Chapter 729
“You think she doesn’t want to run? But can she? The feds have Gonzales Holdings under a microscope! She couldn’t even get to the next state, let alone leave the country p>
“Good point. She’s definitely on a watchlist p>
The large hall was buzzing with people, and no matter where you stood, you could hear the piercing whispers. Even her assistant, Lemuel, looked pale and strained. But Caitlin Kensington remained unfazed, calmly picking up a pastry from the refreshment table and taking a bite.
Just then, a stir rippled through the crowd. People parted, clearing a path from the entrance. A wave of awed and sycophantic murmurs followed.
“It’s Miss Mina, LM’s director p>
“She has such a powerful presence p>
A tall, striking figure strode through the doorway, flanked by eight bodyguards. She made quite an entrance. The woman leading the pack, Mina, looked to be in her early thirties, with fiery red lipstick, long, cascading curls, and the sharp, confident features of a true powerhouse.
Mina scanned the crowd. “Excuse me,” she announced, “I’m looking for a Ms. Gonzales from Gonzales Holdings p>
At her words, the crowd’s faces lit up with anticipation. It seemed Mina was here
to publicly humiliate Caitlin. After all, Caitlin had audaciously claimed she would surpass LM Group and become the undisputed number one.
“This is priceless! Called out by the big boss herself. If I were Freya Gonzales, I’d want the ground to swallow me whole p>
“Seriously! This is amazing p>
“Do you think Freya will even dare to show her face p>
“Of course not! This is Mina, LM’s Director for Asia p>
The words had barely left the man’s lips when a clear, pleasant voice cut through the noise.
“I am p>
Caitlin spoke calmly, lifting her gaze to meet Mina’s. Her refined, beautiful face was completely unruffled by the powerful woman before her.
Mina’s eyes narrowed. “So, you’re the Ms. Gonzales who plans to surpass LM Group and become the undisputed number one. You certainly are a prodigy.” She practically spat the last word with sarcasm.
Caitlin heard the thinly veiled mockery but didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she accepted it with a smile. “Thank you for the compliment p>
Mina’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Well then, I wish Ms. Gonzales the best of luck resolving this Jade Glow Balm fiasco. Perhaps you’t manage to surpass LMPGroup within the next century p>
“However,” Mina said, pausing as she walked to the head of the conference, table and took a seat, “until Gonzales Holdings manages that feat, *we* are still number one. And as such am the chairperson of this years skincare conference she turned to a staff member? “Remove the seat for Gonzales Holdings. It seems Ms. Gonzales will have to stand for this meeting p>
A ripple of cruel laughter spread through the room.
“I bet Freya is the first person in history to attend this conference on her feet p>
“Go, Miss Mina! People as arrogant as Freya deserve no mercy p>
As a staff member approached to remove the chair designated for Gonzales Holdings, Caitlin remained perfectly calm. She simply looked at Mina and asked, “So, the seating at this conference is decided by the chairperson each year p>
“That’s right,” Mina said.
Caitlin pressed on. “And the chairperson is determined by a company’s standing
in the skincare industry? Number one gets the chair p>