Chapter 238
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“Mr. Sinclair has indeed been handling matters at Death Guild these past few days and hasn’t left Death Guild, Mrs. Sinclair. Perhaps you’re just overthinking?” Ray reported truthfully.
Ophelia nodded, her gaze falling on Eric. Their eyes met, and Eric slightly lowered his eyelids.
Ray was telling the truth.
“Maybe,” Ophelia replied softly.
She truly hoped that she was simply overreacting.
The car pulled up to the gates of Carnegie Villa.
After Ophelia had accidentally damaged the ornate gates of Carnegie Villa, Theo had indeed wasted no time in having them torn down.
The car entered the estate, and Gerald was already waiting at the gate, ready to open the door for Ophelia.
“Ms. Spencer, Mr. Carnegie has set up the chessboard in the backyard and is waiting for you,” said Gerald.
“Alright,” Ophelia said, following Gerald as he led her to the backyard.
The backyard of Carnegie Villa was large and meticulously maintained, with every tree and plant carefully tended to.
It was spring, and the surrounding area was filled with vibrant life.
Theo, wearing a comfortable, lightweight brown outfit with a plaid vest over it, his graying hair neatly styled, sat confidently in the pavilion waiting for her.
“Ophelia, you’ve finally arrived! Come and take a seat. Let’s see how I win today.” Theo’s competitive spirit was evident.
“Alright, but no take–backs,” Ophelia said, sitting down opposite him, holding the white pieces.
Gerald wheeled over a cart with snacks, desserts, coffee, and water, all placed beside Ophelia
“I noticed you liked these last time during Christmas, so I had them prepared for you. Go ahead, and try them,” Theo said.
“Thank you,” Ophelia replied, picking up a piece of matcha cake. As she waited for Theo to make his move, she took a couple of bites.
The two chatted for a while about work. Ophelia didn’t bring up any topics on her own. She simply answered whatever Theo asked.
It was clear to her that Theo was bored.
During the drive over, the vast estate had seemed empty, lacking the usual warmth of life.
Clara and Shen Finlay couldn’t always be by Theo’s side.
The young people had their own lives to live and little time to spend with Theo.
Since she had recognized him as a grandfather, regardless of her motives, Ophelia still felt she should show some filial piety.
“I heard you’ve recently taken an interest in the Westiend Railway Station project? Is that true?” Theo asked.
“Yes, how do you know about such a small matter?” Ophelia asked, a bit impressed by Theo. Even while at home, he seemed
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Chapter 238
to know everything happening outside,
“I happened to hear it from Bethany, Theo said.
Bethany, the madam of the Carnegie family, was also the eldest daughter of the Huxley family.
Theo picked up his cup and took a sip. “Next week is the final review. Do you want me to put in a good word with the Huxley family for you?”
Ophelia focused on the chessboard, knowing that she and the Huxley family would be involved in the final review, just as expected.
“If you put in a word, will the Huxley family just hand over the project to me? I’m not so sure,” she said, moving one of her pieces.
Theo furrowed his brow, sensing the doubt in her words.
“Why? Don’t trust me?” he asked.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the Huxley family isn’t being run by Mr. Huxley anymore. Even if you put in a good word, it might not be effective. Why bother?” Ophelia explained.
Besides, from what she could tell, the Huxley family was determined to secure the project.
Still, she couldn’t understand why they were so eager for the Westiend Railway Station project. The project wasn’t particularly lucrative, so why was the Huxley family so intent on it?
Before she could think too much about it, Theo captured one of her pieces.
Theo laughed twice after taking her piece, noticing the doubt in her eyes. He explained, “The Huxley family isn’t what it used to be.
“After Zayn took over Huxley Group’s pharmaceutical division two years ago, they’ve been expanding internationally. “Zayn’s never been content with just that. He’s been eyeing the real estate sector for a while. Even if the profits aren’t much, he wants to grab a political project. With the support of the political circles, his future will be much smoother.”
Ophelia nodded and took a sip of her coffee.
Back in the day, the four great families of Dellanex had fought fiercely for dominance. The fact that the Huxley family had emerged victorious in that struggle and had been able to coexist alongside the Sinclair family spoke volumes about their capabilities.
Zayn’s ambition far exceeded that of his father.
Lost in thought, Ophelia’s piece was once again captured by Theo. “Ophelia, it looks like you’re going to lose this game…”
Ophelia pursed her lips, remaining silent. Even though Theo had captured a key piece, she stayed calm and composed, moving her pawns forward step by step. This quiet resolve was something few others had.
Heloria chess required careful deployment of pieces, demanding a strong sense of the bigger picture. Sometimes, to win the entire game, it was necessary to sacrifice smaller benefits. Winning wasn’t about capturing the most pieces. It was about the overall victory.
The chessboard, much like the business world, was ever–changing. One wrong move, and it was game over.
It seemed the Westiend Railway Station project was no longer in her hands.
She had chosen to sacrifice this small victory in exchange for a longer–term gain.
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Chapter 238-
Though reluctant, there was no other choice.
3
After leaving Carnegie Villa, Ophelia drove to the real estate company. Despite it being the weekend, Cody and the team were still working hard.
Ophelia brought them lunch.
“Everyone, take a break. Don’t waste too much time on the railway station project. Our competitor is the Huxley family, so it won’t be easy to secure,” Ophelia said.
In truth, if she were determined to win this project, she knew her team would handle it well.
But if the first project led to direct conflict with the Huxley family, there was a high chance that they would block her in future projects. It would make things much harder.
It would be better to let the Huxley family have this one, allowing them to let their guard down. While they focused on the railway station project, she could secure the next two projects.
Right now, it was better to avoid making a move that might cost her more in the long run.
“Bonuses will still be paid. You’ve worked hard. Take a couple of days off,” said Ophelia.
Money was a powerful motivator, and Ophelia was never stingy in this regard.
“Ophelia, we’re not tired. This is our first time handling such a large project, and we want to learn as much as we can. Even if we don’t secure this project, we’ve still learned a lot,” Cody said sincerely, without flattery.
“Yeah, we’ve already made it to the final round of review, even against the Huxley family. We want to give it our best shot,” Nate added, supporting Cody’s point.
Just getting to the final round alongside the Huxley family was something they could brag about for half a year.
What if they actually won it?
Ophelia smiled lightly, a rare sight of her being so relaxed in front of them.
“Alright, you can pretend I didn’t say anything. But there are bigger projects coming your way. Let me make one thing clear though. If you drop the ball at a crucial moment, I’m very strict about rewards and punishments.” Ophelia laughed.
“We understand,” they all replied in unison.
She added, “I can see your efforts, but I’m the boss, and I care more about results. If any of you ever feel frustrated with me, don’t hold it in. Just let me know. We’re all here to make money, so it’s important that we enjoy it.”
They all nodded vigorously.
Ophelia’s phone vibrated in her pocket, and she answered it.
“Ms. Spencer, it’s me. Let’s find a place to talk,” someone said.
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upset
