Chapter 457 Manuel’s Challenge


    Chapter 457 Manuel''s Challenge


    Just as she expected, her husband had left when she woke up from her dreams.


    A note was left in the room as always.


    He wrote, "Take care and wait for me. With love, Oscar."


    Hannah would repeat the line again and again, every time when she received one. She was unwilling


    to put it down. She kept telling herself that Oscar would officially be back after 2 months. Such dreadful


    days could finallye to an end in 2 months.


    Leaving her duvet behind, she went to the bathroom for washing and dressing up.


    The breakfast had been prepared by Max in the dining room downstairs. The breakfast for today was


    extraordinarily plentiful,pared to the ones in the past few days.


    They were a bit too much for Hannah. She might be ballooned up before she carried a baby, thanks for


    the sumptuous menus. Enjoying her breakfast, she could not help but get lost in thought. And she


    began her browse through the hot news of the day on phone.


    A piece of news drew her attention. That was the headline of the day, releasing the divorce between


    Susan and Manuel. Both of them kept badly low-key about that. Howe did it mount to the top of


    the news?


    After breakfast, Hannah called Manuel on her way out to the office.


    "Morning, this is Hannah. I read the news about your divorce online. Have you read it?"


    "Good morning, Hannah. Yes, I just found it too," Manuel sounded calm and added, "Sooner orter,


    everybody knows."


    "But this is not the right time for its transmission. I worry about any possible negative impact on you,"


    Hannah continued, "As you just entered Phillips Bank, the board did not dare toment on your


    position back then just because you were Edward''s son-inw. Now, things got changed. You''d better


    prepare yourself for some unfriendly doubts."


    "Don''t worry," Manuel confirmed, "I can handle it."


    "Well, just a reminder," Hannah said.


    "Get it," Manuel nodded.


    Then they finished the call.


    As the call was over, Manuel arrived at his office. He always arrived at thepany half an hour early


    before work. Just in case of any unnecessary trouble caused by his disability. And today was not


    exceptional. With the help of a stick, he reached his office. Sitting on the task chair, he began to read


    the news.


    The report was quite objective, just revealing the fact about his divorce from Susan, other than bitter


    attacks.


    The reading cost him a while. Then his secretary knocked at the door, came in, and said, "Morning, Mr


    Johnson."


    "Morning."


    "The board meeting will start 10 minutester."


    "Get it." Manuel nodded.


    With the stick, he left for the boardroom. All the senior managers would be in ce, including Susan.


    Though Susan was not listed in the management level, given her special status, she would attend all


    important meetings.


    Hended on his seat. Edward sat in the middle. This was a regr board meeting, once per week.


    The meetings were about summaries for thest week and the arrangement for theing one.


    On behalf of the Inbound Marketing Department, Manuel started his part, "This week, we have 13


    projects on the way, 7 among which have prominent progress, 4 to break through for the time being,


    and the outstanding 2 are hard nuts. I will report in detail, one by one."


    His presentation was on the right pitch in a humble way. In Susan''s impression, Manuel was


    introverted, maybe not capable to make a clear speech on the stage. But hisst two presentations did


    renew her opinion, in which he seemed so effortless. The key points would never be skipped in his


    presentations. He was confident but not arrogant, humble but not timorous. His solution was always


    constructive and practical, but for those out of his capacity, he also put it straight and attached some


    suggestions. Such a pragmatic attitude earned the satisfaction from most of the executives.


    Manuel finished his report and returned to his seat.


    As soon as the next agenda started, one board member interrupted, "Mr Chairman, I heard of the news


    about the divorce of your daughter and Mr Johnson."


    It was not decent toe up with others'' privacy as a subject in such a meeting. So the person was on


    purpose obviously. Manuel smelled a touch of hostility.


    Edward responded, "Divorce has be amon case for couples with personality shes. This is


    a business meeting, not for privacy. Don''t waste our time."


    "I don''t think this is a waste of time. I just would like to remind you that it seems inappropriate to make a


    rash assignment for such a high position. When he was your son-inw, it was suitable, because


    Phillips Bank is some sort of a family group, and having a family to run is eptable. But since his role


    changed, this is not the same story."


    "I cannot see anything inappropriate." Edward said with a dark face, "It is Manuel''s ability that brings


    him to this position, rather than his role."


    "As I learned, Mr Johnson is a newbie in the business sector. Edward, how do you know his


    qualification for this job?"


    Just before his next round of debate, Edward was interrupted by Manuel.


    "Naturally mying performance will show you my qualification." Manuel interrupted, "Now is not the


    proper timing for a discussion if I am qualified or not. It''s unfair to make a judgment without solid


    testaments. And my performance will be a good proof of that."


    The board member was vanquished by Manuel. Usually, Manuel was not talkative. His presentation


    was always pithy without an unnecessary word. So his remarkable refuting was out of expectation for


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    the challenger. And the vanquished seemed a bit embarrassed.


    But Manuel was not going to let go and added, ironically, "This is just a suggestion. If Mr Chairman


    feels right for that, I have no more to add, because, in the end, the performance will be a good


    testament."


    Edward''s face got darker. But Manuel stayed calm and added, "Just give me a half year. I will resign if


    my performance is not satisfied."


    The shocking board watched the man for his unexpected promise. They thought Manuel would have


    just made a perfunctory effort.


    "And for the satisfied performance I meant, it''s to raise the rate of the group financial loan by 50%. I will


    hand in my resignation if I fail to achieve it."


    "Are you sure?" The board member doubted.


    "Of course."


    "Have you learned the existing market share of Phillips Bank? Among the 5 biggest banks, Phillips


    upied up to 60%. And an increase of 50% means a monopoly. Are you serious?"


    "For your doubt, Mr Torres, let us wait and see half a yearter," Manuel said, without any more interest


    in the debate.


    Rick Torres tried to keep silent but failed. Manuel''sst response shamed him like an unreasonable kid.


    "Fine, time will tell." Rick then replied.


    Manuel did not continue with this topic. And no onemented any more. The meeting resumed its


    normal routine. After the meeting, Edward had Manuele to his office.


    He said directly, "Manuel, your g seems too high."


    "I don''t think so," Manuel said, "Other than snatching our rivals'' market shares, my strategy is tounch


    more new sorts of financial services. Following the growth of the market, the capital flow must get


    increased too. A rise of 50% is not difficult."


    After all, there was still ast shot, his property. If the case was out of his expectation, he could just


    transfer his property to the Bank''s ount.