Playtime's Over, CEO: She's Really Done With You-Chapter 408: Sorry, You All Worked for Nothing
If you can’t snatch it, then take a stand.
If there’s an opportunity to collaborate in the future, or perhaps to offer some compliments to make future days a bit easier, that would be good too.
And so, it began again.
"I think The Lawson Corporation would be more beneficial. After all, they’re all technology companies. The Lawson Corporation can help with a lot of things, and they’re the leader among the three giants."
"I disagree; you have to consider the cost of raw materials and global sales. In the end, these things need to be physically transported, and with the Hawthorne Group, expansion would be extremely swift."
"But I still think The Lawson Corporation is better."
"Then why do you think the Hawthorne Group isn’t good?"
...
The crowd bickered, as if they were already deciding which company would receive the 150 million quota.
Nobody paid attention to Serena Sterling or the dark horse, Jasper Ford.
And at this moment, less than ten minutes had passed since Brandon Huxley said to begin.
Brandon merely opened a computer and connected to the projector.
After setting it up, he projected the image onto the screen.
"Everyone, please pause for a moment." Brandon said with a smile, pulling everyone’s attention back.
The projection displayed a flowchart.
It was time to let everyone follow the process.
Indeed, what was mentioned earlier didn’t count; at most, it was just an intention. Now was the time to officially follow the procedure.
"First, the old shareholders have the right of first refusal." Brandon said, looking at Serena Sterling and Jasper Ford, "Today, there are two old shareholders here, Aeon and Ford Entertainment. What are your thoughts?"
At this moment, Jasper Ford had already put away his phone.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Including Desmond Wyatt and Isla Lawson.
"Ford Entertainment will bid 75 million, just like last time." Jasper Ford said directly.
Everyone nodded; this was consistent with the rumors about Jasper Ford. He had no intention to monopolize.
Brandon nodded and had his assistant take notes, preparing to ask for Serena Sterling’s opinion.
However, everyone present seemed to have an unspoken agreement to ignore Serena Sterling.
They were now discussing whether the remaining 75 million would fall to The Lawson Corporation or the Hawthorne Group.
"Now, let’s see which party will offer more resources." Someone summarized.
"Our Lawson Corporation can include technical support in the specific contract." Someone next to Isla Lawson said immediately.
The manager next to Desmond Wyatt also spoke up: "The Hawthorne Group can do the same."
The two companies were competing against each other.
Suddenly—
"Clink."
The sound of a cup clinking was heard.
They all looked over and found that Serena Sterling had put down her teacup.
She had a smile on her face.
"Isn’t the process not over yet?" Serena Sterling said, "I remember it’s still the right of first refusal, isn’t it?"
Everyone looked at Serena Sterling in confusion.
"What’s she doing? Trying to stand out on purpose to get attention?"
"Don’t know, maybe she’s really adding more, but probably just an extra five to ten million at most."
"Last time she had to rope in Jasper Ford to settle things, wasn’t it said that much of the funding she used last time was borrowed?"
...
Desmond Wyatt and Isla Lawson were also watching Serena Sterling.
Desmond Wyatt thought similarly to the others, believing that Serena Sterling didn’t have the money, unless she borrowed from Silas Hawthorne.
If that was the case, he would have not only leverage over Serena Sterling but could also mock Silas Hawthorne later.
As for Isla Lawson.
Isla Lawson didn’t know exactly how much money Serena Sterling had at her disposal.
But she believed Serena Sterling wouldn’t dare.
So many people were thinking about investing here, and even their Lawson Corporation and the Hawthorne Group represented by Desmond Wyatt had come.
If Serena Sterling intended to survive in Aeston and marry Silas Hawthorne, she wouldn’t offend them too thoroughly.
In Isla Lawson’s eyes, Serena Sterling was currently relying on Silas Hawthorne, so how could she possibly go against Desmond Wyatt, or let the Hawthorne Group toil in vain?
Thus, Isla Lawson believed Serena Sterling wouldn’t dare to take all of the remaining 75 million.
Perhaps she didn’t even have enough funds, since potentially for quite some time after, this amount would be tied up in Aether, and MKK had time constraints.
As long as Serena Sterling couldn’t take the entire quota, their Lawson Corporation would have a chance to enter. She didn’t believe a tech company couldn’t compete with the Hawthorne Group.
As long as she got a seat at the table, she could subsequently kick Serena Sterling out!
Serena Sterling didn’t pay attention to what these people thought. She just looked up at Brandon Huxley.
Brandon, who had been interrupted just moments ago, smiled and nodded, saying, "Right, Serena Sterling, do you have any views on this?"
Once again, everyone’s gaze shifted to Serena Sterling.
Serena Sterling smiled slightly and gently said, "Our Aeon will also bid 75 million, just like last time."
She said this while nodding to everyone present.
She didn’t say it, but the meaning was clear.
And that was— "Sorry, but all your efforts are in vain."
For a moment, everyone was in disbelief.
It seemed they couldn’t grasp the meaning of Serena Sterling’s words.
What did she mean by ’just like last time,’ 75 million?
"Do you have the money?" Desmond Wyatt’s associate blurted out after a signal.
"Yes, Serena, where’s your money coming from? Did you borrow from Silas Hawthorne?" someone immediately echoed.
Serena Sterling smiled and glanced at Raine.
Raine understood immediately and presented what had been prepared beforehand.
This was the funding Aeon had specifically prepared for this occasion.
"We have the money," Raine said, "and it wasn’t borrowed from anyone. It’s what we’ve earned over recent times under Mr. Sheridan’s leadership."
This statement was simple and unadorned.
But everyone seemed momentarily stunned. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
What?
Earned recently?
Where did they earn it?
Wasn’t it said that the previous funds were acquired from MKK?
Did they not have to bring in Jasper Ford last time out of necessity?
"What do you mean by ’earned it ourselves’? How is it that we didn’t know anything about it? Did you obtain resources from the Hawthorne Group?" someone questioned aloud.
Serena Sterling didn’t look at the questioner. She simply smiled warmly and said, "No, the specifics can be checked after the meeting. I, Serena Sterling, am aboveboard."
"Of course, the source of Aeon’s funding doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Aeon is now exercising our right of first refusal."
As Serena Sterling spoke, she paused slightly and scanned the entire room.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Desmond Wyatt and Isla Lawson’s faces.
Both of their expressions were extremely unpleasant at this moment.
Yet Serena Sterling continued to smile.
"Aeon is bidding 75 million," Serena Sterling repeated, orderly and steadily, her voice clear and resolute.
"Okay," Brandon Huxley replied, instructing an assistant to prepare to record this.
Only now did the attendees react.
Serena Sterling was serious about it.
And she had already secured the funds!
Desmond Wyatt couldn’t hold back any longer.
"Serena, are you really going to do this?" Desmond Wyatt said, agitated. "You want the whole 75 million? You’re not leaving any room for negotiation?"
Serena Sterling smiled and didn’t respond.
Desmond Wyatt’s intention was clear—he wanted her to concede some. But Serena Sterling wouldn’t let up.
Isla Lawson stared intently at Serena Sterling, her eyes filled with gloom.
"Serena, are you sure you want to do this?" Her voice was full of warning, and she enunciated every word, her tone threatening, "Have you really thought this through?"
