Chapter 104
Chapter 104:
“Brinley, it’s our turn,” Corbin urged, his voice taut with nerves, the papers in his grip wrinkling under the pressure of his restless fingers.
Brinley steadied herself with a long breath. Her heels struck the floor in crisp, measured beats that cut through the hall’s hush.
At the podium, she planted her feet firmly, lifting her chin to meet Colin’s eyes as he lowered himself back into his seat.
His gaze didn’t burn with mockery this time. It was sharp, unyielding—a wordless vow that seemed to say, “This round, you won’t defeat me p>
Behind the row of judges, Austin sat quietly, his long fingers tapping a steady rhythm against his knee. From where he watched, he caught the flicker of unease in Brinley’s eyes, the subtle tightening of her fists as she tried to mask her nerves.
“Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Brinley Moore, representing VantagePath Realty p>
She didn’t launch straight into her proposal. Instead, the lights dimmed, and a video began to play.
Sheets of rain pounded a racetrack while a scarlet race car skidded on a slick curve. Just as it seemed destined to smash into the barrier, the car slammed into a…
…cushioned buffer zone and bounced back intact. The racer climbed out, shaken but unharmed.
“The foundation of my design is speed built on safety,” Brinley declared, her voice ringing crisply through the microphone. “Standard safety zones measure eight meters. I’ve expanded mine to ten, and the crash-absorbing material surpasses international strength requirements p>
𝘋𝗂𝘀𝖼𝗈v𝖾r 𝗵𝗂𝘥d𝖾n 𝗀е𝗆𝘀 оn
The video shifted to racetrack schematics. Brinley lifted her hand, gesturing toward the screen. “This particular curve was tested seven times before we finalized its incline at precisely 14.5 degrees. This setup gives professional racers the rush of raw speed while still allowing casual players to enjoy the track without fear p>
From the judges’ panel, Grayson leaned forward, admiration gleaming in his eyes. “A touch steeper and the track is treacherous; a touch flatter and the thrill vanishes p>
“Right.” Brinley’s voice carried a subtle note of pride. “Our team spent three months at the test grounds, trying out a dozen different surface materials before locking in the one that gripped perfectly at this incline p>
For the next forty minutes, she laid open the blueprint like a jeweler displaying a rare gem. From the concealed drainage grids beneath the track to the custom-built seating designed for spectators, she presented every element with steady confidence and precision.
Down in the audience, Colin sat rigid, his nails biting into his palms.
He had to concede that Brinley’s presentation carried real weight. Her vision stretched beyond blueprints and concrete; she understood the spirit of racing itself.
Had she cultivated this insight recently through relentless study, or had it been a hidden strength—quietly waiting for the right moment to surface?
When the floor opened for the judges’ questions, the tension in the room rose immediately.
“Mrs. Moore, your proposal is solid and professional, but the budget is fifteen percent higher than Palmer Group’s. For a government project, cost control is critical,” one judge pressed, his tone sharp.
Before Brinley could answer, Colin lifted his hand with deliberate calm. “Paying fifteen percent more just to gain a twenty percent bump in safety isn’t worth it. My plan meets eighty percent of the safety standard and still keeps spending under control p>
He let the silence stretch for a beat, his gaze locking on Brinley, then…
added coolly, “Chasing perfection can turn into a liability when it strays too far from practicality p>