Chapter 114
Chapter 114:
As Charlie’s figure disappeared into the distance, Ashton’s tension slowly dissipated, and he subtly shook his head. He still wasn’t ready to interact with his family in such a public setting.
Suddenly, a pleasant waft of fragrance surrounded him, and Rosalie’s melodious voice caught his attention. “Ashton, you almost gave me a heart attack. That was Charlie Arnold, the CEO of Skyline Group. Even my dad respects him immensely p>
As Ashton turned to face Rosalie, he saw the concern in her eyes. He offered her a faint smile. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize him,” he lied.
Before Rosalie could respond, Ashton quickly asked, “By the way, why was he here? Does this party serve another purpose p>
Rosalie, sensing Ashton’s curiosity, didn’t hide the truth. She nodded and replied, “My dad is planning to collaborate with Skyline Group on a major project. It’s going to be monumental, and he wanted to use this gathering to officially announce it p>
Acknowledging her explanation with a thoughtful nod, Ashton decided it was best not to probe further with so many potential eavesdroppers around.
After a private discussion in the main villa, Charlie and Bruce returned together to the party. The guests, who had been speculating about a major announcement since Charlie entered the main villa alone, watched closely as the two magnates reappeared.
As expected, Bruce stepped onto the stage, capturing everyone’s attention with his announcement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s an honor to host you here today at this event organized by my daughter. I’m thrilled to announce, on behalf of both the Campbell family and Skyline Group, that we are launching a joint bid for a major project. The investment is substantial, and the commercial prospects are extremely promising. We invite all of your families to participate actively and join us in this grand venture p>
Bruce’s announcement sent a wave of excitement through the room.
A joint investment project between the Campbell family and Skyline Group!
All present understood the significance. A venture between these two powerhouses was bound to be remarkable. With the combined support of both the Campbell family and Skyline Group, any investments in this project were nearly guaranteed to yield substantial returns.
Instantly, every attendee paused their previous activities, eager to share the groundbreaking news with their families. The revelation quickly caused a massive stir among the affluent circles of Inewood.
Meanwhile, Phillip was at Emalee’s house, desperately trying to win back her affection. However, Emalee, having seen Phillip’s true nature, was thoroughly disillusioned and refused to offer him even the slightest warmth.
At that exact moment, both Phillip’s and Emalee’s phones rang simultaneously. They each received the news about the Campbell family and Skyline Group’s ambitious bid for a major project.
Phillip, sensing an opportunity, seized it quickly. “Emalee, you must have heard about this too. This bid is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let’s reconcile. I promise to secure a winning spot for the James family. Trust me just this once, will you p>
As he said this, Phillip cast a significant glance at Matthew and Miriam. The family had previously lost over a million dollars to Ashton, which had caused Miriam sleepless nights for several days. Now, energized by Phillip’s words, Miriam quickly spoke up.
“Emalee, I know you’re upset, but you can’t blame everything on Phillip. Survival is a basic human instinct; you should try to understand his situation. Besides, Phillip has always treated you well. You can’t be ungrateful p>
Matthew also joined in. “Emalee, your grandfather entrusted you with the CEO position because he believed you could lead the James family to greater heights. You can’t let a moment of emotion threaten our family’s future p>
Initially, Emalee wanted to rebut her mother’s argument, but her father’s words stopped her.
With Ashton gone, the company had faced numerous challenges, and her role as CEO had become increasingly unstable. The business was grappling with various operational issues, and she knew that what the family needed was a stabilizing force.
Reluctantly, for the sake of her family’s interests, Emalee nodded, agreeing to a temporary reconciliation with Phillip. However, she couldn’t shake the memories of the times when Ashton had been by her side.
With Ashton, she never had to second-guess her decisions. No matter what ideas she had, Ashton always found a way to make them work. A new thought, one she hadn’t considered before, crossed her mind: how much she wished Ashton were there with her at that moment.