My Child and I Married a Billionaire

President Sterling didn’t recognize the man and was puzzled by his sudden appearance.

"What do you want? Which department are you from? This is a conference room. You can’t just walk in here. Who let you in?"

Amidst a room full of men stood Cecelia Archer, whose delicate features made her incredibly conspicuous, even though she was dressed in a simple black suit with understated makeup.

Ryan spotted and recognized her immediately, sighing mournfully in his heart. ’Oh, Miss Archer, Miss Archer...’

’I wish I could say something to her, but circumstances won’t allow it...’

Ryan quickly looked away. Ignoring President Sterling, he made a welcoming gesture toward the door.

Following the gesture, Damien Vaughn strode in—a tall, imposing figure with an expressionless face and an intensely commanding presence.

"My apologies for dropping in uninvited. I hope I’m not disturbing anyone."

"I’m Damien Vaughn, and I also have matters to discuss. President Sterling, you don’t mind if I wait here on your turf for a bit, do you?"

The conference room erupted in a quiet commotion.

Recognizing the newcomer, everyone instinctively rose to their feet.

President Sterling, in particular, hastened to greet him.

"President Vaughn? I had no idea you were coming! My sincerest apologies for not greeting you properly. If you needed something, a simple phone call would have been enough for me to come to you. Why trouble yourself by coming all this way?"

Damien Vaughn extended his hand, giving him a brief, perfunctory shake before walking over to the conference table.

"I’m the one who wants to discuss a collaboration, so I have to show some sincerity. It’s only right that I come in person."

"Please, don’t mind me. Carry on with your business. I can wait until you’re finished."

President Sterling quickly offered him his own seat.

Damien Vaughn sat down gracefully, leaning back in the chair with a relaxed air.

"Really, there’s no need to stand on ceremony. Please, sit."

He instantly took charge, acting as if he owned the company.

At his insistence, everyone exchanged glances and hesitantly sat back down.

Damien Vaughn swiveled his chair slightly, his gaze landing on Cecelia Archer.

"You must be Linden, correct? My apologies for interrupting. Please, continue."

Cecelia Archer hadn’t expected him to show up.

’It’s one thing to poach a deal, but to show up in person to do it?’

Although she had come prepared to risk it all, the sheer pressure of Damien Vaughn’s presence completely threw her off her rhythm.

For a moment, she was at a loss for words, and a deathly silence fell over the room.

With all eyes on her, Cecelia Archer felt a flush of humiliation and anger.

’Damien Vaughn is so self-assured, completely dismissing Grant Group. It seems we really are doomed.’

"Why have you stopped?"

"Is it because you’re intimidated, Linden, knowing that Grant Group can’t compare to Vaughn Group? Or are you just mesmerized by my good looks? You’ve been staring at me for a while now."

After a few seconds of silence, Damien Vaughn suddenly cracked a joke.

No one had expected him to have such an approachable side, and a few people couldn’t help but chuckle, which finally pulled Cecelia Archer’s thoughts back on track.

’The worst that can happen is failure, that’s all.’

’I’ve already prepared for it. What’s there to fear?’

She averted her gaze and started her presentation.

"Grant Group can’t compare to Vaughn Group? With all due respect, President Vaughn, I can’t agree with that statement."

Following the points on her slides, she systematically detailed Grant Properties’ advantages in the industry and the solid foundation it had built over the years.

The Vaughn Group was indeed larger, wealthier, and more influential, but they were currently competing in the real estate sector. And in that arena, Vaughn Properties was inferior to Grant Properties—that was an indisputable fact.

The more Cecelia Archer spoke, the more passionate and earnest she became. By the end, she even felt a deep, sentimental connection to the Grant Group.

"As a conscientious enterprise with depth, a brilliant track record, and a history of making important contributions to the local economy, we are keenly aware of the responsibility we bear, as well as our duty to our peers."

"We don’t seek to dominate the market; we want to lead our peers forward so we can innovate together, face challenges together, and overcome hardships together. I believe that as long as we all work in concert, any difficulties we face will only be temporary."

"That concludes my presentation. Companies interested in a merger can sign a merger agreement with us, and those interested in investing can sign an investment contract. Whichever you choose, Grant Group will deliver results that satisfy you. I will give you all ample time to consider. Thank you."

It was a testament to the hard work she’d put in all night. Her presentation was backed by facts, evidence, data, and real-world events, making it highly credible. The concluding remarks were impassioned, drawing everyone into her powerfully rousing speech.

If it weren’t for Damien Vaughn’s presence, everyone, led by Vanguard Properties, would have quickly made a decision.

Unfortunately, Damien Vaughn just had to be there.

’What if the terms offered by the Vaughn Group are better, more generous?’

As much as everyone had been moved by Cecelia Archer’s speech, they still adopted a wait-and-see approach.

It wasn’t their first professional encounter, and Damien Vaughn already knew Cecelia Archer was a capable woman, but this was the first time he had witnessed her skills so directly.

’If I weren’t on the opposing side today,’ he thought, ’if I were one of the parties considering the acquisition, her speech would have moved me.’

But in reality, there were no ’what ifs’.

When Cecelia Archer finished speaking, no one dared to even applaud until Damien Vaughn started clapping.

"Not bad. Linden, your professional skills are very solid. That was a brilliant speech."

Only then did President Sterling dare to join the applause and chime in.

"Grant Group has been a leader in real estate for many years, after all. Its strengths are plain to see. So, President Vaughn, what’s next...?"

’No need to rush.’

’The longer I keep my cards hidden, the more fun it is to keep them guessing. It makes the game more interesting.’

Damien Vaughn casually swiveled his chair back around and looked at the crowd.

"Didn’t Linden say to give everyone ample time to consider? The Vaughn Group doesn’t bully the weak. We won’t compete with her at a time like this. You should all go back and think it over carefully."

A small stir went through the conference room.

Everyone began whispering among themselves, obviously unwilling to rashly sign with Grant Group.

Cecelia Archer had no idea what game Damien Vaughn was playing or how this would end. With a heavy heart, she sat back down and took a couple of sips of water.

Damien Vaughn watched her, noticing her dry lips and the uncontrollable trembling in the fingers she used to hold her glass. He felt a wicked urge to smile.

"Linden, you were so passionate and moving just now. I thought you were sure of your victory. Turns out you get nervous too?"

Cecelia Archer quickly pulled her hands under the table.

She sat up straight, her posture neither servile nor defiant.

"Grant Group is just that excellent, and I am indeed confident of victory. I just woke up a little late and didn’t have time for breakfast, so my blood sugar is a little low."

’Low blood sugar?’

Now that she mentioned it, Damien Vaughn noticed she was even thinner than before.

She had always been slender, but her cheeks used to be fuller. Now they were sunken, as if from malnourishment.

From this angle, the bridge of her nose looked strikingly prominent.

’Is Shane Grant that broke?’ he wondered. ’Can’t he even afford to feed his employees properly?’

Since he had nothing urgent back at the office today anyway, Damien Vaughn was suddenly struck by a whim.

"Now that you mention it, Linden, I’m a little hungry myself. I doubt you’re the only one who skipped breakfast. All these presidents here had to rush to your meeting so early; I’m sure they haven’t eaten either. Aren’t you going to treat everyone to some breakfast?"

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