CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 148: SENSING SOMETHING FISHY, SHE STRIKES FIRST

Cortexa Group has a segment of its business in new energy vehicle parts.

Though Isaac Grant has entered the board, it’s difficult for him to gain respect without performance, so George Grant is eager to push him to showcase his skills.

During the selection phase, it’s reasonable for the client to meet two potential suppliers at the same time.

Juliana composed herself, walked in with Summer Shaw, and greeted the other company’s boss.

Mr. Preston, in his forties, was stout and appeared quite amiable.

He immediately introduced them to Isaac Grant and his father.

George Grant looked warily at Juliana.

Isaac, with a sinister smile, extended his hand to her, "So, you are the director from Aetherflame, I’ve long heard of your esteemed name."

Juliana felt a slight chill down her spine but maintained her professional smile as she shook hands with him.

His hands were cold as a corpse.

Mr. Preston said to Summer Shaw with a grin, "I love a drink or two, so I arranged the meeting here. I hope you don’t mind, Mr. Shaw."

Summer Shaw responded calmly, "You’re too kind, Mr. Preston. As long as we’re here to discuss cooperation, anywhere can be a meeting room."

Mr. Preston continuously praised Summer Shaw for his straightforwardness and then, along with his assistant, briefly explained the procurement intentions and standards.

Summer Shaw sat next to Juliana and asked quietly, "Is that Isaac Grant?"

Juliana nodded slightly.

Summer Shaw said, "Because of my brother’s relationship, I saw him when I was a kid. Even back then, he looked like an alien, and it’s even more so now."

Juliana didn’t engage with her comment and took a sip from a bottle of mineral water that a waiter had brought over.

Taking advantage of the assistant’s presentation, Mr. Preston asked Juliana with a smile, "Why aren’t you having a drink?"

Summer Shaw took over the conversation, "She has to drive later, so I’ll drink with you instead."

Mr. Preston laughed heartily.

Isaac saw something was up and suddenly slapped his forehead, laughing, "Mr. Preston, I almost forgot! Knowing you love to drink, my dad specially prepared two bottles of 30-year-old finest wine for you. They’re in the trunk, and I forgot to bring them up."

After saying that, he turned his gaze filled with a smile towards Juliana, "Both my dad and I had a drink and are feeling a bit dizzy, so we’d appreciate it if you two lovely ladies who haven’t had much to drink could help us to fetch them, would that be alright?"

The intention to send them away was so obvious that even a fool could see it.

Summer was just about to frown, but Juliana tugged at the corner of her clothing behind her and then stood up, responding with a graceful smile, "You’re too kind, Young Master Grant, it’s no trouble at all. We’ll go get them now."

Mr. Preston nodded with a smile, seeing no trouble with it.

Though George Grant didn’t know the plot his son was hatching, he handed over the car keys, warning softly, "Just take the wine, don’t touch anything else."

Juliana smiled, "Don’t worry, Master Gunn, we are well-mannered and won’t sniff around like dogs."

George knew she was calling him a dog.

But due to the occasion, he couldn’t react and had to suppress his displeasure, sitting back down.

When they left the room and the door closed, Isaac’s sly smile could no longer be hidden.

He leaned towards Mr. Preston, speaking with a hint of intimacy.

"Mr. Preston, Director Jacobs is competent, but her private life is a bit too ’open’, her reputation isn’t great in the circles. I’m not trying to slander a competitor in front of you, I’m considering the long-term cooperation with your esteemed company. After all, if some negative rumors arise during the project, it might affect the progress and the reputation of your company."

However, Mr. Preston didn’t show any signs of disdain upon hearing this, but rather seemed quite interested, "Is that so? She seems quite aloof to me."

George Grant snorted, "That’s just for show."

Seeing the timing was right, Isaac took out a bag of powder.

"This stuff dissolves in water, and once ingested, one won’t remember what they did, exposing their true self. More importantly, nothing can be traced after 12 hours, Mr. Preston, you’ll know I’m not lying after trying it."

Mr. Preston, being an experienced man in such matters, understood everything upon seeing the powder.

