Chapter 145: A new strategy

Words : 1140 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Chapter 145: A new strategy "Do you know him?" Gustave asked, surprise and curiosity mixed on his face. "Yes, it’s the man from the hotel," Augustine recalled. "Hotel?" Gustave was even more perplexed. Augustine then narrated the incident at the Grand Hotel. "Anne’s stepmother and Lorie wanted to ruin her. They sold her out to his guy. Luckily, Anne was vigilant and wisely dealt with the situation. I shouldn’t have let that matter slide away. I should have checked on that guy. But it’s not too late." He gripped the edge of the file, his eyes burning in rage. "I want this man," he demanded. "Bring him to me." "He’ll be in front of you soon." With that promise, Gustave left. Megan seethed as she arrived at her office. She couldn’t take the humiliation and wanted to do something to teach Anne a lesson. But she was new in the office and didn’t know anything. One name surfaced in her mind – Lorie. "Yes," her face lit up with hope. "She hates Anne. I can team up with her." Megan had heard that Lorie had been dismissed as the CEO’s secretary and transferred to the sales department. But she needed a secretary and thought she could bring Lorie into her office. Taking her phone, she called Lorie. The call was connected after a long ring. "Hello?" "Lorie, I am Megan. Are you at the office? Can we meet?" "I no longer work for the Sphere Group," Lorie said with bitterness in her tone. "What did you say?" Megan exclaimed with disbelief. "You...you are fired!" The information left her reeling from the shock. "How? When did this happen?" "This morning..." Lorie muttered. "I went to the office, but a dismissal letter was shoved at me, telling me that I was fired. I thought I was transferred to the sales department. I never expected the company would fire me." "Hold on," Megan interrupted. The information was too confusing. She needed some time to process it. "Let’s meet in the evening. I’ll send you the address." With that, she ended the call, a frown tugging at her brow. "Lorie has been fired," she muttered with curiosity and disbelief. "Could it be that Anne influenced Augustine?" Her expression changed as she realized something. "Certainly, it’s her doing." She dug her nails into her palm. Her heart filled with disgust when she thought Anne had seduced Augustine to make him fire Lorie. "You used a dirty method to fire Lorie," Megan muttered. "So shameless. But I’ll expose you. I’ll expose all your dirty tricks." ~~~~~~~~~~~ When Denis stepped into his office, he was caught off guard to find his father already there, seated on the sofa, a serious expression on his face. Normally, Gabriel would call him when he needed to discuss business matters — it was rare for him to be waiting personally. "Dad, is everything alright?" Denis asked, crossing the room swiftly. Gabriel didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he closed the file he had been reviewing and handed it over to Denis. "This is the new project the client just signed with us. I’ve learned that the Sphere Group is backing this client as the primary investor. I want you to handle this personally — study it carefully, and make sure we get the best possible profit out of it. If we do it right, we could finally catch the Sphere Group’s attention." Denis accepted the file, flipping through the documents with growing interest. Gabriel’s voice sharpened, pulling Denis’s focus back. "This project is crucial. We are still recovering from the setbacks of the last deal. We can’t afford another mistake. I expect you to give this your full attention." Denis’s eyes lit up as he reviewed the file. This was his opportunity to establish a connection with the Sphere Group. Perhaps he could uncover more about their mysterious president or even secure a significant deal with them. Clutching the file tightly, Denis looked up with new determination. "I won’t let you down this time." Gabriel gave a curt nod, his stern expression easing slightly. He pulled out a cigar, lighting it. His eyes narrowed to slits as he inhaled deeply and let out a thick cloud of smoke. "I talked with Anne last night." Denis stiffened at the sudden mention of Anne. Gabriel continued, "It’s shocking to hear you actually sent her to negotiate with Mr. Lee. What were you thinking? Don’t you know the kind of man he is? Was your hatred for her so deep?" Denis’s hand clenched around the file. The unhealed wound of his mistake throbbed painfully at the mention. If he hadn’t made that reckless decision, Anne would still be here—still by his side. Gabriel noticed the dark tension crossing Denis’s face, and his suspicions hardened into certainty. "If you despised her that much, you could’ve simply fired her. Instead, you chose the cruelest way to humiliate her. Regardless of your feelings, Anne was a competent secretary — hardworking, meticulous. And now? She is working with Augustine. With the grudge she carries, don’t you think she could turn against us?" He took another drag of his cigar before adding, "You need to fix this. Send them gifts — and apologize, especially to Anne. I won’t have your personal vendettas causing trouble for us." In the past, Denis would have immediately bristled at the thought of apologizing to anyone. But this time, there was no trace of rebellion in him. Instead, he gave a quiet nod. "I know I messed up," he admitted. "I regret it. Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll apologize to Anne myself — and I’ll take some gifts to her too." Gabriel gave a small grunt of approval, tapping ash from his cigar before speaking again. "Try to approach Augustine as well. Given his ties with the Sphere Group, he could open doors for us. We need to think strategically." Denis felt a surge of anger at the suggestion but managed to tamp it down. The idea of asking Augustine for anything made his stomach turn, but if it meant securing a partnership with the Sphere Group, he had no choice. "I understand," he said through gritted teeth. "I’ll reach out to him. But Dad, don’t expect too much. That bastard’s not the type to lend a hand easily." Gabriel took a long drag from his cigar before he crushed it out in the ashtray with a twist. "You have no idea how much I despise him, too. But in business, even enemies can be useful tools." His eyes met Denis’s with cold calculation. "If getting close to him helps us secure what we want, you’d better swallow your pride. Once we get what we need from the Sphere Group, Augustine will be nothing to us. Understand?" Denis nodded grimly. "Understood. I’ll take care of it."

Chapter 145: A new strategy

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