Chapter 348
Guessing Who Mr. Sterling's Girlfriend Is
That day, Julian Sterling took Claire Bennett to Old Madam Sterling's birthday banquet, and he had originally intended to announce that she was his future wife. Who could have expected such an accident to happen instead? She had utterly humiliated herself in public!
Thinking of what happened that day, a shadow of gloom slowly overflowed from Hazel Lewis's eyes.
She wished she could go over and slap Claire Bennett twice.
But her status wouldn't allow her to do that, and besides, Julian Sterling still liked Claire Bennett very much right now. She couldn't rashly deal with Claire Bennett and provoke Julian Sterling's displeasure.
She had already stabilized things on Old Mr. Sterling's side. Next, all she had to do was win over Julian Sterling. Once she had him, the position of future Mrs. Sterling would be hers!
As she thought this, Hazel Lewis's gaze landed on Willow Lane beside her.
Last time, she had asked to meet Willow Lane, but Willow Lane had acted all haughty and arrogant. The two of them hadn't been able to discuss anything, nor had they entered into any cooperation.
However, she had learned one thing: Willow Lane and Claire Bennett were deeply at odds.
This time, Maison Verne was selecting an executive, so there was definitely fierce competition involved. Maybe she could give Willow Lane a hand and help her crush Claire Bennett hard!
A mocking smile curled at Hazel Lewis's lips.
Very soon, Mr. Grant, the founder of Bertha, appeared. He stood in the middle and exchanged pleasantries with everyone.
"I've already reviewed all of your companies' materials. You're all very capable, but the person I want to work with can't be chosen on capability alone. What I'm looking for is a partner whose soul is in sync with mine."
When everyone heard that, they all looked astonished.
What did he mean by being in sync on a soul level?
How exactly was Mr. Grant going to choose a business partner?
But before anyone could ask, Mr. Grant had already turned and left. He entered the conference room.
Next, Mr. Grant's assistant appeared. His assistant said to everyone, "Next, Mr. Grant will speak with each of you individually about your philosophy of cooperation. If your views are compatible, Mr. Grant will decide on the partner."
Mr. Grant had long since received word from Julian Sterling's side that several of the candidates in charge from their company would all be coming to discuss cooperation with him, and he was to choose the one he felt was the most outstanding.
Since it was only a matter of convenience anyway, Mr. Grant didn't refuse. He could do Julian Sterling this favor.
Mr. Grant's assistant had everyone draw lots to determine the order of entering the conference room.
Maison Verne drew a relatively late spot.
So they quietly waited for their turn.
Next, when the assistant read out a company's name, that company would send one person in to discuss the philosophy of cooperation with Mr. Grant.
Watching this back-and-forth scene, Claire Bennett felt a little dazed. Why did it feel so much like a job interview?
She couldn't help curling her lips into a smile, finding her own thought a little funny.
While waiting, Claire Bennett was bored, so she sent Julian Sterling a text message.
"Big Boo, I've already arrived at Bertha. We just drew lots, and our spot is pretty far back. Right now we're all waiting outside. Mr. Grant says he wants to talk with us about our philosophy of cooperation."
...
At this moment, in the Sterling International president's office.
Today Cameron Quinn had come to hang out with Julian Sterling. The two were sitting together drinking tea when Julian Sterling's phone suddenly lit up. Out of the corner of his eye, Cameron Quinn immediately saw the message that popped up on Julian Sterling's screen.
At once, Cameron Quinn's mouth twitched.
He burst out laughing without the slightest restraint and asked, "Pfft... Big Boo? What kind of name is that?"
Julian Sterling shot him a cold glance, then picked up his phone, unlocked it, and replied to Claire Bennett's message.
Last time, he had casually made up a name to brush Claire Bennett off, but he hadn't expected her to take it seriously. Later, he told Claire Bennett to give him a loving nickname, and now Claire Bennett was directly calling him Big Boo—she wasn't even calling him husband anymore.
Big Boo?
Julian Sterling narrowed his eyes. He'd deal with her when he got home tonight.
He said unhurriedly, "It's Claire's pet name for me."
Cameron Quinn: "..."
Looking at the flaunting expression on Julian Sterling's face, it practically spelled out: See? The pet name my wife gave me. You don't have one, do you?
Cameron Quinn felt like coughing up blood. Even if you beat him to death, he never would have imagined that one day Julian Sterling would turn into this.
Was this still the Julian Sterling he knew?
Cameron Quinn suddenly thought of something and asked, "How did things go that day? Did Miss Bennett suspect you?"
Without even lifting his head, Julian Sterling said, "No."
Seeing that Julian Sterling was completely absorbed in his phone and had no time for him, Cameron Quinn could only go drink tea by himself off to the side.
Julian Sterling's long fingers moved over the phone as he replied to Claire Bennett's message: "Do your best! Mr. Grant will definitely be very satisfied with you."
Claire Bennett was surprised. "How do you know?"
Julian Sterling's eyes darkened slightly, and he continued replying: "Mrs. Grant is a professor at St. Royal Academy. Mr. Grant is very fond of students from St. Royal Academy."
That was the reason he had chosen this as the content for the second round of the competition.
On the surface, it looked very difficult, but in reality, he had secretly opened a back door for Claire Bennett, allowing her to win successfully.
After seeing the message, Claire Bennett looked astonished. She truly hadn't expected that there would be this factor as well.
So compared to the others at Maison Verne, it felt like she had some kind of cheat code now.
If Julian Sterling hadn't told her, she probably wouldn't have known this either, so did this count as Julian Sterling pulling strings for her?