Chapter 237
The bidding meeting commenced. It was a government-backed project with policy support. The winning bidder would be guaranteed a profit, and it was also a good opportunity for image-building. Many company leaders and CEOs attended.
Rithol City was not short of well-known entrepreneurs, let alone the small players. However, everyone present knew that, in the end, it would come down to a showdown between the Turner and Lawson families.
Initially, they had no faith in the Lawson family, assuming the project was as good as in the bag for the Turner Group. But to their surprise, the Lawson family had teamed up with the Wilson family.
Taking a closer look at the girl beside Bowen, they thought to themselves, "Wait a minute, isn’t that Aubree, the prodigy entrepreneur everyone’s been buzzing about lately?"
Elizabeth’s feelings for Bowen weren’t a secret in their circle. Aubree and Ronald were biologically father and daughter. As for Aubree and Bowen, they were the subject of many rumors lately. Tonight was bound to be full of drama.
Soon, the bidding meeting started. Most people knew they were just there to make up the numbers, but still, what if they won?
One by one, the companies took the stage to present their proposals, each pulling out all the stops. Aubree found herself genuinely entertained by the spectacle.
"It’s a rare experience. I should learn everything I can. Who knows, maybe I’ll be the one up there making a bid in the future," Aubree thought to herself.
The panel of representatives and experts remained poker-faced, seemingly unimpressed. Everyone knew the real show had yet to come.
The showdown featured the representatives of the Lawson Group and the Turner Group. While the earlier proposals were impressive, they were dwarfed by these two industry titans, and were at different levels.
Elizabeth was seated next to Bowen. “Mr. Turner, do you think Turner Group will acquire the project this time?” she asked.
Bowen, clasping his hands over his abdomen, said, “Every one of us is on our own merits.” He maintained a polite but noncommittal smile, offering no definitive answer.
Bowen casually looked toward Ronald. His team had already conducted a preliminary assessment of the Lawson Group’s finances. Normally, the Turner Group’s bid would surpass that of the Lawson Group. But now, with Ronald in the picture, that assessment had become irrelevant.
Bowen’s fingers tapped rhythmically as he waited. After the presentations, there would be a grace period for bidders to finalize or modify their offers.
The upper floors were reserved for the bidders. The soundproofing was impeccable, and one could even blast music at full volume inside, and not a single sound would escape.
“Execute Plan B and raise our bid,” Bowen instructed, tapping his fingers decisively on the table.
The Turner Group must secure this project at all costs, he thought.
When Bowen asked to “raise the bid," it wasn’t just increasing the amount but doubling it. The funds the Wilson Group could offer the Lawson Group might exceed what they had initially set aside. Even with the bid doubled, Bowen was not confident of winning.
Just as Bowen was weighing whether to raise the bid further, Aubree cut in sharply, “Give up now.”
“What?” Kelvin looked at her in shock. Thinking that Aubree didn’t understand the stakes, he quickly explained, “Miss Miller, when this project is completed, the long-term returns will be enormous."
“Not just companies in Rithol City, plenty of businesses from other states are eyeing this piece of the pie. We can’t afford to give up."
“With the Lawson Group allied with the Wilson Group now, even raising our bid might not secure the project. Didn’t we avoid Plan B from the start precisely because Plan A was the safest for the Turner Group?” Aubree said.
“Even if we win the bid, doubling the investment would put the Turner Group in a tough spot, wouldn’t it? Who can guarantee this project will go smoothly? If we can’t recoup the capital, even the Turner Group would take a heavy hit, right?” she continued.