Chapter 274 Snatching the Opportunity
Please have a seat, everyone.
Mr. Hughes graciously offered the main seat to Lawrence R, a gesture observed by everyone present. Alan tugged at the corner of his mouth.
After a glass of wine and a few formal pleasantries, Mr. Hughes attentively brought up a topic, "Lymington attaches great importance to the international jewelry exhibition hosted by the Art Hall. I have taken charge of selecting the organizing company, and after careful consideration, I am most satisfied with Island Electronics Group!"
"Mr. Rodriguez possesses a top-notch design team, and the exhibition proposal they presented, along with various kinds of jewelry designs, are the best in the country. Take a look, everyone," Mr. Hughes continued.
The project proposal from Island Electronics Group was distributed, but Lawrence R remained unfazed, holding a cigarette in his hand. The other companies felt somewhat inferior, while the visiting officials seemed quite satisfied.
Mr. Hughes held up his hand and said, "If anyone has better designs and project proposals, feel free to bring them forward..."
"Indeed, we do!" Alan raised his thin lips and said, "Mr. Hughes, let me introduce Ms. Anderson, a new addition to our team. You should personally take a look at her design drafts and project proposal."
With a meaningful smile, he presented Winnie.
Mr. Hughes paused and immediately glanced at Winnie. Everyone in the room consisted of middle-aged male officials, half of whom were similar to Mr. Hughes, while the other half were project managers from various companies. No man could resist turning their heads at the sight of a beautiful woman, and they were instantly captivated by Winnie's stunning face.
Enchanting gazes couldn't conceal their longing and desire.
Especially Mr. Hughes. With Winnie dressed in a red gown, her lips and teeth crimson, her delicate face, and a seemingly delicate waist, his smiling eyes narrowed. "Miss Anderson, are all jewelry designers as beautiful as you? You're truly a sight to behold. Show me what kind of design drafts you have!"
Winnie stood up, holding a stack of documents in her hands. Her demeanor was calm and serene. "Mr. Hughes, hello. These are the design drafts and project proposal from our Imperial Jewelry."
As she walked away from her seat, her beautiful figure was on full display, leaving the men even more entranced.
Lawrence R paused his calm action of drinking coffee and water. He applied some force to his fingers, and his temple gradually tightened.
These gazes made him very uncomfortable, igniting a flame in his chest for no apparent reason. He quickly realized that he was getting annoyed, and swiftly suppressed it. T
his woman had long ceased to have any relevance to him. He no longer cared about her, so why should he be annoyed?
With a slight pursing of his thin lips, he lowered his gaze and continued sipping his coffee. He didn't think she could offer any insightful opinions.
A woman who had been hiding for three years, what medical skills could she possibly possess? She had long abandoned her design skills for those few pieces of jewelry three years ago. Lawrence R coldly snorted and paid no attention.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hughes, seeing Winnie start discussing work right away, felt a tinge of excitement and immediately waved his hand in a challenging manner. "Ms. Anderson, when discussing business over drinks, you should know the rules, right?" Mr. Hughes chuckled and glanced at Lawrence R, who remained silent. He eloquently said, "You want me to review this project proposal, right? So let's have a few more drinks and liven up the atmosphere. Isn't that reasonable?"
Alan, who was sitting nearby, unexpectedly poured her a glass and whispered quietly, "Go ahead." Winnie knew his main goal was to provoke Lawrence R. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lawrence R not even glance in their direction, emitting a chill that revealed his disdain for her. "So, I'm the only one drinking?" Winnie smiled and softly rose to the challenge.
"Ms. Anderson, you have a good sense of understanding!" Mr. Hughes praised. Winnie finished all the shots that the men at the table had given her to make her uncomfortable. The scene of this game among the men infuriated Lawrence R, who was barely keeping his emotions in check, almost smashing his glass.
Her soft voice, her tender affection, her ambiguous gestures when approaching men—she wasn't only like this with him. He wasn't special! As he realized that she behaved this way with all men, jealousy and shame intertwined within his heart. Damn woman, how did she become so vulgar and promiscuous? Was she willing to do anything for the bidding? Someone who had initially decided not to even look at her, now glared at her with two piercing holes.
With a loud bang, the cup was heavily smashed down! Mr. Hughes's ears twitched, and he quickly looked at the gloomy and dripping Lawrence R and asked nervously, "Mr. L, what's...what's wrong with you?" Lawrence R's gaze was cold as he replied, "I thought we were here to discuss the bidding for the project, but it seems to have become a brothel business. Mr. Hughes, shouldn't you pay attention to the impact?" Alan, who had been enjoying the show, was taken aback. Lawrence R's words were too harsh. He couldn't help but scold everyone.
After all, Winnie was still his wife; he shouldn't curse her so brutally! The woman lightly gripped her wine glass and didn't react at all; her heart had long turned cold. With a slight curl of her lips, as long as she wasn't embarrassed, it would be someone else's embarrassment. She retorted sarcastically, "You make it sound like Mr. Hughes is harsher on me than on prostitutes."
"Rodriguez acts as if he's never satisfied me. We're married after all, and you don't even spend any money."
As soon as those words were uttered, Lawrence R's face turned even uglier!
The onlookers reacted as though they heard a bombshell—
The officials who had just figured out their relationship, especially those who had been drinking with her earlier, instantly regretted their choices.
Mr. Hughes trembled in fear, looking at Winnie and carefully sizing her up. "Ms. Anderson, I was wrong! So, you're Mr. Rodriguez's 'former wife'? No, I heard you two haven't even obtained a marriage certificate..."
The incident from the Lymington auction night was exposed.
It was said that Mr. Rodriguez's fiancée was actually his mistress.
Mr. Hughes was well-versed in official circles and paid little attention to the aristocratic circle, but he had heard rumors.
In an instant, he awkwardly looked at Lawrence R.
The sinister man glanced at Winnie, knowing her trickery. He coldly said, "Don't get it twisted, she and I have long been in name only. This woman has a deplorable track record, so everyone, open your eyes!"
Mr. Hughes was stunned once again, hearing that he not only wanted to distance himself from their relationship but also seemed to have some difficulties with Winnie.
How did the battlefield of a married couple end up in front of them?
Mr. Hughes felt like an innocent target.
He turned his head, awkwardly looking at Winnie, and got back to the main topic. "Ahem, Ms. Anderson, what about the design sketches and project proposal for Imperial Jewelry?"
He planned to take a look, dismiss them directly, and quickly disperse the troublesome gathering.
Winnie had been waiting for this opportunity, just revealing her relationship with Lawrence R to avoid being coerced into drinking by these people.
Winnie swiftly handed over her resume. "Mr. Hughes, take a look at my resume first, and you'll change your bidding intentions."
Lawrence R's eyes turned icy.
Little did Mr. Hughes know, as he took the resume and looked at it, his gaze suddenly changed, filled with astonishment as he stared at Winnie.
"You're the chief designer for European Royal Jewelry?!"
Winnie nodded with a smile and then presented the design sketches and project proposal. "Mr. Hughes, I was hired by the European Royal Jewelry for $500 million as their designer for a year! I have extensive design experience in large-scale jewelry exhibitions and have co-hosted the annual French Jewelry Exhibition at the Louvre Palace."
She curved her lips, leaving her words at that.
Lawrence R pursed his thin lips and looked at her with a hint of surprise, his gaze sharp as if trying to penetrate her.
"Well, Lawrence, Ms. Anderson, do we pass or fail?"
Alan finally smiled, his gaze provocative and triumphant as he looked at Lawrence R!