Chapter 13 Meeting Again
There was dead silence when Ariadne explained her proposal.
She had years of experience describing proposals to their clients. Her voice was confident, reflecting her experiences. The way she described the plan was so convincing that everyone looked at her in awe. While Xander and Crystal had surprise and disbelief on their faces, Mr. Wright and Mr. Hugh appeared to be impressed by Ariadne.
She poured her heart and soul into this plan. It was not because it was an important project for their company, but because she had a dream of planning an ideal hospital. Because of Alex's treatment over the years, she had visited many hospitals and observed how certain aspects could be improved. Since then, she had begun designing an ideal children's hospital, hoping that one day she would be able to make it a reality.
The lights in the room turned on after she finished explaining her plan, and her figure appeared in sight.
"I am done with the presentation. Please ask if you have any questions." Ariadne said, looking at all four selectors.
"Did you plan this design on your own?" Mr. Wright was the first one to ask.
"Yes, Sir. It's an important project for us. As the head of the department I can't let someone else handle it." Ariadne replied.
Most of the representatives didn't design the entire plan themselves. In most cases, lower-level employees devised the plan, while the department head only oversaw it.
"Looking at the details and thought put into the design, it appears that this plan was developed over a long period of time. It's not a work of a few days." Mr. Wright said.
Every company had one week to prepare the proposal for the contract.
"Yes, Sir. I planned this design a long time ago. I only made some modifications based on your demands." Ariadne said truthfully.
"Why wasn't the plan approved earlier by another company?" Mr. Wright was curious to know.
"Actually, I didn't submit this design to any other company."
"Were you looking for a big company like Blake Corporation?" Mr. Hugh asked this time. "Your design is good but the budget will be very high."
"You can say that, Sir. I have visited many hospitals and encountered many issues that, in my opinion, can be resolved if the design is done correctly." Ariadne answered.
"I like your plan." Mr. Hugh said before looking towards Xander. "You can ask any questions you have. I will make my final decision later."
Xander nodded and looked at Crystal. Crystal took the hint and cleared her throat.
"As Mr. Hugh mentioned, your plan is excellent, but we will need a very high budget to carry it out. Why should we give you the contract when others can do the same with a lower budget." Crystal stated in a professional tone.
"Pardon me, but I don't think others can offer the same as we did." Ariadne replied confidently.
"This is not just any ordinary company's project. This is a Blake Corporation project in collaboration with the legendary Dr. Jacob Wright. The World knows who they are because of their works over the years. People believe that whatever they do will be the best. Other companies can complete this project at a lower cost and create a high-quality hospital, but we are proposing to make it the best of it's kind in the world. And I believe that Mr. Wright and Mr. Blake would never settle for anything less than the best." Ariadne looked at Xander and noticed a faint smirk on his face.
Crystal was left speechless by Ariadne's confidence and asked no further questions. Mr. Wright and Mr. Hugh also appeared impressed by Ariadne's answers. However, Xander intently observed Ariadne the entire time, but never asked her anything.
"Do you have any questions, Mr. Blake?" Mr. Wright asked Xander.
"No." Xander answered, looking straight into Ariadne's eyes.
"Ok. So we are done. Miss Miller, please join the other representatives in the meeting room. We will see you all after a short break." Mr. Wright said.
"Thank you." Ariadne nodded with a smile before leaving the room.
...
All four sat down for lunch.
"After all of the presentations, I am impressed by only one and that is the Watson Group's." Mr. Wright started the conversation.
"But the budget will be huge." Crystal reminded them.
"Yes, Miss Crystal. However, big things have a big price. I am also impressed by Miss Ariadne's proposal." Mr. Hugh said.
"It will be a dream hospital. The design is thoughtfully planned. As a doctor, I found no loopholes. She has highlighted some important issues that other companies have completely overlooked." Mr. Wright explained.
"Actually she is my sister, and I don't want others to think I am favouring her." Crystal said.
She became enraged after seeing Ariadne. There was no way she would let her get this project. She was well aware that if Ariadne got the project, she would work with Xander. She would never allow Ariadne to come near Xander.
"Oh, I didn't know this. But it's not an issue. She will get the project for her work, not because she is your sister." Mr. Wright stated firmly.
"Have you already decided to assign the project to Watson Group, Mr. Wright?" Crystal asked, suppressing her hatred.
"The decision is not yet finalized, Miss Crystal. I only expressed my opinion. Mr. Blake will finalize the decision." Mr. Wright looked at Xander.
"Have you decided anything, Xander?" Crystal asked him.
"No. We should go over the plans once more before making the final decision." Xander said, looking at the foods in front of him.
.....
After the presentation, Ariadne returned to the room where the other representatives were resting. She settled into her seat and took a deep breath. Though she appeared to be confident, she was extremely nervous inside the presentation room. It was not because of the presentation but for the people present there.
