Chapter 364


    Landing a deal with the Wilson Group? That was beyond Jan''s wildest dreams. If anyone deserved


    a pat on the back, it was thisdy right here. Me!


    Of course, I knew Bet was just giving Jan a little nudge.


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    Jan, grinning like a Cheshire cat, didn''t miss a beat. "Mr. Richardson, you tter me!" He seemed to


    have forgotten just how hard I had to hustle to get us this opportunity.


    Bet didn''t linger on the subject and turned to my dad, "Mr. Wilburn, it seems like small talk isn''t


    getting us anywhere. How about I show everyone around VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals? I know you''re


    familiar with the ce, Mr. Wilburn, but there''s always something new to see."


    Dad was on his feet in a heartbeat. "I''ve been meaning to share some thoughts with you, Bet, just


    never found the right moment. Let''s walk and talk!"


    Bet gestured grandly and led the way, with an energy thatmanded attention.


    Throughout the tour, we saw it all: the assembly lines, the storerooms, the showcase of products, even


    the sales charts. And then, the top secret – a peek at the ultra-secretiveb, usually off-limits to


    outsiders.


    Bet was ying a masterful game of carrot and stick, leaving Jan so bewildered that he couldn''t


    get a word in edgewise.


    Finally, before we headed back to the office, Bet slipped my dad a hefty dose of reassurance.


    "Mr. Wilburn, VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals is a behemoth – that''s the real reason I''ve been hesitant to


    Dad and I caught the subtext immediately.


    "You''ve got that privateb, too, right? Maybe one day you could..."


    "Mr. Wilburn!" Dad was cut off mid-sentence by Bet''s firm interjection, "I''m afraid that''s out of the


    question! Besides, thatb isn''t even in Silverdale City."


    Bet was adamant, and Dad just nodded thoughtfully, not pressing further.


    "Mr. Richardson, is there an alternative path we could take?" Dad probed.


    "There might be," Bet mused, "but it''s never quite satisfactory."


    "Settling for the next best thing?" Dad suggested, "It could bypass the local conflicts and give us a new


    testing ground. Kill two birds with one stone!"


    Bet gave Dad a knowing smile. "Easier said than done! The domestic market is just too small for


    my liking."


    "You''re considering a partnership overseas?" Dad feigned confusion.


    "Not at all!" Bet was quick to squash that idea, "The innovations from myb are mine alone. I


    won''t let outsiders get the jump on them. If they want in, they can handle the marketing and sales!"


    Jan seemed to rx a bit at that.


    "And besides, ourb here is already rolling out new clinical reports. I''m thinking of a dual approach to


    avoid upsetting any shareholders. Some people have difficulty seeing the big picture, and their greed


    makes them unsuitable for significant roles. Mr. Wilburn, if everyone were like you, I''d sleep easy at


    night. No need for all this hassle."


    "Age is catching up with me, and I''m not as strong as I used to be," Dad said, feigning resignation.


    "Nonsense, you''re in your prime! You are my senior. I know you''ve got ns. Since you''re here, let''s


    "But Mr. Wilburn, this won''t be a small investment. And to be honest, I can''t lead the charge. It''s against


    protocol, and I have risks to consider." Bet was clear. "Let''s be frank – in business, I don''t y


    favorites. When necessary, I''ll chase profits and cut losses without a second thought."


    Dadughed heartily, full of admiration for Bet.


    After theugh, Dad nced at Jan, their eyes met, and Jan seemed lost in thought.


    "Mr. Richardson, I think we should continue this discussion elsewhere. After all, we are in VitalAxis


    Pharmaceuticals," Dad suggested.


    As the three men chuckled, I found myself raising an eyebrow, my inner cynic skeptical about the


    games these sly foxes might be up to.


    Bet stood up, ready to move on. "Then let''s go somewhere else! But let''s not call it a meeting, just


    a casual chat." He emphasized ''casual''.


    Dad and Jan stood up as well. "I''ll pick the ce!"


    "How about Camellia Crest? It''s been a while. Quiet and private," Bet suggested with a look


    towards my dad.


    "Camellia Crest it is!" Dad agreed with a flourish.


    Right then, the office door was knocked urgently, and an elegant secretary stepped in. "Mr. Richardson,


    some of the senior shareholders are here to see you. They insist."


    The room was filled with the tension of unspoken business and the scent of brewing strategy.