeting is now officially starting. Please present your proposals in order.”
As Nathan spoke, there was a crisp ‘click’ of a lighter, followed by the faint smell of tobacco spreading through the air.
Nathan paused for a moment and looked up to see Scarlett, sitting in the first row, holding a lady’s cigarette between her fingers, elegantly and skillfully smoking.
Nathan frowned slightly and glanced at Andrew on the stage.
Andrew, however, was calmly looking at his laptop, seemingly unaware.
Nathan hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not speak.
On the other side, Ryan was sitting next to Andrew, a mocking smile on his lips. After glancing at Scarlett a couple of times, he finally spoke in a tone that was neither warm nor cold.