Chapter 182: Pitching for Victory

Merry was getting anxious. “Summer, it’s about to start, and Sienna still isn’t back. Should I go look for her?”

Just as she finished speaking, Sienna walked in from the doorway. Summer frowned. “Sienna, why do you look so pale?”

Sienna sat down, trying to steady her breathing. Her fists clenched tightly, as if trying to suppress the fear in her heart. She knew Mason was the type of lunatic who always followed through on his threats. She could not recall ever taking any intimate photos or videos, which meant that scumbag must have secretly installed a hidden camera in their bedroom. Her voice trembled slightly. “Summer, maybe we should drop out of the competition.”

Merry assumed Sienna was just afraid of losing. “Sienna, the results aren’t even out yet! We still have a chance; don’t be scared!”

Summer, however, sensed something was off, but she could not quite put her finger on it.

At that moment, James took the stage as the event’s representative. He announced, “The top two design firms selected for the GloryPath Construction Project are Walsh Design Studio and Prospera Design Studio.”

Merry gasped. “Prospera? That’s the scumbag’s firm!”

James paused before continuing, “There’s still one spot left. However, two firms have tied in points. They are Aspira Design Institute and Eureka Design Studio. After discussion, the board has decided to have representatives from both firms present their design concepts again. The final vote will determine the winner.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Summer noticed Mason shooting a sharp glance in their direction. Instinctively, she turned to look at Sienna. Sienna’s face was alarmingly pale, and her lips had lost all color.

“Sienna, you need to go up there now,” Merry urged. “Are you okay? You look really nervous.”

Summer remained silent for a moment. Then she said, “I’ll do the presentation.”

As she stood up, Sienna grabbed her hand. “Summer…”

Summer looked down at her. “Hmm?”

Sienna’s heart pounded wildly under her gaze. “Nothing. Go ahead.”

The large screen displayed their design blueprints. Summer stepped onto the stage, ready to speak. But before she could begin, the doors to the conference room suddenly swung open.

Everyone turned toward the entrance. A tall, commanding figure strode in. It was Fraser. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal gray pinstripe suit, his white dress shirt complemented by a dark striped tie, knotted neatly without a single crease. From head to toe, he exuded an undeniable air of prestige. His towering frame and distinguished presence immediately drew the room’s attention. Trailing behind him were several investors and subordinates, all walking in an unhurried yet imposing manner.

Leaning back casually, he crossed his long legs. His black trousers fit perfectly over his straight, powerful legs. His expression was one of complete ease, his dark eyes reflecting a faint, unreadable glimmer as they settled on the woman standing on the stage.

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. Though the man appeared relaxed, not exuding even a hint of severity, his presence alone was enough to make everyone sit up straight. Seated beside him were several major investors in the GloryPath Construction Project.

Henry, the vice president standing next to James, swallowed nervously. “Mr. James, why did Mr. Graham suddenly decide to attend? The GloryPath Construction project is just one of the many small investments under the Graham Group. And this is only the preliminary selection phase for a design firm. He’s such a busy man. He shouldn’t have had any reason to be here.”

James shot him a sideways glance. “You don’t understand. This means Mr. Graham actually cares about the GloryPath Construction project. We need to do our best and show him that whether it’s selecting a design firm or handling other aspects, our company operates at the highest level.”

Meanwhile, on stage, Summer had already gone over her speech in her head. She had been calm, even in front of nearly fifty people. But now, with the man in the center of the room watching her intently, something changed. His dark eyes shimmered with a faint light, and though it might have been just the angle, she felt as if there was a teasing, amused glint in them. Suddenly, she was reminded of the feeling of being a child again, where she was standing on stage, about to give a speech, while her teacher sat below, ready to critique. A slight shiver ran down her spine.

James approached Fraser, bending slightly to accommodate his heavier frame. “Mr. Graham, we’ve already selected two of the top design firms. Only one more firm remains. Right now, representatives from the two tied firms are about to present their concepts so we can make the final decision.”