"Julius, given how Tess normally acts... could she possibly cause some trouble?"
Quella Radcliffe spoke with a hint of worry in her tone.
She was clutching the corners of her clothes, lightly biting her lip.
Could her sister, who was accustomed to being arrogant and overbearing, really let things go after such a loss today?
Blossom Reed was crouching on the ground nearby, clearly not yet recovered from the shock.
After all, she was just an outsider.
With just a word from Otis, she could be kicked out of the group.
"Maybe I should go apologize to Tess," Blossom suggested.
She stood up from the ground and walked towards the door with her head down.
She really needed this job.
With her parents in poor health and getting on in years, she had become the main support of her family.
If she lost her job, it would be a disaster for her already impoverished family.
Quella looked at Blossom, sighed, and followed her.
Even though she was the project leader, within the group, it was ultimately Otis who made the decisions.
If the matter escalated today, Blossom would certainly be fired. It would be better to go and apologize to Tess. Perhaps she could save her job.
Life was just so cruel.
In the face of power, one had to bow their head.
"I'll come with you!" Quella declared.
The incident today had started because of her, and Blossom was just caught in the crossfire.
Plus, with her there, Tess might not be too harsh.
"Why should you apologize?" Julius questioned indifferently from his seat as the two approached the door.
"Julius, Blossom can't lose this job. It's fine to endure this for a little while," Quella said as she turned to smile helplessly at him.
In her three years at the group, she had become accustomed to disdain.
"That was the past. Quella, it's time you showed the pride that's in your heart," Julius stood up and walked over to her, continuing, "You are now the new project leader for the group, no longer that junior executive. I can assure you, if the project leader is replaced, Titan Group will immediately terminate the cooperation."
"Really... is that true?" Quella was somewhat incredulous.
Julius had once said that Sky was a distant relative of his.
But just a distant relative, could he really represent Titan Group?
Or rather, just how influential was Julius?
For a moment, she found the man before her somewhat unfamiliar.
Yet the gentle look in his eyes was so familiar to her.
"Alright!"
After a struggle within herself, Quella pulled Blossom to sit beside her.
"As long as I am with Radcliffe Group, you'll have a place here."
"Quella, I..." Blossom faltered by her side.
"Do you think groveling will earn you leniency? You're seriously underestimating some people's desire for revenge," Julius shook his head. His point made, the rest was up to Blossom's decision.
If she chose to stand with Quella, he would give her a bit of extra protection.
"Quella, I'll listen to you!" Blossom resolved never to waver and moved a chair next to Quella's.
"Holy crap! To be such a bastard and yet so self-righteous!"
"People should be generous-hearted. If someone else sleeps with your wife, you have to accept it heartily, right? Otherwise, how would you be a kept man?"
"Thinks she's really something. Once they tire of her, they'll throw her away. Do they really think corporate cooperation is a child's play?"
Many disregarded Julius's words, even whispering and mocking among themselves.
In their eyes, Quella must have had a relationship with Sky to be in her position as project leader.
But such a relationship was obviously unsustainable.
After all, Sky was just another employee.
"Say what you just said again?" Julius walked over to the employee who had made sarcastic comments, asking with a smile.
"Heh, what's the matter, you know in your heart..."
Slap!
The crisp sound of a slap echoed throughout the sovereign hall.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock at the scene before them.
Julius shook his hand slightly and said with an apologetic tone, "Sorry, I might have been a bit heavy-handed."
The slapped employee sat stunned against the chair, his eyes brimming with disbelief.
Julius had actually dared to hit him?
His name was Maeve Leocadia, the workshop director of the Radcliffe Group's R&D department, and he had returned from studying abroad.
After coming back, he had once secretly pursued Quella.
Unfortunately, Julius came into the picture and became a son-in-law of the Radcliffe Family.
Since then, Maeve Leocadia stood by Otis Radcliffe's side, constantly humiliating Julius Reed and often bad-mouthing Quella Radcliffe behind her back.
