Chapter 244
‘Kenneth was so young back then, how could he have known about those things? He must be trying to deceive me.‘ Zayn thought to himself.
He wiped the cold sweat that had started to bead on his forehead.
“Mr. Sinclair, the Huxley family has been long–standing allies of the Sinclair family over the years. I’m not sure how much you know about what happened back then, but I can assure you that it wasn’t just my doing.
“I believe you’re more aware than I am of the role Ronan played in all of this,” Zayn said, his voice steady but tinged with
unease.
Seeing that Kenneth remained silent, Zayn let out an awkward laugh and continued, “Forgive me for being blunt, but you know Ophelia came from Gloomhaven.
“Since she’s after the Gloomhaven project, her intentions can’t be simple. Mr. Sinclair, aren’t you afraid she’s using you?”
Kenneth barely lifted his eyelids, tilting his head slightly. His face was unreadable, making it impossible to discern his
emotions.
Even Zayn, a veteran in the business world, couldn’t understand what Kenneth was thinking at that moment.
“Mr. Sinclair, we’re all businessmen here. Bringing up what happened back then won’t benefit anyone. Let’s make a deal.
“I’m willing to let go
of one more project, but that’s the most I can do. I won’t back down any further,” Zayn said, his tone
firm.
Zayn believed he had made his position clear. If Kenneth pushed any further, the Huxley family wouldn’t be so eas intimidated.
Zayn had a clear understanding of Ophelia’s true intentions, even if others didn’t.
If she succeeded, she could stir up a storm at Dellanex.
By then, neither the Huxley family nor the Sinclair family would fare any better than the Wright family.
In Zayn’s view, Kenneth wasn’t a fool, and there had to be limits to how far he would indulge a woman.
“It seems I wasn’t clear enough earlier,” Kenneth said, standing up and adjusting the watch on his wrist. He took a step out of the shadows, his movements slow and deliberate.
He signaled to a bodyguard, who set a laptop down on the marble coffee table.
Zayn’s pupils contracted sharply when he saw the screen, and the more he looked, the paler his face became.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Kenneth’s voice was devoid of warmth, his words like shards of ice, embedding themselves into Zayn’s bones.
The sweat on Zayn’s body instantly broke out, and a chill ran through him.
*****
The next day, the final review results for the Westiend Railway Station were about to be announced.
Ophelia didn’t bring Mark along. Instead, she went to the Urban Development Bureau with Cody and Nate.
Inside the grand, solemn conference room, at the long rectangular table, the director Trent sat at the head, with Ophelia and
1/4
11:05 Tue, Nov 26 GB.
Chapter 244
97%
+5
the others seated a few positions away on his right side. On his left were the staff responsible for reviewing political matters.
The seats closest to Trent remained empty, and half an hour had passed without anyone from the Huxley Group showing up for the final review.
Trent raised his hand and signaled for his secretary. “Call them and remind them.”
If anyone else was late, Trent would have canceled their qualification without hesitation, but he didn’t dare do that with the Huxley family.
He clasped his hands on the table, rotating his thumbs in circles. His gaze briefly shifted to the review staff before slowly drifting toward Ophelia.
Ophelia sat upright, her back straight, her slender swan neck exuding natural elegance. With defiant, sharp eyes and a pure face, there was an air about her that made her seem unapproachable.
There was a stark contrast in her demeanor, one that made Trent feel as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Lost in his thoughts, Trent didn’t even realize he was staring until he snapped back to reality.
Ophelia, sensing his lingering gaze, lifted her eyes to meet his. Her fearless, wise look instantly reminded Trent of something.
She strangely reminded him of Elena.
But as soon as that thought appeared, Trent immediately shook his head.
Perhaps out of respect for Kenneth, he didn’t dare underestimate Ophelia. He instinctively thought that a woman wh by a capable man like Kenneth would naturally possess remarkable qualities in every way.
Ophelia withdrew her gaze and glanced down at her watch. It had already been forty minutes past the scheduled time.
If a small company like theirs were late, even by just four minutes, they’d probably be disqualified immediately, let alone forty minutes.
“What’s going on with Huxley Group? Did something happen on the road? We got here an hour early, and they’re over half an hour late,” Nate murmured quietly, enough for only those clase by to hear.
“Maybe it’s better if they don’t show up today. It could mean they forfeit, and our proposal might just get approved straight away,” Cody said with a teasing tone, trying to boost his own confidence.
Nate’s lips curled downward. “Dream on. There’s no way. It would be nice if that happened, but even if Huxley Group doesn’t show up today, they’ll just reschedule.”
The old foxes in the political circles wouldn’t dare disrespect the Huxley Group. They’d already waited more than half an hour before calling to follow up, which showed just how tolerant they were.
A moment later, the secretary came in holding a phone, and whispered something into Trent’s ear
Trent furrowed his brows and, without thinking, glanced at Ophelia, who was seated on his right. He pursed his lips. “Alright, I understand.”
His tone was low and gave off the impression that he was in a bad mood.
Nate and Cody sat anxiously, quietly awaiting the result.
Nate’s leg, which he had resting under the table, was unconsciously shaking. In contrast, Ophelia remained calm, her posture and expression betraying no emotion, as though she were completely indifferent to the situation.
11:05 Tue, Nov 26
Chapter 244
3
97%
5
They were impressed by how unfazed Ophelia was. Her composed aura seemed to calm the nervous energy of the two men next to her.
Both of them let out a relieved sigh and turned their eyes toward Trent, seated at the head of the table.
The secretary stepped aside, and after a brief consultation, Trent spoke up in a neutral tone. “After review, the project will be fully managed by SN Estate.”
Nate and Cody exchanged a stunned look, almost doubting their own hearing. The expression on their faces was a mixture of disbelief and confusion.
Even Nate’s small eyes, usually hidden behind his chubby cheeks, widened so much that his whites were visible. It was the most shocked expression he’d ever made in his life.
“Yay!” the two silently fist–bumped under the table, too excited to even remember all the overtime they’d been putting in for the past few days.
However, Ophelia, who was standing beside them, frowned slightly.
She studied Trent, who had just delivered the news.
It wasn’t until Trent stood up and extended his hand to shake hers that Ophelia snapped out of her thoughts. She smiled and shook his hand.
“Ophelia, you’re really impressive. Not only are you outstanding, but your team is exceptional too,” Trent said, unable to resist giving her a thumbs–up.
Ophelia gave a slight nod but said nothing in response.
She was somewhat surprised by the outcome.
Huxley Group’s absence today meant they had forfeited the project, but Ophelia didn’t quite understand why.
She wondered, ‘Could Mr. Carnegie have intervened? Or is this somehow related to Kenneth?‘
The three of them walked out of the Urban Development Bureau’s main doors, and Cody immediately sent the news out in the company’s group chat.
The office erupted with excitement as soon as the message went out.
Ophelia was happy too, but there was a lingering unease in her heart.
She pulled out her phone and sent Kenneth a WhatsApp message. [Did you intervene?]
Kenneth almost immediately replied: [What?]
Ophelia: [It’s nothing.]
‘If it wasn’t Kenneth, could it have been Mr. Carnegie?‘ Ophelia wondered to herself. She didn’t believe for a second that the Huxley family would have so easily handed the project over to her.
“Ophelia, why don’t we throw a celebration dinner tonight?” Cody suggested.
