Chapter 148


    An extended leave? Was she really about to cut ties with him and walk away from United Realty


    Corporation? Ludwik could not figure out what was going on in this woman’s head. Whitney had been


    angry because of ine for a long enough time, and now she was still giving him the cold shoulder.


    If she would not bend, then fine; he was tired of this, too. He would put down his pride and make the


    first move. “This bid is crucial. South City is a tourist hotspot; I must secure half of itsnd. You’ll be my


    secretary for this bid. In three days, you’reing with me to South City.”


    Ludwik’s decision echoed with finality, leaving no room for debate.


    His piercing gaze froze Whitney in ce. Her face turned pale. This was precisely what Keegan


    wanted.


    She was ready to refuse when she caught Felix’s cautionary nce, hinting at her that the boss was


    fuming; publicly rejecting him would spell trouble.


    Realizing the eyes on her, Whitney pressed her lips and remained silent.


    “Meeting adjourned! Everyone, get back to your tasks.”


    Ludwik lowered his head, his aura chilling as he started signing documents, closing off any chance for


    further discussion.


    With a heavy heart, Whitney swallowed her words and followed the others out.


    Felix caught up with her, handing over all the details of the hotel project. His voice was soft but


    persuasive as he said, “Madam, the boss is afraid you might not return from your leave. He’s tying you


    down with a major project. Please understand his intent and make this bid a sess.”


    What Felix left unsaid was that Ludwik had tried every trick in the book to end this standoff with


    Whitney, but this time, because of ine, she seemed determined not to turn back.


    Felix thought that perhaps Mr. Lippert thought they might mend their rtionship by working closely on


    this bid.


    Without a word, Whitney looked at the hundred–billion–dor project weighing down on her, sighing


    silently.


    If she was set on leaving him and United Realty Corporation, this might be herst post, which he was


    forcing on her


    Then, she would do it well. But going together for the bid? That was out of the question. If he did not


    understand her reasons, so be it.


    When the bidding documents were ready, she would find an excuse not to go.


    Whitney buried herself in the vice president’s office with Harper for the next two days, going over the


    bid details.


    The five–star hotel project had been a year in preparation for Ludwik, involving hundreds of billions in


    financing. Its sess was critical to the United Realty Corporation’s foundation. Failure was simply not


    allowed.


    Ludwik’s bid was for a massive piece ofnd in South City, having already smoothed all necessary


    connections.


    Now, they only needed the nod from Braxton Tarrington.


    She discovered that sixpanies were bidding.


    Such a critical decision meant Braxton would meet each bidder. If Ludwik wasst, they would have to


    avoid evening talks. Any health incident would cast shadows over Ludwik.


    She crafted a detailed guideline, cing it on the bid document’s front page. Ludwik would see it upon


    arrival, learning to time his approach and navigate the talks to secure thend.


    On the day of the bid, Whitney left Tiana’s apartment for United Realty Corporation with the confidential


    document, nning to bow out due to a health issue.


    But then, her uncle’s call came. However, the voice on the other side was not Keegan’s but his


    assistant’s, sounding anxious. “Ms. Valentine, Mr. Tennyson is in bad shape; his leg pain is severe, and


    he’s convulsing. I want to take him to the hospital, but he’s resistant and agitated. He mentioned you


    have a way, urging me to


    get you.”


    Her uncle had indeed felt relief from her acupuncture before.


    She nced at the time; it was still morning, with Ludwik set to leave at three in the afternoon.


    “Calm Uncle down. I’m on my way,” she instructed her driver to detour to Northbound Residences.


    Upon entering her uncle’s home, Whitney found it in disarray, clearly a result of his pain.


    The assistant sighed. “He always reacts like this to phantom limb pain when he’s abroad.”


    Her eyes moistened at the sight of her suffering uncle.


    She quickly retrieved her acupuncture kit and reassured him, “Lie down, rx, and after I ice the area,


    I’ll start.”


    The assistant offered to hold her bag, but she declined, knowing the bidding document was inside.


    Keegan’s gazended on the bag and then her face, inquiring about the hotel project.


    She hesitated before lying, “I’m sorry, Uncle. Ludwik didn’t involve me in the project, and I couldn’t win


    it over.”


    Keegan’s look turned cold, disappointment heavy in his eyes.


    Seeing her uncle not press the issue, Whitney heaved a sigh of relief inside. Then, she began the


    acupuncture treatment, inserting the needles and massaging some spots. However, her uncle’s pain


    was stubborn this time, and she grew tired amid the chaos.


    The room quieted as Keegan fell asleep, and Whitney, exhausted, closed her eyes in the chair.


    A ringing phone woke her. It was already two in the afternoon–Ludwik’s departure time!


    Whitney nced at her phone and stiffened when she saw Felix’s name sh across the screen. She


    quickly stood up and slipped out of the apartment to answer the call.


    “Madam, why haven’t youe to the office? The bid proposal is still with you, and we need to get


    going.” Felix’s voice was tinged with urgency.


    Whitney nced back at the apartment, finding the perfect excuse, “My uncle is sick. I can’t leave him.


    Tell him I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to join him for the trip. Plus, Braxton is a stickler for propriety. He


    values the character of the younger generation. It wouldn’t look right for him to have a female secretary


    or a vice president tagging along. He’ll understand.”


    After settling on a meeting point, Whitney hurriedly hailed a cab and rushed to meet Felix, who had just


    parked. She opened her bag and handed over the white–covered bid proposal.


    Felix sighed before saying, “Boss is furious that you bailed at thest minute; he didn’t have time to


    chase you down because of the meeting. He’s hell–bent on winning this property deal, and Braxton


    respects his capabilities, But with the proposal you put together, we’re bound to seed! Just prepare


    for the boss’s return, maybe throw him a wee back dinner, patch things up, Madam.”


    Whitney’s eyes were distant, lost in thought.


    What could she possibly offer Ludwik? Reconciliation was out of the question, and not attending the bid


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    was the best she could do for now.


    She watched Felix’s car drive away, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. With such a major project


    and her absence, her uncle could not interfere.


    Whitney had not heard of her uncle having connections back home, but the man who hade for the


    contract that day?


    She focused her thoughts, trying to piece together who he might be.


    Was he really her uncle’s business partner?


    At this moment, her phone started ringing again.