Chapter 198 I Just Won't Let You
Early morning.
Natalie picked out an elegant dress and paired it with a jacket, looking vibrant and radiant. She was absolutely dazzling.
When she got to the office, Aaron handed her the latest materials.
"There's a bidding meeting this afternoon. The land is in a prime location. Besides us, Kensington Group is our main competitor," Aaron said.
Natalie nodded, not surprised.
Why would Kensington Group pass up such a prime spot?
She opened the first page of the bidding documents.
"Is this our starting price?" Natalie inquired.
The price was not modest.
Aaron nodded. "Yes."
Natalie understood and decided to attend in person.
In the luxurious banquet hall, the crystal chandeliers' dazzling light was blinding.
People were politely chatting, but no one was giving away any information.
After all, the starting price was the key to winning.
As soon as she walked in, she saw Brad, Gabriel's assistant, mingling with everyone.
It seemed Gabriel didn't come in person.
Next to Brad stood a distinguished woman, young, with delicate features and a composed demeanor. Every move she made exuded a decisive business aura.
Natalie noticed her almost immediately, feeling a mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity. The woman smiled and noticed Natalie too. Their eyes met, and neither looked away.
Natalie smiled gracefully, and the woman walked up, extending her hand. "Ms. Clark? I'm Lillian, nice to meet you."
Natalie was stunned for a second, then extended her hand and smiled. "Pleasure to meet you," she replied.
Lillian was dressed in an expensive, sharp business suit, adding to her formidable presence. Natalie, accustomed to wearing dresses, looked even more graceful and gentle, slightly outshining her.
"Natalie, why are you so late?" A voice behind her said casually, accompanied by an arm around her shoulder. It was Charlie.
Natalie looked back at him in surprise, casually brushing his hand aside. "Is the Walker family interested in this land too?" she asked.
Charlie smiled. "I'm interested in you."
Natalie glanced at him indifferently. "Get lost."
Their interaction felt completely different to Lillian. The moment Lillian saw Charlie, her sharp aura softened. She brushed her hair behind her ear and revealed a flawless smile. Even her voice became gentler, with a hint of caution. "Mr. Walker, long time no see."
If she hadn't spoken, Charlie wouldn't have noticed anyone else was there. "And you are?"
Lillian's face stiffened slightly as Charlie finished the sentence. Natalie suddenly remembered her conversation with Kelly from last night and quickly made introductions. "Mr. Walker, this is Lillian Garcia from Starhaven Garcia Group."
Charlie's unreliability shone through as he failed to recognize Lillian, his former classmate. However, he eventually recalled and offered a polite smile. "Lillian? I remember now. You've blossomed into such beauty that I failed to recognize you," Charlie remarked.
Lillian's initially rigid expression softened instantly. Natalie, observing the exchange, quietly released a breath of relief, acknowledging the effectiveness of Charlie's flattery.
After the exchange of pleasantries, everyone settled into their seats. Aaron took the place beside Natalie, already engrossed in sending emails on his phone. Each individual present shared a common objective—the prized land they were all vying for.
As soon as the bidding started, the first bid was ten billion dollars! Neither Clark Group nor Kensington Group made a move, and even Lillian remained silent. The auction price for the land was rapidly rising. Soon, it reached thirty billion dollars, and the number of bidders significantly decreased.
Lillian raised her paddle. "Thirty-five billion dollars!"
Following a brief pause, the auctioneer announced the second call, during which Brad opted to stay quiet. Natalie found it a bit strange since Gabriel shouldn't give up so easily. Without thinking much, she signaled Aaron to raise the paddle. "Thirty-eight billion dollars!"
"Forty billion dollars!" Lillian followed. Her influence lay in Starhaven; she shouldn't have been so interested in this piece of land. While Natalie was puzzled, Aaron sent her a message on Facebook.
[Lillian has reached a cooperation agreement with Kensington Group.]
Natalie had a sudden realization. 'So that's the reason!'
