The meeting room suddenly became eerily silent.
Julius Reed could be considered the least significant member of the Radcliffe Family, yet Sky Reed actually asked him for his opinion?
Was this some kind of joke?
"Mr. Reed, this man is our Radcliffe Family's son-in-law. For the past three years, apart from cooking and washing clothes, he has done nothing else."
Thinking that Sky Reed was uninformed, Otis Radcliffe explained with a smile.
"If you were thinking of starting a restaurant or a laundry service, maybe you could ask him. But when it comes to business management, he is even less qualified than our group's cleaning lady."
Laughter erupted in the meeting room, with everyone showing scorn in their eyes.
Quella Radcliffe turned a steely shade of pale, standing up and saying, "Regardless, Julius Reed is still a member of the Radcliffe Family! Otis, he is, after all, your brother-in-law. Is it necessary to shame him repeatedly like this?"
Since last night, her feelings about Julius Reed had changed somewhat.
Although it wasn't to the extent of liking him, she no longer despised him.
"Quella, did I not state the facts? Moreover, I'm the general manager, please mind your tone!"
Otis Radcliffe, having been previously embarrassed, finally found an opportunity for retort.
He looked at Sky Reed and earnestly said, "Mr. Reed, please rest assured, I will devote my utmost effort to ensure this cooperation is successfully completed!"
In everyone's eyes, it was a foregone conclusion that Otis Radcliffe would become the project manager.
Even Otis Radcliffe believed this to be true.
So, when he spoke, he already considered himself as the project manager.
"I can only cook and do laundry?"
Just at that moment, Julius Reed turned his body to face Otis Radcliffe.
"Perhaps, you also know how to live off a woman?"
Otis Radcliffe's remark once again drew laughter.
"Fine, today I will explain to you why you are not fit to be the project manager."
Julius Reed took an envelope out of his pocket and slowly opened it in front of everyone.
"Half a month ago, you embezzled nine hundred thousand in the name of overtime pay. The workers didn't get a dime, and out of that nine hundred thousand, seven hundred thousand went into your pocket."
"Two months ago, you claimed to be on a business trip and took five hundred thousand from the company, only to go on a vacation to Lancas City with your mistress."
"Three months ago, you took a kickback of one million three hundred thousand in a raw material procurement deal!"
With each statement, he laid a document on the table.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Otis Radcliffe's face drastically changed.
He had been very discreet with these activities; how could anyone know?
And it looked as though the other side had come prepared.
"Don't be hasty, there's more!"
Julius Reed took out a stack of papers and gently shook them.
"Shut up! Julius Reed, I never imagined you, an ungrateful wretch, would slander the Radcliffe Family! We've supported you for three years!"
Zade Radcliffe quickly scolded him, then explained to Sky Reed, "This man is malicious at heart, he must have taken someone else's money to ruin our cooperation!"
Zade Radcliffe was somewhat aware of Otis Radcliffe's corruption.
But as his favorite grandson, he had turned a blind eye.
Now, with Julius Reed airing these matters in such an important meeting, it was tantamount to pushing the entire Radcliffe Group into the fire!
But the other members of the Radcliffe Family were not so calm.
They, too, were greedy for money but usually only dared to pocket small amounts.
Otis Radcliffe, blatantly embezzling millions, was something the others didn't dare to do.
"Damn it! I embezzle a few tens of thousands and still have to be so careful, but this Otis kid doesn't even blink an eye over millions!"
"Exactly, that time I urgently needed to buy a car, I took one hundred thousand from the company and nearly got killed by grandfather for it!"
"Otis is a Radcliffe, are we not? Why does the one with the highest salary become the greediest?"
A single stone stirred a thousand ripples.
An angry sentiment started to swell within the Radcliffe Clan.
"Silence!"
Zade Radcliffe shouted, glaring at the other family members: "Do you also believe the words of Julius Reed, an outsider?"
Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, the old patriarch had to stand up and speak.
"Julius Reed, you heartless and ungrateful cur, what benefits have you received from others to slander the Radcliffe Family like this?"
Otis Radcliffe pointed at Quella Radcliffe, furiously saying, "You two absolutely can't stay in the company, I propose we fire Quella Radcliffe!"
He was keen to use this opportunity to eliminate dissent.
"On what grounds are you firing me!"
