chapter 038 An Unexpected Situation

"In the austere confines of the cChairman's office.

, Eric Phillips sat ensconced in his chair, andwhile Cooper stood in front oferect before the desk.

"" "Mr. Phillips, you mentioned that there's something important?""of importance?" Cooper asked.

""queried, his gaze steady."Cooper, do you rememberrecall the girlyoung woman I broughtintroduced to the company yesterday? Go to?" Eric began, his voice measured. "I want you to visit her house inhome under the nameguise of the Power Group's charity and help. Assist her mother findin finding a goodreputable hospital for the best possible treatment. AlsoFurthermore, provide her with a sum ofsubstantial financial aid, package, the cost of which will be coveredabsorbed by the company,"" Eric said.

"".""The girl from yesterday? Mr. Phillips, are you planning to help her again? Could it be... you have feelings for this girl?""?" Cooper chuckled.

echoed, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Mr. Phillips, are you intending to extend your assistance to her once more? Could it be... have you developed feelings for this girl?" His chuckle was light, but the implication was clear.Cooper remembered yesterday's incident very clearly, and now Eric was asking him to help this girlthe previous day's events with vivid clarity. Eric's request to aid the girl again. It was no wonder Cooper didn't escape his notice, and he couldn't help but think too much.

""let his mind wander. "I justsimply feel sorrya sense of responsibility for her and think thatbelieve she needsrequires my help,"" Eric said awkwardly.

""," Eric responded, a hint of discomfort coloring his tone."Chairman, you don'tthere's no need to explain.for explanations. I understand, your intentions and I definitely won't misunderstand,""will not misconstrue them," Cooper said withassured him, a knowing smile.

With playing on his lips.Cooper's words, left Eric couldn't help but start questioning his own motives. He found himself.

Eric asked himself if he really had grappling with the possibility of having fallen in love withfor Sharon. The only thing Eric knew for surecertainty he held was that he wantedhis desire to give Sharonprovide her with a goodcomfortable life and prevent her , free from suffering any longer.

further hardships.Cooper continued, ""pressed on, "Chairman, why are you hiding your identity from hermaintain this facade of anonymity? Yesterday's sponsorship was clearly your help, butdoing, yet you didn't letchose not to reveal this to her know. Now, you wantwish for me to do the samefollow suit. She doesn't know it's you who's helping her, she doesn't know how good you are to her.""

remains oblivious to your benevolence."From Cooper's perspective, Eric should revealdisclose his identity and openly helpassist Sharon. This way, SharonIn doing so, she would know about Eric'sbecome aware of his kindness towards her.

""."Enough, stop worrying about it. Just do as I instructed,"" Eric scolded Cooper with a glance.

""cease your speculations. Carry out my instructions," Eric reprimanded, his gaze stern."Yes!, Mr. Phillips, don't worry, I'll take care ofrest assured, I will handle it,""," Cooper nodded in response.

""Oh, byacknowledgment."By the way, Cooper, you mentioned an importanturgent matter that neededrequiring my attention downstairs. What'searlier. What seems to be the matter?""issue?" Eric inquired.

, his tone shifting.Cooper's faceexpression immediately turned serious upon hearing this.

""sobered at the question. "Mr. Phillips, there wasthere's been an accident at the Shine Manor construction site of Shine Manor,"" Cooper said with a grave expression.

""," he reported, his countenance grave."An accident?""

?" Eric paused for a moment, then immediately asked, ""Tell me, what happened?""

In Eric's eyes, with the seriousness displayed on momentarily before demanding, "What transpired?"Cooper's face, it couldn't be aserious demeanor suggested this was no minor incident!

""Somebody tampered with. "Someone sabotaged the scaffolding at the construction site, resulting in over ten workers falling to their deaths,"" Cooper said solemnly.

""revealed, his voice heavy with the weight of the news."What?! Over ten workers diedperished from the fall!""?!" Eric's pupils twitchedeyes widened in shock.

OverThe loss of over ten lives lost, this was definitely notfar from a minor accident.

And behind Behind this accidenttragedy were over ten vibrantreal lives!

"" abruptly extinguished."Cooper, you said someone tampered with the scaffoldingmentioned sabotage. Who could have donebe responsible for such a thing?""heinous act?" Eric quickly inquired.

""asked, urgency seeping into his voice."Chairman, I surveyedupon surveying the site and indeed, someone tampered with, it's evident that the scaffolding was tampered with. If my guess is suspicions are correct, it must have been done by the Horizon Group is likely behind the scenes,""this," Cooper explained.

""divulged."The Horizon Group!""

!" Eric's eyes narrowed; reflecting, a chilling determination.

resolve reflected in them. As a localnative New Yorker, Eriche was well aware of-acquainted with the Horizon Group.

The Horizon Group was, a local conglomerate involvedwith interests in various industries, but their main and most profitable business was sectors, primarily profited from real estate.

