He was ready to face his business partner. He went out with his chest puffed out, showing the world that he was the intimidating Vernon Phoenix Gray, the devil CEO you shouldn't mess with.
Vernon left his office and saw Diamond, who was ready with her iPad. She was going to go with him to another meeting as usual.
Vernon frowned when he saw the obvious frown on Diamond's face, "What?"
"What do you mean what?" Diamond asked back. She was so pissed right now that she didn't even care about her status as Vernon's subordinate. "My homegirl came out of your office crying. I asked her what happened, and she said nothing. She just picked up her bag and left."
"What did you do to her?" Diamond asked with full suspicion.
"Uhh… I… I don't know either," Vernon replied since there was no use hiding anything from Diamond. "Apparently, I said something bad, and that offended her."
"Did you apologize to her?"
"I did, I think…." Vernon claimed. Though he didn't remember if he ever said sorry to her the whole time.
…
"Do you not remember what you said wrong? Like, are you THAT clueless?" Diamond continued pressing Vernon, thinking that her boss was being dishonest right now.
Diamond's accusation pissed Vernon off, so he tried to brush off the topic, "Stop giving me that look, and stop questioning me. I'm not in a good mood right now."
'Not in a good mood? You make a grown woman cry!' Diamond yelled in her heart.
Vernon walked past Diamond and headed to the elevator, "Come with me. We have work to do."
…
Diamond took a deep breath. She was still angry at him, and she was also worried about Chloe.
But she still had to be professional, just like her boss, who could maintain a stone face after making Chloe cry.
Thus, Diamond followed her boss to the elevator, and they went downstairs to the meeting room as his client had been waiting.
**
Vernon and Diamond entered the meeting room. He saw that his new potential business partner had been waiting for him.
His new potential business partner was a man in his fifties. He was a bit fat, with thinning hair and a thick mustache.
He looked even more nervous than Vernon, even though he was thirty years older than the devil CEO and had tons of experience compared to Vernon.
"Sorry for the wait, Mr Gregory Maxwell. I didn't know you were this early for our meeting," Vernon greeted the old man with a handshake, and they sat face to face, ready for their first contract.
Gregory Maxwell observed the imposing man sitting across the table. He was calm and didn't seem interested in Mr Maxwell, which was a bad sign since Gregory Maxwell desperately needed more profit to keep his company running.
Ever since Vincent Gray halved the usual supply, Gregory Maxwell had tried to find a new client everyday. But, nobody wanted to take him because they didn't want to accidentally offend Mr Gray.
After all, Gregory Maxwell was well-known in the entrepreneur circle as the Gray family's lapdog for two decades.
Amidst his desperation, he found that Vernon Phoenix Gray— Vincent's little brother, was in the process of creating his new beverage product that would be sold around west Europe as a trial.
Thus, he was searching for a new supplier for the material for the beverage can.
Gregory Maxwell didn't know if it was alright for him to come to Vincent's little brother after he got stomped and kicked out by Vincent before. But he was too desperate to think clearly now, as his company was too reliant on Vincent.
'Besides, I heard that Vincent Gray and his little brother are in a very good relationship. They seem to be working in separate areas,' Gregory Maxwell pondered.
'From the information that I got, Vincent allowed his little brother to develop in the entertainment industry in America. He also gives his little brother enough freedom to develop many businesses in Europe by not entering the market until Vernon Phoenix Gray has enough footing of his own.'
'Even though Vernon Phoenix Gray is not as rich as his Big brother. But he seems to have inherited that wretched family's business skill. So his company would probably rival his brother's sooner or later.'
'I think it will be alright. Maybe this guy would recommend me back to Vincent as long as I do a good job,' Gregory Maxwell continued assessing the condition, and after he was assured that everything would be alright, he cleared his throat and said;
"I should be the one who thank you for giving me this opportunity, Mr. Phoenix Gray. I've heard a lot about your company. When I heard that you're searching for a new can supplier, I think that we can make a great team!"
Gregory Maxwell started his usual bootlicking to the Gray family. It was something he had done for twenty years, and he'd continue to do so.
Vernon's lips perked up as he listened, "Indeed, I am searching for a can supplier that can handle big batches and ship them across the continent."
"Then I must be the correct man for this, Mr. Phoenix Gray," Gregory Maxwell claimed. "I've been doing this for twenty years!"
"Oh yes, I know that you've been doing this for a long time, Mr. Maxwell," Vernon agreed. "After all, you're the main supplier for my family's company under my late father, and now under my Big brother, correct?"
"Yes, Sir! I've been working closely with your family for two decades."
"Hmm, you are surely a trusty businessman, Mr. Maxwell," Vernon said, and the old man almost choked on air by that statement.
Because that wasn't the case, he got caught by Vincent Gray for sending worse material to cut corners and earn more profit.
But it didn't seem that Vincent had shared anything about this, which was good for Gregory.
"Then, can we sign a contract—"
"—However—" Vernon interrupted Mr Maxwell. Vernon didn't want this old man to think that it was so easy dealing with him. "—I wonder if you're able to fulfill my demand, Mr. Maxwell. After all, you're supplying at least 80% of your material to my Big brother's company, right?"
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