Chapter 1050
Aspen was absolutely stunned. All Andrew did was throw out a few bold, borderline-offensive remarks, and Derek rewarded him for it. She started to question whether she was dreaming. Since when did the world start handing out favors for calling people fake?
Christina’s face turned a shade darker as she exchanged a look with Quinton.
“Don’t…” He gritted his teeth and muttered, “Let’s just wait and see. Mr. McCormick’s decision isn’t something we can challenge outright. Damn it… this kid really tumbled into the jackpot.”
Andrew straightened his suit jacket, standing at the center of it all with a bright, unbothered grin. “Well then, thank you, Mr. McCormick, for the trust. In that case, Supreme Capital Group is honored to accept the offer! Don’t worry—we’ll make sure the job gets done right.”
Before Derek could respond, one of the old family heads shot up from his seat, clearly displeased. “Mr. McCormick, with all due respect, I really don’t understand why you’d assign such an important project to an entirely new company. As far as I know, Supreme Capital Group has no real history in the capital. We’ve never even heard of them before today. Handing a high-level government project to them feels like a slap in the face to every seasoned business here.”
Quinton seized the opportunity and added more fuel to the fire. “Exactly, Mr. McCormick. While I know your decisions are always sound, I have to say—neither their qualifications nor their track record add up. By any measure, I don’t think they’re suited for this role.”
A few others chimed in as well. “Sir, the donations at this charity event were meant to showcase each group’s capability. This Supreme Capital Group is just a tiny firm. Every other company in this room is more qualified.”
Derek gave them a cool look. “You’re all trying to make this about how much each donated, right?”
No one responded, but the answer was clear—they were. To them, Supreme Capital Group was nothing more than a flashy startup. The idea of it standing shoulder to shoulder with the old powerhouses felt ridiculous.
Quinton chuckled dryly. “Governor, I think you’re joking. Donations come from the heart. Take our family, for instance—we only donated 20 million. Not a huge amount, sure. But strictly speaking, we still donated more than Supreme Capital Group could ever dream of. So if we’re talking capability and loyalty, I think we’ve proven our worth.”
Derek’s smile thinned. “Alright then. Since you’re all making this about numbers, let me be direct. Supreme Capital Group donated 50 million—more than any of you so-called established players in the capital.”
The room went dead quiet when they heard the amount. They could not fathom the possibility that Supreme Capital Group had that kind of money.
Derek went on, “To be honest, I didn’t want to base my decision on money. Talking about donations makes this feel transactional, and I hate that. But since Mr. Wright and a few others insisted on using that as a benchmark, I figured I’d give you a clear answer so no one questions the decision.”
Quinton slammed his fist on the armrest, his whole body tense with rage. He had personally instructed Christina to donate 20 million. At the time, he thought it was a bold move—a clear advantage. He never imagined Supreme Capital Group would outbid him and win Derek’s favor. He had miscalculated big time.
The others were left speechless, too. Supreme Capital Group had just pulled off the unthinkable. They showed up out of nowhere, made one move, and instantly became the focus of the entire capital. With Derek’s backing, their future looked unstoppable.