Chapter 595 - Public Challenges
Milia was full of doubts, but in front of Albert, she didn't dare question Lilia so easily.
Even if she heard the other party's obvious sarcasm, she could only avert her gaze. "Thanks Lilia, but ... I don't want to burden you!"
Lilia smiled lightly. "No worries!"
Milia felt stabbed by the tone of her voice as she endured a great displeasure with just a glance at her. But she found that Lilia's gaze was still on her.
For a moment, she seemed to see traces of mockery in the supermodel's clear eyes.
Milia didn't dare to be angry as she was too afraid to speak, so she could only hold back her emotions and ignore her existence as much as possible.
Seeing this, Albert leaned back on the back of his chair, his lips slowly grew wide with a smile, and looked very satisfied with Lilia's compromise.
He leaned forward and opened the drawer next to him, took out a folder and placed it on the table. The man then slowly pushed it in front of Lilia. "Lilia, if you understand what I'm saying, I'm really very happy. Here are some contracts that have been postponed for a while."
"Since you are planning to continue working now, don't delay them anymore. I've read the contents of the contract. Let Harold take the time to contact the other party and achieve cooperation as soon as possible," he added.
Lilia looked at the folder, picked it up and handed it directly to Harold in front of the sofa.
She absolutely had no interest in the contents.
"Thank you Mr. Albert, then... When it's done, I'll bring Milia to participate in my activities."
"No problem."
With Albert's approval, Lilia didn't stay long and looked at Harold, motioning for the two of them to leave the office.
Milia was still sitting in her original position as she raised her eyes and looked at Albert. Then she stopped talking.
"Do you have something else to say?" Albert looked at her, frowning impatiently.
Milia wondered, but still expressed her restlessness in her heart. "Mr. Albert, do you really want me to attend the event with her? Isn't that… inappropriate?"
She didn't want to go on a stage with Lilia!
If this request was made by Albert, she would think it made sense.
When Lilia took the initiative to mention it, things got a lot more complicated.
At that time, Albert saw through her. He was aware of what Milia wanted. "Did you forget what I said earlier? There are so many talented artists in this agency, do you think I don't know what I'm doing? Do you want me to kick you out now?"
It was such a merciless threat.
Milia lowered her head in embarrassment. "Sir, I mean..."
"Get out! I don't want to see your face in the future, and you are not allowed to come to my office again!"
Albert did not say anything else about Milia, even waves of boredom spread far in his eyes.
He hated women who were oblivious to their situation and dared to question him.
Milia was doomed!
After she left, Albert glanced at her back then took out his cellphone. When the call connected, he rubbed his eyebrows and sighed. "A contract has been awarded to her. Now it's up to you."
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Albert snorted. "Reduce the price and sell cheap. I can tell you that Lilia is currently the most popular and valued artist. No matter what you want to do, give me a little profit. The agency's conditions aren't easy, I need more money."
The person on the phone said something again, and Albert curled his lips before hanging up helplessly.
...
At the trade center, nine in the morning, the hall was full of big real estate developers. They'd come to participate in the bidding.
Urban village land currently covered an area of nearly 40,000 square meters, and the bid started at 10 billion.
There were as many as 20 local real estate developers in Surabaya alone, as well as tender companies from other provinces and cities.
Less than 20 minutes before the auction started, Alfred picked up his cell phone and answered the call.
He was standing outside the door of the auction hall. After a few minutes of brief communication, he hung up his phone and asked the bodyguard behind him, "Are you sure the Widjaya family's budget is only 50 billion?"
The bodyguard nodded. "100% sure, this is the number that Jean's assistant Kenny personally said,"
Alfred stood with his hands on his back, looking deep into the corridor ahead.
He sneered with thin lips, his tone indifferent. "It's best to come true."
At 9.30am, the bidding began.
The host appeared on the stage in a formal suit, and after the usual opening remarks ended, he excitedly introduced the auction opening team, bid monitoring as well as evaluation of this internal auction meeting.
Twenty minutes passed before he invited the bidders onto the stage to introduce the tender rules and requirements for rural areas in the city.
At ten o'clock, the bidding started.
The base price was 10 billion, and Alfred was the first to raise it into 12 billion.
Soon after, other developers continued to add to their offerings.
Based on the previous budgets made by various companies, this land was worth 100 billion if future land premium prices were included.
After all, this was located in a city, and large real estate developers had a lot of guesswork when bidding.
The rising price made Alfred narrow his eyes and stare at Jean not far away. He lowered his eyelids, his brows curled slightly.
The price had now reached 18 billion, but he didn't seem to have any intention of raising the bid.
Separated from the shadows, Alfred turned his gaze from time to time.
Currently, Kenny was sitting next to the man. He brushed his face and said with a slightly ironic smile, "President, if you don't make an offer, Alfred can't sit still!"
The man glanced at him, and his deep and gloomy eyes slowly looked to the other side.
Alfred shifted his gaze at this time, and their two eyes met in the air. The silent contest among them exploded with flames.
For a few seconds, the man looked away coldly and whispered to Kenny. "Make an offer."
Hearing his voice, Kenny excitedly lifted a board. "50 billion."
At the scene, there was no sound.
This offer had greatly exceeded the base price. Now, it seemed that the Widjaya family's shot was sure to win.
Other developers couldn't help but think to themselves that this price had far exceeded their budget limit.
It seemed that they were careful about raising their boards.
After Kenny announced the amount of the bid, a stinging light suddenly appeared in Alfred's eyes.
He shifted his gaze to look at the bodyguard beside him, and the other party also looked confident.
Jean's top budget had been issued, and it depended on whether they dared to go ahead with the bidding.
Alfred's fingertips tapped his knees, and in the next second he immediately lifted the board. "51 billion."
This time, the audience was in an uproar!
Everyone looked at Alfred, and it didn't seem like they expected someone to publicly challenge the Widjaya family.
Alfred ignored everyone's gaze, he looked at Jean again. Seeing the man's stiff face, Alfred's thin lips tightened and his eyes grew colder.
He smiled calmly.
The emcee held the hammer and shouted rhythmically on the stage. When the final knock was about to strike, Kenny raised his plank.
"52 billion!"