Chapter 34
The bidding event was held in a luxurious hotel, with red carpets and lots of people around.
When Oscar and I showed up, Eugene from the chamber of commerce came over with a smile from afar: "Oscar, Emily, you're finally here! I've been standing here waiting for ages. Come on in, it rained heavily last night - that's definitely a good sign."
Cameras on both sides kept shooting at us. I was wearing a red gown, holding up the slightly long hem, walking hand in hand with Oscar, passing calmly in front of the cameras.
The venue was huge. Eugene arranged for us to sit in the front row: "You two sit here first, I need to go arrange some things."
After Eugene left, I heard whispers from the back row:
"Who did Eugene bring in? Don't recognize them, never seen them before."
"So young, must be some rich kid, right?"
"Haven't you guys seen? It was on the news a while back, seems to be Mr. Lopez from The Novagen Group's illegitimate son, just brought back from abroad."
I could hear these words, and naturally Oscar could too, but he still acted like nothing happened, as if everything around him had no effect on him at all.
I turned to look at him, didn't say anything comforting - he didn't need comfort. Using his strength to shut everyone up, that was the best response: "Got your speech ready for the stage?"
"Do I need to prepare? They don't care what you say; they care that you're standing up there." Oscar's face was still full of confidence.
Two familiar faces came over. Oscar raised his hand to greet them: "William, you're here too?"
William and Charles walked in one after another. William could still maintain a polite smile and nodded slightly, but Charles looked at me with less kindness - I even heard him snort.
They wanted to sit next to Oscar, but when they saw other people's names on the backs of the chairs, they could only smile and nod before finding their own seats.
Sitting diagonally behind Oscar, William's expression turned sour.
Charles's voice, neither too loud nor too soft, came over: "Who arranged these seats? How come even an illegitimate son gets to sit in the front row while you have to sit behind him? William, is your father being too biased?"
William didn't say anything. The few people around who heard Charles's comment all turned their eyes back to Oscar, while William just made a helpless expression, shaking his head with a bitter smile and waving his hand.
I turned around and looked straight at Charles with a bright smile on my face: "Mr. Brown, you're here for the bidding too? Did you submit a bid? Last time with the property issue, it might have had some adverse effects on your company. Really sorry about that. I mentioned before that when my company gets set up, I'd invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony - you absolutely must come."
Since he wasn't being polite at all, I had to settle the score right then and there - consider it a perk for my business partner.
Charles's face turned red with anger. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing how people around were looking at him, he realized that saying anything more would just be fodder for gossip. He could only nod at me randomly, then lowered his head, pretending to look at his phone, ignoring me.
I smiled and wasn't planning to let him off so easily: "Mr. Charles Brown, are you getting used to your new office location? Last time wasn't me being too harsh; I really had no choice. I told you several times and gave you time to move, but Mr. Jasper Brown just didn't seem to understand. So if I offended you in any way, please don't hold it against me."
Charles looked up at me, anger hidden in his eyes, but still had to maintain a fake smile on his face: "The property is yours, you have the right to decide. But luck goes around, who knows what'll happen later, right?"
I smiled and nodded: "Mr. Brown is right, I love it when luck goes around."
More people gradually arrived at the bidding event. Since the government organized it, nobody dared to make a scene at such an occasion - everyone tried to keep a low profile.
The first to take the stage was the Chief Administrator of western Emerald City. His speech was very official, and he spoke to the cameras for half an hour. Those who followed were also heads of various companies. Following the normal bidding process, all companies formally presented their bids, with professionals publicly announcing the contents of the bids.
After their on-site discussion and anonymous voting, the final result was as expected: "The winner this time is a young entrepreneur. Although he grew up abroad, he still has a passionate heart and wants to make achievements in Lumaria. Of course, he has the capability and vision to do so. After our unanimous vote, the winner of this western Emerald City development project is Oscar."
William already knew the result and wasn't surprised. He was the first to stand up and applaud Oscar: "Congratulations, you made the Lopez family members proud."
Charles also stood up: "Congrats! Mr. Oscar Lopez made the Lopez family proud. William, this brother of yours has your style from back in the day."
Others looked at each other in confusion: "Didn't they say before that The Novagen Group had their eye on this project and was determined to win? How did it suddenly become Oscar's? Didn't he just return to Lumaria? What does he want the land for?"
"Isn't it still the Lopez family's land anyway?"
"Did the Lopez family deliberately let him win to gain a reputation?"
Amid all the talk, Oscar was invited to the stage to go through the formal procedures.
After finally getting the land use rights for western Emerald City, Oscar took the microphone from the host and stood tall on stage, with just the right amount of smile, gentle and refined.
He looked at the people still discussing below and slowly began: "First, I want to thank all the leaders for their recognition, giving me the honor to be selected from many bids. Our Horizon Group went public abroad five years ago and has been engaged in entertainment, real estate, hotels, import and export trade, and other businesses."
As soon as he finished, there was a collective gasp from below: "He's actually the founder of the Horizon Group?"
"The Horizon Group has been growing rapidly over the past two years, and the boss is so young?"
"The Horizon Group has worked with The Novagen Group, but their businesses also overlap - are they planning to merge?"
Oscar looked at the people below, his smile deepening, his eyes showing composure as he continued: "Two years ago, the Horizon Group's business focus started shifting back to Lumaria, because I'm originally from Lumaria. I have the ability and want to contribute what I can to my homeland. Now our company has developed in several major cities in Lumaria. Here in Emerald City, I won this land to build Emerald City's largest private estate, combining leisure and entertainment to create an integrated experience of dining, accommodation, transportation, and recreation. I hope this project will live up to everyone's expectations."
After Oscar finished his speech and gracefully walked down, people below started whispering again:
"So he's representing the Horizon Group for the bid, nothing to do with The Novagen Group?"
"If he says he's representing the Horizon Group, I believe it's his own investment."
William, sitting in the back, heard these discussions even more clearly than I did. The smile on his face had long since disappeared. Regarding Oscar going on stage without mentioning the Lopez family or The Novagen Group, he could only grit his teeth and swallow all his words, unable to give others a chance to laugh at him.
Oscar slowly walked back to his seat, pulled me up to stand with him, didn't even glance at William again, and led me toward Eugene, not far away. Next, there were still some contract details that needed good communication.