George Grant laughed from the side, "It just so happens there are two of them, Mr. Preston, and your assistant. After things are successful, Isaac and I will leave and leave the wonderful night to you, how about it?"

Mr. Preston glanced at his assistant, with whom he had been longstanding partners; there was no reason to refuse such a thing.

Thus, the four men laughed aloud...

Isaac called a waiter to arrange the cocktails and juices on the table in the order as he specified and to clean the table.

The waiter had just left when Juliana and Summer Shaw returned.

Isaac picked up a bottle of cocktail from the table, gesturing toward them, "Thank you for your effort, I toast to you."

Seeing the array of drinks on the table, Juliana and Summer Shaw casually picked up the ones in front of them and clinked glasses with them.

George Grant returned from the restroom and was delighted upon seeing the two had drunk the drinks placed in special positions.

When he returned to his seat, he accidentally knocked over a drink, wetting Isaac’s jacket.

Being a custom order worth five digits, Isaac was visibly displeased yet couldn’t lash out.

George hurriedly said, "There’s a dry cleaner nearby, take it off, and I’ll have it cleaned for you."

Isaac didn’t hesitate to give him the jacket.

After a few more drinks, Isaac became increasingly red-faced and seemed to be losing control of his actions, leaning toward Mr. Preston.

Mr. Preston and his assistant were clear-headed.

Especially Mr. Preston, when Isaac’s icy hand touched his cheek, he was momentarily taken aback, but then his eyes filled with interest.

"It’s rare to see a man’s skin as good as yours. Is Young Master Grant’s good complexion because of drinking?"

"It’s natural!"

Isaac was already so befuddled about his gender, tugging at his tie and smiling charmingly.

Seizing the moment, Juliana and Summer Shaw stood up.

Summer Shaw politely said, "Since Mr. Preston has had enough to drink, let’s call it a day. We welcome you to Aetherflame for an on-the-spot investigation."

Mr. Preston looked at Isaac with satisfaction but said nothing, while his assistant couldn’t wait to see them off.

The door to the private room closed.

Summer Shaw gagged as if about to vomit.

"I didn’t expect Mr. Preston to be a pervert, and even more, I didn’t expect..."

She didn’t finish but instead burst out laughing.

"Juliana, it’s fortunate you kept your calm and figured something was fishy, quietly going out to bribe the waiter. So the problematic drinks were swapped."

Which means when Isaac was scheming against Juliana, Juliana was already counter-scheming against him.

There was quite a commotion coming from inside.

Summer Shaw took out her phone, excited, "Should we take some pictures? If we take some, the Grant Family will be done for."

Juliana stopped her, "Then you’d be done too, let’s go quickly. Think about how to deal with revenge from the Grant father and son tonight."

Indeed, when George Grant returned with the jacket and heard the sounds from inside, he felt like the sky was falling...

The Grant father and son’s revenge was swift.

Moreover, it was greater than expected.

The next day at work, Aetherflame received a ’Notification for Suspension of Operation for Cooperation with Investigation’ issued by the market regulatory bureau.

The reason was that they were suspected of commercial bribery during last night’s meeting.

Summer Shaw and Juliana also had to undergo inquiry by the regulatory department.

After much inquiry, Summer Shaw confirmed that this was based on testimony provided by Mr. Preston.

"But why would Mr. Preston listen to the Grant father and son?" Juliana was puzzled.

Summer Shaw gravely said, "After the incident on the highway was suppressed, Isaac has been unusually low-key. Now that even Mr. Preston cooperates with them, I suspect Isaac has found quite a backing, and even Evan Grant may not know about this."

"Juliana, this matter is beyond our ability to handle now. Perhaps only by contacting ’that person’ can there be a turn of events."

"Him?" Juliana hesitated, "He probably wouldn’t answer my call anymore."

She had sent him messages the day before yesterday and yesterday, and he hadn’t replied.

"How do you know if you don’t try? If they pin the bribery charge on us, not only Aetherflame will go bankrupt, but we might also go to prison."

Summer Shaw shoved the phone into her hand.

Juliana dialed that number that she was all too familiar with.

Surprisingly, the call was immediately picked up after just one ring.

But a strange woman’s calm and composed voice came through, "Hello, who is it?"