Chapter 188 Highway robbery!
Albie was a bit surprised at the answer. He knew Mr Jenkins, but he hadn’t thought of him just now, perhaps, because a lot of works of such sort in his mind had made him confused.
Sion glowered at Anna disapprovingly, with his hands interlaced, and fingers tapping on the back of his hands. Then he demanded, “Can Queen come out to meet us now?”
Aurora was in her office at the moment, watching the video surveillance. From the video, she could feel Sion’s seriousness in his voice. She knew, that Sion’s patience had been strained to the limit after waiting for such a long time. She wondered why Sion could know that was Mr Jenkins’ work. She hadn’t seen him expressing an interest in any works of art over the years. And Sion had never concerned himself with the business relating to art.
“It seemed that there had been some unexpected changes in Sion,” Aurora thought.
Looking at the two men, Anna felt it was a major headache that things were going beyond Aurora’s expectations. She thought in anxiety, “What should I do?”
Albie was a bit displeased, “Mr Carroll, you’re so knowledgeable.”
“Thank you. I wish I deserved your compliment.” Sion said, without expression. Then he turned to ask Anna, “Why don’t you answer my question? Please tell Queen to come here and meet us.”
Sion’s words showed a hint of impatience and anger. Anna thought she could hardly take control of the situation in the meeting room now. As she pondered, she heard Aurora’s voice from the earphone, “Tell him, this is just the beginning.”
Aurora had expected Albie to win the game, but she had underestimated Sion.
“It’s fine. The genuine sculpture was sold at auction for 140 million after all.” She thought and got an idea. Staring at Sion on the screen coldly, Aurora was sure that he as a businessman would not accept her conditions. Later, she told Anna about her plan briefly.
Anna smiled on hearing Aurora’s words, and said to Sion, “Mr Carroll, you’re right, it’s indeed Mr Jenkins’ sculptural work. Will you please wait a little while?” Then she took the sculpture out of the black box and continued. “Mr Carroll, you’ve received priority through the game. Now, be sure to think about Queen’s conditions carefully, please.”
Sion frowned, and asked her in an impatient tone, “What conditions?” He felt it was apparent that Queen was teasing him, for Queen hadn’t even spoken to him directly but had been leading him by the nose.
Meanwhile, Albie’s eyes were focused on the sculpture, neglecting Anna’s words. The sculpture had a feeling of weakness, isolation and fear of an ascetic monk in the vast human sea. Albie remembered, Aurora had no comprehension of the connotation of this sculpture and thought it was ugly back then. While three years later, the sculpture was sold at auction for an exorbitant price. Till that time, Aurora began to learn sculpture. He hadn’t imagined Queen tested them out with this sculpture. As he wondered, Anna put the sculpture into the box, and said, “Its price at the auction is Queen’s condition.”NôvelDrama.Org content.
The room was in perfect silence at that instant. David and Cory were thunderstruck when they heard Anna’s words. They thought, “The sculpture is worth 140 million. And that’s Queen’s condition. Oh, what an expensive condition!”
Albie and Sion seemed not stunned, but their expressions changed. Sion wore a long face, while Albie was waiting to see what Sion would do next in such an awkward situation.
“Is that Queen’s condition?” Sion was seemingly smiling, and said coldly, “140 million, that’s highway robbery!”
No company would pay such a large amount of money for cooperation with a designer. This was crazy gambling that was in utter disregard of the consequences. It didn’t deserve to risk 140 million on a designer, even Queen.
Anna blinked, and said in an uncompromising tone, “Mr Carroll, are you unfamiliar with our company and Queen?”
If Sion knew Queen, he would have realized that they were making him suffer. These were the words on Anna’s mind, and she dared not to speak them out. Queen would tell him personally in the future, she thought.
Then Anna continued, “There are lots of well-known companies that would very much like to cooperate with us, which is indubitable. After all, it’s an investment that bears no risk and helps to enhance its popularity. Mr Carroll, if you haven’t thought about it, why come here?”
Anna didn’t exaggerate. An heir to an international company once bought a large number of stocks only of Crescent Group to meet Queen.
It appeared that Sion was rendered speechless by Anna’s words, or he was just thinking. He stared straight ahead and his long eyelashes nearly covered the eyes. He didn’t look unhappy, but his face was solemn.
“I know the strength of your company and Queen,” Sion was trying to keep calm, and he said in a deep voice, “Highway robbery is not necessarily right sometimes.”
Currently, the Carroll Group was now at a critical development stage, and there was no doubt that Queen could play a vital role. Both Queen with her prestige in the world, and the Crescent Group, were the best partner for the Carroll Group. It appeared that they had conducted surveys before, so they put forward such an insatiable demand.
“Please don’t trouble yourself, Mr Carroll,” said Anna, deliberately, “This will be Queen’s first cooperation at home, and she is determined to win a brilliant victory.”
After a few seconds, Anna continued, “Mr Carroll, we’ll consider cooperating with other companies if you don’t agree to the condition.” She felt relieved after saying that. She couldn’t act so confidently without Aurora’s splendid instructions.
“I quite agree with you. We, T-shine Company, would very much like to sign the contract with your company if Mr Carroll doesn’t accept Queen’s condition,” interjected Albie. He was just an onlooker at the moment, so he intended to put Sion into a more embarrassing situation.
Sion gave Albie a hard look, and said coldly, “Mr Doyle, a watched kettle never boils.”
Albie had a smile on his face and said nothing. He was just creating confusion deliberately.
“Let me think about it, please,” said Sion, in a very serious tone, “And I believe, Queen and your company are willing to wait for my reply.”
“Sure,” said Anna, wearing a smile, by courtesy.
Sion turned and walked to the door, staring at the end of the corridor, seemingly pondering something. After a little while, he strode away.