Climbing the stage, one of J Group's managers who has been acting as the MC, climbed the stage with a sheet of paper in his left hand, instantly garnering some attention for himself.
"Hello, friends! The result from the first round of competition is out and these 6 companies made it to the last stage of the contest."
Holding up the paper in front of his eyes, he started to list the names.
"RX, Merge, Dream Axis, Legacy…"
Instantly, there was a little uproar from the audience as those companies that failed to enter into the next stage which was the actual bidding expressed their disappointment.
They couldn't help hanging their heads and murmuring bitterly.
As for Oh Ji-Soo, she maintained her calm notion even when the rival sitting a seat away from her was jubilating for moving over to the next stage.
Now, it was time to get right down to business.
Soon, the bidding started after the representatives from the 6 companies were called on stage and given 3 minutes each to defend their proposal.
The first company to raise their panel was Legacy, starting the bid with $400M. Next was followed by Boxed who went with $395M.
Just like that, other companies continued to bid for a lesser price just to be picked by J Group.
Normal bids always required the price tags for any item to go higher but in this case, it went downward as J Group was now looking for a reasonable price to work with after selecting the best building project proposals for a test.
Raising her panel, Oh Ji-Soo spoke for the first time since the bid officially started as no company seemed to be wanting to go any lesser than the last price that was called some seconds ago.
"$330M!"
Instantly, those that had been waiting for her to say something, immediately became interested in her.
They had been wondering what Dream Axis had in mind, but discovering that Oh Ji-Soo had been waiting for the right time to come in, they all relaxed.
'Let's see how low the price can go. This should do.' Saying that Ji-Soo focused her attention on the judge, waiting for him to hit the panel for the third time.
"$330M going two! $330M going…"
"RX, $300M!"
Immediately, a deep voice announced from the third role while raising his panel.
"What!"
"Does RX not plan on making any profit from this project?"
There were already hushed voices erupting from the audience as the rest of the bidding competitors couldn't sit still including the press.
What was RX doing? Are they playing a game?
What would Dream Axis do next? Would they take up the challenge or drop it?
Speaking of Dream Axis, Oh Ji-Soo was currently staring daggers at the male representative from RX while biting her lower lip as her fingers clenched the panel tightly.
'Are you a fool?'
'You still want to bet?' The project manager from RX smirked while returning a daring smile to her.
The J Group bidding that was going smoothly had suddenly turned into a battle between the two top Architectural companies in the country.
Suddenly, the audience and the rest of everyone in the room turned into spectators as they all looked forward to the company that would win the bid at the end.
*******
~Dream Axis~
Kim Ji-hun was speaking to his personal assistant, Ms. Helen about his schedule for the last day of the week when the smartphone on his desk started to vibrate.
Stealing a glance at the phone screen, he caught sight of the caller ID and automatically paused the meeting.
Raising his index finger in front of his face, he turned his full attention to the incoming call as Ms. Helen got a cue to seal her lips.
"Yes?" Kim Ji-hun uttered in a demanding tone. Listening after a while, his eyes widened in shock as his phone threatened to slip out of his hand.
What did he just hear?
Five seconds later, he placed his phone on his desk and shut his eyes.
Clenching his fingers, his chest rose and fell heavily as his breathing quickened.
Seeing the sudden change in his countenance plus the air surrounding them, Helen was afraid.
What was the call all about?
Before she could even begin to process the whole thing, she heard Kim Ji-hun instruct through gritted teeth.
"Helen, arrange an emergency meeting with all the managers and heads of departments in thirty minutes!"
"Yes, Sir!"
Immediately, Helen who was already scared for her life turned to dash out of the room to go and do as instructed by her boss.
But in her mind, she was still curious about the phone call.
Who dared to anger President Kim suddenly when everything seemed to be going smoothly for him?
Helen couldn't help but be scared about how the rest of her day was going to turn out.
She very well knew what Kim Ji-hun usually turned into each time he was provoked to that degree.
Left with no time to think of answers, she immediately picked up the landline and started to make calls for the meeting as soon as she returned to her little workstation.
Back in the President's office, an angry Kim Ji-hun who still had his eyes closed while balling his fists continued to mutter inaudible words as his lips moved.
He seemed to be chanting in order to get his emotions that were hanging on a thin thread to continue enduring it, but supposedly, the state of his mind body and soul was so bad that peace was far away from him.
The instant his lashes fluttered open he pounded his fists on his desk while standing on his feet at the same time.
"Oh Ji-Soo!!!" His angry tone roared as the fury in his eyes burned rapidly.
Only if the woman seeking death by his hands were to be standing in front of him now, there was no doubt that he would tear her to pieces.
Letting out a deep breath, he picked up his phone and stormed out of his office, ignoring the calls of his personal assistant who wanted to know where he was storming off to.
Didn't he say that there was going to be an emergency meeting in half an hour? Where was he going then?
Would the meeting still hold at that time, or was it going to hold now?
Helen was a bit conflicted about what choice to make.