The conference room was set up professionally as staff ran around to ensure everything was in place for the top business spokesperson, who would arrive to present their proposal for the Paradise project.
Twenty-four businesses had vouched to bid for the project and entered the initial screening process. Twelve could make it to the final stage, and out of those twelve, only eight were invited today, the ones with the best potential, reputation, and market value.
Apart from the best seven in the province, one new bidder was also selected to bid on the project for their comprehensive communication and funding proof.
As the clock struck eleven, the four doors of the conference room opened, and the businesspeople started entering the conference room.
The meeting was scheduled to start at eleven thirty, and it was safe to enter earlier to gauge others’ perspectives.
At the same time, Jason kept looking at his boss in the rearview mirror as they were about to reach the venue.
He didn’t know what it was, but for some reason, he could see something was wrong with his boss, not the kind that could be brushed off by performance pressure or nervousness.
It was something different. But no matter how many times he asked him about what it was, the man wasn’t willing to answer. All he got in reply was that he was just tired after pulling an all-nighter.
His face, however, didn’t look like he pulled an all-nighter. He seemed relatively relaxed and refreshed. It was his eyes that weren’t alright.
They held so much sorrow, regret, and an emotion Jason couldn’t decipher.
"We are here, sir," Jason said after some time, contemplating asking his boss once again what was bothering him, but he didn’t want to annoy him right before the critical meeting. Thus, he kept quiet.
It was close to 11:20, and the two main chairs were still empty.
Everyone looked at each other, unsure which of the two businesses they were in, since the applicants’ identities were kept highly secret.
Andrew looked at Mr. Carton sitting opposite him, a smirk on the man’s face, making Andrew a bit uncomfortable. It was almost as if he knew something that he shouldn’t.
Andrew took a deep breath and shook his head, guilt gnawing at him from inside.
He looked at the other businessmen and noticed the Turners’ group had also participated.
Sean’s father nodded at him in acknowledgement, which he reciprocated with a nod of his own.
His gaze then met with Mr. Gilbert’s. They didn’t have the best relationship, and he sighed.
"Are the other two not coming?" Mr. Gilbert asked the staff.
It was really uncalled for for people to bail at the last minute. At least they could participate. If they didn’t have enough funds, they could always withdraw later and let others bid.
They were really taking advantage of this secretive identity thing.
The staff person was about to assure the man that everyone would arrive when they heard boots clacking on the floor, and their eyes turned to the main entrance of the conference room.
Dressed in black from head to toe with shades covering his eyes, his jaws sharp despite his age, and a vintage watch resting on his wrist that alone cost millions of dollars, was none other than Logan Frost, one name that had ruled the neighboring state.
Accompanying him was none other than his son, who had a serious expression on his face while he walked behind his father, keeping his gaze straight.
"Logan Frost?" One of them gasped under their breath.
The fact that he was here to bid for a project in this city was like a death sentence for many businesses that were still sailing the rivers and venturing into the ocean slowly.
"Hello, everyone," Logan said before he removed his shades, his eyes lingering on Andrew for a second longer.
Andrew felt George’s piercing gaze on himself and didn’t know why, but felt the need to dominate him. After all, their relationship was still uncertain, and he was unsure whether George was really a brother figure to Elara.
Everyone nodded at Logan.
The man sitting behind the eighth chair suddenly stood, and everyone turned to him. They had yet to discover who this man was representing; after all, he wasn’t a CEO or manager of any company they recognized.
"My boss has arrived," the man clarified, and soon two men entered through the main entrance.
The dominating aura around the man walking in front of them was more than enough to know he wasn’t someone they could afford to go against.
Clad in a black suit, a tie that hung a little loose around his neck, and three rings on his fingers that declared his identity even before he took off his goggles, was none other than Daniel Macros, followed by Alen, who looked at Jason and Andrew sharply.
Unlike Logan, Daniel didn’t feel the need to greet anyone and went straight to his chair, which, for some reason, also appeared to be the head chair at the conference table.
As soon as he sat, Daniel took off his goggles and gave Logan a lopsided smile, making the man grit his teeth.
"Now only one person remains," someone said.
George looked between his father and Daniel, suppressing the urge to close his eyes in frustration.
This was definitely going to be a long meeting. He wondered what they would’ve done if Elara had been here as well. George shuddered at the mere thought.
However, it was almost as if the cosmos heard his words; they listened to the sound of heels clacking against the ground, too loud for anyone to ignore, before a woman dressed in red appeared at the main entrance.
She was wearing blue shades, her long, wavy brown hair cascading naturally down her back, reaching below her hips. She looked at everyone one by one, a soft smile lingering on her face as she took and basked in everyone’s shock.
While others found it unexpected to see a woman in this conference meeting, George stood up, shocked.
Andrew looked at the woman in utter disbelief, while Daniel’s smirk deepened when he realized where the last seat in the conference room was. Right by his side, just exactly where she belonged.
Logan, who was reading an email on his phone sent by his secretary at the last minute about the meeting, turned to his son when he saw him stand and followed his gaze to see what it was that surprised him so much.
However, as soon as his gaze landed on the woman standing at the entrance, the phone slipped from his hand, and he stood, mimicking his son’s actions.
"Hello, everyone," Elara said as she took off her goggles before giving everyone a dazzling smile.