Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Benjamin Sterling Braves the Treacherous Banquet
### Chapter 102: Benjamin Sterling Crashes the Lion’s Den
Maxine Rhodes chuckled and shook her head, her tone tinged with a perfect note of regret. "Oh, they were convinced, alright. But when it came time to renew the contract the next year, they refused to drink with us no matter what. Said we fought dirty, always aiming below the belt."
She shrugged, looking both innocent and helpless. "Nothing to be done. We had to switch them to a more expensive, but much more hassle-free, automated system. Let the profits do the talking."
"HAHAHA!" Mr. Langdon was the first to roar with laughter, pointing at Maxine Rhodes. "Ms. Rhodes, oh, Ms. Rhodes, that’s not fighting dirty. That’s a dimensional takedown! You pave the way with your drinking capacity and close the deal with technology!"
Only then did Maxine Rhodes pick up her glass, raising it toward President Wyatt. "President Wyatt, I respect tradition. But I believe a better tradition is to spend our energy and effort figuring out how to grow the pie together, not testing the toughness of each other’s livers."
"This drink is to you, and to all the veterans here."
With that, she tilted her head back and drained the glass in one clean motion. Her form was elegant, without a hint of hesitation. She had given him face, yet hadn’t allowed herself to be manipulated.
"Hear, hear!" A few voices of approval sounded from the table.
President Wyatt’s expression was a little awkward, but he had no choice but to raise his glass and drink as well.
Seeing that the drinking hadn’t fazed her, President Shaw’s eyes darted about before he leaned toward Maxine Rhodes. "Ms. Rhodes, your capacity is impressive! I’m in awe! But, you know, a woman like you—so beautiful and capable—why haven’t you found a good man to marry and enjoy a comfortable life? Are your standards too high? Tell us, what kind of man do you like? Our Mr. Langdon and President Archer know plenty of talented young men!"
President Archer immediately chimed in with a grin. "Yes, yes! Don’t be shy, Ms. Rhodes! No matter how successful a woman is, she ultimately has to return to the family! How about I introduce you to a few?"
Maxine Rhodes picked up a hot towel and wiped her hands, her movements graceful.
"President Shaw, you understand family and caring for people so well. Mrs. Shaw must be incredibly happy. I heard Mrs. Shaw is a top graduate from Cambridge who gave it all up to support your career and raise a family. Truly an enviable, ’celestial couple’."
The smile on President Shaw’s face froze.
Maxine Rhodes turned to President Archer. "President Archer, I appreciate the kind thought, but I might be a little strange. I believe that a relationship between two people is like a business partnership. It can only last if there’s a match in value and an alignment of goals.
"I spend all day thinking about industry trends. I’m afraid most reliable men would find me boring. And as for me..."
She smiled, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice, "...I’m more interested in helping companies like Mr. Langdon’s save millions, or even tens of millions. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Langdon?"
Mr. Langdon, having been put on the spot, had to respond. He laughed heartily. "Ms. Rhodes has grand ambitions! Times have changed. Women hold up half the sky, and someone like Ms. Rhodes is a pillar holding it up! We’re all getting old, can’t keep up with the younger generation’s ideas! Come, let’s eat, let’s eat!"
After these two rounds, no one at the table dared to treat her as just a pretty female boss who could be casually teased and manipulated.
Maxine Rhodes could drink, she could talk, she had a story, a sharp mind, and ambition. Moreover, she was impervious to both hard and soft tactics, with a perfect sense of propriety.
In the car outside the private room, Benjamin Sterling’s jaw dropped. He was stunned.
’This isn’t at all how I imagined it would be.’
Even Blackie couldn’t help but whisper, "Holy shit... this woman’s got some serious balls! But... why is that kind of hot?"
It was only then that Mr. Langdon took the initiative to ask, "By the way, Ms. Rhodes, you mentioned you brought a report?"
Just as Maxine Rhodes was about to speak.
Suddenly, the door to the private room was thrown open!
Benjamin Sterling stood in the doorway, his eyes red and his hair slightly disheveled. He pointed at Maxine Rhodes, his voice hoarse with anguish, "Maxine? You’re really here? Is this the kind of gathering you should be at? Come back with me, now!"
