CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 209: HENRY PRESTON CONTRIBUTED A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES

Sometimes I feel that there’s a telepathic connection between Henry Preston and Ivan Underwood.

Both of them understand each other so well, they can even guess what each other has done or thought.

I acknowledged this.

"Don’t believe anything he says, just trust me." Ivan paused for a moment and continued, "He wants to drive a wedge between us."

He spoke bluntly.

Since everything was out in the open, I chose to trust Ivan, not only because we are now in a relationship, but also because he’s always been genuinely good.

"Okay, I understand." I explained softly, "Don’t worry, I didn’t meet Henry alone; it was at the cocktail party where we bumped into each other, he told me on purpose."

"Yeah, I trust you." Ivan responded confidently, "I’ll come to you after work; let’s have dinner together. I’ve been so busy these days, I only just now have the time to meet up and clarify things with you."

It’s been quite a few days since I last saw Ivan. I know he’s been busy, and combined with the incidents at the party, I haven’t been in a good mood. I just adopted an indifferent attitude about not meeting.

Now that Ivan suggested we have dinner together, I agreed immediately. Maintaining a relationship needs effort from both sides.

"Alright, see you tonight." Right after I hung up, I received an urgent meeting notice.

The meeting was very straightforward — several suppliers suddenly informed us they could no longer supply us with production materials!

My mom, looking very grave, informed everyone that those suppliers had been snatched by Astral Company at higher prices.

So now we have to figure out a way to persuade those suppliers to change their minds and continue working with us, while also starting to contact other suppliers.

Is Azure and her team moving that quickly?

"Zoe, come have dinner with me tonight; I’ve arranged a dinner with Young Mr. Levin." My mom stopped me, looking somewhat exhausted.

Young Mr. Levin is the largest raw material supplier for our company; previously, his father had a good relationship with my mom and thus worked together.

In the evening, I accompanied my mom to the social engagement.

To our disappointment, Young Mr. Levin wouldn’t budge and clearly told my mom, "Larkin, Mr. Preston of Celeste and The Preston Group have a very close relationship!"

So, Henry Preston is involved in this as well?

After some maneuvering, I drank a lot and felt uncomfortable, so I found an excuse to go to the restroom.

On the way back to the private lounge, I encountered Wendy Hawthorne and Azure Vaughn.

"Miss Hathaway!" Azure looked radiant, her smile sweet as she followed behind Wendy, really resembling a mother and daughter.

"Are you still not planning to talk with me?" Wendy spoke up, "I’m interested in acquiring your company; you should consider it."

So that’s her aim. Wendy has quite the ambition.

I looked at this middle-aged woman, "Mr. Hawthorne, your company has only been established for so long, and you’re already eager to swallow others. Aren’t you afraid you’ll bite off more than you can chew and choke on it?"

"How could it be? I just believe that rather than continuing the competition towards an inevitable outcome, it’s better to skip the process and go straight to the result, saving everyone time." Wendy replied.

Azure chimed in, "Miss Hathaway, we don’t mean to be your enemies, so you should tell your parents. I’ve heard your dad is about to retire soon, your mom isn’t well with her heart; wouldn’t it be better for them to take a big sum of money and retire peacefully?"

How Azure used to mock me, how she provoked me, I never cared before. But hearing about my parents from her, I really felt it was an ill omen.

"Your dreams are too early; wake up!" I responded coldly.

Azure acted surprised, "Hasn’t Young Mr. Levin proposed termination to your company yet?"

Is this a direct confession that the supplier’s termination was their doing?

Thinking of how my mom has painstakingly managed the company for a lifetime, only to have it disrupted by these two opportunists, I felt nauseated.

"Forget about Young Mr. Levin; you can keep trying." I didn’t want to waste words with them, lest it affected my mood.

Even if they could trouble my company, could they trouble both my parents’ family clans?

It’s just that until the situation becomes extremely urgent, my parents typically won’t reach out to the family. Previously, there were some unresolved conflicts, making it difficult to reach out.

I turned to leave, but Azure followed.

Last lifetime, I lost miserably to her, but in this lifetime, I didn’t lose, yet Azure was like a leech, persistently clinging to me.

That feeling is truly disgusting.

When I returned to the lounge, it was only my mom left inside; Young Mr. Levin had left, the outcome was predictable.

My mom and I sat quietly in the lounge, our moods heavy.

"Celeste Company has climbed up The Preston Group’s big tree; it will be plain sailing for them ahead." My mom sighed, "Henry Preston likely put in quite a bit of effort behind the scenes."

I stayed silent for a while before going over to hold my mom’s arm and softly said:

"Mom, let’s go home, it’s late."

I felt a slight unease in my heart. The issues our family will face next will become more numerous and severe.