Quella Radcliffe stood up, asking coldly, "Over these years, I have devoted myself to the company's service. Have I ever wronged the company in any way?"
The atmosphere instantly tensed, and the whole meeting room was filled with a volatile air.
"Silence!"
Sky Reed tapped the table with his pen, impatiently saying, "I don't have time to listen to your family's petty squabbles! Right now, deciding the project manager is crucial! Otherwise, I'll consider another company."
"Six months ago, Otis Radcliffe borrowed the pretext of giving gifts to misappropriate three million from the company. In fact, greasing palms cost him less than one million, the remaining two million plus went straight into his pocket."
Julius Reed slapped a piece of paper down on the table and continued, "Eight months ago..."
"Shut up! If you spout any more nonsense, don't blame me for kicking you out!"
A chill ran down Otis Radcliffe's spine.
Every single penny he had embezzled was pointed out in explicit detail.
How had these matters, which were supposed to be very meticulous, been exposed?
And by Julius Reed, no less—a good-for-nothing who loafed around at home all day!
"Ah! Let him continue talking. Choosing a project leader—character is key! I certainly don't want Titan Group's money to end up in someone's personal pockets!"
Sky Reed raised his hand, signaling Otis not to speak anymore.
"You continue."
He looked at Julius with a gentle nod of affirmation.
This scared Otis badly, and he hurriedly looked to Zade Radcliffe, seeking help from his grandfather.
"Let's do this! Words alone carry no proof; you could accuse me of framing someone. I hope to invite a third-party institution to audit the accounts and see who is really lying."
Julius folded the envelope again, looking at Zade Radcliffe: "Old man, you wouldn't refuse, would you?"
Once the accounts were audited, many bad debts of the Radcliffe Group would be exposed.
Almost everyone within the family had embezzled at some point.
If an investigation were truly conducted, the company would certainly collapse!
Even if it was money from their own family, they would still end up eating prison food.
Therefore, the entire Radcliffe Clan was panicking.
"Julius, what's your suggestion?"
Zade Radcliffe's mouth trembled, but he could only suppress the fury in his heart.
A little impatience spoils great plans!
"What I mean is that Quella Radcliffe should be the project leader."
Julius smiled faintly, betraying no emotion.
He didn't want Sky to directly appoint someone, so he had already sent someone to investigate Otis's embezzlement within the Radcliffe Group last night.
"Me?"
Quella was somewhat taken aback.
They had always been bullied in the Radcliffe Family. How could she possibly become the project leader?
"Yes, you!"
Julius nodded, looking at Sky: "This is my wife, talented and outstanding, with first-rate management abilities. Within the entire group, she is the only one who has never taken a penny for herself."
"If so, indeed her character is commendable! Promoting the virtuous without avoiding relatives is fine, speak freely."
Sky continuously took notes with his fountain pen.
"Wife, stand up and state your position! Haven't you always wanted to manage the company and showcase your talents?"
Julius looked at Quella: "Gold should not be buried!"
"All right!"
Quella stood up and began to share her views on the cooperation between the two sides.
At first, everyone was dismissive.
But by the end, they had to admire Quella Radcliffe's talent.
The news of Titan Group's partnership with the Radcliffe Group was only known to everyone since last night.
Yet Quella had already set up significant plans for the cooperation between the two parties.
"Very well said!"
The more Sky listened, the more satisfied he became.
Of course, when he came, Boss Cook had already instructed that all these matters would follow Julius's preference.
"Does anyone else have any objections?"
Julius shook the envelope in his hand: "If no one has any objections, I'll just toss this stuff. It's probably written by someone else trying to frame Manager Otis."
"Definitely!"
Zade Radcliffe nodded, looking at Sky: "Quella is indeed the most suitable candidate, it was just my oversight that almost buried a talent."
"What about the rest of you?"
Sky looked at the members of the Radcliffe Clan.
Now that Julius was threatening with an audit, who would dare to disagree?
"We all support Quella as the project leader."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"In that case, I'll go back and report to Boss Cook."
Sky stood up and said with a slight smile, "Farewell!"
"We appreciate the effort, Mr. Reed!"
Zade Radcliffe hurriedly stood up to personally escort him out of the meeting room.
Inside the meeting room, only Otis Radcliffe, ashen-faced, and the calm Julius remained.
"Feels good, doesn't it?"
Julius gave him a glance, stretched lazily, and strode away.