Chatper 647


    “We don’t know whether or not Mr. Larson is in the hospital. Please don’t let the rumors affect our


    cooperation,” Vivian hurriedly exined. “You’ve done business with the Larson Group before, so I’m


    sure you already know what thepany is capable of. Don’t worry.”


    Noticing that the atmosphere was getting a little awkward, Liam decided to act as a peacemaker by


    smiling and saying, “Miss Cooper, you’re new here. I know it’s inappropriate of us to make things hard


    for you, but I hope you understand my and Mr. Cruz’s worries. Ourpanies aren’t bigpanies like


    the Larson Group. We can’t afford the losses. How about this? We can sign this contract, but we


    request a video call tomunicate directly with Mr. Larson.”


    Gifford crossed his arms and nodded. “Yes. If we can confirm that Brandon isn’t in the hospital, we can


    sign the contract.”


    “I’m afraid it’s an inconvenient time for Mr. Larson to do that right now. How about we dy the signing


    of the contract? It’s almost lunch time anyway. Would you like me to treat you to lunch first?” Vivian


    asked.


    Her voice was shaky as she nced at the time on her watch.


    Gifford sneered. He then stood up and picked up the documents. “We just wanted to see Brandon, but


    you won’t let us. I bet he’s so sick that he can’t even get out of bed. You know what? I won’t sign this


    contract with yourpany. There’s no point in waiting around here anymore.”


    Vivian’s eyes widened. “Mr. Cruz, Mr. Lewis, please listen to me!”


    Even though she said that, she didn’t do anything more to try and persuade them to stay. She was the


    one who spread the rumors about Brandon, after all. All she knew was that Brandon was in the hospital


    and she could do whatever she wanted to right now. The termination of the cooperation would


    undoubtedly confirm Brandon’s illness.


    If that were to happen, morepanies that partnered with the Larson group would also terminate their


    contracts, and thepany would be in shambles. That was what Vivian wanted to happen.


    The assistant anxiously pulled on Vivian’s sleeve. “Is Mr. Larson really sick? He should be here by now


    if nothing really happened.”


    At that time, some employees were gathering outside the meeting room. They were eavesdropping on


    their conversation.


    “I think the project is really going to be canceled,” one of the employees said.


    Another employee nodded. “The rumors are true, then. Mr. Larson might be seriously ill.”


    Gifford and Liam’s faces darkened. They picked up the documents and stood up.


    Just when they were about to leave, they heard a booming, stentorian voice, saying, “Where are you


    two going? We haven’t signed the contract yet!”


    “Isn’t that Mr. Larson’s voice?”


    Gifford and Liam looked back at the same time. The employees that were standing at the door of the


    meeting room also looked at where the voice came from.


    The maning their way was wearing shiny leather shoes and a ck suit jacket on top of a dress


    shirt.


    His aura was indescribably domineering as he narrowed his eyes and looked around.


    It was Brandon.


    “Mr. Larson! You’re back!”


    Everyone’s eyes lit up the moment they saw him. They looked at him as if he was their savior.


    Upon hearing themotion outside, Vivian ran out in a panic. Her face turned pale when she saw


    Brandon standing outside the door.


    Gifford and Liam went over to him while they held the contract in their hands. Noticing that Brandon


    looked quite healthy and radiant, they asked, “Mr. Larson, you’re here!”


    Brandon nced at Sean behind him with the suitcase in tow and said to the two men in front of him,


    “Sorry, the flight got dyed.”


    Liam put on a ttering smile and exined, “There was a slight misunderstanding just now. We heard


    a rumor that you were in hospital, so we didn’t sign the contract.”


    Brandon raised his eyebrows at Liam and asked, “What rumor?”


    Gifford hesitated at first but eventually told Brandon what he had heard. “Here’s the thing. A few days


    ago, a photo of you in the hospital circted on the Inte. Rumor had it you had a serious brain


    tumor and that you were looking for a neurologist. What was more, your parents-inw were said to be


    helping you find the best doctors in the world.”


    “That’s fake news,” Brandon denied expressionlessly. “But I understand your concerns. If you wish to


    terminate the cooperation, I won’t stop you.”


    Gifford immediately regretted doubting Brandon. Numerouspanies were eager to cooperate with


    the Larson Group. How could he let a groundless rumor cost the hard-won cooperation?


    Suddenly, something urred on Gifford. He pointed his finger at Vivian and concluded, “You knew


    that Mr. Larson was on a business trip. And yet, you didn’t tell us the truth. You wanted to sabotage this


    cooperation, didn’t you?”


    Everyone’s gazes fell on Vivian.


    “That makes sense. When Mr. Lewis and Mr. Cruz threatened to leave, Vivian didn’t stop them. Could it


    be that she…” an employee conjectured.


    “What did you expect? She’s a member of the Turner family and the one in charge of the Turner Group.


    How could she truly side with the Larson Group?” another queried.


    “Could it be that Vivian went to thispany for a reason?”


    The employees all stared at Vivian with apparent disgust. Most of them doubted her capabilities. After


    all, she was already in a high position at such a young age. No wonder she was not liked by everyone.


