Babel Novel
Chapter 2145
Jacob glanced at the stack of documents, extracting two in particular. "Apex Innovation Enterprises and Axiom International Group have both struck preliminary deals with Strand Group. The letters of intent have been signed, and representatives from both sides will be sitting down to hammer out the details any day now."
"No way!" Sanderson exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes wide as he regarded Jacob. "You? You're nothing but a playboy!"
"Is that so?" Jacob, unfazed, leaned casually against the edge of the desk, arms folded across his chest as he looked at Sanderson. "Then why are they willing to work with me, a playboy, and not with you? I heard you were waiting at Apex Innovation for two days, and you didn't even get to see the CEO, let alone the director of the project department?"
Sanderson's face turned ashen, "Did you orchestrate this?"
"You flatter me too much. At that time, I was living like a wild man on the plains of East Africa." Jacob let out a cold chuckle. "Sanderson, no offense, but your actions, demeaning yourself like this and representing Strand Group in the process, it's embarrassing the company."
But Sanderson still couldn't believe it. He had been in the business for over thirty years, longer than Jacob had even been alive!d2Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.
Apex Innovation Enterprises refusing to talk business with him, only to reach a preliminary agreement with Jacob within three days of his return. And Axiom International Group...
His eyes roved over the documents beside Jacob. There was so much more!
"I don't buy it! You could just be pulling out any old document to fool me!" Sanderson snatched the papers from Jacob's hands and started flipping through them.
The more he read, the colder his heart sank. The proposal from Apex Innovation was no trifling matter...
His own attempts to negotiate with Axiom International Group had been for a few tens of millions, and they hadn't even glanced at the project proposal.
But Jacob's deal was worth over eight hundred million.
"Why? How is this fair!" The blow to Sanderson's ego was substantial.
The assistant, always so affable, chimed in, "Mr. Sanderson, please, calm down. You know President Strand is well-connected. As soon as he took over Strand Group, his friends were bound to bring some housewarming gifts."
Even though Jacob had told his assistant to look for opportunities elsewhere when he left, the assistant didn't leave, and he had been managing the aftershocks of Graham's decisions.
As a result, he had been at the receiving end of Sanderson's frustrations.
Now, with the tables turned, he couldn't help but return a barbed response. Sanderson knew it couldn't be such an absurd reason.
Even if the owners behind those companies had been Jacob's fair-weather friends before, those kinds of friends were often the first to take advantage when the going got tough. The Strand family had faced hard times, and it would have been a miracle if they hadn't kicked them while they were down, let alone serve up such a lucrative deal on a silver platter to Jacob.
"Did you offer them a huge kickback behind the scenes? Jacob, if you're using these superficial orders to maintain a facade of peace within Strand Group, I'm telling you, you're heading for disaster!" Sanderson was still ranting, trying to ensure everyone outside could hear about Jacob's shady dealings.
Jacob simply scoffed. "People really do see the world through their own eyes. You'd do such a thing, Sanderson, but I wouldn't."
Sanderson's breathing grew labored. He glared at Jacob, who stood quietly, returning his gaze.
Those eyes, once lively with mischief, were now still and unfathomable.
"Was your carefree facade all for show? To deceive me?" Sanderson asked through gritted teeth. "Jacob, I've always treated you well. Anything your parents wouldn't give you, I provided with all my heart!" Before Sanderson could finish, Jacob laughed. "Sanderson, are you trying to convince yourself or do you genuinely believe I'm too stupid to see through your intentions? The things my parents wouldn't give me-why do you think they withheld them?"
Sweat beaded on Sanderson's forehead.
"It's because most of what I wanted wasn't right for me at the time, and yet you eagerly pushed them on me, making me believe for a long time that you cared for me more than my own parents."