She was nervous to face Xander, but she needed to get over her nerves as well. She did, however, confront the two most despised persons from her past. She didn't expect to see Crystal here. But since Crystal was Xander's woman, Ariadne did not really find it surprising. She made a mental note to get used to it.
She wanted to leave as soon as the presentation was finished, but they would have to attend a meeting before leaving the company.
After a while, the representatives were led to a meeting room and instructed to take their seats. They began discussing about the project.
"What do you think? Who will get the contract? I am confident that the contract will be given to us. They were impressed by my presentation, especially Mr. Blake. Moreover, our company has previously worked with Blake Corporation. They have always preferred our work." Natasha Wood, the representative of Paradise Corporation stated.
"You should never be too confident, Miss Natasha. They are very strict, particularly Mr. Blake. We have a good reputation over the years. It's hard not to choose our company." Frederick Roods said.
Everyone boasted about their companies, while Ariadne sat quietly.
"Miss Ariadne, you have been quiet since we arrived here. How did your presentation go?" Natasha asked and everyone's attention was drawn to Ariadne.
"I tried my best. Let's see what happens." Ariadne replied.
"Oh, it appears you don't have confidence in your proposal." Natasha said with a smirk.
Natasha had been showing her dislike for Ariadne and attempted to mock her several times since their arrival at the company. However, Ariadne remained silent as she didn't want to waste her time mocking others.
"Watson Group is very successful in Purple City and other territories, but it's Zavion City. You will have to work harder to succeed here." Natasha added.
"There are plenty of opportunities here. Even if she loses this project, she can get another." Timothy James said to support Ariadne.
He was well known as a playboy in Zavion City. Since they arrived at the company, Timothy had taken a special interest in Ariadne and flirted with her several times. However, Ariadne turned down his advances.
"Yes, Zavion City is full of opportunities, but Blake Corporation is the best. Nobody can match them. If you sign a contract with them, you will become famous overnight." Natasha said.
The door to the meeting room opened, and Jose stepped forward, causing everyone in the room to go silent. He stood to the side as Mr. Wright and Mr. Hugh entered, followed by Crystal. They approached the table and took their seats opposite the representatives.
"Where's Xander?" Mr. Wright asked Jose.
"He is on his way, Sir." Jose informed.
Mr. Wright nodded and looked at the representatives.
"Thank you for your participation in this project." Mr. Hugh said. "As you all know, this is a massive project for Blake Corporation. We...."
His words came to a halt as Xander entered the room, leaving everyone silent. He went right away and took a seat next to Mr. Wright, who was seated opposite Ariadne. Crystal's face fell as he didn't sit beside her. She was seated next to Mr. Hugh. Xander kept his gaze fixed on Ariadne.
Ariadne met his gaze for a moment before averting her gaze to others. As she looked at him closely, she noticed that Xander had become even more attractive than before. He had also gained some weight.
"So, we were discussing the project." Mr. Hugh's words drew Ariadne back from her thoughts.
'Focus on the project, Ariadne. He is a cruel man hiding behind his good looks.' She composed herself and looked at Mr. Hugh avoiding Xander's intense stare at her.
"As I previously stated, this's a major project for us, and we want the best. We chose you as the top five companies from a large pool of resumes. While some of you are new to us, others have previously worked with us. We will choose that one company solely based on the proposal. So, even if we have worked together before, we will not accept any proposal that doesn't meet our expectations and standards."
"Of course, Mr. Hugh. This is a business deal, after all. We are all professional enough to understand this. Oberoy Group has worked hard to meet your preferences." Viv Oberoy said.
"We all worked hard, Mr. Oberoy." Frederick Roods said, looking at him.
As the conversation went on, Ariadne felt a constant sense of being watched.
'is he still looking at me? Whatever, I will not look at him.'
She looked at Crystal instead and noticed her glaring daggers at her. Ariadne rolled her eyes inwardly. As everyone was focused on Mr. Hugh's words, they didn't notice these three people.
While Crystal glared at Ariadne with hatred, Xander had a different expression. Nobody could tell what was in his mind. He quietly observed Ariadne, noticing her changes. Ariadne's appearance had changed significantly over the years. She had gained some weight. In contrast to the past, her face was radiant, with no dullness. Her hair had grown as well, and she looked stunning.
Xander had earlier heard their conversation while watching the room's CCTV footage, which was why he arrived late to the meeting room. He noticed how calm and confident Ariadne was compared to five years ago.
"So, the meeting is over. The company name for this project will be announced the day after tomorrow. Thank you for coming here." Mr. Wright addressed the representatives.
Everyone stood up and greeted one another.
Ariadne quickly grabbed her belongings and left the room, following the others. She was halfway down the corridor when someone called her name.
"Ariadne, wait."