The clubhouse has always operated on a membership system. Since there were only a few people present at that time, and Leo was positioned somewhat discreetly, the heated confrontation was witnessed, at most, by the club staff.
When the glass of red wine shattered, the pristine handmade carpet became stained with red.
The service area staff hesitated to approach and clean up the mess. In this establishment, not only for a single glass, but even if a guest were to break multiple items, the staff could not intervene without the guest's permission.
In contrast to Leo's aggression, Joseph remained composed, with eyes as serene as a frozen winter lake devoid of any ripples. As Leo unleashed his anger, Joseph raised his hand to signal the waiter.
The waiter dared not make a sound and came forward.
Joseph issued a concise directive, "Clean it up."
"Yes, sir," responded the waiter promptly, hastening to comply.
The process of cleaning up unfolded silently, devoid of any exchange of words.
Joseph remained silent, and so did Leo, who stood steadfastly in front of him, maintaining an unwavering gaze.
Due to the forceful impact against a sharp corner, the glass shattered, causing red wine to splatter onto the carpet, creating a challenging mess to address. It took the staff nearly ten minutes to meticulously clean the wine stains from the carpet. In a display of courtesy, they provided Leo with a fresh glass and eventually retreated to other areas without uttering a word.
"Leo, it's not that I hold you in contempt," Joseph remarked with a hint of exasperation. "Ever since you assumed leadership of the company, you've implemented radical reforms, and the progress has been commendable, indicating your competence in managing the company. You don't require my assistance in any way." Joseph let out a light sigh, flicking off some ash from his cigarette. "However, there is one aspect you must acknowledge. You cannot alter your temperament."
Leo gritted his teeth and questioned, "So?"
Joseph replied, "Indeed, with your current position and the authority you hold, you possess significant leverage. You've emerged victorious, successfully ousting me from the Runestone Group. It seems that your temperament serves as a means to overpower your opponents."
Leo's voice filled with frustration, he expressed, "Ever since I was a child, my father always considered you superior to me. I just wanted to witness how you would handle the same challenges if we were on equal footing. Joseph, it's not that I depend on you, but I can't help feeling inadequate. Why have you always outshined me since childhood? Why did my father place more trust in you than me? What makes me so inferior to you that even Irish chose you over me?"
Joseph's gaze slightly cooled as he spoke in a subdued tone, "Are you intertwining your resentments with new grievances? The old grudge is your discontent with me, and the new grudge involves Irish."
Leo remained silent, keeping his lips tightly sealed.
"Leo, I no longer wish to coexist with you," Joseph declared, enunciating each word deliberately.
Leo narrowed his eyes slightly and responded, "But in reality, everything belongs to you. You joined the Runestone Group to compete against me, showing no regard for our brotherhood. Moreover, my father's trust and admiration are solely directed towards you. It seems that no matter how well I perform, his appreciation is never extended to me. And Jenny, she placed immense trust in you, yet you, based on your so-called reasoning, caused her demise. And what was the outcome? Everyone still believes you are right! What does Irish truly see in you? You weren't even aware that I knew her before you, and I fell in love with her at first sight!"
Joseph listened attentively to Leo's grievances, taking in each complaint. Finally, he lifted his gaze and calmly responded, "Leo, we are now adults and childish notions and perspectives no longer serve us. It seems that you have indeed emerged victorious over me, regardless of the means and methods employed. In this world, no one truly cares about how you achieve success; their attention is solely fixed on the moment of your triumph. Hence, I won't pass judgment on the severity of your actions or the methods you've used. Moreover, if I reflect on my own past, I, too, have resorted to unscrupulous means in pursuit of success. Leo, that's my answer."
At this point, his body slightly forward, looking at Leo's eyes, he said word for word, "This is the answer. I can always win you. It's not that you can't beat me, but you are not so hard-hearted as me, so everyone's eyes will only be on the winner, including your father."
Leo's teeth clattered, and his fists clenched.
"You're just trying to prove you're better than me. Now, you win." He went on, then took the bottle, slowly poured a little wine into his cup, and held the cup to him, "I admire your victory."
Leo stared at him.
Joseph did not hastily drink from his cup. He kept it tilted, displaying patience as he waited for Leo to raise his own glass.
"Why does the Runestone Group captivate you?" Leo suddenly inquired.
"Nothing particularly positive, really. It's simply because there is a connection to my family in it," Joseph replied.
Leo questioned, "What else I don't know?"
"No, I have nothing to hide from you."
Leo raised his hand and thoughtfully rubbed the edge of the cup. A long time later, he sneered, "Joseph, since you do not want to reach an alliance with me, then I can only find the reasons."
"What do you want?"
Leo saw that he finally changed his face, relaxed, and smiled, leaning back, "For everything you care, I will touch your bottom line, of course, in addition to Irish, I only hope she can be happy. But I'd love to know the secret in the Runestone and why you must stay there."
"You want to do something to the Runestone?" Joseph frowned.
Leo sneered coldly, saying, "Without you, the Runestone Group is nothing but a scattered pile of sand. Relying on those shareholders? Or on Roy? Don't be naive, Joseph. In reality, you know that the Runestone Group is like swimming in a pool of crocodiles in the market. Once it loses its backbone, it can only be devoured by other larger crocodiles. The shareholders of the Runestone have long been divided, each pursuing their own interests. You are well aware of this, which is why, as the general manager, you gradually replaced key personnel. However, the power of the Lake family runs deep, making it challenging to uproot the elders. It requires time. Now that you're no longer there, Roy is not up to the task, so acquiring the Runestone Group is becoming inevitable."
Joseph's gaze grew colder as he issued a warning, "Leo if you dare to harm Roy, you know very well what I will do."
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