“Fine,” Quincy snapped, cutting him short. “Why would I doubt you?”
That was when Greg’s phone started to ring, and he tensed up as he rushed to get it.
However, Quincy beat him to it, and was looking at him sideways. “Why do I feel that you’re a little nervous?”
“Nervous? How so?” Greg asked, feigning nonchalance.
Quincy glanced at the screen. Seeing that it was an unknown caller, she answered it!
However, just as Quincy was about to speak, Greg snatched his phone away. “Hey, it’s my phone! What do you think you’re doing?”
Quincy froze for seconds and narrowed her eyes.
Greg was clearly feeling guilty, but he had no choice but to do it-what if it was Kathy calling?
He would be exposed!
“Give it to me right now.” Quincy held out a hand, looking dead serious just then.
When Greg refused, she demanded, “Are you cheating on me, Greg?”
“No way! Why would I do that? You’re being paranoid-”
Quincy snatched his phone out of his hands before he could finish, and answered the call. “Hello?”
“Oh! Hey, Quincy! Is my brother from another mother over there?”
Quincy recognized the voice-it was one of Greg’s close friends, and she was acquainted with the man as well.
Greg was relieved since he heard the voice too. Feeling confident right then, he snorted at Quincy. “Why would you suspect me? Come on, you’re embarrassing me in front of my friend here-what if he told the others you’re getting strict with me? They won’t ask me to hang out with them now…” Quincy smiled. “Oh, I was just feeling concerned. Never doubted you for a moment.” With that, Greg took back his phone and left the room to answer it.
Quincy sneaked closer to eavesdrop.
It turns out that there was nothing suspicious.
Even so, Greg was clearly being weird and fumbling to stop her from taking that call.
Nonetheless, as Greg returned inside the room after taking the call, he said, “You must be tired. I’ve told the kitchen to make you some chicken soup, and you should take a nap after drinking it. Have you seen how weary you look?”
Quincy was actually emotional that he still cared about her, and smiled. “Well, it’s for you and our son’s sake. We’re all Althoffs, so there’s no reason Andrew gets to keep everything for himself… Either way, anything you say goes now.”
Greg put a hand around her shoulder then. “I know it’s been difficult since you’ve always been working hard for our family. That’s why I would never do anything to wrong you-I mean, have I done. any such thing after so many years?”
Greg had certainly been dutiful and proper-Quincy could not fault him at all as a husband over the years. Rubbing her temples, she decided just then that she had been paranoid. Her nerves had certainly been worn thin after toiling at Light Group for days now.
“Thank you for being so understanding, darling,” Quincy said as she leaned against his chest.
Greg breathed a sigh of relief ever so discreetly, but kept smiling as he made Quincy lie down in bed. “I can give you a massage to get you relaxed.”
“Sure.” Quincy said as she sprawled herself on the bed, but she was soon sound asleep.
The next day, Quincy and lan arrived at a fancy restaurant.
They had an appointment to meet Eastdawn’s representative there, but for one reason or the other, they were late to the meeting.
lan was soon starting to get worried. “Do you think Mr. Cross is backing out?”
Quincy was much more composed than her son, and told him, “Stay calm. I’ve looked into the man-he’s a man of his word and holds an upstanding reputation in his circles. He won’t stand us up.”
And even as she spoke, James Cross was already walking toward them.
Both Quincy and lan stood up in return. “Good afternoon, Mr. Cross.”
James was smiling and apologized humbly. “Sorry to keep you waiting-something came up.”
“Oh, it’s fine. We just arrived ourselves. Please have a seat.” Quincy smiled.
“I see,” James said and took his seat, handing them a document and cutting to the chase. “This is the mechanical component our company has developed for aircraft and large vessels. It will see a 30% reduction in fuel consumption, and I’m currently accepting investments due to some recent capital stagnation. I wouldn’t have done so otherwise, but I’m sure you can tell that once this component hits the market, it will definitely develop into a monopoly. Otherwise you wouldn’t have selected my company for a potential investment.”
That was certainly true-that was what Quincy and lan were aiming for.
And they sorely needed something to solidify their authority over Light Group!
“That is for sure,” Quincy said as she poured James a cup of tea. “I’m sure you also know Light Group’s influence in the country too.”
“Of course,” James replied. “I wouldn’t have agreed to this meeting otherwise. In fact, I don’t mind telling. you that there’s so many interested investors I couldn’t afford to meet them all, so I’ve picked the ones I see most potential in.”
“Apologies if we seemed prudent too, since we’re not learned in this industry,” Quincy said as she scrounged through the document James brought them.
The concept, development process, and other details about the mechanical component were summarized meticulously, and it appeared professionally done to Quincy and lan even if they did not really understand it.
lan then leaned in to whisper to Quincy, “Shouldn’t we get expert opinion on this, Mom? We don’t know anything about this…”
Quincy was hesitant too.
While the project shows potential, her ignorance on the matter made her worried about messing up, since research and development required a huge sum of capital.
And they could not afford to invest that much money right now…
James, however, noticed their exchange and slowly said, “I’m sure there are concerns and partnerships like this shouldn’t be forced. Don’t worry, you can read that report as much as you want for now-I’ll be meeting Mr. Underwood from Hundred Bangs after this.”
As James appeared eager to leave and Quincy heard that there was competition, she quickly said, ” Actually, since you’re already here, why don’t we have lunch together? You have to eat even if you’re busy.”
“To be frank, Mr. Underwood is a friend,” James said feebly. “I can’t turn down an appointment, and it’s obvious they want in on this too. Hundred Bangs is certainly worth considering too, so…
“Mr. Cross.”
As he poured James a glass of wine, lan said, “We’re already here, and there’s no reason to not stay for lunch. We can speak further on our potential investment, and you could take your time before heading off to meet Mr. Underwood. It’s not much of a delay, right? I mean, if we came to an agreement before that, Hundred Bangs would just be a memory.”
“That’s true, but if I may be honest, Light Group would be my first choice if Diarmuid Althoff were still CEO. I’m sure he could tell by now that this investment is a solid profit, but you…”
James trailed off. Though he was clearly voicing his doubt, he hastily tried to explain, “Well, it’s not like I’m questioning your competence, and I’m certainly not familiar with you yet since you’ve just taken office.
So….*
“So, you’re saying you don’t trust us?” Ian finished for him, slightly indignant.
Was this man comparing him to Diarmuid, even telling him that he was less than Diarmuid?
With that, lan promptly jumped at the deal. “Alright, we’ll invest in your project. Hundred Bangs is just at retail network anyway, and they’d never understand what they’re getting into.”
James appeared hesitant. “Are you agreeing to this already?”
“There’s nothing to hesitate about,” lan said.
Beside him, Quincy had resolved herself as well.
If someone else were to beat them to this project because they hesitated, they would lose it entirely!
“Yes,” she said. “Light Group is willing to invest in Eastdawn.”
James made an awkward look even though he was celebrating inwardly.
“Are you not going to think further about this?” he asked, as if put on the spot. “Mr. Underwood and I are. quite close…”
“We can sign an agreement right now,” lan insisted.
James had to give in then. “…Very well.”
They decided to do it after lunch.
In the meantime, James’s phone rang repeatedly with new requests for appointments, making it clear that he was in high demand.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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