Chapter 568
There were two middle-aged men inside the room.
One of them was dressed in a suit and had a scholarly air.
The other was dressed much simpler. He had a square jaw, which made him look rather intimidating.
Patrick greeted nervously. "Hello, Zac."
Zachary grunted expressionlessly before returning to his seat.
The older man with a square jaw said with a cold expression, "Mr. Thompson has traveled far to be here. You should have reached sooner!"
The elegant older man was Shein.
He looked Patrick up and down, smiled, and said, "An accomplished man will have an equally capable son. Patrick, you seem very capable. If you become a civil servant, your achievements are sure to equal your father's!"
Clifford Simpson laughed. "Everyone has their own ambitions. He doesn't want to be a civil servant, and I can't beg him to do so, can I?"
Shein was secretly disappointed, but he chuckled and said, "Have a seat, Patrick. Your father and I are old friends, so you don't need to stand on formalities."
Clifford worked in politics in Yorksle. He wasn't in a high position, but he did have authority and managed the approval of important resources across the country. All the governors treated him with deference.
His connections in politics were deep-rooted and had created a strong foundation. If Patrick had chosen to be a civil servant, he would have a smooth career path in the future.
Unfortunately, Patrick had no interest in working for the government. He was majoring in business management at Caltopia College.
After Patrick sat down, he opened a bottle of white wine and filled his glass. He looked apologetic as he said, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Thompson. Let me drink with you to express my regrets."
Shein hastily waved a hand. "No, no. We're a family. We don't need to do anything like that." Clifford was sitting right there. How could Shein let Patrick drink?
"Since he chose this path, he should learn the etiquette for business meetings. He was late, so it's natural that he should drink." Clifford said sternly.
Both the fields of business and politics were played by the same rules.
There were unspoken rules in society.
If one did not learn these rules, it would only hinder them in the future.
Shein laughed in resignation. "Alright, just one glass then!"
Patrick was 22, and having a drink or two wouldn't affect his classes the next day.
"Thank you, Mr. Thompson." Patrick raised his glass and downed it.
Shein smiled and nodded. He said to Clifford, "With his degree from Caltopia College, Patrick will be in great demand among the best companies in Yorksle. Wouldn't it be beneath him to go to Thompson Group?"
The last part of his sentence was what he really wanted to say.
As Clifford was a government official, it would be no trouble at all to arrange for Patrick to join any of the top companies in Yorksle.
Why did he want Patrick to join the Thompson Group?
Clifford was a shrewd man. He immediately understood what Shein was implying.
He raised his teacup to take a sip and smiled as he asked, "We've known each other for more than 20 years, haven't we?"
Shein nodded and said, "22 years. Back then, something happened in your family, and you were left with nothing. You didn't even have enough money to eat.
"Mrs. Simpson had to wash clothes for people at a laundry shop to earn money, even though she was heavily pregnant. She was once insulted by the owner of the laundry shop because she accidentally damaged some clothes while washing them.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
"I happened to go to the laundry shop that day to get the rent, so I spent money to help Mrs. Simpson settle the matter. After that, you came to the Thompson Group to thank me."
Clifford sighed. "That's right. It's already been 22 years. Time really flies. Over the past 20 years, I've come to understand what people are like, and I've had many realizations about life.
"Rather than trusting those Yorksle entrepreneurs, I would rather trust you. You're an old friend, and our friendship has endured for 22 years."
Shein understood what Clifford was worried about. He was afraid that outsiders would lay traps for Patrick. Not only would it ruin Patrick's future, but it would also affect Clifford.
"Alright. Let's drink!" Shein raised his glass and clinked it with Clifford's.
After Clifford downed his drink and put down his glass, he said, "If my son joins your company, don't treat him any differently from the rest. It would be best if you let him start from the lowest position."
Shein laughed heartily. "Well, since you've said so, I have no objection."
In Room 306, Carlisle gulped down a couple of glasses of liquor.
Wendell was telling Carlisle about how heavily guarded the psychiatric rehabilitation
hospital in Maple Hill was.
Wendell had drunk a few glasses of white wine and was feeling tipsy. He said, "That place is even more scary than the place we went to carry out the executions-"
"Ahem!" Francis coughed violently all of a sudden.
Wendell suddenly came to his senses and hastily backtracked. "I-I drank too much. What I mean is that i-it's even stricter than the place where we used to keep watch over criminals."
Carlisle suddenly slammed his glass down on the table and shot upright.
Wendell and Francis both jumped with fright.
Carlisle narrowed his eyes. sand said, "I remember who he is now!"