CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43 UNINTENDED

These were personal numbers, not business lines. If I were to monetize these resources, I could demand as much as nine million dollars per number.

However, only a fool would squander such exclusive resources.

They were safest in my possession.

"William, allow me to introduce you. This is Mr. Nova from Nova Company!"

Nova Company?

The name rang a bell. The company had shown promising growth in the past but seemed to have hit a rough patch recently, even making headlines for failing to pay its employees. Of course, that news was swiftly quashed.

Upon shaking hands with Mr. Nova, I attempted to engage him in conversation. However, he seemed disinterested in me, and his attention was evidently divided between me and someone else he had brought along.

And that person looked oddly familiar.

Wasn’t that Phillip Brown, my college classmate?

What was he doing here?

Our college days were marred by a mutual dislike, primarily because he had a penchant for trying to steal my girlfriend. After a well-deserved thrashing, he would often boast in our group chat about his position as a client manager at Skyliart Group. It sounded impressive, but in reality, he was just an ordinary employee.

But how did he come to be associated with Frank Nova?

"Mr. Walker, Mr. Jefferson, allow me to introduce Phillip Brown, my future son-in-law."

What?

Future son-in-law?

So, he was involved with Frank’s daughter. That explained it.

Phillip was impeccably dressed, his shoes gleaming, his hair slicked back.

"Mr. Walker, Mr. Jefferson, I’m Phillip, an employee at Skyliart Group. Here’s my business card!"

He hastily produced a gilded business card, and in doing so, blatantly snubbed me. It was clear he had recognized me.

Edward and George frowned. This gathering was a private affair among friends, and Phillip’s blatant distribution of business cards was an inappropriate intrusion.

Phillip seemed oblivious to their disapproval, basking in self-satisfaction as they accepted his cards.

Suddenly, he turned to me, "Yo, William, fancy running into you here?"

"Indeed, quite the coincidence," I responded, maintaining my composure while subtly distancing myself from him. His overpowering perfume was a nuisance. Could he be gay?

We barely interacted on regular days, and now he was greeting me with such warmth. There had to be a catch.

"Phillip, do you know each other?" Frank was somewhat surprised.

"Dad, he is my college classmate," Phillip answered.

Frank nodded, saying, "Oh, so you’re classmates, then you should catch up."

He seemed a bit more welcoming than before, but just a bit.

"We indeed should catch up," Phillip replied.

Phillip smiled, "William, how’s it going at Skylight? Are you still just a regular sales rep? I’ve been promoted to Marketing Director!"

Damn!

Wasn’t this flaunting too obvious?

What did "sales rep" mean?

In our line of work, we all called ourselves account managers or marketing department managers to package ourselves. How many people would want to deal with you if you call yourself a sales rep?

I noticed Edward’s slight frown and decided to play along. "Oh, congratulations!"

"Skyliart Group is doing better than Skylight now. Why don’t you switch to Skyliart Group and work for me? It will definitely be better than at Skylight!"

"Thanks for the offer, but I’m doing fine at Skylight," I replied.

"Really? Last time you were complaining to our classmates about being exploited at Skylight. I get it though. We’re classmates. I’m doing a bit better, but helping each other is normal. Don’t feel pressured; making money is what counts."

"Well, I don’t need it. I prefer earning things through my own efforts," I said.

That was a veiled jab at him.

"What did you say?" Phillip looked a bit unhappy.

"Enough, Phillip. He’s too proud to accept your help. Can’t you see? Who does he think he is?"

Frank disdainfully glanced at me and said, "These days, who doesn’t rely on connections? Going it alone, when will you ever make it?"

After that, he approached Edward and said, "Mr. Walker, shall we go over there and chat?"

Edward said lightly, "No need, Mr. Nova. Anything you have to say, you can say here."

Frank was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, asking, "Mr. Walker, how are you considering the machine purchase?"

Edward said, "Sorry, Mr. Nova. Your price is too high. It’s beyond our budget. You might want to check with other clients."

At his words, Frank’s face immediately fell. "Mr. Walker, I’ve been waiting for you for so long, and now you say you don’t want it. Is that appropriate?"

"Mr. Nova, it’s not that I don’t want it, but two billion for used machines is too much. Brand new ones are only 2.6 billion. Why not buy new?"

"Mr. Nova, we agreed on this before. Others said they wanted it, and I didn’t even give it to him!"

"You still have time to offer them now."

Edward smiled and then said to me, "Let’s go, William. I’ll introduce you to other executives."

George flashed Frank a smile and then strolled off.

"Edward, thank you," I said gratefully.

"Thank me for what?"

"You turned down Frank because of me, right?" I whispered.

He smiled and said, "Partly because of you, but mostly because his price was too high. I wasn’t planning to buy anyway!"

Edward’s light-hearted tone didn’t ease my heavy heart.

"Will this affect the company’s development?" I asked.

"It will, but it’s unavoidable," Edward replied.

Edward said somewhat helplessly, "This is the downside of running a business. Without machines and assembly lines, you can’t produce products and can’t expand production capacity. Competing with the big factories for the best resources is tough. Even if you manage to get them, it takes one or two years to deliver the machines and set up the lines. By then, it’s too late."

He added, "High-tech products from abroad are even more challenging. Most of the time, we end up using machines that big factories have phased out. Although the production capacity is lower and the price is higher, you have to accept it because if customers come to you and you can’t produce, they won’t come back in the future."

George chimed in, "Edward’s words hit home for me. I’m in the liquor business, but with so many liquor brands on the market now, relying on reputation alone is useless. You need to invest heavily to gain recognition, or you’ll be overtaken and forgotten."