Chapter 200
After giving it enough thought.
Ethan picked up his phone and quickly typed a response to Serenity.
[ I can't come tomorrow, I'm busy, but some other time would works for me.]
A moment later, her reply came through.
[Alright, then we'll invite you over for dinner instead. Would that work?]
Upon getting Serenity responses Ethan hesitated, his fingers hovering over the screen.
[Dinner's fine, but where?]
he typed back.
Her response came almost immediately.
At that moment Damien eye's raised a little.
It was the same restaurant he and Jeremy were just at and Serenity just said It's her father's favorite.
Ethan's lips twitched into a small, ironic smile.
[Alright, see you then,]
he replied, setting the phone back on the nightstand. The coincidence didn't bother him—it was just another piece of the day's odd puzzle.
Ethan lay on his bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as his thoughts drifted.
His mind wandered back to the meeting he'd had with the spokesman.
Perhaps I should visit their company tomorrow, he mused. See what they have to say about my brand.
Morning arrived, and Ethan dressed in his usual understated but sharp clothe.
Just as he was about to leave his room, a knock sounded at the door. He opened it to find his grandmother's secretary standing there, his expression composed but serious.
Ethan was about to say something when he Interrupted.
"Madam Madison would like to see you,"
the secretary said politely. "She's in the living room."
Ethan nodded, closing the door behind him as he followed the secretary down the hall.
Entering the living room, he found Lady Madison seated elegantly on the plush sofa, wait a steaming cup of tea in her hands. Her piercing gaze softened slightly as Ethan approached.
"Ethan," she began, setting the cup down on the table beside her.
"Will you be available next weekend? I'd like to have a proper chat with you."
At that moment Ethan met her gaze, his expression calm but curious.
He racked his brain, considering his schedule, before finally nodding. "I'll be available next weekend," he said. He tilted his head slightly, his curiosity evident.
"Is something wrong?"
Ethan was kind of curious, he didn't know what lady Madison was going to say.
Lady Madison offered a small, enigmatic smile. "No, nothing's wrong," she replied. "I just have something important I'd like to discuss with you."
Ethan nodded again, his expression neutral, though his curiosity lingered. Just then, Jeremy strolled into the room, his usual confident stride drawing attention.
He greeted his father with a casual wave, then turned to Ethan. "Morning, Ethan," he said with a grin.
But when he reached Lady Madison, his demeanor shifted. With a swift motion, he kowtowed respectfully, lowering his head.
"Good morning, Mother,"
he said, his tone formal and reverent.
At that moment Lady Madison smiled warmly, nodding in acknowledgment.
The secretary, who had been observing the scene from the corner of the room, chuckled and said, "Jeremy, you should teach Ethan to bow like that. Maybe next time."
The joke earned a round of laughter, even from Ethan, who shook his head lightly.
" Even if Jeremy put me through,I don't think I could pull it off just like the way he did." he said with a faint smirk. Straightening his jacket, he added, "I need to head out. Got some things to take care of."
Immediately Lady Madison nodded approvingly.
"Go on, then. Don't let us keep you."
With that, Ethan turned and left, his mind already shifting back to the tasks ahead.
Ethan left the estate, meeting the spokesman at the designated spot before they headed toward the company together.
The car hummed softly as they drove, the morning light filtering through the windows.
As they approached the company, the spokesman cleared his throat, glancing at Ethan with a hint of hesitation.
"Before we get there," he began, his tone low but deliberate, "you should know a bit about the company's structure."
Ethan gave him a sideways glance, signaling for him to continue.
"The owners live abroad," the spokesman explained, leaning slightly forward as if sharing a secret.
"They're rarely involved in day-to-day operations. The people you'll be meeting today are the ones they've left behind to run the company."
Upon hearing what the spokesmen just said.
Ethan raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his attention fixed on the spokesman's words.
"They're… not the cleanest crowd," the spokesman added carefully, choosing his words with precision. "Let's just say they have a reputation for being opportunistic. Always looking for ways to squeeze an extra advantage out of investors, no matter the cost."
However Ethan's expression remained impassive, but his fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, a sign that he was processing the information.
At that moment he gave a small nod, signaling for the spokesman to continue driving, his thoughts already turning to how best to handle the situation.
However the spokesman hesitated, glancing out the window before continuing.
"They've been known to change policies behind the owner's back," he said, lowering his voice. "Anything that lines their pockets. It's all about their personal gain, and I would be praised if they do something today."
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly, though his expression remained composed. He could sense there was more to the story, but he waited for the spokesman to finish.
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"Here's the thing," the spokesman added cautiously.
"Whatever happens in the meeting, they'll likely push you to give them a small percentage of your brand. That's the only way they'll approve anything. Without that, they'll stall or outright deny your proposal."
At that moment Ethan frowned, his brow furrowing slightly.
'So this is how they operate?'
he thought, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.
'These were the people he had come to help, yet they were already angling for a way to exploit him.'
After a moment of silence, Ethan spoke, his voice measured but firm. "Is there any way I can contact the real owner?"
Upon hearing what Ethan just said .
The spokesman glanced at Ethan, his expression unreadable, but he didn't answer right away, leaving the question hanging in the air.