6
Lydia seemed to finally process what was happening. She probably thought I was exaggerating she likely had no idea that Phoenix’s company had been completely dependent on mine to get off the ground. Perhaps she thought they were just losing one big client.
So she snorted derisively, about to mock me, when Phoenix beat her to it.
He forced an awkward smile, as if finally accepting reality, but still wanting to make one last effort: “Cora, don’t joke around. I’m not going to leave you?
I crossed my arms and looked at him coldly. “Phoenix, I never joke around.”
“I have the power to take away everything I gave you. You didn’t actually think that just because I have a good temper, I would meekly put up with your abuse, did you?”
Lydia was starting to understand the situation now. Her gaze darted between my calm demeanor and Phoenix’s dejected pallor. She couldn’t help but ask, “Will the company die without her?”
Phoenix ignored her. Right now, he just wanted to beg me to spare him.
11:48 AM
<
“Cora, don’t make any rash decisions. Your cooperation with us is profitable. Terminating the contracts now means you’ll have to pay compensation. It’s not a good deal for you,” he said.
I shook my head, tapping my fingers on the table as I refused: “I don’t care about that bit of money. But you will go bankrupt.”
Phoenix glared at me angrily, his face darkening: “We’ve cooperated in this area for so long, with considerable profits every year. If you unilaterally cut us off and pay breach of contract fees, will the other shareholders agree?”
I laughed. So this was his trump card. No wonder he dared to betray me – he really thought he had leverage.
I might as well tell him: “Phoenix, you don’t actually think I didn’t know about you trying to contact my company’s shareholders, do you?”
Phoenix was taken aback. “You knew?”
“People shouldn’t be too greedy. Phoenix, I gave you many chances. You’re the one who wanted to have your cake and eat it too. You were already profiting from my company, yet you still tried to dilute my shares.”
With that, I glanced at my employees, signaling it was time to go.
As we left the conference room, I could still hear Phoenix and Lydia arguing loudly through the open door.
a
“What does this mean? Will the company really go bankrupt?”
“So what if it goes bankrupt? Can’t I start over?”
“Am I the one making a scene, or are you just a useless leech?”
“If you hadn’t exposed everything to her, how would things have turned out like this?”
“Hah, you couldn’t control yourself, and now you’re blaming me?”
I was actually quite busy. As soon as I got back to the office, my secretary brought over a pile of documents.
I called the manager in charge of this project: “There’s no rush on this project. Let me take a look at the proposal when it’s ready.”
“Certainly, Ms. Smith.”
The manager was clearly happy, suddenly much more enthusiastic about work. He had also gotten fed up with cooperating with Phoenix’s company. Many times they had to lower their own standards to accommodate the other party – talk about an emasculated client.
I summoned my capable assistant and told him to handle the acquisition of Phoenix’s company. Using some underhanded tactics was fine- all’s fair in business, after all.
I spent another day in meetings. Once I got busy, I really didn’t have time to dwell on other things.
But suddenly I thought, maybe I could take a vacation too.
I planned to have a headhunter poach a professional manager with a high salary to run the company.
Money is fine as long as it’s enough to spend. What’s the point of just earning and not enjoying it?
The world is so big – I want to go see it.
Just as I was getting ready to take an extended vacation at any time, Phoenix sought me out again.
