Chapter 40

Chapter 40 An Attractive Man

“You’re right,” Natalie said with a nod.

However, she still felt a bit anxious.

She could tell that this was a substantial contract. She hadn’t expected to have a good chance at

securing it, but she knew that it would demonstrate her skills if she managed to win it. Her mind began

to circle back to the issues caused by her previous way of talking.

Natalie was awestruck on the top floor when the elevator doors opened. The company was on par with

Cedric’s, and the successful partnerships she knew Cedric had cultivated made her realize the level of

prestige here.

And now, she was here….

“Relax a little,” Karina advised.

“Okay,” Natalie replied, though her tone lacked enthusiasm.

When the secretary noticed their arrival, she greeted them politely and said, “Please come this way to

the lounge. Mr. Frazier has just finished his meeting and will need a moment before he can meet you.”

“Alright.”

Natalie and Karina proceeded to the lounge, where the secretary poured tea for them. Every move the

secretary made was with the precision of a well–oiled machine.

While Natalie had never worked in a large corporation, Cedric’s company also ran in the same

systematic

way.

This contrasted greatly with her previous meetings with smaller clients the day before.

Before long, the lounge’s door swung open, and a man wearing a suit and glasses entered. He

appeared

cultured and sophisticated, yet carried an air of professionalism.

“Hello, Mr. Warren. I’m Karina Zeller from Regal Horizons International,” Karina introduced herself.

‘Mr. Frazier is waiting for you in his office. Follow me,” the man, Dylan Warren, said.

“Alright.”

Natalie rose from her seat, and the two followed Dylan.

The man had a steady and powerful guit. For a leader to have such a subordinate, it was easy to tell

that

Natalie had meticulously prepared herself for this meeting, but her nerves were still getting the best of

her. She couldn’t help but be anxious.

When they reached an office door, Dylan raised his hand to knock on it.

After a few moments, a deep, magnetic voice from inside responded, “Come in!”

His voice sounded so pleasant.

That was Natalie’s first impression.

Karina turned to Natalie and said, “Come on.”

She reached for the door, ready to push it open for Natalie when Dylan held her back. “Mr. Frazier

requested to see Ms. Walker alone.”

When Natalie heard that, she was stunned!

She turned to Karina only to find that she was also in the same state. Neither of them had expected

such

a thing.

“Well… Will you head in alone?” Karina asked,

Natalie hesitated, her face showing unease. She was already nervous. Having Karina with her provided

some form of emotional support.

Now, it seemed that Natalie had no choice but to face this meeting alone.

“Yeah.”

Natalie reluctantly nodded despite her reluctance and the uncertainty that lingered in her heart. Now

that Karina could not join her, she felt her confidence crumble slightly.

Dylan pushed open the office door.

Natalie turned and entered the office before closing the door behind her,

Looking up, she was prepared to introduce herself and state her purpose. But as she raised her head,

her mind was momentarily overwhelmed by what she saw.

A strikingly handsome man sat at his desk, intently studying a document. From Natalie’s perspective,

she

could see his long, dark eyelashes fluttering as he read. The bridge of his nose, the shape of his lips-

every part of his features looked perfect!

He was a very attractive man.

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That was the impression he left on Natalie.

In all her years at Cedric’s side, she had never seen a company leader as young and handsome as

him. Each time she accompanied Cedric to business meetings, it seemed like she encountered men

with greasy hair or large potbellies.

However, now….

“Did you need something?” The man’s deep and serious tone interrupted Natalie’s thoughts.

When he looked up, his piercing gaze met her wide eyes.

At that moment, Natalie felt a jolt throughout her entire body. She quickly regained her composure,

feeling somewhat embarrassed.

m sorry, […”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she stammered, “I’m sorry,

“Who are you?”

Compared to her discomfort, the man’s voice was solemn. He looked unimpressed with her reaction.

Natalie began to grasp the absurdity of her situation. What was wrong with her? In the grand scheme of

things within the Johnson family, she had witnessed far more significant events.

How could she stand here mesmerized by this man?

She needed to regain her composure!

Taking a deep breath, she met the man’s intense gaze and said, “Hello, I’m Natalie Walker from Auro

Studio. We had an appointment.”

The look in the man’s eyes intensified as he closed the folder in his hands. There was even a hint of

coldness in his gaze.

It sent a shiver down Natalie’s spine as she stuttered, “N–nice to meet you.”

“I know you.”

His voice was still cold, and Natalie struggled to decipher the emotions behind it.

“Oh. Natalie didn’t know how to respond.

She awkwardly stood where she was for another few minutes as the man remained silent.

Finally, the man said, “Please, have a seat.”

“Uh… Okay.” Natalie moved cautiously, feeling uncomfortable. She walked towards the nearest couch

and

sat down.

The man got up. As he approached, Natalie felt enveloped in his shadow. His height of about 6’3“, and

his long legs were mesmerizing.

He commanded an impressive presence that almost took her breath away.

Sitting down on the opposite couch, the man elegantly adjusted his cuffs. His presence and gestures

exuded elegance and nobility.

Natalie handed over the prepared documents. “These are some design sketches I’ve drawn previously.

Would you mind taking a look?”

“Place them down,” he said, his tone commanding and authoritative.

Natalie obeyed and placed the documents on the table. As she sat back down, she felt overwhelmed

by

the weight of the moment.

The man’s imposing presence exerted pressure on her, making it challenging to focus on this

significant deal. Her hands trembled, and beads of sweat formed on her back.

As she sat there, uncertain of what to say, the man across from her looked at her. It was only a fleeting

glance, but it made her feel like she was sinking into an abyss.

Natalie gazed back into his deep eyes.

Then, the man said, “Three days.”

Natalie was taken aback. “Three days for what?”

“The bidding for the eastern suburbs closes on the 15th. Today is the 11th, which means you have until

the end of the day on the 14th.”

Natalie processed his words. So, was he offering her an opportunity? It might not be a direct win, but

the chance he was giving her was significant.

Nodding, a surge of determination coursed through her. “Alright.”

Three days might be a tight timeframe, but if she could secure the deal within this period, it would be a

great achievement!

Even though Cedric had not had much dealings with Apex Global, Natalle had heard about the

company

when she had been at his side. The company was known for its rigorous approach to cooperation.

Natalie understood that her work was cut out for her during these three days!

After her meeting with the man, she couldn’t recall how she left his office. Karina and Dylan were

waiting

outside for her.

When Natalie came out, Karina approached her and asked, “How did it go?”

Natalie replied, “Let’s head back for now.”

“Alright.”

Karina gave a grateful nod to Dylan and followed Natalie. It wasn’t until they had left the office building

that Natalie felt she could breathe more easily. She couldn’t deny the immense pressure that man had

exerted on her.

As the car started, Natalie said, “Let’s head to Dragon Park in the eastern suburbs.”

“The eastern suburbs?”

“Yeah.”

“Did Mr. Frazier give us the project in the eastern suburbs?” Karina looked shocked.

Strictly speaking, the eastern suburbs project wasn’t under Apex Global’s jurisdiction. It was a

government -led development project to construct a new landmark in Verde City. The selection process

was meticulous, and companies needed to present their designs to participate before anything was

decided.

Several companies were vying for this prestigious project. This included companies even outside of

Verde City. Winning the bid would be highly lucrative.

Moreover, one of Cedric’s subsidiaries was among the bidding companies. He was particularly invested

in this project.