Standing Right Next To You - Chapter 410

“Brother Reuben wants to chase me away already?” A soft and coquettish grumble was heard in the room which diverted their attention to its owner.

Reuben glanced at the two people who were now walking towards them as he rose from his seat.

Following his actions, everyone rose to greet the people who had arrived.

“Sorry if we are late, Mr. Ming.” Director Peter Wang apologized even when he wasn’t late.

The representative for the collaboration with the Zheng Groups, Peter Wang smiled as he shook the CEO’s hand.

He then turned towards the woman who had come along with him only to find that she was lost in a daze.

‘Can she at least pretend that she is not gaping at him?’ He lamented that he was stuck with this scary person who suddenly turned soft and mellow in the Emperor’s presence.

Priscilla Lin who had taken her seat once again was scanning the woman who had arrived and smirked when she saw the foolish look on her face.

She was well aware of who this was and had even met her a few times due to her boyfriend, Mason’s acquaintance with her.

However, the two ladies were like fire and ice and could never mingle with each other.

The Queen of the socialites, Talia Zheng was not one to mingle with commoners who rose through the ranks by sticking close to men.

Therefore, Priscilla and Talia could never be friends.

Right now, Priscilla was observing the look on that woman’s face and could not help but snicker.

‘What Queen? She looks like an idiot right now!’ She sneered while ridiculing the dumbstruck look on her face.

Talia had been lost in a trance after taking a single look at her Brother Reuben’s face but snapped out of it when she heard the mocking giggle.

The other men in the room too turned towards Priscilla but they did not chastise her as she was under the CEO’s protection.

However, Talia was not one to care about these as she glared at the wicked woman who had used her charm to get closer to Reuben’s cousin.

‘She is just like that Bitch Lina!’ She compared the two and found them to be cut from the same cloth.

Rolling her eyes, she cleared her mind of these thoughts when she recalled the real motive for this meeting.

“Good to see you, Brother Reuben.” She greeted him with a wide smile but all she got from him was an indifferent nod.

‘Same as always.’ She bit her lip at his languid response.

“Now that everyone is here, shall we begin?” He proposed, scanning the room and hummed when he found bobbing heads everywhere.

Gesturing for the newcomers to take their seats, he returned to his.

Director Wang pulled the seat for the Young Miss of his company and sat next to her since he was here as the head of this project and also her mentor.

Talia did not bother greeting the others from the group but Peter had done this as soon as he had completed greeting the CEO.

Therefore, the heads of the two departments, Finance and Planning, had a better impression of the Direction than they had of the woman who had accompanied him.

Priscilla had moles everywhere hence she had heard the news of what had taken place the last time Talia was in the Ming Enterprises and also that she would be here today as well.

When she had heard the news about Reuben and his girlfriend from Helen Gu, she had done a little investigation which had led her to this grand discovery.

However, she did not know who his girlfriend was but was happy that the couple had caused Talia to lose face the last time she was here.

She was curious about the mystery woman but more than that, she wished to witness Talia’s defeated face.

‘Let’s see how he humiliates her this time.’ She was eager to watch the show.

Once everyone was seated, the meeting began, and in no time, the atmosphere became serious.

Trigger was keeping an eye on the woman who continued to steal secret glimpses from his Master and shook his head.

‘Master has followers everywhere.’ He sighed and decided to pay attention to the meeting.

Director Wang began explaining how they would commence and progress the plan they had made and from time to time would answer the questions from the Heads of the department.

Priscilla too was an active member in this meeting as she began making notes like a diligent worker.

The only one who remained silent was Talia as she was clenching her fists due to nervousness at what would be next.

‘You can do it, Talia!’ She cheered for herself and waited silently.

The main reason why she had come along with Peter was to prove that she was a valuable member of this project and not just someone whose presence or absence did not change a thing.

Therefore, she had prepared well with Director Wang’s help and now was waiting for her turn.

“Now, Miss Zheng will take over.” His prompt words dragged her out of her thoughts.

Glancing around the table, she found everyone’s eyes on her and she took a deep breath to regain her composure.

‘What is he trying to do?’ Reuben frowned when he heard this as he gazed at Peter Wang suspiciously.

He had known Talia since they were kids and hence he was well aware of her business acumen.

‘If she was good at this then her company would not need those experts they hired to run it.’ He was not ignorant of how her jewelry company worked.

Therefore, he was reluctant to waste his time listening to someone who did not know what they were doing.

He was running a business here and time was of the essence.

Talia had no clue about the doubtful thoughts in his head as she began speaking, just as she had practiced with Peter.

Director Wang, the one who had tutored her, was sitting on pins and needles as he watched her express the pros and cons of the plans they were proposing.

Reuben and the others in the room were stunned to see her speaking eloquently and began paying attention to her.

Noticing their keen eyes, Talia’s confidence was boosted as she continued speaking about the project.

‘Now no one can tell me that I am not needed!’ She glowered at the words that Matthew Kim had used to mock her when she had arrived late for the previous meeting.

People paid attention to what she said and Talia did not disappoint them.

Even Peter Wang was happy with how she was handling the questions that the other department heads were tossing her way.

All along, the person whom she wished to impress remained silent and did not utter a single word.

‘Did I leave you speechless?’ She blushed while looking at Reuben from the corner of her eyes.

“Excellent work, Miss Zheng.” Johnson Mao, Head of Finance Department praised her once she had finished her part.

He was skeptical about Talia’s role in this meeting but she had proved him wrong with her performance so he did not withhold his appreciation for her.

Reuben nodded without a word which only caused Talia to feel elated.

While everyone was now applauding the Elder daughter of the Zheng family, there was only one who wasn’t satisfied with this result.

‘Why is this different from my expectations?’ Priscilla groaned that she had not yet seen Talia being humiliated.

Instead, everyone here was praising her and commending her for her efforts which was getting on Priscilla’s nerves.

But she knew that she could not interfere while the meeting was still on.

She was well aware that the only reason she was still in this company even after the things that she had done was due to her boyfriend’s rocky relationship with the CEO.

The CEO knew of her offenses yet did not throw her out but even concealed her crimes at times however, she knew not to cross her limits.

Reuben was tolerating her for his cousin’s sake but he would not be pleased if she meddled while he was still around.

Therefore, she sat in silence while the others praised Talia.

Her eyes turned towards her ‘Brother-in-law’ who wore the same cold expression as he sat in silence.

“What are your thoughts, Mr. Ming?” Director Wang inquired with trepidation apparent in his tone.

‘I feel like I am waiting for the test result of my child.’ He jested that he was the worried parent and Talia was the child who had appeared for an important test.

Talia too held a similar anxious expression as she awaited the answer of her beloved.