Projects like this in the political circles often only invited publicly listedpanies to participate in the bidding


    Especially forrge-scale projects like building a railway station,panies had to go through rigorous evaluations before a final candidate was chosen to take charge. "Ms. Spencer, how did we even qualify to be here! And why are we sitting in the front row Cody asked, following closely behind Ophelia, curiosity written all over his face. That''s not your question to ask. I want this project," Ophelia replied.


    Ch. what?" Cody was stunned, wondering if he had misheard her. Her tone made it sound as casual as picking out a piece of clothing


    In Cody''s opinion, with their small firm, taking on a project of this scale seemed far-fetched at best.


    "Did you bring what I asked for?" Ophelia asked.


    "Yes" Cody nodded and was just about to pull the items out of his briefcase when he bumped into someone.


    "Can''t you watch where you''re walking?" he said.


    The voice was somewhat familiar.


    Cody looked up and immediately recognized the face.


    "Andrew Cody frowned slightly.


    Andrew, who had been exposed during a job interview at theirpany, had apparently found employment elsewhere.


    Given his qualifications,nding a position at a publicly listed firm wasn''t surprising.


    "Well, well... it''s you," Andrew said with a smug air.


    In fact, Andrew had noticed them the moment they walked in.


    He hadn''t seen any information linking their small, insignificantpany to the event.


    Did theye here uninvited? Just here for the spectacle? How embarrassing, he thought.


    Dressed in a deep purple suit, Andrew stood with his hands in his pockets, head held high, looking down at others with disdainful eyes


    "Quite the coincidence," Cody said, ncing at Andrew''s seat in the second-tost row. "So, you''re with Fiorda Group! Just joined and already trusted with a project of this magnitude? Your boss must really value you"


    Although Cody found Andrew''s arrogant demeanor annoying, he kept his tone polite since they had attended the same


    school.


    Andrew, failing to detect the sarcasm, took thepliment at face value.


    "Exactly. He thinks highly of me. I led the team that designed this project, Andrew said, boasting "But speaking of this railway station, such a massive undertaking, how could a no-namepany like yours even participate in the evaluation? Impossible." Cody froze, his uneasiness evident in his shifting eyes. This was exactly what had been worrying him


    12:09 Sat, 23 Nov


    Seeing Cody''s expression, Andrew smirked, convinced he had hit the mark.


    "Cody,e on. We were both top students in the architecture department. Sure, you weren''t as good as me, but to end up at such a tinypany? "You''re better than that. Are you even learning anything there? Or getting any chances to showcase your talent? Doesn''t seem like it. Andrew said. Andrew nced at Ophelia. "Honestly, I''m lucky yourpany didn''t hire me back then. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have the opportunities I do today."


    "Cody, we''re ssmates. I''m willing to help you out. If you''vee to your senses and want to switchpanies, I could talk o my manager and get you in as my assistant for a few months. "Learn the ropes, and one day you could be where I am now," Andrew said, his voice dripping with mock sincerity.


    "You..." Cody began, his face flushed with anger.


    "What? Isn''t that better than ving away in apany that has nothing to offer? Following a woman, what future can that possibly bring you?" Andrew said, clearly amused.


    Cody''s face turned bright red with fury, while Ophelia, on the other hand, remained expressionless, seemingly unbothered by the mockery.


    Still not satisfied, Andrew called over his superior.


    "Eliot, I have a ssmate here who''s working at some small firm. Do you think there''s a chance we could bring him into ourpany? Maybe let him assist me for a few months?" Andrew asked. Eliot, who had just finished a phone call, walked over. Around forty years old, he gave Cody and Ophelia a dismissive nce, clearly unimpressed.


    "Do you think just anyone can waltz into Fioeda Group?" Eliot said, his toneced with condescension.


    "Yes, it was my oversight," Andrew replied, his expression polite and humble, though inwardly he''d been waiting for Eliot to say exactly that.


    Andrew turned to Cody, feigning an apologetic look. "I''m really sorry about that. I meant to help, but things didn''t go as nned. I could still ask around for openings at otherpanies for you."


    "I know you''re just trying to make a living, especially with your family''s financial situation, but... humph... working at such a tinypany? My advice? Leave while you still can, Andrew added with a sneer. At that moment, amotion arose near the entrance.


    "Mark""


    "What? Did you just say Mark is here?"


    ""Yes! What''s he doing here?"


    "Does this mean Sinir Group is part of this evaluation?"


    "I didn''t hear anything about that!"


    Eliot quickly turned toward the door, his curiosity piqued. Andrew, clueless about what was happening, followed Eliot''s gaze toward the growing crowd.


    109


    82%


    "Eliot, what''s going on? Who is this Mark?" Andrew asked, noticing how many people were moving toward the entrance.


    "You don''t know? Mark is the chief aide to Keh of the Sinir Group. If we can get on his good side, even losing out on this project would be worth it," Eliot exined.


    Eliot began moving toward the door, with Andrew trailing close behind, momentarily forgetting his earlier mission to humiliate Cody.


    Cody, too, turned his head in curiosity, but the crowd around the entrance was so thick he couldn''t see anything


    "Mark, are you here on behalf of Mr. Sinir today?"


    Mark, does Sinir Group have its sights on the Westiend Railway Station project?"


    "Mark..."


    The entrance buzzed with activity, resembling a media press conference.


    Mark straightened his suit, his gaze scanning the crowd as if searching for someone.


    The people near the entrance instinctively followed his line of sight.


    "Excuse me,ing through, Mark said, walking in the direction where Andrew and Eliot happened to be standing.


    "Quick, go greet him!" Eliot whispered, already stering a wide smile on his face, hands extended in preparation for a handshake.


    But before he could utter a single word, Mark strode past both him and Andrew without so much as a nce, heading straight toward Ophelia.


    "Ms. Spencer, why haven''t you taken your seat yet?" Mark asked.


    Eliot froze in ce,pletely dumbfounded.


    Behind him, Andrew was equally stunned.


    All eyes immediately turned to Ophelia.


    "No rush," Ophelia replied coolly.


    She had been nning to take her seat, b


    seat, but someone had blocked her way


    earlier.


    "This way, Ms. Spencer," Mark said, leading her to her reserved seat with precision.


    The onlookers were utterly floored,


    Mark was known to be Keh Sinir''s right-hand man.


    To outsiders, he was notoriously unyielding and ruthless, mirroring Keh''s own sharp and unforgiving demeanor.


    And yet here he was, treating a youngdy with remarkable respect and even deference.


    Cody followed behind Ophelia in a daze, his mind utterly nk. His legs moved automatically, but his brain wasn''t processing a single thought.


    It wasn''t until he sat down and collected himself that it hit him.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    "Wait... The guy by Ms. Spencer''s side is Mark from Sinir Group? Cody thought, stunned. Who exactly is Ms. Spencer?


    3/4-


    12:09 Sat, 23 Nov


    How powerful is she to pull this off?"