Chapter 289 Slapping Her Face

Chapter 289 Slapping Her Face
Vera's POV

Willow had already taken the copies in her hand and distributed them one by one to the headquarters executives.

Nathan looked at the contract copy in his hand, slightly surprised.

I said calmly and composedly, "Everyone knows that some smaller content studios, in order to expand their business and increase profits, will do production work for major streaming brands. With this contract, plus the International Arts Festival we're about to participate in, I believe that next year Lumina Studios' performance will grow by at least eighty percent compared to this year."

Murmurs rippled through the audience.

"Eighty percent? What kind of concept is that? Holy shit, that's insane, right?"

"Is Lumina about to take off?"

"She's gotta be bullshitting, how could there be such a terrifying growth rate?"

The executive who had just raised questions turned a bit pale after hearing my words.

He continued to press: "Ms. Green, you should know that the biggest contract Lumina Studios ever signed was only one hundred million, and that was years ago. You didn't just fake a contract to show off at this performance review meeting, did you?"

I looked coldly at this executive.

When he spoke, his eyes kept glancing at Nathan, then at Ruby—clearly these two had deliberately arranged for him to embarrass me.

Since they'd set up the stage, I might as well ride this wave and completely establish my reputation within Grant Group.

I looked at him neither servile nor overbearing, terrifyingly calm. "If you don't believe this contract is real, you can call StreamVision to verify it."

"Moreover, StreamVision's deposit has already been transferred to Lumina Studios' account."

As I spoke, I pressed the clicker in my hand.

The conference room's electronic screen immediately displayed a transfer record bearing the bank's official seal. A full two hundred million dollars.

The room erupted in astonishment.

"Holy shit, the contract was signed yesterday and the deposit arrived yesterday—are they afraid Lumina won't take the job?"

"First time I've ever seen a client this straightforward. Ms. Green is amazing!"

"Why does it feel like the client is courting the contractor? Someone please explain this to me."

"Same, plus one."

The people from Grant Group's other subsidiaries looked at me with changed expressions, full of envy and admiration.

Ruby couldn't hold back and questioned sharply: "Even if this order is real, what about the Arts Festival application? I heard that Lumina Studios submitted an absolutely terrible work, and the judges were so angry they threw it out. With your company's level of work, even if you have orders you won't be able to deliver. What if you end up paying huge breach of contract penalties and embarrassing the entire Grant Group!"

I looked at Ruby like I was watching a joke.

"Ms. Grant, you're the secretary of Grant Group's executive office. When you say things like that, aren't you boosting others' morale while crushing your own? People who don't know better might think you're hoping Lumina Studios pays breach penalties."

"Exactly! Lumina is a subsidiary of Grant Group after all. Having signed such a big order, shouldn't headquarters be thinking of ways to help Lumina complete it? How can you say such things?"

"Could Ruby be jealous that Ms. Green is beautiful and capable? I heard she can't do anything herself. As a secretary, she even needs others to help her photocopy documents."

"Just because she's a Grant family heiress, does that mean she can attack people at will?"

"Wrong—she's not the real heiress. I heard the actual heiress is someone else."

"Really?! How come I didn't know about this?"

"Well, it's a wealthy family secret. Only people in high society know. I have a relative who works as a hotel server and happened to overhear something."

"Then what's she acting so high and mighty for? How ridiculous."

Ruby hurried to explain: "I'm just thinking of the company's interests. I don't want someone in a subsidiary being overly ambitious, putting the company at risk for personal gain and causing unnecessary trouble."

I said mockingly, "Then please be more rigorous next time, Ms. Grant. Check the facts before offering your opinions."

As I spoke, I raised my wrist to check the time. "The Arts Festival selection results were announced on their official website at ten o'clock this morning. You can check whether Lumina Studios made it in or not."

As soon as I said this, quite a few people had already pulled out their phones to search the website.

"Holy crap, Lumina really did get in, and it's ranked first! They got in with first place!"

"Both things Ms. Green said are true! What exactly were these people questioning?"

"This power move successfully let headquarters witness Ms. Green's capabilities!"

"Ms. Green is badass!"

Ruby still refused to give up. She called out: "But I clearly heard that the work Lumina Studios submitted was terrible. Why would it get in? Did you use some improper means? Did you bribe the judges? If that gets exposed, do you know the consequences?! Are you just going to disregard the company's reputation like this?!"

I was amused by her words. "Ms. Grant, do you have some kind of problem with me? Why do you keep targeting me? Lumina Studios did submit one set of work, but I wasn't very satisfied with it. So I personally contacted internal personnel and submitted another set of work separately."

"Internal personnel?" Ruby sneered lightly. "I think you bribed the judges! Otherwise how could you possibly get first place!"

I smiled and said, "Because I'm Violet Taylor."