CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 15: CALLING HIM

The lights on the stage flickered, automatically adjusting with the presentation, but the guests’ area below remained in a dim hue.

This way, everyone could clearly see how the phone’s features worked.

At this moment, a man’s voice, not small, came from the guests’ area, breaking the silence of the conference hall.

Ava Sterling looked over.

So did the other guests.

Because no one expected someone to interrupt during the demonstration.

The man stood in the dimness, at the very end.

As he spoke, he stood up.

Wearing a black baseball cap, with a camera around his neck and glasses on his eyes, he was not tall, slightly chubby, clearly a journalist.

However, upon seeing this person, Ava Sterling instantly knew his purpose.

To stir up trouble.

It wasn’t time for the Q&A yet, and he interrupted on purpose, evidently someone had him do so.

As for the reason, Ava didn’t need to think to understand.

Competition.

There is competition in every industry, and it’s even more terrifying between big companies.

On an occasion like today, it was not surprising for someone to cause trouble.

Ava didn’t speak, looking at the man, to see what he would say next.

A slight commotion arose in the conference hall as everyone realized the man’s intention.

None of the people sitting here were fools.

They were all crafty.

The host was also dumbfounded for a second, not expecting someone to so brazenly cause trouble.

But he quickly reacted, immediately saying, "Does this gentleman have something to say?"

He wasn’t a regular host; he was from the company’s marketing department, an eloquent speaker with excellent hosting skills and a deep understanding of the company’s situation, highly competent.

As the host spoke, he signaled the service staff to hand the man a microphone.

Ava watched, remaining calm.

She believed MK could handle such unexpected situations well.

She didn’t need to worry.

Soon, the microphone was handed to the man, and the spotlight shone on his face, projecting it clearly onto the big screen.

The guests stopped their commotion, looking at the person on the big screen, gradually falling silent, only occasionally whispering to those beside them.

Ava gazed at the people in the conference hall, also clearly seeing the person sitting in the very center of the front row.

With slicked-back hair and a suit covering his body, he leaned back in a relaxed posture.

Without a word or a gesture, just with his deep-set eyes fixed on the large screen, he radiated an unapproachable aura of authority.

No wonder he was a Vaughn.

He showed no anger or joy, giving away no hint of his thoughts.

The journalist didn’t expect his face to be projected onto the big screen, but he paused just briefly before saying, "MK’s new phone can provide excellent call quality, which is a great thing, but everyone’s phone is different. Can MK guarantee that too?"

"Haha, it seems this gentleman still doubts MK’s quality. Please hold on, I’ll have Miss Sterling demonstrate for everyone right now."

"What brand is the phone you’re demonstrating? Is it a device you’ve pretested brought here for show? What’s the point?"

"Why not directly use your new device to call the guests present, so they can personally experience the call quality of your new phone?"

The host was about to let Ava demonstrate when he was interrupted again by the journalist’s words.

He furrowed his brows, a bit displeased.

Ava, however, remained composed.

She approached her work with her own professional ethics, cultivated over the past ten years.

The host didn’t speak, and the guests below stopped whispering, looking at the host on the stage.

The journalist’s words made sense.

The host wore an earpiece, staying on a call throughout.

Should any unexpected situation arise, someone would instruct him on what to do, which was why he could quickly know and adjust when there was a backstage phone issue just now.

And at this moment, a voice spoke through the earpiece again.

His expression shifted slightly, understanding.

"Haha, this gentleman’s point is valid, so we’ll have Miss Sterling call the guests present."

"Let everyone clearly feel the call quality of our MK device."

As he spoke, a service staff member came out to the front row, bent to speak to the person sitting in the very center.

Seeing this, Ava’s heart skipped a beat.

They said to call the guests present, seemingly at random, actually with intent.

It must have been an order from MK’s CEO.

But this order wasn’t wrong.

There was probably no one here who could compete with that person.

A live demonstration, conversing with him, if it could pass his judgment, even the journalist wouldn’t dare say anything.

This twist, very clever.

However...

If she didn’t know the person from that night was this person, it would be fine, but knowing, in this situation now...

Ava truly didn’t want to be associated with such a bigshot, seeing how unfamiliar he acted towards her, he too wouldn’t want to bring up that night’s event.

Obviously, everyone is an adult; what’s past is past, no need to dodge.

Besides, maybe he didn’t know it was her that night?

After all, the way she looked that night, probably couldn’t... recognize her?

Or perhaps, that night wasn’t him at all, and her intuition was wrong?

As the service staff whispered to Poe Vaughn, numerous thoughts flashed through Ava’s mind.

The moment the service staff stood upright, all those chaotic thoughts vanished instantly.

No matter who he was, she was at work now, just doing her job was enough, no need to mind who that person was!

The service staff turned to nod at the host, indicating that Poe Vaughn had agreed to be the recipient of the call.

The host immediately beamed, "Today, President Vaughn came from afar, which is not easy. To have President Vaughn’s consent to be the demonstration receiver of our new device is truly our MK’s honor!"

"Now, let’s have Miss Sterling call President Vaughn."

Swiftly, a number was brought up and spread out before Ava.

Ava picked up the new device, entered the number, then pressed the speakerphone button.

Simultaneously, the host’s microphone was placed near the microphone of the new device.

Quickly, "beep..."

A clear beep echoed throughout the conference hall.

The guests turned to look at the person sitting in the very center of the front row. Poe Vaughn sat back on his chair, legs crossed, hands interlocked on his lap.

He gazed at the person on stage, not moving.

Seeing this, no one was surprised, since listening to the call quality involved paying close attention to the beeping as well.

On careful listening, indeed it sounded different from normal phones.

Ava didn’t look at the people below, instead focusing on the display of the dialing process on the phone.

As if she was truly making a call, not a demonstration.

At this moment, the conference hall quieted down, extremely quiet.

It seemed as if all sounds had concealed themselves, making way for the person sitting in the center of the front row.

"Beep..."

The second beep, still no answer.

Ava’s expression remained unchanged, patiently waiting.

"Beep..."

The third beep, still no answer.

The silence in the conference hall deepened.

Ava’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, she continued to wait, watching the phone.

The host beside her, however, showed slight astonishment.

He thought Poe Vaughn would answer once the call connected.

But clearly, that wasn’t the case.

But then again, it made sense.

This was a demonstration, naturally needing to mimic reality.

President Vaughn is usually a very busy man, how could he answer the phone so quickly?

After four rings, before the fifth ring, click, the call was answered.

The host beside her was already breaking into a sweat, relieved to hear the call connect.

He thought President Vaughn wouldn’t answer the call.

The call was answered, but there was no sound. Ava’s expression remained unchanged, seeing the call in progress on the phone display; she knew he was waiting for her to speak.

Without hesitation, her red lips parted slightly, "Hello."

The voice was low and soft, with a slow cadence, like a person holding a sixteen-rib paper umbrella, slowly walking towards you in the misty rain.

Poe Vaughn held the phone, watching the person on stage. Her head was slightly lowered, the hair brushing against her collarbone swaying faintly, her long lashes covering bright eyes, catching the lightly jumping glow.

He said, "Who’s this."