Chapter 7

The tender conference began shortly after. Over a hundred companies at the conference submitted their proposals in order and elaborated on their design concepts.

Clearly dissatisfied with the work presented before him, Nicholas looked increasingly impatient with each proposal. In the end, he closed his eyes and leaned into his seat. There was no telling if he was actually listening to the company representatives.

Even then, the company representatives at the conference continued to sell their designs.

Nicholas, who had one hand braced against his forehead the entire time, suddenly opened his eyes. He threw the document on the desk with a loud smack and snapped, "I didn't invest billions of dollars in this project for crappy designs like these!"

Marcus immediately interjected, "What Mr. Montgomery meant to say was—those of you who are not confident in your designs are excused from participation without needing to present your work."

The tender conference had been brought forward on extremely short notice, and time was scarce, to begin with. Most of the companies tendering for the project tonight couldn't prepare for the conference in time, and their designs were boring and crude.

The company representatives who were aware of their designs' shortcomings backed out of the conference, while those who wanted to gamble against the odds remained seated.

After a section of the audience had dispersed and left the hall, Terrence submitted his company's design. He highlighted the problems they might encounter at the start of Aster Avenue's construction and presented the solutions for them..

Bailey Group had come fully prepared, and their presentation for the bidding went smoothly.

Nicholas held the design draft and stared at it for a long while. He was obviously pleased with Bailey Group's design.

Remus couldn't help getting antsy. He asked in hushed tones, "Bailey Group is our biggest competitor, and Terrence came well-prepared this time. Are you confident you can beat him out?"

Joel's brows drew tightly together, a sense of urgency seizing him. But he was a man who'd spent years maneuvering across the commercial battlefield and knew how to keep a cool head in desperate times. "Don't worry, Dad. Bailey Group is no match for us as long as we have Elena."

Remus was still reluctant to let Elena speak for them in public. Terrence had already stated his intentions to marry Elena, and many men at the conference were throwing predatory looks at her. If she were to stand up and speak for Youngblood Corporation later, it would cause quite a stir.

However, if Elena did not show her face and elaborate on her design, Youngblood Corporation would lose the bidding for sure.

Having weighed the pros and cons of the matter, Remus had no choice but to swallow his possessive, territorial urges. He said to Joel, "Talk to Mr. Montgomery after the tender conference ends while I bring Elena home."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Bailey Group's bidding ended.

Joel swallowed his reply to Remus. He straightened his suit jacket and rose to his feet. "Mr. Montgomery, I'm Joel Youngblood, the CEO of Youngblood Corporation. We were caught up with something and couldn't meet with you earlier. For that, I apologize."

Joel bowed his head respectfully in apology, looking sincere. Everyone around him was shocked. Had Mr. Montgomery met with the Youngbloods in private? Did that mean he was interested in collaborating with them?

The audience was expecting Nicholas to accept Joel's apology, but after a long pause, Nicholas still did not utter a word. Joel continued bowing his head even as he blanched. The atmosphere at the tender conference was charged with tension.

Elena hadn't expected Joel, who was always put on a pedestal, to be left hanging dry like this. It seemed Nicholas was as cold and aloof as the rumors made him out to be.

Humiliation was beginning to set in for Joel. He was about to say something when Nicholas drawled from across him, "By 'Youngblood Corporation', are you referring to the so-called commercial titan of Glenhallow?"

"Yes, that's right." Joel was eager to introduce his proposal. "We've assessed the topography and the surrounding area of Aster Avenue. We believe the location is suitable for a resort development. If I may direct your attention here…"

Joel spoke smoothly and confidently, presenting the well-thought-out plans he had for Aster Avenue's development. He also presented Elena's design and elaborated on each highlight of the concept.

Nicholas listened to the presentation until the end and had Marcus bring him Elena's design. The design was half-finished, but when Nicholas took it and briefly glanced at it, he was still amazed by its intricacy and uniqueness.

Joel was adept at reading expressions, and he couldn't help the thrill that coursed through him when he saw Nicholas' amazement. Elena had a flair for design, and all her works were so soulful and stunning that they were unforgettable.

At this rate, Aster Avenue was Joel's for the taking. Bailey Group wasn't good enough to even compete with him.

Nicholas twisted the silver signet ring on his thumb, his eyes still fixed on the design. No one dared to make a sound before he said a word.

The silence made Joel nervous. But just as Joel was about to make Elena stand up and speak for her design, Nicholas suddenly snorted in contempt. "Is this Youngblood Corporation's way of showing they're sincere about wanting this project? By bidding for it with a half-finished design draft?"

Nicholas tossed the design away, the lightweight paper fluttering mid-air. It looked translucent under the lights, which brought out the solid, defined lines of the design sketch.

Horrified, Joel quickly explained, "Please calm down, Mr. Montgomery. The design is only half-finished, but I brought the designer—"

"The Aster Avenue project is open to all contenders for collaboration except Youngblood Corporation," Nicholas cut him off impassively.

Everyone in the audience gasped.

Joel's proposal was well-made and covered all the bases. The audience thought Youngblood Corporation was a shoo-in for the bidding tonight.

They hadn't expected Nicholas to humiliate Youngblood Corporation openly. From how he'd put Joel down, he'd practically stripped Youngblood Corporation of their chances to bid for Aster Avenue. In other words, Youngblood Corporation was disqualified from tendering.

But after the surprise wore off, everyone began to feel relieved. Now that Youngblood Corporation was out of the competition, the rest of them stood a better chance at winning the contract for Aster Avenue.

A stormy look registered on Remus' face. Nicholas had been the one who requested a private meeting with him and Joel, but they'd arrived at the lounge to find it empty. However, they hadn't dared to leave before Nicholas showed up, so they stood in the lounge and waited.

If Marcus hadn't shown up and permitted them to leave, they might still be waiting in the lounge.

Joel didn't recover from his mortification until a long moment later. "Mr. Montgomery, our bidding is not over yet. Please give Youngblood Corporation another chance."

He'd been worried that the half-finished design wouldn't satisfy Nicholas, which was why he wanted Elena to tag along to the conference. But he was admittedly baffled. Even if Nicholas were offended by the half-finished design, surely he didn't have to take it out on the entire Youngblood family and disqualify them from the bidding.

"Elena, start talking about your design concept," Joel whispered to Elena. After that, he turned and smiled obsequiously at Nicholas. "This is Elena Youngblood, the designer at Youngblood Corporation and the brains behind the design concept of Aster Avenue.

"Would you be so generous as to give her the chance to explain and elaborate on the thought behind the design, Mr. Montgomery?"

Nicholas was not one to backtrack on his decisions. Those whose designs had been turned down by him hadn't dared to challenge him.

He was about to order Marcus to have the Youngbloods thrown out of the conference when he suddenly spotted a delicate, beautiful figure standing up in the crowd. He frowned. She, of all people, was the designer at Youngblood Corporation?

Elena met Nicholas' piercing gaze as if to ask him if he was surprised, but the pleasant smile on her face made her look like a naive bunny, untainted by the world around her.

Nicholas rapped his knuckles against the table, his face stony. "You have ten minutes."

"Thank you, Mr. Montgomery."

Ten minutes was all Elena needed. She smiled politely at the audience, then smoothly explained the inspiration behind her design. The draft and the concept were all in her head; she didn't even have to think twice before she laid out her full and clear understanding of the Aster Avenue project.