Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1701


    Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1701


    Jory watched her disappear behind the closing doors. He got even more crestfallen.


    He rubbed his forehead and rearranged his thoughts. I’m meeting a VIP next. C’mon, get your act


    together! Soon, the doors open again with a ding, and he exited the elevator with steady steps.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    “Come in.”


    Simon Barrymore’s voice, along with its hoarseness and vicissitudes that came with his age, rang from


    inside. One could actually feel what the old man had been through, even experience a little part of their


    life, just by listening to the sound of his voice.


    “Mr. Barrymore,” Jory greeted him loudly.


    Simon looked up from his work to acknowledge his guest’s presence. Yet, he was unable to recognize


    Jory. No one in the Barrymore Group would call him by hisst name. Calling him by his title would


    have sufficed. So who was this strange, young man standing in his office?


    “And you are…”


    Jory tilted his head. “Don’t you remember me?” Simon only looked more confused, so the young man


    added, “I’m from Alpire Group.”


    It took a while, but eventually Simon managed to pick up the man’s name from the depths of his


    memory. He stretched out a hand and rose from his seat. “Jory? When have you arrived at Marsingfill?”


    “Not long ago,” Jory responded with a grin.


    Simon poured his guest a cup of tea and then, when he saw that Jory was still standing in his office,


    offered him a seat on the sofa. “Why are you still standing there? Come,e. Have a seat. How’s


    your father been all these years?”


    A green leaf could be seen floating on the steaming tea. Simon used a tea tray with designs depicting


    ancient Chanaean culture. Its grid-like weaving method made the simple art of tea sampling much


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    more fulfilling.


    One of Raphael’s paintings, “The School of Athens”, hung on Simon’s wall. It was apparent that the


    chairman was a great fan of Chanaean culture.


    Jory was so deeply amazed by the ancient Chanaean relics surrounding him that it took him a while to


    respond to the chairman’s question. “He’s doing fine. I believe business is thriving at Barrymore Group


    as well?”


    Simon waved his hand. ““No, no. We are no match for Alpire Group’s rapid growth after all. That’s a


    given.”


    “Mr. Barrymore, I suppose I won’t dally any longer. Ie here today with a business proposal,” Jory


    said, driving his point home. “As you can see, Alpire Group’s development is gradually stabilizing. But,


    in the process of it all, what weck is coboration. And as you know, coboration between two


    strongpanies is the unchanging rule for survival in this industry. So…”


    Simon interrupted the young man before he could finish. “Jory, listen. As the chairman of Barrymore


    Group, I am more than happy to know that Alpire Group has chosen us to establish a partnership. But,


    Jory, since you’vee to us seeking one, I’m sure you’re also aware of ourpany’s development


    so far. Our partners have always been localpanies. Barrymore Group has never cooperated with


    multinationalpanies. And we don’t n to start now.”


    The corners of Jory’s lips drooped briefly and, when he smiled, he looked defeated. “Mr. Barrymore,


    that incident happened so long ago. You shouldn’t take it to heart. I have learned to move on, and you


    ought to let it go too. I’m the only victim after all.”


    Simon looked apologetic. “But, Jory, you have to know, the Barrymores are in your debt because of


    what happened. While I’m pleased to know that you’ve moved on, that can’t be used as a reason for


    Barrymore Group to work with a multinationalpany such as yours. Look, Jory. If you insist on


    bringing it up, then I’m afraid you’re just wasting your time.”


    The old man was clearly still brooding over the incident many years ago. He imed that Barrymore


    Group had never worked with multinationalpanies. That was obviously an excuse to brush him off.


    The old man just did not want to get involved with him. He had so many years under his belt, and yet


    he still bore an immense fear of gossip.


    Since Simon was so frank about it—that coboration was a no-go—then Jory would not force him, nor


    would he keep pestering the old man until he changed his mind. After all, Jory knew very well that


    Alpire Group was currently a lot stronger than before. Besides, he still had a trump card up his sleeves


    —the bug which Gabrie had installed in Joan’s phone.