The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 21

The Carmichael Group's conference room was shrouded in tense silence.

All the senior executives fixed their eyes on Raymond, who sat at the head of the table reviewing the proposal. No one even dared to breathe too loudly, each one secretly wishing they could crawl under the table and vanish-anything to avoid being the first in line for criticism.

For them, every meeting felt like a grueling ordeal.

After a long, uneasy pause, Raymond finally spoke. "Not bad."

At once, beads of sweat appeared on the foreheads of the department heads.

A few began to whisper nervously to each other.

"Did I hear that right? Did President Carmichael have too much to drink last night?"

"Did he just say 'not bad'?"

One executive wiped his brow, his anxiety deepening. "You don't get it. This is just the calm before the storm. Ever heard of 'the higher the praise, the harder the fall'? Brace yourself-he's about to tear our proposal to shreds."

Oblivious to the collective anxiety tightening in the room, Raymond glanced around, lowering his voice. "Well? Why are you still sitting here?"

"All proposals are approved. Meeting adjourned."

his laptop and strode out, leaving a roomful of

"God, am I dreaming?"

that really President Carmichael? Did

Pinch me, would you, Steve-I think

a new leaf, or someone's

found Citrine, headphones on, gaming with fierce

face before and couldn't help but

a client. Not five

click of high heels echoed closer and

notice until the newcomer yanked her power cable out. She pulled off her headphones,

black hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked

good mood soured instantly, her expression

hostility as clearly as a

answer. Instead, she looked Citrine up and down, searching for a single flaw and finding none.

your relationship with President Carmichael?" Valerie finally

an innocent little thing,

arched a brow, her eyes sparkling with open

answers, she'd

moment, Valerie was