Playtime's Over, CEO: She's Really Done With You-Chapter 371: Raising the Bar

Raine followed behind Serena.

They went upstairs together.

Soon they arrived at the reception area.

Serena pushed the door open and came in.

Compared to the scenes from a few days ago, which resembled a bustling market, there weren’t many people here today.

The contrast was huge.

Serena and Raine exchanged a glance.

"Mr. Sheridan, you finally made it." Brandon Huxley personally came out to greet them.

He looked a bit bitter.

Serena smiled and walked over to shake hands with Brandon.

"Is something wrong?" Serena asked.

"No, no." Brandon immediately shook his head, leading Serena towards the meeting room as he spoke, "I just didn’t expect so few people to come. Many seemed interested in our project before..."

Serena glanced at Brandon.

She said nothing.

They arrived at the meeting room.

Just as they were about to open the door, it suddenly opened from the inside.

Someone holding a phone came out, seemingly on a call.

Muttering under their breath.

"Okay, I understand, don’t worry, I’m heading back right now..."

Upon seeing Serena and Brandon, the person nodded at them and left.

Serena glanced at Brandon and noticed he seemed even more uneasy.

Serena didn’t speak, just followed them inside.

The meeting room was large, with about twenty people seated inside.

Serena found a place to sit, directly across from Isla Lawson, with First Young Master Ford a few seats down.

Brandon went out again to fetch more attendees, while those in the meeting room chatted idly in small groups.

"Serena, how much capital did you bring today?" Isla asked with a mischievous smile, "You know this requires proof of funds, right?"

Serena nodded: "I’m aware."

"Did you borrow some from Silas Hawthorne?" Isla continued, "After all, you two are getting married soon, what’s his is yours, right?"

That remark was quite sharp.

Serena smiled slightly.

"I’m using my own funds." Serena said calmly.

Hearing this, First Young Master Ford let out a light chuckle from the other side.

Serena looked over, waiting for him to speak.

First Young Master Ford just looked at her, not saying another word.

Soon after, Brandon returned with the last attendee.

Noticing the time, Brandon said to everyone: "I don’t think anyone else is coming, so let’s begin."

With that, he took to the platform and began his introduction.

The room was tense with silent undercurrents.

Serena’s phone vibrated slightly, and she glanced at it.

It was a message from First Young Master Ford.

[Here’s your first opportunity.]

Serena looked up at him, who remained as nonchalant as ever.

Serena smiled, tapped on her phone screen.

She replied—[Not necessary.]

Soon after, her phone vibrated again.

[Fine, you’ll pay the price.] First Young Master Ford replied.

Serena ignored it.

Put her phone away.

Brandon talked at length on the platform as time ticked by, finally saying: "We’re seeking three hundred million in funding this time, to be used for... all of you take a look..."

But no one in the room spoke.

Brandon stood there alone, feeling awkward.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and said with a smile: "If anyone has thoughts or opinions, feel free to share them."

Finally, it was First Young Master Ford who spoke up first.

"Mr. Huxley, I have a request for verification of funds." He said, "Honestly, Mr. Huxley, I’m here because I believe your project has a threshold; if just anyone can sit at the same table as me, I’d walk away right now."

As First Young Master Ford spoke, he kept a smile on his face, scanning the room before his gaze landed on Isla Lawson.

Isla shrugged and said nothing, showing no other reaction.

First Young Master Ford continued: "Mr. Huxley, think about it, if I leave now, with just the people here, do you think you can gather three hundred million?"

Brandon was taken aback.

He also knew that his secret had somehow spread just hours before.

Many who came might not even be potential investors.

If the financing were to succeed, the major contributions might rely on First Young Master Ford and Isla Lawson.

As for Serena, he didn’t dare think it possible; even though everyone knew Aeon was just a startup, even if Serena was Silas Hawthorne’s fiancée, she had publicly declared she’d restore the Sheridan Family herself.

With proposals come intentions.

So, Brandon smiled and said: "That’s true."

Brandon looked around and said: "Everyone understands the threshold for this event, so..."

Everyone indeed understood.

It had been stated right from the beginning at the conference.

"I have one more request." First Young Master Ford continued.

Their gazes turned back to him again.

"I demand raising the threshold." First Young Master Ford said.

Serena frowned, looking at First Young Master Ford.

"The previous threshold was three million for proof of funds, and now I want at least eight million." First Young Master Ford continued.

Someone immediately disagreed.

"What do you mean by this, First Young Master?" A middle-aged man said, "The agreed threshold was three million; I didn’t mind the verification, but why suddenly increase?"

"Yeah, First Young Master, how much we invest is our choice; you’re not part of Aether, why keep making demands?" another person chimed in.

Serena just looked at First Young Master Ford, without speaking.

Beside her, Isla curiously watched the unfolding scene, glancing between First Young Master Ford and Serena.

But First Young Master Ford just kept his gaze on Serena, not backing down.

He had his subordinates calculate it.

After Serena and Julian Lawson’s divorce, she only took her belongings.

Later, no matter if she sold songs through Jasper Ford or profit-shared in gemstone sales at Hawthorne Group, or eventually cooperated in concerts with Jasper Ford for profit, she couldn’t have saved over five million.

Then she rented an office, paid company employees, and miscellaneous expenses. What’s left now is uncertain.

In summary, her presence here might be cobbled funds, maybe borrowing from her brother to barely meet three million, but eight million, definitely not.

What he wanted now was to force her to choose.

Three choices.

1. Bow to him—a gesture of mercy—after all, he wasn’t very interested in this project anyway.

2. Walk away.

3. Break her own declaration of self-sufficiency and ask Silas Hawthorne for money.

If she asked Silas Hawthorne for money, what she said at the opening banquet would become a joke.

If she left, it would mean the preparation these past days were all for naught, essentially proving his point to give her a lesson.

Emphasizing the weight of the three chances he granted her.

Brandon seemed to consider some situations, and he said to First Young Master Ford: "This isn’t good, Young Master, I provided the materials setting the threshold at three million, suddenly changing it..."

But First Young Master Ford said: "Or how about I suggest, one hundred million?"