Chapter 251 Defeating Edward
I widened my eyes in surprise. Clara came from a modest background, but ever since she married Hayden over a decade ago, she had been living a life of luxury, never lifting a finger. I couldn't believe she was cleaning my house today.
I was suspicious, thinking there might be some ulterior motive behind this.
"No need!" I rejected her bluntly. "I like my peace and quiet. I don't want anyone here who doesn't belong. Please, just go back."
The words spilled out of my mouth, leaving no room for respect.
Clara's face twisted in embarrassment. She didn't argue with me on the spot, just wiped her hands on her apron and quickly walked out of the kitchen.
"Diana." She stopped at the door, slowly changing her clothes and shoes, her voice full of grievance. "I know I wronged you in the past. Now you won't even give me a chance to make it up to you. It hurts."
Before leaving, she paused and looked back at me, trying to persuade me one last time. "Diana, Hayden knows you're pregnant. He wants to see you. Please, at least give him a response. Don't leave him hanging."
I remained expressionless, raising my hand in a dismissive gesture as if she were a stranger.
Clara sighed heavily and walked out the door, defeated.
The house fell silent. I stood still, starting to miss Melissa. If Melissa were here, Clara wouldn't have had an excuse to come to my place. But remembering that Edward said Melissa had an urgent family matter, I didn't want to bother her.
After a while, my phone buzzed, breaking the silence.
The caller ID showed it was Hayden. I took a deep breath, debating whether to answer, but the call ended before I could decide.
A text message followed: [Diana, if you want the Cooper Group to thrive, come back and remarry Edward. Don't force me to suppress the Cooper Group.]
Fury surged through me as I read the message. I gritted my teeth and muttered under my breath, "Hayden, you won't control me. I won't let the Howard family manipulate me."
Wasting no time, I headed to the Cooper Group.
Under Theo's meticulous management, the Cooper Group was now on track, and I rarely needed to intervene personally. However, Theo had specifically reminded me that this important project required my direct involvement. I was surprised but knew I couldn't pass up such a rare opportunity.
When I arrived at the Cooper Group, Theo had already prepared all the necessary materials for the project.
As I opened the files, I was shocked to see the client was the Griffin Group. I blurted out, "Why is it the Griffin Group?"
Theo nodded slightly and replied, "Yes, and the person in charge of this project is Fiona."
Mentioning Fiona made my brows furrow instantly. Her actions were unpredictable. Although the Cooper Group was doing well, we weren't yet in a position to choose our clients freely.
Sitting at my desk, I tapped my fingers lightly on the surface and said to Theo, "To fully understand the client's needs, I need to carefully review the Griffin Group's offer."
"The conditions and compensation the Griffin Group is offering are way better than what we usually see in the market," Theo said.
I shook my head slightly and added, "We both know the Griffin Group's clout in the industry. Whether it's here in Wind City or nationwide, tons of companies are dying to work with them. The Griffin Group is way more appealing than the Cooper Group."
Theo nodded in agreement and then said, "Yeah, but I heard they initially wanted to team up with the Howard Group but suddenly opened the bidding process."
"Really?" I was puzzled, unsure of Fiona's intentions. Theo tried to reassure me, "Fiona specifically invited the Cooper Group to bid on this project. It's a rare opportunity. Even if we don't win, it's a valuable learning experience."
I nodded slightly and said, "I know this bid will be tough, but we can't let this chance slip away."
To focus on the project, I decided to stay at the Cooper Group's office for the next few days.
Three days flew by, and Theo and I walked into the Griffin Group's bidding venue together.
The room was already packed with reps from major companies, all eager to win.
I scanned the room discreetly and, as expected, saw someone from Edward's team, a project manager. I wondered why Edward hadn't come himself, given the project's significance, especially since the Howard Group's business had been shrinking lately.
Theo whispered beside me, "Looks like the competition's gonna be fierce today. We need to stay sharp."
I nodded slightly and walked steadily to our seat.
The host took the stage and explained the bidding rules and process.
Then, reps from each company began presenting their company's strengths, project plans, and expected returns, trying to impress the judges with their professionalism and enthusiasm.
The Howard Group's proposal focused on cost control, presenting innovative cost-saving measures and showcasing successful past projects with detailed data, making them a formidable contender.
Finally, it was our turn. I adjusted the microphone and began our presentation under the spotlight.
Our meticulously prepared proposal appeared on the big screen, featuring innovative design concepts that maximized client satisfaction and detailed risk management plans to ensure flawless execution. The audience applauded enthusiastically when I finished.
After all the presentations, the tense evaluation process began. I maintained a calm exterior, but inside, I was anxious, my hands unconsciously clenched.
Finally, the host returned to the stage, cleared his throat, and announced, "After careful evaluation, the winning company is—the Cooper Group!"
Theo and I stood up, beaming at each other, surrounded by envious and congratulatory looks. We had come with a learning mindset, knowing the competition would be tough. We never expected to win this crucial project for both me and the Cooper Group. Especially since I had outperformed Edward in this project.