Unmasking the Heiress (Evangeline and Walte)
Bitten Once Shy Forever 39

Chapter 39

Evangeline's gaze swept across the room as she spoke, sharp enough to keep everyone from looking her in the eye.

Gone was the gentle composure she showed with the Gordon family, replaced by the ironclad authority of a woman in charge

"Any objections? Now's the time to speak up." Evangeline stated calmly.

With Cole's right-hand man, Asher, standing behind her, his respect bordering on reverence, it was as though Cole himself had entered the room. Who would dare step out of line?

After all, Cole, the notorious gambling tycoon, was a name that sent shivers down their spines. Cole might be bedridden, doting on Evangeline with every fiber of his being, but his reputation in the business and underground worlds was still formidable Everyone was convinced that she was Cole's granddaughter, and her eyes-calm yet. piercing-were a mirror image of Cole's own

David, who had just been ousted, served as her first lesson to the company. She did not even spare the old timers' pride

Who would dare cross her then?

With no one voicing any dissent, Evangeline settled back into her chair with an air of relaxed authority and signaled Asher to kick off the meeting

Under Asher's guidance, they quickly honed in on Foster Group's latest predicament.

Strata King Group was planning to partner with Foster Group to take over Stonehill Bay and construct the largest man-

made island, creating the Kingdom of the Sea as a premier entertainment and vacation hub, envisioning it as the next big destination after Little Saint James Island

With the Foster family's stocks in a nosedive half of the group had already cast their votes in favor, desperate for a strong alliance to turn the tide. The Kingdom of the Sea' seemed like the perfect opportunity. Evangeline put the matter squarely on the table

"Look, we all know the tight spot Foster Group is in," said Evangeline, her voice ringing with authority, "and don't tell me you're clueless about Strata King Group's

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Chapter 39

game plan. If we sink our cash into Stonehill Bay, we'll be stuck.

"Meanwhile, Gordon Group will be gobbling up the market down south, and we'll be left babysitting a stretch of ocean that's not even open for business. The writing's on the wall."

The room was filled with nods of agreement. The company's stock was in the gutter, and without a bold move, they would be limping through the next few months, watching their funds dwindle. They never should have branched out north.

"So, ma'am, got any bright ideas?" someone called out from the sea of indecisive chatter.

Cutting to the chase, Evangeline said, "The Stonehill Bay deal? Off the table, I'm speaking for my grandfather here, and it's a hard no from us. Let's shift our gaze. Out west is a ton of

folks with no access to decent healthcare. We can set up a charity medical center, make a big splash with some PR, and team up with other do-gooders.

"Nice speech, but charity costs money, too. Who in their right mind wants to play the generous fool?" a voice sneered from the crowd.

Evangeline's response was as cool as a cucumber. "Short-term thinking gets us nowhere. I've already got Greenfield Group and Winchester Holding on the hook. They've promised to pitch in with the funding if we get the charity medical center up and running. That'll be our ticket to push into the northwest market."

The room buzzed with whispers as the crowd was taken aback. The Foster Group's heiress had made her move in silence, but it was a game-changer. She had managed to bring Greenfield Group and Winchester Holding into the fold. While neither held the clout of the Foster empire, Winchester's state-backed investments and non-competing interests promised a partnership where everyone would come out ahead.