The shareholder instantly had no comeback and fell silent. After all, he wasn’t really trying to challenge Aubree. As the boss, if she wanted to bring in other investors, it was ultimately her call. Since Bowen remained silent throughout, the others simply assumed he wasn’t willing to put in more money. With no further objections, they unanimously approved Aubree’s proposal.
Seated below, Bowen merely offered a faint smile as he listened to the subtle jabs and veiled attempts to brush him aside. He knew exactly what Bree was wary of, but if she thought she could gradually cut ties with him, there was no way he would ever allow it. Now that Bowen knew exactly what he wanted, he was determined to have it no matter the cost.
Bowen’s slightly lowered eyes gleamed with a resolve that brooked no refusal; he was determined to get what he wanted. If Aubree could see the look in his eyes right now, she’d probably be so freaked out she’d want to catch the next train out of town that very night.
Aubree delegated this task to her two trusted aides at the company—Birgitte and Vincent—instructing them to reach out and negotiate, then report back to her with the outcome. The meeting concluded, but Bowen remained seated, staring at Aubree with undisguised intensity and no intention of leaving. His lingering presence left Aubree in an awkward limbo. She stayed put, and seeing her hesitate, the others also remained rooted to their seats. Still, it was Vincent who, displaying his professional, secretarial tact, stepped in and ushered the others out of the room first.
Aubree shot him a skeptical look. “Don’t tell me you came all the way here just for this meeting.”
“What if I did?” Bowen grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Aubree, with exaggerated formality, announced, “Now that the meeting’s over, you may leave.”
'She really doesn’t give me any face at all,' he wondered. Bowen let out a laugh. “Anyone else might’ve left by now, but what can I say? I’m just too shameless.”
'Well, at least he knows what he is,' Aubree mused. Aubree was speechless. The worst kind of person to meet must be someone like Bowen—so capable, yet utterly shameless, she thought. Right on cue, Kelvin entered with the bouquet Bowen had prepared.
The bouquet Bowen had prepared was tasteful and elegant—a mix of fresh, elegant flowers, beautifully arranged and a feast for the eyes. It was clear he’d put a lot of thought into it.
Bowen handed her the bouquet with a smile. “These are for you.”
“Take the flowers, if that’s all, Bowen, would you mind leaving now?” Aubree took the flowers, essentially showing Bowen the door.
Bowen, knowing better than to push his luck, spread his hands with a smile and said, “Alright, I’ll take my leave. If you need any help, just call me. Also, Turner Group will always be willing to invest in you.” Bowen said sincerely. In his heart, he added, “And so will I.”
With over a month left in the semester, Birgitte and the others were busy securing investment.
Chapter 165
As for the club, Aubree mostly left it to its own devices unless something major came up, pouring all her energy into cramming for finals. Perhaps knowing how busy she was with her studies, Bowen wisely refrained from disturbing her. Yet, every now and then, he would send over some nourishing tonic soup prepared by Carol. During this time, Bowen received word that Mark had recently shown unusual interest in the orphanage where Aubree used to live. It seemed Mark even planned to visit.
Final exams arrived quickly, and Aubree felt she had performed exceptionally well. At Rithol High School, exam results weren’t released immediately–they were typically announced at the start of the next semester, giving students a proper break without worrying about their grades. After finishing her exams, Aubree wasted no time—she immediately redirected her focus back to Bree Technology and her esports club. Birgitte and Vincent had made some headway in securing investment. The investors they’d lined up finally came to Bree Tech for a meeting with Aubree.
“So you must be Ms. Miller? Truly impressive for someone so young. Though I should clarify I’m not the investor, just the representative." The man, dressed in a sharp suit and appearing to be in his thirties, offered a warm, professional smile.
Aubree didn’t really care whether the investment came from him or someone else; as long as the deal got done, that was all that mattered to her. "Then, Mr. Cohen, would you be willing to make the introduction for us?"
“Absolutely. Only a fool would pass up such a lucrative opportunity. I’ll arrange it for you right away, Ms. Miller—how about tonight?”
“No problem,” Aubree replied.