“Five hundred million!” A calm voice suddenly cut through the rising tension.
As the voice echoed through the room, everyone turned to see Nate and Matias. Whispers spread quickly, everyone wondering which company could casually throw in a starting bid of five hundred million, easily pushing aside many competitors.
Just as the auctioneer was about to seal the bid, Corrine subtly nodded to Natasha.
“One billion.” Natasha raised her paddle to increase the bid.
Corrine touched her temple lightly, her eyes flicking to a group in the lower left corner, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
From his seat in the third row, Bruce whirled around, shocked by the audacity.
In the shadowy back, the dim light shrouded a woman’s face, yet her striking features shimmered through. Who could this woman be?
The auctioneer, both curious and composed, cleared his throat.
“One billion. Do we have a higher bid?”
Before his question could fade, a soft voice from the left said, “One point two billion.”
Receiving another nod from Corrine, Natasha replied smoothly, “One point five billion.”
Moses, intrigued, leaned forward to peer at the back row.
“Looks like the Ford family might lose their top spot as the richest in Lyhaton!”
Zack, unable to hold back his curiosity, stole a glance toward Corrine.
“Who’s brave enough to go up against Nate?”
“Sir…” Matias looked toward Nate.
With a subtle nod from Nate, Matias confidently raised his paddle.
“Two billion.”
Moses and Zack exchanged a glance, a hint of mischief in their smiles, thinking Nate was just playing with the competition. Their grins, however, were short-lived as the competitor shouted, “Five billion!”
The cheerful mood around Moses vanished as he shot to his feet, muttering under his breath, “Damn it! This woman is ruining everything! She’s pushed the price to the top!”
Moses had planned to play it cool, to poke and prod at the competition, knowing they were eager to claim this plot of land. But this move took them all by surprise.
Five billion was already the top price for this land. Going any higher would mean a loss. They wanted this land to kickstart new housing developments, aiming to uplift the area’s property values. What could the competitor’s angle be? Was it possible they owned nearby properties too?
They had been so confident about securing this land, but now an unexpected rival had upset their perfect scheme.
Moses, seething with frustration, was nearly at the point of confronting this disruptor.
“Is she intentionally throwing us off?” Zack muttered, puzzled by her boldness. The bid reaching five billion sent shockwaves through the crowd, stirring intense speculation about Corrine’s financial clout.
The auctioneer, visibly thrilled, clutched the gavel with both hands. He had never imagined the price would climb beyond two and a half billion. Who would have thought the bidding would rocket to five billion?
Regaining his composure, the auctioneer stood tall.
“Is there anyone willing to top five billion? Going once, going twice, sold for five billion!” he announced, slamming the gavel down so hard it broke, illustrating his excitement.
After the auction, Corrine discreetly left through a back exit, pausing to give a significant look at a particular corner of the room.
When the doors swung open, reporters expecting Corrine were taken aback to see a Ford Group representative instead. However, they quickly adapted and bombarded Natasha with inquiries.
“Why did Ford Group buy this land for double its expected price?”
“Does this purchase reflect Miss Holland’s strategic vision?”
Facing the press with composure, Natasha replied, “Thank you for your questions. Our company has acquired this land to initiate an eco-friendly project. On behalf of Miss Holland, I appreciate your interest in both her and our group.”
As Corrine walked away from the venue, texting Karina, she heard fast-approaching footsteps.
“Miss Holland, my boss wishes to speak with you.”
She raised her eyes to see the man in black, then glanced at the black Rolls-Royce nearby.
As the car door swung open, she recognized the familiar figure inside. Nate sat there, looking every bit the executive as he reviewed a document.
Feeling her stare, he raised his eyes to meet hers.
In that instant, Corrine’s heart skipped a beat, and she momentarily lost her breath.
Corrine followed the man in black to the vehicle, where Matias, positioned at the front, courteously said, “Miss Holland, this way please.”
Corrine’s eyebrow twitched slightly as she bent to step into the car, pretending to be surprised.
“Oh, what are the odds of seeing you here?” Her smile barely masked the insincerity.
Nate caught the fleeting sparkle in her eyes, his lips curving into a knowing grin.
“Miss Holland, you suspected, didn’t you?”
“The Brighton Group,” Corrine responded, her tone revealing no surprise. Despite this, her instincts whispered that the man beside her held a status beyond that of the group’s CEO.
Their gazes locked, and a trace of warmth flickered across his expression.
“Would you care to join me for lunch?”
“Absolutely,” Corrine replied, dropping all pretense.
As Nate’s car started, it brushed past Bruce’s vehicle. From behind the gradually ascending window, Bruce caught a fleeting glimpse of Corrine’s face.
Corrine was unaware of his watchful gaze, her face alight with a radiant smile while she spoke with Nate.
With a blank expression, Bruce watched the Rolls-Royce disappear into the distance. He wondered if Corrine had switched her allegiances to another company. What other explanation could there be for her being here?
Lost in his thoughts, he barely heard his assistant’s voice.
“Mr. Ashton?”
It wasn’t until the second call that Bruce snapped back to reality. Regaining his composure, he firmly asked, “Is the meeting with Kaiden Hudson from Ford Group confirmed?”
“He is available at the scheduled time.”
“Proceed to Gourmet Spot,” Bruce instructed.
Silence filled the car once Nate finished speaking, yet the image of Corrine’s enchanting smile lingered in his mind. After a moment of reflection, he said, “Find out what Corrine’s up to these days.”
Pausing briefly, his assistant replied, “Got it.”
Meanwhile, in Nate’s car, surprise mixed with mischief on Corrine’s features as she looked at him.
“Project details are usually confidential. You’re overstepping a bit, don’t you think, Mr. Hopkins?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.