    She was enviable.


    Meanwhile, Vivian was at a loss for words and could only stand there in embarrassment. What they


    had said was partly true. She indeed did not stop them from leaving. The thing was, the people she had


    arranged at the gate of the hospital did not inform her that Brandon had been discharged. She would


    not have acted like this otherwise.


    While everyone was waiting for Vivian’s exnation, Brandon broke the deafening silence.


    “Well, don’t just stand there. All of you, get back to work.” He scanned the crowd and made up a story


    on the spot. “Vivian here had no idea I’de back today as I didn’t even tell the staff about my


    business trip. As for the rumors, I believe that they’re nothing but nonsense made up by the media.


    Don’t believe any of it.”


    After hearing what Brandon said, Liam and Gifford did not me Vivian anymore. The rest of the


    employees then returned to their workstations.


    “Mr. Larson, shall we go to the meeting room to discuss the contract in detail?” Liam, with a big smile


    on his face, rubbed his hands together, opened the door of the meeting room, and entered with


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Brandon.


    Vivian, on the other hand, was shut out of the door and could not hear a word they were saying from


    inside the room.


    About ten minutester, Liam and Gifford walked out with big smiles on their faces. From the looks of it,


    the signing had gone smoothly.


    Vivian interlocked her fingers in anxiety.


    Once the two men had left and Brandon was about to return to the meeting room, she grabbed his


    sleeve.


    “Mr. Larson, it’s my fault. I’m sorry…” Vivian lowered her gaze and swallowed hard. She could not even


    bring herself to meet his eyes.


    Brandon turned to look at Vivian with an intense gaze, pulled back his sleeve, and assured her, “It


    wasn’t your fault. I didn’t make it clear to you in the beginning. Just continue what you’ve been doing.”


    “Really, Mr. Larson?” Vivian gasped in surprise. But, at the same time, she was a little scared and


    skeptical.


    “Listen. I don’t me you, and you don’t have to worry about this again. Besides, a lot of things


    happened in the past few days. Since everyone has done their best, I want you to book a restaurant


    and organize a party tonight as a reward for all of your hard work.”


    The topic changed so fast that Vivian had no other choice but to set the past aside. She smiled brightly


    and asked, “Which restaurant should we go to tonight? Do you have any rmendation, Mr.


    Larson?”


    “Hmm. Remember when you had a party in Newden Hotelst time? Their service was good, wasn’t


    it?” Brandon replied without much thought.


    Speaking of the hotel, the scene of the waitress falling down the stairs shed across Vivian’s mind. At


    the thought of this, her smile froze and her body stiffened.


    “Mr. Larson, I don’t think it’s appropriate to visit to this hotel. This is the ce where you and Mrs.


    Larson quarreled thest time…” Vivian said in a hushed voice.


    “Oh, it’s fine. We don’t even mind, so why should you?”


    Brandon smiled and narrowed his eyes as he said slyly.


    Vivian was startled by Brandon’s passive-aggressive look. She pursed her lips and decided it would be


    best for her to stay silent.


    However, Brandon was not done intimidating Vivian. He put on a serious expression and asked, “Is


    there anything about the hotel that’s worrying you?”


    Vivian racked her brain to find an excuse and an idea suddenly shed through her mind. She regained


    herposure and replied hurriedly, “Many of us in thepany thought the food here a little too


    spicy. So I thought it would be better to choose another location where the food is more agreeable for


    our staff. I happen to know a good Japanese restaurant nearby. Perhaps we could go there?”


    “It’s mainly because my wife likes the environment of this restaurant very much. If the staff feel that the


    food is too spicy or something, I can hire another chef to be in charge of tonight’s dishes. Just go ask


    around what they like to eat.”


    Brandon countered her indifferently.


    “Oh !…Mrs. Larson likes this restaurant…”


    Vivian muttered with a forceful smile.


    In the evening, the Larson Group had booked the entire Newden Hotel.


    Natalie and Brandon entered the dining hall hand in hand.


    When Natalie saw Vivian across the room, she walked over and sat at the same table.


    Natalie started chatting with Vivian and the other female colleagues.


    One of themplimented Natalie, “Mrs. Larson, this ce is amazing.


    The environment is great, and the dishes are fresh and appetizing.”


    “I thought you all didn’t like the food here. I heard many of you thought the food here was too spicy,”


    Natalie said innocently, but her eyes were saying otherwise.


    Vivian forced a smile and replied hurriedly, “Mr. Larson said he would hire another chef to prepare


    today’s dinner.


    The dishes we had previously were not really suitable to the taste buds of the people in Barnes.”


    “I’ve been here several times before. The food is delicious, but it’s a little expensive,” a short-haired


    colleague said as she looked at Vivian curiously.


    “Vivian is rich and has exquisite tastes. She is different from us ordinary people,” another female


    colleague said sarcastically.


    Vivian clenched her fists silently but controlled her temper and smiled politely at the colleague.


    “Okay, the food is here. Let’s just dig in,” Natalie quipped as she tried to diffuse the tension at the table.


    While they were eating, a colleague started to gossip.