“To the lady sitting in the front row, do you have poor eyesight and can’t see the no smoking sign on the wall, or do you think the Turner family conglomerate is your backyard where you can do whatever you please and ignore the rules?” Ryan’s words were sharp, giving Scarlett no leniency. He had disliked her for a long time.
Instantly, all eyes around them fell on Scarlett. Her face flushed red and then pale, and her hand holding the cigarette stiffened. She instinctively looked up at Andrew, who was talking to the project leader beside him, his expression serious and focused. He seemed completely unaware of what was happening on their side.
But Scarlett knew Andrew, with his special forces background, could perceive everything around him. It was impossible for him not to know that Ryan was deliberately making things difficult for her. He just didn’t want to intervene.
Andrew really hadn’t changed at all: cold and decisive. After breaking up, they were complete strangers.
“Miss, are you also hard of hearing and didn’t catch what I said? To avoid disrupting the bidding meeting, I will have to ask security to escort you out,” Ryan said unceremoniously.
Scarlett was starting to lose her composure, her expression extremely awkward. Her assistant quickly reacted, snatching the cigarette from her hand, and stood up with an apologetic face, saying, “We’re terribly sorry. She didn’t mean to smoke in the meeting room; she didn’t notice the signs. I’ll leave right away.”
Although the assistant was blatantly lying, she successfully defused the situation for Scarlett.
After the assistant left, Scarlett calmed down and quietly opened the bidding document in her hand. The bidding meeting proceeded relatively smoothly, with each company taking turns to present their proposals.
Andrew stood up and left halfway through the meeting. It was obvious he had already made up his mind about which company to choose. The presentations from the remaining companies were essentially meaningless.
Scarlett, with her sharp eyes, saw Andrew leaving the conference room and immediately followed him.
She walked quickly down the corridor outside the conference room, the sound of her high heels on the black marble floor echoing loudly.
Before Andrew could enter the CEO’s office, Scarlett managed to catch up with him. “Andrew,” she called out his name, walking gracefully to stand in front of him.
Andrew stopped, looking at her with a distant expression and a tone that was polite but clearly detached. “Do you need something?”
Scarlett smiled, revealing a perfect set of teeth, looking very elegant and composed. “Andrew, after all these years, can’t we catch up?”
“It’s working hours now,” Andrew reminded her.
“You are still so professional. Then, give me five minutes to talk business, how about that?” Scarlett suggested.
Andrew hesitated for a moment before inviting her into his office. If he continued to keep her out, it would seem like he had something to hide.
Scarlett followed Andrew into the CEO’s office. It was her first time stepping into the core office of the Turner family conglomerate in her lifetime. Back when she was Andrew’s fiancee, Andrew was not yet the head of the Turner family conglomerate.
Her gaze swept across the spacious and luxurious office before she sat down on the sofa in the reception area. Although she was here for business, she made polite small talk.
“Andrew, I heard you got married. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Andrew responded indifferently. He walked over to his desk, sat down in the executive chair, and began flipping through the laptop on his desk.
Scarlett didn’t seem to mind his indifference and continued smiling, “I’ve seen the TV shows your wife starred in. She’s a very adorable girl.”
Andrew’s fingers paused briefly on the keyboard, and he said, “She’s just a spoiled girl.”
His tone remained calm, but Scarlett keenly noticed a hint of tenderness in his eyes when he mentioned his wife. Scarlett instinctively recalled their years together, realizing he had never looked at her with such gentle warmth.
A wave of bitterness surged in Scarlett’s heart. She habitually reached into her handbag, pulled out a cigarette and lighter, and expertly lit a slim cigarette. Andrew glanced briefly at her hand holding the cigarette but said nothing.
Scarlett exhaled a puff of smoke and chuckled, “Andrew, I suppose your office doesn’t have a no-smoking policy too?”
“I remember you didn’t smoke before,” Andrew said blandly.
“Before?” Scarlett’s lips curved into a self-deprecating smile, “People change.”
In the past, she was his fiancee, and he was merely an underappreciated son of the Turner family. Times had changed; he now controlled the Turner family conglomerate, and they were like strangers. To see him, she had to pass through multiple security checks at the company’s main entrance.
“Actually, I smoked in the conference room today to get your attention. In today’s situation, the more attention you pay to me, the better my chances. To be honest, this project is very important to me.”
Andrew’s lips pressed into a thin line, his deep eyes reflecting his thoughts. Scarlett’s frankness left him momentarily speechless.
“Andrew, you wouldn’t reject my proposal just to avoid suspicion, would you?” Scarlett joked with a smile.
“I always separate business from personal matters,” Andrew replied. “But to be honest, while your proposal is good, your company’s qualifications do not meet the bidding requirements. The investment for this project is significant, and I don’t want any mistakes.”
Andrew’s businesslike attitude made Scarlett feel awkward once more.
“So, our company is just here to make up the numbers?” Scarlett mocked.
She was aware of the reality. Her company had almost no chance in this bid. The total investment for the old town renovation project was over a billion dollars, far beyond what a small company with a registered capital of ten million could handle. Moreover, her company lacked strong backing and solid strength.
Still, her boss had unrealistic ambitions and kept pressuring her. Scarlett herself desperately needed the commission from this project to resolve her family’s financial difficulties.
Andrew looked at her, his tone still calm and measured. “Scarlett, if you must put it that way, I can’t argue. By your logic, except for the winning company, all other candidates are just here to make up the numbers.”
Scarlett had nothing more to say.
At that moment, the door to the CEO’s office was suddenly knocked, and Ryan sauntered in.
“Oh, the bidding meeting just ended, and someone’s already here to pull strings.”