Benjamin Sterling, unable to restrain himself in the car any longer, had ignored Blackie’s attempts to stop him and rushed right in.
At that moment, the entire room was stunned into silence.
The moment Maxine Rhodes saw Benjamin Sterling, her eyes turned ice-cold, but a faint, almost mocking smile appeared on her face.
Benjamin Sterling turned to the others, a placating smile on his face. "Presidents, everyone, I’m so sorry for the interruption! She... she used to be my subordinate. She’s very naive, just too competitive. She doesn’t understand the ins and outs of these social obligations. If she’s offended you in any way, I’ll apologize on her behalf! Please, don’t give her a hard time!"
Watching his self-righteous rescue attempt, Maxine Rhodes stood up and walked over to Benjamin Sterling.
She was shorter than Benjamin Sterling, but her aura completely crushed his.
"Benjamin Sterling, Sterling Enterprises has been deregistered. On what authority are you here?"
"And who gave you permission to use that tone and spout such nonsense to my business partners during my meeting?"
"Security," she called out, not even turning her head, just raising her voice.
The security guards, who had been instructed by the manager to wait nearby, immediately stepped forward.
"This gentleman seems mentally unstable. Please escort him out. Don’t let him disturb the other guests."
Maxine Rhodes’s tone was as calm as if she were ordering a piece of trash to be taken out.
Benjamin Sterling’s eyes widened in disbelief. He tried to struggle and shout, but the well-trained security guards quickly covered his mouth and dragged him away.
The door closed again.
Maxine Rhodes turned back to the crowd. Facing their varied expressions, now completely devoid of any condescension, she gave a slight nod. "A small interruption. My apologies for the disturbance. Shall we continue?"
She didn’t even bother to explain her relationship with Benjamin Sterling.
But everyone understood. In her eyes, this former boss wasn’t even worth the effort of an explanation.
"Esteemed veterans."
Maxine Rhodes began, her voice having returned to its previous calm. "The man who was just here, Mr. Sterling, happens to perfectly illustrate a core point I wanted to discuss with you all today."
She didn’t sit down. Instead, she picked up the tablet that had been by her side, unlocked it, and turned the screen toward the group.
On it was an extremely concise diagram. At its center was the "Eastown Smart Logistics Park," with several key nodes radiating from it.
"The marketplace is a battlefield, but it’s even more so a game of choice and efficiency."
Her fingertip tapped the "Smart Dispatching" module. "Choosing the right technology partner allows you to leverage the greatest gains for the smallest cost. Whereas a poor choice, or..."
She paused, her meaning clear. "...allowing your judgment to be clouded by irrelevant people and events, will force you to pay a high price for trial and error, and could even cause you to lose everything."
Mr. Langdon’s eyes sharpened, and he leaned forward slightly. He understood. Maxine Rhodes was using Benjamin Sterling—this "poor choice" and "interfering factor"—as a negative example to prove her own value.
For the next fifteen minutes, Maxine Rhodes spoke at a steady pace, her logic as sharp as a knife. Every sentence struck right at the heart of what a businessperson craves most: profit.
Fifteen minutes later, the table was silent. The previous looks of scrutiny and amusement had been completely replaced by solemn focus and keen interest.
Seeing the time was right, Maxine Rhodes put away her tablet and extended an olive branch. "Next week, Stellar Tech will be holding a closed-door seminar to break down in detail how these plans can be implemented to generate revenue. Anyone who is interested is welcome."
Mr. Langdon was the first to raise his glass. "Ms. Rhodes, brilliant! Send me the time and address. I’ll bring my team and be there on time!"
President Wyatt and the others immediately followed suit. The atmosphere became enthusiastic; they had already become potential allies.
Just then, the heavy, carved wooden door of the private room was once again pushed silently open.
A man in an Orchid Pavilion manager’s uniform respectfully stepped aside, and a tall, composed figure walked in at an unhurried pace.
He wore a dark gray, handmade overcoat that accentuated his straight shoulders, with a simple white shirt and trousers underneath.
It was Ethan Hawthorne.
*****
