Marina hesitated for a full ten minutes. But every time she pictured that colossal mine–worth billions–falling into her hands, the chance to become a major player overnight, all her doubts vanished. She was ready to risk everything.
She signed her name on the digital contract, then sent both the contract and her bank details to Joker.
Three hundred million landed in her account almost instantly.
The next morning, Marina marched straight to the bank and mortgaged her parents‘ garment factory and the rehab center.
Now she had two billion at her disposal. With that kind of firepower, she refused to believe Niamh could even hope to compete.
In the days leading up to the public auction, Marina split her focus–she tasked her newly acquired mining company with drafting technical excavation plans and environmental pledges, while quietly sending someone to dig up whatever they
could on Niamh.
Turns out, Niamh was still in the hospital, delegating every company matter to Amy. Marina felt a wave of relief; Niamh’s extended hospital stay was opening up all
kinds of opportunities for her.
Through her sources, she learned that Niamh, with Elmer’s help, had partnered with one of Aldenville’s top mining firms. Their extraction proposal was rock–solid, but at the moment, Niamh had only scraped together just over a billion.
The way Marina saw it, if she could push the price up to two billion, and steal a peek at Niamh’s mining proposal, she’d have this in the bag.
Auction day arrived. Marina strode in, her team at her back, radiating confidence.
Niamh, finally out of the hospital, showed up with her assistant Amy and a senior engineer.
The bidding for the new mine started at five hundred million. Marina waited, biding her time.
Niamh’s chief rival was FY; the two sides locked horns, each bid climbing higher.
09:02
Chapter 482
Eventually, Niamh pushed it up to 1.47 billion.
At that point, FY and another mining group bowed out.
Just as Niamh was sure the mine was hers, Marina calmly raised her paddle and announced a staggering two billion.
The shock and frustration on Niamh’s face was all the victory Marina needed.
But Marina could see the Minister of Terrestrial Resources wasn’t exactly thrilled. To prove her sincerity, she signed the contract on the spot, paid forty percent upfront plus a ten percent security deposit, all in front of the officials.
She also committed to extracting at least ten thousand carats of gemstones every year, with triple damages for breach of contract. For the first three years, she could only sell to companies approved by the Coralis Ministry.
As she left the auction hall, Marina made a point of stopping next to the dejected
Niamh.
“If Jonathan hadn’t given me that extra one and a half billion, I never could’ve beaten you so easily… Niamh, honestly, you’re making life so much harder than it needs to be. You’re really better off at home, keeping house. Why not sell me your studio for a song? Go find your Prince Charming, settle down, be a stay–at–home wife–laundry, cooking. Isn’t that an easier life?”
Marina covered her lips, unable to hide her mocking smile.
Amy, standing by Niamh’s side, couldn’t hold back. “You’ve got some nerve! Just because we didn’t win the bid this time doesn’t mean my boss’s studio is going under. As if we’d ever sell to you for pennies. Keep dreaming.”
Niamh gently patted Amy’s shoulder, signaling her to let it go.
Marina glanced at Niamh’s pallor, then snickered again. “Still not back to full strength, huh? You should probably check back into the hospital. This business world is brutal–definitely not for the weak.”
With her parting shot delivered, Marina swept away with her team to start running her new project.
She poured every last cent into developing the mine.
This was a once–in–a–century find. According to CD Corporation’s geological survey, the vein’s yield was immense–sixty percent of the ore was gemstone quality.
Selling just a few rough stones would be enough to cover the remaining
payments–and still make her a fortune.
2/3
09:02 1
Chapter 482
Meanwhile, Niamh returned to her studio and fired off a few WhatsApp messages
to Carlisle.
The last one read:
It’s almost time to close the net.
