Chapter 486

Carmen clenched her fists tightly and thought, "Damn it. Does Aubree really have to go out of her way to mess with me? What project doesn’t have risks? Is she really so scared I’ll get the funding that she has to blow BeeShare’s flaws way out of proportion?"

At an event like this, Aubree, the young entrepreneur who always seemed to succeed at whatever she did, had real influence. In the investment world at the moment, even if Bowen showed up, his words might not carry as much weight as hers.

Aubree wasn’t just making baseless claims. She had hard data and solid analysis to back her up. Every question she threw out was a real issue that BeeShare was struggling with, and Carmen couldn’t answer a single one.

Carmen’s heart raced with panic. The slow user growth of BeeShare was the biggest problem right now.

She’d tried every marketing channel she could think of, but no matter how good her pitch was, it couldn’t compete with real discounts. In the end, her only option was to seek funding and use the money to solve current issues.

She’d deliberately kept these flaws under wraps during her presentation, just to make the project look more appealing to investors.

But now, Aubree had cruelly dragged all those rotten flaws out into the sunlight, letting their stench fill the air and making everyone want to stay far away.

Aubree watched her with a faint, leisurely smile, her gaze a clear provocation. Carmen’s mind went blank as anger surged straight to her head. She snatched up the microphone, ready to fire back.

“Carmen!” Just as she was about to speak, Bryan’s low, commanding voice cut through the air from the audience.

Carmen snapped back to her senses.

Bryan locked eyes with Aubree. “Ms. Miller, the issues you’ve raised are exactly what our project team is working hard to address. No success happens overnight, and every investment comes with its risks. You’ve pointed out all the downsides, so why not look at the potential if this project succeeds?

“It’s undeniable that when the discounts are the same, most people tend to choose electric bikes. In this market, electric bikes have a real competitive advantage. To be upfront, in response to the price-cutting tactics from bike-sharing companies, Wilson Group already has some preliminary solutions.

“If any investors want to take a deeper look at our project, feel free to talk to us after the event. For now, let’s give the stage back to the other young dreamers.”

Bryan really was experienced in the business world. He knew exactly what to say to turn the tide, helping those who’d been shaken by Aubree’s words regain their confidence.

Still, most people sided with Aubree. BeeShare looked like it was hanging by a thread.

Carmen stepped down from the stage, her expression uneasy.

“Bryan, I…” she started.

“Keep your cool,” Bryan cut her off, not interested in hearing any explanations. He shot her a warning glance.

Carmen bit her lip. She’d almost lost control and started arguing with Aubree. If Bryan hadn’t cut her off, she would have played right into Aubree’s hands and ended up looking like a scammer just making excuses.

She’s totally coming after me, Carmen thought.

Carmen’s eyes grew heavy. She wondered if Aubree was scared of her potential.

“Oliver, what are you staring at?” Elizabeth gave Oliver a puzzled look.

Only then did Oliver finally drag his eyes away from Aubree. In a place like this, she was so radiant it was almost blinding, like she could outshine everyone in the room.

She was so calm and collected, looking like she had the whole game in her hands. It was enough to make Carmen lose her cool and even forced Bryan to step in just to keep things from spiraling out of control.

Oliver thought, Aubree, huh?

Rithol City really is more interesting than I expected.

“It’s nothing,” he said indifferently, casting a brief glance at Elizabeth.

Chapter 486

“Carmen’s having trouble securing investment right now. That must be affecting your plans, right?” Oliver asked.

Elizabeth let out a helpless sigh. “Of course. I’ve decided to invest in Carmen’s project under the Lawson Group’s name. That should help bring in some other investors as well."

Oliver nodded.

After the dinner ended, Vincent had to leave suddenly for an emergency. Aubree told her driver to take him, so she stayed behind to wait for a bit.

She’d planned to just grab a taxi home, but totally overlooked the fact that everyone at this event had their own car. No taxis would ever come out this way.

It was already late, and it would take a while for her driver to circle back and pick her up.

She lowered her head and sent a message to Bowen.

She sent an emoji of a pitiful kitten.

Bowen: [Where’d this scruffy little kitten come from?]

Aubree: [Looks like I’m about to be a stray cat.]