Chapter 74 In Wine There Is Truth
There was a large office with an area of about 850 square feet on the top floor of the International Commerce Center.
Leo stood straight in front of the huge French window with his hands clasped behind his back, overlooking the whole city.
“Mr. Cohen, I’ve finished what you asked me to do.” Suddenly, a rotund figure rushed over to him with a smile. It was Justin.
“Peter is out of office, so Eugene Hammond, the vice president, is in charge. As of now, Caroline, Rebecca, Samuel, and Patricia have all been demoted. Their monthly salary will be capped at 1, 000 dollars each,” Justin reported.
After a pause, he asked with a bigger smile, “Mr. Cohen, how do you think?”
“Mm, well done.” Leo nodded slightly.
Justin immediately grinned like a kid in a candy shop.
He said cautiously after a moment, “Mr. Cohen, there is something I don’t know if I should say…”
Leo turned around and looked at him in surprise.
Justin had an embarrassed look on his face, opened and shut his mouth. It was obvious that he had a favor to ask.
“Go ahead, what’s the matter?” Leo smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
“Really?” Justin felt flattered but was still a little hesitant.
“Yes.” Leo gave him an encouraging look.
Justin finally spatted it out. “Well, Mr. Cohen, you see, I have some money. But what do businessmen want? Social status. Only with status can we make more money.”
Leo agreed with a nod.
Justin continued, “It’s just that I heard that you know Alan Russell, the richest person in Emerdale?”
“We’ve met a few times,” said Leo.
“That’s great!” Justin clapped his hands excitedly and said, “The next time you see Mr. Russell, can you recommend me to their Kingston Chamber of Commerce?”
Leo laughed immediately and said, “You want to join the Kingston Chamber of Commerce?”
“Yeah.” Justin nodded and said feverishly, “It’s the dream for all the businessmen in Sallton and Winham to join the Kingston Chamber of Commerce. It’s membership is also an admission ticket to the inner business circle of Winbury. I don’t want to be holed up in Emerdale for the rest of my life; I want to expand my spectrum to the whole country, maybe even around the world.”This content is © NôvelDrama.Org.
Leo nodded gladly and only said one word, “Okay.”
“Really?” Justin’s tone turned urgent. “I’ve also heard recently that the head of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce is coming to Emerdale. All the eligible business tycoons of the city are secretly using their connections and trying to meet him. I’m wondering if you could refer me to him?”
Leo smiled faintly, thinking, “The head of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce was sent here by Commerce Maestro to assist me. It’s as easy as winking for me to get a person in.”
However, he only replied carelessly, “Julton Pharmaceutical is going to be kicked out of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce. It just so happens that you can fill their spot.”
Justin was stunned and asked curiously, “Who said Julton Pharmaceutical was going to be kicked out?”
Leo stopped talking, although the smile on his face became wider.
Of course, I can ask the head of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce to kick him out now, but we all need a good reason to wage a war. Or it would only invite discontentment and even panic…
Leo only said calmly, “Before you leave, give me the background information about Eugene Hammond of Vesper Corporation. It’s going to be a lot of help.”
After Justin left, Leo sat down on the sofa and a confident smile emerged on his face.
Just then, his phone rang. It was William.
Leo picked up the phone and asked with a smile, “Hello, Dad? How come you have time to call me?”
But William sounded hoarse and drunk. “Leo, where are you? Come and have a drink with me.”
Leo asked nervously, “Dad, are you drunk?”
“Why so many questions? Just tell me; are you coming or not?” William’s voice became shaking.
“I’ll be there in a minute.” As soon as Leo hung up, he stormed out of the office and went downstairs in an elevator.
“Dad…” The moment he pushed the door open, he saw William sitting alone on the sofa.
Empty bottles were scattered around on the coffee table, sofa, and floor. William sprawled on the sofa drunkenly, still holding a bottle in his hand.
“Dad, how long have you been drinking?” Leo rushed over and snatched the bottle from his hand.
“Wine… give it back.” William reached out to grab the bottle but he slipped and fell to the ground.
Some bottles around him were also smashed into pieces.
“Dad, you’re drunk.” Leo sighed, then held William up and put him on the sofa. Then he took out a wet towel from the bathroom and applied it on William’s head.
“I’m not drunk… Ugh…” As soon as he finished speaking, he threw up with a churning in the stomach.
Leo grabbed the trash can gaily, so William did not vomit on the floor.
William felt much better afterward. He opened his reddened eyes, looked at Leo, then laughed at himself and said, “Leo, am I a loser, a total failure?”
“Dad, what are you talking about?” Leo refuted gravely.
“When my daughter was taken away, I didn’t say a word. When my wife suffered from depression, I couldn’t do anything either. What I did instead was watch them leave me one after another… I couldn’t protect my wife or my daughter.” William wailed bitterly.
Leo was astonished.
He wondered, “His daughter was taken away? His wife suffered from depression? What did it mean? Aren’t Caroline and Rebecca his daughter and wife?”
William picked up a bottle and gulped down another mouthful of wine. His red eyes were filled with tears of regret.
“It took me years to pull myself together. The business was getting better and I decided to start a new life. How did I marry that woman who’s all dollars and no sense? They said that you were ingrate, but in fact, they are the most ruthless, ungrateful… Just go away, all of you. Don’t ever come back…” William babbled.
The empty bottle in his hand fell to the floor with a clang and he had fallen asleep on the sofa.
But Leo still stared at William blankly when a horrifying idea came into his mind. “What if… what if Rebecca is Dad’s second wife?”