Female Novel
Chapter 174
The rest of the Stone chimed in with their own accolades.
"She's been with us for years, a real standout. A far cry from those blowhards with nothing to show.They're all talk, no muscle, always trying to punch above their weight. It's downright shameful!"
"You said it. Dreamers like that, thinking they can waltz into the company. They'd be nothing buttrouble, a ticking time bomb."
"Exactly, they ought to be kicked to the curb. Lucky to even have a seat at our table, and still they'rechasing pie-in-the-sky dreams!"
The conference room buzzed with a mix of sneers aimed at Celena and applause for Cheryl.
Just then, Teresa, who was fed up with the main bloodline hogging the spotlight, cut in, "Isn't this abit too convenient? Our supplier ran into trouble, and Cheryl just happened to snag their contract.This doesn't smell right. We should dig a little deeper into this one. It's fishy!"
"Teresa, that's a low blow! I've poured my heart and soul into this family, into our business. How canyou accuse me like that? I was out there hitting up suppliers right after I left the office yesterday. Gotdoors slammed in my face left and right. It wasn't until after a few too many drinks that I finallylanded this deal!"
Cheryl's voice quivered as she managed to squeeze out a few crocodile tears. She had been upuntil the wee hours at the hotel with Wasyl, and her tired eyes showed it. However, her performancewas convincing enough that everyone bought the story that she had been out late, working on amaterials collaboration deal.
"I can't fathom what's going through your head. My Cheryl has been busting her tail since the newsbroke, hustling to secure partnerships, bailing out the Stone family from a major jam. You're not
helping, fine, but to trash talk my girl?"
Sherah rose, her face stormy with anger as she locked eyes with Teresa and let her have it.
The room erupted as Sherah and Teresa went at it, their usual poise as society matrons forgotten.They resembled feisty women haggling in a marketplace, faces beet-red and voices raised.
"That's it!"
Reginald's hand came down hard on the table, silencing the room with his icy tone. "What's this?My word doesn't count for anything anymore? Do you have issues with my decisions?"
A hush fell over the conference room.
Celena had been fighting back tears the whole time. She could not take it any longer as tearsstreamed down her face.
She had been waiting for Liam, but as the minutes ticked by, there was still no sign of him. Was shejust fooling herself? Could she trust him anymore?
In the midst of the tense silence, Reginald's assistant burst through the conference room doors,breathless with urgency. "Chairman... the chairmen from the Zimmerman Group, Wellington Group,Sabiya Group, Quilla Group, and Fonda Groups are all downstairs, eager to meet with you about apartnership!"
"What?!"novelbin
Reginald shot up from his chair, his heart pounding at his assistant's announcement.
He was not alone. The whole room was on its feet, the air electric with disbelief. Those were the bigfish, the top five in Drunham City's materials game!
They were the ones everyone wanted a piece of, and now they were all knocking on the Stonefamily's door, ready to talk business?
With the guests already downstairs, Reginald did not waste a second. He dashed for the door,calling out, "Hurry, let's welcome them. Bring them up!"