Chapter 135 The Difference
The executives at Royden Group called for an emergency board meeting. Andy Shaw turned up late for the meeting and, on the way to his seat, gave a few of the directors that he was familiar with a knowing look.
The directors immediately brought up the topic to discuss, “Mr. Royden, I think it is time we take back the funding for the Racing Association. There has been much commotion with the Thunderbolt Cup, and the Racing Association is slow with giving us a response.”
Many people started to agree with them as it regarded finances. “They’re right, we’re just going to be the butt of the joke. We should retract our funding before things get worse.”
“The fund has already been transferred, and we’ve even signed a contract. If we were to retract our funding now, what would happen to our reputation?” Edgar asked in a nonchalant tone as he sat in the president’s seat.
No use crying over spilled milk.
“We won’t have to deal with Ben Ludwig’s hospital fees, will we? I was just at the finance division this morning, they…” One of the directors started to say but was shut up by a glare from Edgar.
Andy frowned and pretending as though he had no idea what was going on said, “Mr. Royden, I think Mr. Jameson is making some sense. No one can be sure about what happened on the race course, but since the company has already invested in them, we don’t have to foot anymore than what we have given. What if people started to spread rumors about you pretending to be nice to curry favor?”
“What do you mean?” Edgar’s expression changed suddenly.
“Well, we all trust you are a man of your word, but there are people out there who would manipulate your actions. Isn’t your ex-wife dating Ben Ludwig? I think we should avoid the complications.”
“Mr. Shaw is right. The Ludwig family can deal without the funds anyway!”
Edgar’s gaze turned frosty, and he slammed the documents in his hands down onto the table, “We’ve approved this during the last meeting; you are all just wasting everyone’s time.”
The corner of Andy’s lips lifted as his smile deepened.
“All Mr. Royden means is that we should think about the company. Right?” Andy said, and chaos broke out in the meeting room.
Edbert Royden had no intentions of joining the meeting, but when he received the reports from his secretary, he knew he had to go to become the peacemaker.
“Our company is somewhat responsible for what happened. Footing the hospital fee will not put a dent in Royden Group’s finances.” Edbert said as he pressed down on Andy’s shoulder. “And, it’s all business, I’m sure our generosity will be paid back in the future.”
Andy knew that that he couldn’t retort back as the combined shares between Edgar and Edbert were enough to lead Royden Group. He decided to give up and left angrily.
The other directors also realized that the discussion had come to a close and so did not say anything else.
Edgar cleared his throat and said, “Okay, go on with your meeting, I’ll go see how Mr. Shaw is doing. Everyone is young here, it’s okay to have a difference of opinions, I know you are all doing it for the good of the company.”
Edbert was good at placating the crowd. After he said that, the tension in the room lessened.
On the way out of the meeting room, he whispered to Edgar, “Relax, don’t stay angry. I’ll go talk to Mr. Shaw, don’t worry.”
Edgar nodded.
The meeting continued, and when it ended, Miles came over with his phone, “Mr. Royden, the Racing Association wants you to go over.”
“Let’s go. ”
The directors could finally relax after Edgar left.
“I wish Mr. Edbert would come back. The younger generation isn’t scared of anything.”
“We should get Mr. Edbert to attend next time we have a board meeting. With him around, the tension between Mr. Royden and Mr. Shaw wouldn’t be so intense.”
The directors thought about which side they should stand on if such a situation arose and left in groups of twos and threes.
The same time Edgar received the invitation from the Racing Association, Jean had also received a call from the chairman of the Racing Association, Peter Hoffer. After some discussion with Ben, she insisted on going by herself.
“You have an operation later; you shouldn’t leave the hospital now. Your parents will worry if something happens.” Jean knew the worries of taking care of an ill person; she did not want Ben to repeat her mistakes.
“But I worry about you going alone. The Racing Association probably has the results from the investigation and will probably get both sides to agree on something under the table.” Ben said as he shook his head. He was sure that if Jean went alone, she would be on the losing end.
Jean tried to reassure him as she said, “Don’t worry, I’ll have a voice recorder on me at all times. Also, they won’t do anything to me in broad daylight. I promise to be back by the time you finish your operation, okay?”
“Alright.” Ben said dejectedly. Ben knew that Jean would never go back on her words.
This time would be an exception.
Sonny and the rest of the racing team were waiting anxiously for Jean. When she arrived at the Racing Association, they started to complain to her angrily.
“They say they’re not going to announce it, that they want us to admit that it was an accident. What do we do?”
“They say they want solid evidence. We’ve already given them all the evidence we have, but now they’re saying that we don’t have any evidence on hand!”
“Don’t tell Ben yet,” Jean’s priority right now was to let Ben recover in peace, “he has an operation in the afternoon, we can tell him tomorrow.”
“I got it.” Sonny gave a glance to the back and told Jean, “The person in blue is Peter Hoffer, he’s a pretty obstinate person, and I’ve heard that he takes the benefits and presents of the racing teams.”
Jean frowned at that, that means that he has been bought. But who would buy him? Is it someone that has a vendetta toward the racing team, or toward Ben and his family? Or, is it me?
Jean gave it some thought and then turned to whisper into Sonny’s ear.
“Are you sure?” Sonny clenched his teeth, “I’ll give it a try!”
“Thanks, Sonny.”
Sonny gave his thigh a slap, “Don’t worry about it. You and Ben are the one who has to be thanked, you even almost lost your life.”
There was always a sense of danger when it came to racing, but only them who threw all caution to the wind knew that that accident was not as it seemed to be.
Who could have made it seem so effortless?
While Sonny brought the racing team to get some things settled, Jean went to take a seat on the couch. She did not sit for long when she heard some clamoring behind her and turned around to look at the commotion.
A few managers of the Racing Association were ushering someone in with their best service smiles on. She could see Edgar in a classic fitted suit entering with Miles and his bodyguards behind him.
Jean gave a cold sneer. Oh right, Edgar is their sugar daddy. If Royden Group took back their investment for the Thunderbolt Cup, they would lose a whole bunch of money. That means that one word from Edgar could change the whole outcome.
Jean stood up and looked at the group of men. At the same time, Edgar had noticed her. The moment they met eyes, Jean remembered the two sides to him at the hotel.
Which is the real him?
