Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Chapter 13 Benson was still bubbling with joy when he was back home from the hospital.

He simply could not hide his delight!

It was the most gratifying thing to see his dad’s condition take a drastic improvement after he had been administered the Phoenixia.

What pleased him further was that his relationship with his brothers had taken a turn for the better, when Samuel offered Penny the post of general manager in Grande Group.

It signified their acceptance into the central core of the power of the family dynasty and gave him the recognition that he had always yearned for.

The slew of good news gave him a good reason to get Leah to prepare a few dishes so that he could hold a small celebration with his family.

To top it up, he even took out a bottle of his vintage wine to have a drink with Nathan.

“I need to thank you for everything you’ve done for us, Nathan.” Benson thanked with a hearty smile, “First and foremost, it’s your pill that has saved my dad, which has given Penny the opportunity to join Grande Group as general manager.”

“I owe it to you, Nathan. Let’s have a drink.”

“Sure, Benson. Let’s cheers!” Nathan could feel the sheer joy emitted by Benson.

Leah was utterly delighted as well. “Benson was right. It’s Nathan who has given us back our pride and dignity.”

“We owe you a huge favor, Nathan,” Penny nodded in acknowledgment.

“Come on, what’s all these formalities for?” Leah eyed her daughter reprovingly, “Isn’t a husband and wife supposed to help each other out?”

Penny strived to hide her blush, which had made her cheeks turn as rosy as two little cherries. It swamped her heart with a shyness, making her lost for words.

When she stole a glance at Nathan, who was sitting beside her, he was wreathed in smiles.

She lifted her heels and nudged at his leg.

Hey, what are you giggling about?

Did I agree to be your wife?

The string of good news had certainly lifted their spirits, but they were not certain that Samuel would stick to his word.

They did not have to worry for too long though, as Penny had received the transfer notice the next morning, informing her that she would be the general manager of Grande Group.

Penny majored in civil engineering, while the principal business of Grande Group was in property development.

Working in Grande Group was where Penny had really felt like she was in her element.

For years, they had neglected her, to the point where they had despised her.

She was determined to well use the opportunity to prove herself and show her mettle.

She wanted to make everyone in the Smith family proud of her, not viewing her as the shame of the family.

Penny had been working extremely hard for the week that followed, spending long hours in the office.

Even when she returned home, she would continue with her work till midnight.

It was past midnight when Penny finally stacked her files. She stretched and smiled with satisfaction, Finally! The proposal is done.

The door opened with a soft creaking sound; it was Nathan.

Penny saw the bowl of hot sizzling noodles in his hands. It warmed her heart.

It had been the same for the past few nights. Nathan had been making supper for her while she burned the midnight oil.

His thoughtful gesture swelled her heart with warmth and gratitude.

“Hmm, smells yummy!” Penny took a deep sniff and giggled.

“I know that you like noodles. I’ve added an egg and vegetables as well.” Nathan approached lovingly as he placed the bowl of noodles on her table, “Let’s dig in before the food gets cold.”

“It’s time to call it a night,” he ordered in a light and caring tone, “take a bath after you finish your noodles and go to bed. It’s been a long, hard week. You’d fall sick before you can even prove yourself. “

His orders made her heart glow, as it was as comforting as his food.

“You know it is the opportunity that I’ve been waiting for, for so long.” She told him while she slurped her noodles, “Now that I’m the general manager of Grande Group, I need to give this job my very best.”

“I have it all panned out. I need to show some results while grandpa is still recuperating in the hospital.”

“So that I can give him an enormous surprise by the time he gets out of the hospital.”

“What sort of results are you referring to?” Nathan asked.

“That’s the one I’m talking about!” Penny handed him the proposal while she took another slurp of the noodles.

It was a document with ‘Tender document for the construction project of Asiatic Shopping Mall ‘ written on its surface.

“There would be a tender coming up soon.” Penny explained, “They are going to tear down Asiatic Village and build a new shopping mall called Asiatic Shopping Mall.”

“Since Grande Group is a property development company, this is a massive project that we can’t afford to miss.”

“I’m going to tender for this project, which I’m sure that grandpa would be delighted with if I could win it.”

“But it won’t be that easy though,” she sighed with a brooding look on her face, “Everybody is eyeing this project, including the heavyweights of our industry. I am fairly worried about our chances of winning the project.”

Nathan curled his mouth into an enigmatic smile while his eyes dazzled with a mystic charm, “Don’t worry, honey.” he pronounced with an air of nonchalance, “I’m sure that you would win the tender and bag the project.”

“Yeah, how I wish the same too!” Penny muttered.

Nathan walked out to the balcony and dialed the number of Colin Dunne, “I want you to find out about the Asiatic Shopping Mall project in Channing. Are they currently inviting bids for the project?”

“I want them to let Penny win the project.”

“Yes, sir!” Colin answered reverently.

Ten days later, the tendering process for the Asiatic Shopping Mall project was carried out according to schedule.

Wyatt Ziegler, Director of the Asiatic Development Department, along with several Channing officials attended the tendering process.

After several rounds of evaluation and elimination, Mr. Ziegler announced that the Asiatic Development project was awarded to Ms. Penny Smith of Grande Group. The project involved the tearing down of Asiatic Village to make way for a new shopping mall named Asiatic Shopping Mall, and Ms. Penny Smith would be in charge of the entire project.

His announcement was greeted by a thunderous roar of applause.

“Congratulations, Ms. Smith, you’ve won the tender for the project.” Mr. Ziegler gave her a broad grin as he welcomed Penny to the stage.

As if it were a dream, Penny could not believe that she had won the tender and bagged such a massive project as Asiatic Shopping Mall.

With the inked contract in her hands, Penny was so intoxicated with the unexpected success of winning the project, “Pinch me, Nathan. Is this really happening, or is it just a dream?” she asked Nathan with an unconvinced expression.

“It’s true, Penny. You aren’t dreaming.” Nathan gave her a reassuring smile of confidence, “It’s time to spread your wings now, the sky is your limit.”

...

Samuel was having a game of golf when he received a call from his son, Miles Smith.

“What? Penny had bagged the project for Asiatic Shopping Mall?” He let out a cry in surprise when he heard the news, “Are you absolutely sure?”

“That’s absolutely true, dad.” Miles confirmed in his exhilarated voice, “Penny had signed the contract on the spot. The project is now officially under our company.”

“Wow! That’s a big one!” Samuel rubbed his palms together excitably. His heart was almost bursting into a tumult of elation.

“Completing the project could shoot us up the ranks to rub shoulders with the most affluent elites of Channing. We could even see a several-fold increase to our family’s fortune.”

“I know, dad. But it was Penny who clinched the project, would she be taking the credit for everything if we let her stay as the general manager?” Miles perceived a probable concern amidst their sea of joy.

“Do you think it would make grandpa take a liking for her and her family when he finds out about her capabilities?”

“Huh!” Samuel’s hearty laugh slipped into a dark grin, “We have let her taste the sweet success as a general manager, it’s time to take it back from her and kick her out of the company.”