"The Arnold Group''s bidding event starts in an hour."
Natalie''s professional tone pulled Serena''s thoughts back to work.
Hugh''s words fromst night still echoed in her mind. "I''ll hold you to that."
For a man who handled things so decisively, it was surprising that he would leave a favor hanging.
But right now, work mattered more than any man.
The car came to a smooth stop.
Dressed in a crisp white business suit and heels, Serena arrived early at the banquet hall outside the bidding venue, nning to rest while she waited.
Natalie handed her the prepared bid proposal. "Here''s the document-"
Just then, a sharp female voice cut through the air, followed by the crisp sound of a p.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you use Cole''s name to ask me for favors?"
A figure stumbled backward,nding in the hallway.
Serena and Natalie instinctively stopped in their tracks.
Wait... Wasn''t that Sarah?
She staggered, clutching her reddened cheek, disbelief written all over her face.
"How dare you hit me? I already spoke to Cole about this! When he finds out how you humiliated me, he''ll-"
"Is he your fiancé or mine?"
A woman stepped out of the banquet hall, dressed in a sleek ck-and-gold business suit. Her wavy hair was pinned up, and her eyes were cold and merciless.
"You''re using my fiancé''s name to pressure me into handing you this project. Setting aside how il that is, who do you think you are? You''re not even his mistress, yet you have the nerve toe begging me for favors?
"If the Jansen Group weren''t bidding today, I wouldn''t have just pped you. I''d have had someone rip your dress off and throw you onto the street. Let''s see if Cole would stand by you or me."
Natalie nced at the imposing woman and lowered her voice as she exined to Serena.
"That''s Regina, the heiress of the Arnold family.
Offarter 140
At the same time, the assistant beside Regina was introducing Serena.
"That''s Serena, the Jansen Group''s representative and Ms. Sarah''s older sister." Then, their eyes met.
Serena was a bit shocked because she hadn''t recognized Regina at first.
Thest time they met at a private gathering, Regina had been a sweet, yful girl clinging to
Cole''s side.
Now, in a professional setting, she carried herself with the confidence of a lioness, nothing like the yful girl from before.
Regina turned to face her directly, lifting her chin slightly.
"If your sister has no shame, shouldn''t you, as her sister, drag her home and deal with her, properly? Or are you here to clean up her mess? If she has no shame, I''ll take it instead."
Serena didn''t show anger, Instead, she smiled and stepped forward, extending a hand to Regina. "Ms. Arnold, nice to meet you. I''m Sarah''s half sister. "I hope her bad behavior won''t disrupt today''s bidding.".
Half-sister? Bad behaviour?
Those words yed right into Regina''s sense of superiority.
That exined it. They weren''t full siblings, so of course they weren''t on the same side.
Serena had no intention of leveraging the Larsons'' influence to secure the bid. She also made no mention of her connection to Hugh, presenting herself solely as a representative of the
Jansen Group.
However, Regina had already learned about her rtionship with Hugh through her assistant''s quiet whisper.
Seeing Serena''sposed demeanor, Regina decided not to expose the connection. Instead,
she yed along.
With a serious attitude, she shook Serena''s hand. Then, she turned to Sarah with a cold smirk.
"Sisters, hun: What a contrast... I guess that''s what happens when you have different mothers.
Sarah fell silent. She clenched her teeth, barely holding back her fury.
Damn that Serena. Instead of standing by her own sister, she was cozying up to
Regina and joining in on mocking her background.
Serena added casually, "Also, the Jansen Group only has one official representative. I have no idea who my sister is representing today. With the bidding about to begin, I''ll leave you to
Cliapter
settle your personal matters. Excuse me."
With a smile, she walked toward the lounge with Natalie.
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