"By the way, Uncle James, you guys can't take this table!" Charlie said suddenly.
"Why not?" James asked.
"This table is reserved for the employees of our company who perform well. If you guys take this table, they won't have a place to sit then!"
"W-Well... We will take that table at the front then..." James said.
"You guys better don't get too close to Grandpa, in case he gets angry when he sees all of you."
James asked anxiously, "Where should we sit then?"
"Over there!" Charlie pointed at a table situated near the exit which looked extremely shabby. It
was specially reserved for the hotel staff.
James and his family were dumbfounded when they heard Charlie. After all, they were still the immediate family members of the Cunninghams but now, they were asked to sit at the same table with the workers of the hotel. Were they actually less important than even the employees of the company?
"W-What have we actually done wrong to suffer something like this..." Helen couldn’t help but cover her face and started sobbing.
At that juncture, Eric Cunningham was heading their way. "James, you guys are here," Eric greeted them in a cold tone.
"Dad!" James and Helen immediately rose to their feet and greeted Eric in an apprehensive tone that came with a slight trace of excitement.
Eric had been giving them a cold shoulder over the years and this was his first time taking the initiative to talk to them. Nodding at them, Eric said, "Since you all are here, do come over and take a seat. I have something to discuss with y'all!”
James and Helen glanced at each other with excitement written all over their faces. Was Old Master Cunningham finally going to assign some important tasks to them? They followed Eric to the main table where several other guests were sitting. One of them was a fat man with a huge belly who constantly wore a lascivious expression. His eyes were brimming with lewdness when he caught sight of Sasha.
Sasha looked shaken to see the man. Her pace came to a halt and she nearly wanted to walk away from the table immediately. Eric walked toward the chubby man and took a seat next to him before he said with a smile, "James, let me introduce Mr. Clayton Sampson from Carlson Group; he’s the person-in-charge of the purchasing department of the company.”
The eyes of James and Helen lit up with hope immediately at the mention of Carlson Group, which was a large corporation in the healthcare industry in Eastcliff. It was also a major business partner of the company owned by the Cunninghams. In other words, the Cunninghams had the fate of their venture held in the hands of Clayton.
"Mr. Sampson, it’s my honor to meet you!" James greeted him with a bow.
"Likewise!" While Clayton was taking a puff off a cigar with an arrogant demeanor, his eyes were glued on Sasha.
"The progress of the project we’re having with Carlson Group this time hasn't been satisfactory."
In a slightly frigid voice, Eric continued, "Sasha has been the one in charge of the plan which is worth over 50 million. According to Mr. Sampson, Sasha hasn't been taking the program very seriously. What's wrong with it?"
James immediately turned to look at Sasha, who held her head low and kept mum with her face red while she gritted her teeth. "What's going on?" James confronted his daughter in a hushed tone.
"H-He asked me to go on a holiday trip with him..." Sasha muttered.
An icy glint shone in Matthew's eyes immediately. This Mr. Sampson clearly deserves some punishment!
James couldn't help but be stunned after he heard Sasha. As an experienced man, there was no doubt he understood what that meant.
"Miss Cunningham, I'm afraid you might have gotten the wrong idea of it. I merely asked you to go on a business trip with me." In a leisurely tone, he continued, "This project is a significant one because it will bring in 50 million in revenue for your company this year and at least 30 million for the subsequent years. Once we're able to strike a deal, the project will take us at least five years, which will then be worth nearly a total of 200 million. Needless to say, I have to handle it with extra care. Since I’m in charge of the purchasing department of Carlson Group, I have to carry out my work responsibly. So, I have to do an inspection on the raw materials used and the manufacturing process of your company before making a decision. Isn't that the right thing to do?"
Sasha, whose face had turned crimson, said in an undertone, "l-l suggested to send one of my subordinates to do the inspection with you but y-you rejected it..."
"Miss Cunningham, from your approach, I can't see your sincerity in getting this project offered by my company!" In an irritated tone, Clayton continued, "While I carried out the inspection personally, you merely sent over a lower rank staff to assist me. Are you looking down on me or Carlson Group?"
Sasha was left stumped by his words. Eric then urged in a cold tone, "Sasha, Mr. Sampson is right that we have to handle such a significant program with extra care. As the person-in-charge of the program, assisting Mr. Sampson personally is your obligation!"
"Grandpa, l-l can't go with him..." Sasha stuttered in a fit of panic, "H-He..."
"Why can't you go with him?!" James walked over and criticized, "Sasha, is this how you handle a project you're in charge of in the company? How are you going to gain the trust of our customers
by dealing them with such an attitude?"
Sasha explained anxiously, "But, h-he is trying to do something evil..."
"Shut up!" Charlie walked over here and snapped furiously at her, "Sasha Cunningham, how dare you say something like that about Mr. Sampson? What gives you the right to adopt such an attitude? Is it because Grandpa has been too lenient toward you and your family?"
"Hey, Mr. Cunningham, please calm down." Clayton suddenly chuckled and said, "Miss Cunningham is still young and it's reasonable for her to have a temper. I have a private room here which is a lot quieter. Miss Cunningham, why don't we head over there and discuss the project in private?"
Sasha looked rattled in an instant. Was Clayton audacious enough to bring her to a room in front of everyone else? However, instead of getting angry by his suggestion, Eric immediately nodded his head and complimented Clayton, "Mr.
Sampson, you're indeed a very generous man who is so forgiving toward the younger generation. Sasha, come on and say thanks to Mr. Sampson. Also, remember to give him the best deal we can offer and kickstart the project!"
"Grandpa...” Sasha was panic-stricken. Her grandfather was clearly trying to throw her under the bus.
"That's enough. Since Grandpa has asked you to do so, you'd better oblige." With a chuckle, Charlie said sarcastically, "Sasha, do make sure you do your best! Everyone in the company will be counting on you to seize the deal!"
The Cunninghams placed great importance to the business agreement because if they managed to clinch it, it would surely double the wealth of the family. Therefore, they did not feel offended at all despite knowing the ulterior motives that Clayton was harboring. In their perception, sacrificing Sasha was not a big deal because it was a great bargain that could bring them a business contract worth nearly 200 million.
"Miss Cunningham, let's go!" Clayton snickered.
With her face reddened, Sasha gritted her teeth and exclaimed, "I’m not going!"
"You’re not going?!" Looking affronted at once, Clayton said crossly, "In this case, it seems like Miss Cunningham doesn't take the project with our company seriously at all. Why don’t we just forget about the deal?!"
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