Chapter 299 Nightmare
Byron’s gaze shifted toward the speaker, his eyes narrowing slightly. The mention of Freya’s name was unexpected, and it pulled his attention away from the mundane details of the meeting. The room fell silent, everyone eager to see how Byron would react to the unexpected interruption.
Freya, sitting a few seats away, smiled warmly at Byron. She seemed unfazed, poised as always, her demeanor calm despite the sharpness in the air.
“Well,” Freya began, her voice smooth and confident. “I have been evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of Chelsea Investment Company, as well as the market conditions. I believe Imbe Group is in an excellent position to secure Bloor Food Industry Company, especially with the current economic climate and our team’s expertise in the field.”
Byron didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable. The tension in the room thickened. He had expected the question, but he didn’t anticipate it coming at this moment. His thoughts momentarily flickered back to the encounter with Freya the night before, when she had been so eager to treat him to dinner.
He leaned back in his chair, eyes flicking over the board members who seemed to be watching him closely. Freya had made her pitch—calm, measured, and entirely fitting her businesslike persona. But Byron wasn’t convinced. There was something about her that nagged at him, something that felt off. Yet, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
“Ms. Bates,” Byron finally spoke, his voice low but cutting through the silence. “Your proposal sounds… promising. However, we cannot ignore the fact that Chelsea has been a formidable player in the industry for years. We will need more than just confidence to take this project from them.”
Freya’s smile didn’t falter, though there was a glint in her eyes—a spark of competition. “Of course, Mr. Crawford. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. But I assure you, our strategy will be more than enough to outmaneuver Chelsea.”
The tension between them was palpable, as if the room itself was holding its breath. Byron gave a short nod, acknowledging her confidence, but his mind remained elsewhere. Despite the business at hand, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more behind Freya’s ambition than just a desire to succeed in the corporate world. Her interest in this project seemed personal.
“Very well,” Byron said, his voice settling into a tone that signaled the end of the discussion. “We will proceed accordingly. I expect everyone’s full commitment to this project. Let’s not waste time on speculation. We have work to do.”
The meeting moved on, but Byron’s thoughts lingered on Freya’s words, her calculated manner, and the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. There was more to her than met the eye. And as much as he tried to push it aside, he knew—just as he had always known with Athena—that some things were simply not as straightforward as they seemed.