Life at the Top

“What are they murmuring about?”

Ned asked curiously and glared at Jasper on the other side of the meeting room. He was currently engaged in a conversation with Mr. Powers.

Marcus, who was watching the scene, forced the unease down within him and spoke aggressively, “How would I know?”

“What if they’re discussing how to deal with us?” Ned suddenly asked.

Marcus’ expression darkened as he growled. “Can you shut up? Why would the city government join forces with Jasper to work against us?”

Ned had a weird look on his face as he spoke. “I refuse to believe that you haven’t heard the rumors, Mr. Coine. The city government this term has already been displeased with us for a very long time. If not for the fact that both our grandfathers are alive, they’d have done something to us long ago.”

“Your grandfather hasn’t been feeling very well lately, right? While the number of people aware of this isn’t a lot, it’s not a few either.”

Marcus’ expression darkened at Ned’s words. “My grandfather is just a little sick. He’ll get better in no time. These people wouldn’t dare to attack me at such a time.”

“That doesn’t mean we don’t need to be careful around them. Look at how close Powers is with Jasper. You can’t expect me to believe that they’re not plotting together,” Ned spoke.

Marcus scoffed. “We’ll deal with it when the time comes. We’ll know if there’s anything going between them once the bid is over. Something is definitely wrong if the city government is unwilling to let us bid, or you’re just overthinking this.”

…

ado, let’s begin the bidding ceremony. We’ll be using an open-bid method this time and the four companies present are free to call out your prices

by Brac County. With a starting price of 150 million, every following bid is to have an increment of five

finished speaking, the owners of the two other companies that came to join the bidding raised

for 150 million and 160

done their part and

160 million, Marcus

million in one go, exceeding Jasper and the city government’s

was a simple and

looked at Jasper after calling out the price and snickered. “You’re a wealthy man from outside Reed City who has come to invest. Even though we locals only have so much

looking up at all, Jasper called his price

“600 million.”

silent

the meeting room altogether, clear gasps could still be

“Oh!”

to call out