Chapter 568


    Sophia had always been good at winning people''s hearts. She gave the other party time to think about


    it and drawled, “Mr. Lancaster, you don''t need to rush to make a decision. After all, this is something


    huge. I''ll give you three days to mull it over. If you decide to coborate with us after that, I''ll be waiting


    for you at Sunshine Group. Of course, it''s also okay if you''re unsatisfied with the price. Business deals


    are all about mutual agreement. It cannot be forced.”


    Sophia''s words made it seem as though she was taking a step back and allowing Manuel enough time


    and space to consider things.


    However, after what had just happened, Sophia''s words seemed to have a different meaning to


    Manuel.


    He thought she was implying something with those words. Business deals are all about mutual


    agreement. However, it seems that she disagrees with the acquisition now.


    Naturally, he was aware of the reason why. He nced at Charlotte, who was beside him.


    His expression turned grim. He was upset to hear that the price Sophia offered had a difference of five


    hundred million from what he had expected. He turned to look at Sophia. It was obvious that she would


    not be any more lenient with the price.


    He had only two choices: to sign the contract today or lose the chance to coborate with Sophia.


    “I believe in you, Ms. Yarrow. I''ll agree to four billion, but I have one tiny request.”


    Sophia raised her brows. “Go on, Mr. Lancaster.”


    “Ms. Yarrow, I hope you''ll consider us first when Blueshadow enters the international market in the


    future.”


    Sophia shed him a smile. “Here''s to a fruitful coboration, Mr. Lancaster.”


    There were still many business opportunities in the Chanaea market. It would take at least five years


    before they expanded into the international market.


    Manuel was quite crafty toe up with that tiny request, but Sophia did not think it was a big deal.


    “Likewise, Ms. Yarrow.”


    The contract was signed within an hour of negotiation.


    Sophia asked Yvonne to present Charlotte with a gift when Yvonne was sending them off from


    Sunshine Group. “Ms. Brooks, Ms. Yarrow asked me to give this to you.”


    Charlotte, who had just arrived at the entrance, was taken aback. She could not understand what


    Sophia was trying to do.


    Even Manuel was confused.


    Ms. Yarrow said so much just now. It was obvious that she was trying to say Charlotte had offended her


    and that she was unhappy with the discussion. But we''ve already signed the contract, so why did she


    ask her secretary to send Charlotte a gift?


    As soon as those words left Yvonne''s mouth, everyone turned to look at Charlotte.


    The manager beside Manuel looked at him before shifting her gaze to Charlotte. “Charlotte, what did


    Ms. Yarrow give you?”


    Charlotte had no idea what Sophia had given her either. She was embarrassed to open it right then and


    there.


    Yvonne smiled when she heard the manager''s question. “Ms. Yarrow said she didn''t mean it the other


    day. She''s worried because you didn''t want to go to the hospital for a checkup. Since you two met by


    coincidence today, she had me pass this gift to you as a token of apology.”


    Having said that, she turned around and left.


    Charlotte was rendered speechless. When she noticed Manuel staring at her, she had no choice but to


    take the gift out of the paper bag. Seeing that it was a tube of anti-inmmatory ointment, she turned as


    pale as paper.


    She''s obviously mocking me!


    Charlotte was right. Sophia was indeed mocking her.


    Manuel furrowed his brows when he saw the tube of anti-inmmatory ointment in Charlotte''s hand.


    “Charlotte, how did you offend Ms. Yarrow?”


    Naturally, Charlotte did not dare to tell the truth. She decided to make up a story, saying she didn''t pay


    attention because she was ying with her phone and identally bumped into Sophia. She did not


    apologize as she was holding her phone. She only realized her mistake when Sophia walked away. Not


    long after, she and her friend coincidentally ran into Sophia again.


    That friend was Heath.


    Charlotte would''ve mentioned that it was Heath if they hadn''t broken up.


    However, now that Heath didn''t want her anymore, it was only natural that she didn''t want Manuel to


    know about her and Heath.


    After all, the industry was only so big. She still had dreams of marrying into a wealthy family. Manuel


    came from a prestigious family and knew people in the circle. It would make her look bad if word got


    out about her and Heath.


    Everyone in the circle knew how much of a yboy Heath was. They knew he changed girlfriends as


    though he was changing clothes.


    Manuel wasn''t entirely convinced by Charlotte''s words.


    Although it was his first time meeting Sophia, he had heard many rumors about her in the industry.


    Most of the people who had coborated with Sophia said that she was quite brutal. She never


    wavered from anything that would benefit her.


    However, in business, anyone else would be as brutal as her when it came to making money.


    It could not be one of the bases for evaluating her personality.


    Other than that, others had mentioned that Sophia excelled in other aspects. She was polite and


    respectful. She did not boast or act proud because of her young age. She was humble and


    magnanimous.


    The incident Charlotte told us was trivial, and it doesn''t sound like Charlotte''s in the wrong. She only


    bumped into Ms. Yarrow and didn''t get to apologize. Ms. Yarrow doesn''t look like a petty person either,


    so why would she despise Charlotte over such a small matter?


    Manuel was talented at reading people.


    Charlotte had been his secretary for five to six years. Naturally, he saw through her lies.


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    He was already frustrated and unhappy about the acquisition. He got angrier when he noticed that


    Charlotte had lied to him. “Charlotte, you''ve been working with me for about five to six years now,


    right?”


    Charlotte''s heart lurched when she heard Manuel''s question. “It''s been five years and eight months, Mr.


    Lancaster.”


    Manuel nodded. While walking out of the building, he said, “I thought we could have at least gotten four


    billion and three hundred million from this negotiation today. However, because of your personal grudge


    against Ms. Yarrow, we lost three hundred million for nothing. Ms. Yarrow immediately bumped down


    the price to four billion. And that presentation of yours was absolutely rubbish! Even I was embarrassed


    by it! I heard you recently got a decent boyfriend. He''s a nice rich man and indeed your way out of the


    company, but he''s not a legitimate reason for you to mess up today''s negotiation!” He paused


    momentarily. His expression darkened as he continued, “Since you''ve been working for me for over five


    years, I won''t fire you for old times'' sake. You should resign yourself.”


    Manuel indeed cared about their employer-employee rtionship. However, Charlotte''s performance


    that day could be considered a significant error in her work.


    He was sure that she would not be able to endure the consequences if he were to consider everything


    she had done.


    Charlotte nched. “Mr. Lancaster...”


    Since Sophia had acquired thepany, Charlotte just needed to wait peacefully and receive


    compensation after getting fired if she just endured for another month or two until the change of owners


    and other legal procedures werepleted.


    I can''t believe Mr. Lancaster is asking me to hand in my resignation letter! If I resign, I won''t be able to


    get even a bit ofpensation!