Chapter 69
On the other end of the line, Malisa exhaled and calmly said, “Cora… relax. You’re overreacting p>
There was a pause, then Malisa added thoughtfully, “Okay, what if we do it in this manner — both of us should go together p>
At that moment hearing what Malisa just said, Cora’s eyes narrowed. She leaned back into the couch, her fingers tightening slightly around the phone. Her voice was calm but firm, “Malisa, I said I’m not interested. I don’t care how important it sounds. It goes against my principle. I can’t just be seen by anybody simply because they want to see me. That’s not how I live p>
She shook her head, her expression now filled with restrained irritation. “Even if what Levi has to say is useful, it’s still against my principle. It feels off, Malisa. It feels like a setup. Something about this just feels… summer to me p>
There was silence on the other end for a brief moment before Malisa’s voice came back, more serious this time. “Cora, I understand you have your principles, but don’t let those principles blind you to something that might be a real threat or a real opportunity. I have this strong feeling that whatever Levi has to say is very important. This is James we’re talking about. You know what he’s capable of. It’s better we handle this situation very strongly p>
At that moment Malisa nodded “Okay, no problem, I’ll pass the message immediately.” Her voice was calm, but her mind was still unsettled. She didn’t want to push Cora too far—not today. Cora had made it clear she wasn’t going to see Lovie, and there was no convincing her beyond this point. So Malisa decided to respect her stance for now and let it go.
But just as she was about to hang up the call, she paused.
A thought struck her—something important, something she had almost forgotten amidst the tension of the last conversation. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her hand tightening around the phone.
“Oh—wait,” Malisa said, her voice quickly shifting to a more serious tone, “before I forget, there’s something else… something important that came up. I really need to discuss it with you p>
At that moment, upon hearing what Malisa just said, Cora then walked to the couch and lean back on it, a little curious now. Her fingers lightly tapped against the armrest as she asked calmly, “What is it? What did you forget that you really want to discuss p>
Malisa didn’t respond immediately. She exhaled slowly, like someone carefully choosing their words, then said, “Do you still remember JSK p>
The moment Malisa mentioned that name, Cora’s brow lifted. “JSK?” she echoed. “Yes, of course I remember them. Why? What’s going on with them now p>
Malisa’s tone suddenly picked up, mixed with a kind of excitement and disbelief. “Well, this morning, while everything was happening—the rush, the tension—I got a formal proposal from them. It was sent to our corporate inbox. Cora… they’re officially interested in collaborating on the Mega City Project p>
Then Cora’s lips parted slightly. That caught her off guard. “Wait,” she said, sitting up a bit.
“JSK? The same JSK that pulled out last year and said they wanted nothing to do with domestic projects p>
Malisa nodded quickly on the other end. “Yes, that JSK. They sent a full document, not just an inquiry. I read it three times just to be sure. It’s well-detailed. They’ve not only stated interest they’ve outlined some of the areas they want to take charge of. Infrastructure, high-speed road networks, part of the water system engineering p>
At that moment, upon hearing what Malisa just said, Cora’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as she slowly tilted her head. “Wait what exactly does GSK want?” she asked, her voice calm but laced with curiosity. “Didn’t they say anything else? I mean, what are they expecting from us in return? Have they mentioned partnership ratios? Percentage splits? Technical oversight or lead control p>
Malisa sighed as she leaned back in her chair, the weight of Cora’s sharp questions pressing on her. “Honestly,” she began, “that’s the strange part. No, they didn’t include any of that. No figures. No projected shares. Not even a breakdown of what they want from the deal. It’s just a formal notice of interest and a request to meet directly with you p>
Immediately Cora raised her brows, clearly not impressed by the vagueness. “So they want to jump on a multibillion project and haven’t even stated their terms? That doesn’t sound like JSK. That company never moves without a calculated proposal p>
“I know,” Malisa replied quickly, sensing Cora’s rising caution. “That’s exactly what I thought too. They’ve always been precise, down to the tiniest line in their drafts. But this time, it feels like they’re… testing waters. Or maybe hiding something p>
Cora crossed her legs slowly and let her fingers rest under her chin. Her voice was slower now, more thoughtful. “This smells political. Or personal. You don’t just send that kind of letter and request a meeting with me, me, of all people without an angle p>
Malisa nodded on the other side of the call. “Exactly. And that’s why I went ahead and request a meeting between you and the CEO of GSK. It’s been confirmed. Two days from now p>
Cora’s expression darkened just slightly. She wasn’t sure if she liked decisions being made for her, but she understood Malisa’s intention. “You’re sure it’s the CEO? Not just some representative p>
“No,” Malisa said firmly. “The CEO himself. The name was on the letter. I checked it twice and it’s ROBERT JACKSON p>
At that moment, Cora leaned back slightly on the couch, exhaling a soft breath before speaking. Her voice was calm but carried a firm edge, “It’s okay. If it was just a representative, I honestly wouldn’t have gone. You know how I feel about sending me to middlemen who don’t even understand half of what they’re offering. But since it’s the CEO himself, then I have nothing to worry about. That means they’re serious. Accept the meeting p>
Malisa smiled on the other end of the call, her tone quick and determined, “I will do that immediately p>