So Julius Reed had disliked him for a long time.
Today was just his bad luck; he walked right into the line of fire.
"You piece of trash, dare to hit me?"
Maeve Leocadia wiped the corner of his mouth gently with his hand, and because the slap had been so powerful, blood was already seeping out.
"If a piece of trash like me dares to hit you, what does that make you? Are you worse than trash?"
Julius Reed watched him quietly, his gaze suddenly turning ice cold.
That look was like a sharp blade, piercing directly into Maeve Leocadia's heart, causing a chill to run down his spine.
"What right do you have to hit me? I will report today's incident to the chairman and demand an explanation!"
Maeve Leocadia swallowed and rose to his feet in indignation.
With high prestige in the company, plus the connection to Otis Radcliffe, Maeve Leocadia was confident that he could make Julius Reed kneel before him and apologize.
"A man who has been cuckolded..."
Slap!
Julius Reed slapped him again, knocking Maeve Leocadia to the ground.
The force was so great that Maeve Leocadia struggled several times but still couldn't get up.
Hiss!
Everyone gasped in shock.
When did the doormat son-in-law, who used to neither fight back nor talk back, become so assertive?
Even Quella Radcliffe found it hard to believe. Was this the same Julius Reed as before?
"Go ahead and tattle, and let's see who will be kicked out of the company and who will be kneeling to apologize!"
Having said that,
Julius Reed gestured to the waitstaff at the door, "Throw this man out for me!"
"Yes!"
Two waitstaff came over and dragged Maeve Leocadia out of the private room like a dead dog.
"Now, everyone, let's eat."
Julius Reed snapped his fingers lightly, and the waiter promptly served the dishes.
Indeed.
You get what you pay for.
The price was steep, but the meals at Azure Percival were certainly top-notch.
But who had the appetite to eat now?
They all looked at Julius Reed with strange eyes, unable to understand how this former good-for-nothing had suddenly become so domineering.
Downstairs,
When Calvin Leopold saw Tess Radcliffe tumble down the stairs in a heap, his face turned green.
His wife was being treated so poorly by Julius Reed, the doormat, and it was driving him insane with rage.
"Silas, you have to stand up for me in this matter!"
He turned to Silas Cook, grinding his teeth with fury.
"Calvin, for you, I'll take care of it!"
Silas Cook muttered something to Jaxen Brandon and then walked over with four or five burly men.
"Who cares about this Emperor Hall! I'm going to get even for you!"
With that, he led Calvin Leopold and Tess Radcliffe up the stairs.
"Sir, you can't go in here!"
A waiter blocked their way.
"Kid, don't you recognize Silas? Are you new here?"
A lackey behind Silas came forward, continually shoving the waiter.
"What's going on?"
Tobias Percival, the hotel manager, rushed over when he heard the commotion.
Those who could enter the Emperor Hall were of distinguished status, and they dared not offend them.
"Tobias, don't your people know how to see?"
With a beer bottle in hand, Silas Cook grinned at Tobias Percival, "I was just going to pay my respects with a drink, and this kid dares to stop me."
"Silas, there's a black card customer inside, it would be best not to offend them."
Tobias Percival was sweating profusely from his forehead.
Silas had a big reputation in Gonzalez City, and he couldn't afford to offend him.
But the person inside might not be an easy one to provoke either.
"Calvin, is your intel right?"
Hearing Tobias Percival's words, Silas turned his head and whispered.
If there really was a black card holder inside, he was indeed reluctant to start trouble.
After all, in plain terms, he was just the fiercest dog under Dominating Tiger's command. If he really offended some bigshot, Aron Jackson might not necessarily vouch for him.
"Don't worry, it's just a loser who lives off women! His wife slept with someone else, and that's how he got a card from who knows where!"
Calvin explained in a low voice beside him.
"Tobias, I'll buy you a drink next time!"
Bang!
Silas turned around and kicked open the door to the Emperor Hall private room.
If anyone dared to bully his friend, they were not going to walk out of here standing!