Chapter 75
Chapter 75
13
The ballroom was bustling with activity, the crowd a mix of high-profile executives and polished representatives.
A man in a bright red Tang suit approached Izzy, standing out against the sea of black and grey. His embroidered
gold cuffs and subtle but impeccable stitching spoke of wealth and taste. Holding a delicate champagne flute, he
raised it toward Izzy with a warm, knowing smile.
“Miss Rossi.”. he began, inclining his head slightly in greeting. “Its always a pleasure to see you, especially in
such company.”
Izzy turned, immediately recognizing him. “Mr. Koh,” she said, offering a slight bow as she accepted his
congratulations. “It's good to see you again.”
They had first met during one of her overseas negotiations. He had been a potential investor at the time, and
though the deal hadn't progressed, a mutual respect had developed between them.
“Congratulations on leading this project,” Mr. Koh said, his tone as polished as his attire. “I've had the privilege
of reviewing your proposal. Quite a few influential figures are impressed by your work.”
Izzy smiled humbly, bowing her head slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Koh. That means a lot, though I still have much to
learn.”
He laughed lightly. “I do appreciate humility, Miss Rossi, but letshare a little secret with you.” He leaned in
slightly, the golden embroidery of his suit catching the light. “The board has already made their decision. The
official announcement will be made tonight.”
Izzy raised an eyebrow. “You seem very well-informed, Mr. Koh
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He swirled his champagne gently. “Let's just say | have a knack for observing outcomes before they're publicly
declared.”
Izzy held back a smirk, nodding politely. Mr. Koh was based in Taiwan. She wouldn't be surprised if he knew a lot
about this bidding. “Thank you for sharing that with me. | suppose I'll find out soon enough.”
Mr. Koh raised his glass again before stepping back. “Indeed, Miss Rossi. Enjoy the rest of the evening. | have a
feeling this will be a memorable night for you.”
Izzy inclined her head again as Mr. Koh disappeared into the crowd. She clutched her champagne flute tighter as
she turned toward Anna, who stood behind her. “Find out if Mr. Koh was telling the truth,” she said.
“Yes, Miss,” Anna nodded and soon left her side.
Soon enough, Anna cback with snews. “It seems that Mr. Koh’s words were true, Miss. Tonight, they will
also announce who won the bidding.”
Izzy frowned. Usually, it took a week or two before the results were announced. Cases like this one were unique.
She could think of a few reasons why they would immediately announce the winner, but she chose not to dwell
on it. She also couldn't say much about this matter, as she wasn’t familiar with how everything worked on this
side of the world.
What was more important was the fact that she had done her best on her proposal. She had polished it before
submitting it days ago. All she could do now was wait.
Instead of overthinking, she decided to focus on the present. She needed to make the most of this opportunity to
network.
She approached a group of businessmen, exchanging polite handshakes and brief introductions. In the past, she
would have been in the background, assisting Calen as he took the lead. But tonight, she was representing
herself.
As she finished speaking with one group, a voice interrupted her
“Miss Rossi.”
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Chapter 75
Izzy turned to see Miss Johnson, the COO and heiress of Johnson and Co. Construction. Their paths had crossed
before, and Izzy was well aware of her reputation. Known for her sharp wit, Miss Johnson was also the woman
who had an obvious interest in Calen. Their interactions had always been combative with Miss Johnson
constantly finding faults in Izzy and her trying to avoid the woman.
In those instances, Izzy had chosen to rise above the remarks, maintaining a professional demeanor. She had
refrained from retaliating, unwilling to tarnish Calen’s reputation or the company’s image by causing a scene.
“Miss Johnson.” Izzy greeted with a polite sinile. This wasn’t the first encounter, and Izzy had a feeling it wouldn't
be their
last.
Miss Johnson stopped in front of her. “I couldn’t help but notice you're here alone. Where is Mr. Weiss? | thought
the two of you were always together.” Izzy immediately noticed the sarcasm in the woman's voice but chose to
ignore it. The news about what happened during that event must have already spread in their circle.
“I wouldn't know, Miss Johnson.” 1zzy smiled. “After all, I'm not his mother.”
Miss Johnson's expression hardened for a moment before she let out a short laugh. “Well, | suppose it doesn’t
matter. But | have to say, you seem very comfortable here without him. Quite the bold move.”
“Thank you Izzy replied. “Boldness is fitting for the occasion, wouldn't you agree?”
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Miss Johnson's eyes narrowed slightly. “So, it’s true then? He cheated on you, and now you're being vindictive.
Taking this project from him must have been satisfying.”
“Rumors are easy to spread, Miss Johnson.” Izzy kept her tone calm. “If you're implying that I've taken anything
unfairly | suggest you speak to the board. They'll tell you why I'm leading this project.”
Miss Johnson chuckled. “Miss Rossi is really too serious. | was simply joking around.”
know.” Miss Johnson's smile widened slightly as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Miss Rossi, you're really
too serious about everything. Perhaps you should loosen up a bit. Life isn’t always about rules and proving
yourself, you
Izzy remained silent, her expression neutral.
Miss Johnson tilted her head, studying her. “If | may, letoffer you sadvice. Men are simple, Miss Rossi.
They like things straightforward,” she dragged her eyes towards Izzy's Izzy's body. Then she smiled and met
Izzy's eyes once again. “Maybe if you gave them what they wanted from tto tinstead of acting like
you're smarter than them, you'd have better luck keeping one.”
Izzy smiled faintly and inclined her head. “Thank you, Miss Johnson, for the expert advice.”
Miss Johnson's smug expression faltered for a moment before she recovered. “I've had plenty of experience in
that area, so trust me, | know what I'm talking about.”
Izzy nodded politely, though inwardly she thought about the irony of the situation. Miss Johnson was single, a
fact that wasn’t lost on anyone in their circle. She was also known for her frequent associations with male
models, something she didn’t go out of her way to hide.
“I would definitely take your advice, Miss Johnson.“Izzy smiled. After all, who wouldn't want to be you?”
Miss Johnson opened her mouth as her face reddened slightly, but no words cout. She knew there was
something wrong with Izzy's words, but she couldn’t rebut the, not in front of everyone watching them.
Izzy waited for a moment, her calm demeanor unchanged, before finally saying, “If you'll excuse me, I should get
back to mingling. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Miss Johnson. I'll see you around.”