It could be said that there was noa name known to every New Yorker who didn't know about the Horizon Group.

And when mentioning the Horizon Group, one could not omit the Chairman of the group. The group's chairman, Donald Hall, was a legendary figure.

Donald Hall of legend. He had made a name for himselfhis mark in his younger daysyouth in New York and eventually became, leading the head ofcity's underground forces. He later turned before transitioning to real estate and builtestablishing his empire. With his status, he held considerable power over the city.

The underground forces of York, coupled with their His influence was far-reaching.The ruthless and cunning methods, quickly became the most powerful of the Horizon Group, combined with their underground connections, quickly propelled them to the top of New York's real estate group in New York.

""industry."Mr. Phillips, you may not be aware, but ever since the Power Group established its branch in New York, the Horizon Group has regardedconsidered us as mortal enemies.""

""It's just that their sworn enemy," Cooper continued. "While they restrain themselvesrefrain from openly confrontingchallenging us due to the Power Group'sour strength, but they often cause troublefrequently create problems for us behind the scenes. Over the years, our branch has suffered many losses undernumerous setbacks due to their scheming,"" maEldoriations."Cooper said.

Pausing momentarily, Cooper continued, ""paused briefly before adding, "Including this incident, I can't think of anyone other than the Horizon Group who would intentionallydeliberately target us.""

Upon hearing this, ."Eric, finally graspedcomprehending the gravity of the situation., fell silent.

""The Horizon Group may be might have been a local groupentity, but cancould they really compare totruly stand against the Power Group? After all,Eric, his eyes narrowed, voiced his skepticism. "Surely, we can't be incapable of defeating them, not when the Power Group is the largest groupconglomerate in Chicago. Don't tell me we can't defeat them?"" Eric squinted."Cooper, his eyes as he spoke.

""confidant, responded, "Mr. Phillips, the Horizon Group is the Power Group's our biggest commercial enemyadversary in New York. Of course, we want Naturally, our objective is to crush Horizon Group,"" Cooper explained.

Cooperthem."He continued, his smile tinged with a helpless smile and said, ""But althoughsense of helplessness. "However, despite the Power Group is strongGroup's strength, Donald, as the Kingpin of Horizon, has deep-seated roots in New York. It's definitely not an easyfar from a simple task to completely eradicate him.""

""As long as completely.""Provided the Power Group is determinedresolute in their intent to eliminate him, I don'trefuse to believe we can't doachieve it!""!" Eric said coldly.

""retorted, his tone icy.Cooper replied, "If BossMr. Williams decides to take actionintervene, it should be no problem, butfeasible. But remember, the Power Group has business operations in dozens of cities. BossMr. Williams is a busy man and; he doesn't have the luxury of time to specifically deal with him,"" Cooper said.

After a pause, Cooper continued, ""this."He paused, before adding, "Even if BossMr. Williams personally takes action, it would be quite troublesome to eliminateeliminating a Kingpin like Horizon Group. The cost paid would likely outweigh would be a complex and costly affair. The price we'd pay might well exceed the rewards obtained.""

"".""I see now,""," Eric nodded, suddenly understanding.

In simple termscomprehension dawning on him. In essence, the Power Group's headquarters shouldn't have a problem defeating could easily defeat the Horizon Group, but they are justwere merely a branch of the Power Group.

Just then, the account manager rushed in anxiouslyburst into the room, panting, and said, "" heavily. "Mr. Phillips, Mr. Cooper...something has happened!""

Thesethere's been an incident!"His words madesent a ripple of unease through Eric and Cooper feel uneasy. Could it be that. Had something bad had happenedunfortunate occurred again?

"What's the rush?""urgency?" Cooper urged.

""probed."Mr. Phillips, Mr. Cooper, theour customer service lines have been floodedare swamped with calls. ManyNumerous customers who purchased houseshomes in the Shine Manor development are demanding refunds and to cancelcancellations of their bookings,""," the account manager anxiously explained.

""Cancel their bookings, his anxiety palpable."Cancellations? Why?"" Cooper?" Cooper's brow furrowed his brow, pressingas he pressed for more information.

""details."They sayclaim there have been over ten deaths in the Shine Manor development. They don't wantrefuse to livereside in a place where people have died, so they want to cancel,""tainted by death, hence the cancellation requests," the account manager explained, growing increasingly anxious.

""elaborated, his anxiety escalating."How many customers have called so far?""?" Cooper continued his inquiries.

""So far, there have been seventyline of questioning."Seventy to eighty calls so far, and the calls arethey're still coming in,""," the account manager saidreported urgently.

Upon hearing this, Cooper's expression grew more serious.

Eric's face also turned grim. As the chairman of the company, he was naturally annoyed and anxious about the situation.

At this , Cooper's expression hardened. Eric's face mirrored his, his countenance darkening. As the company's chairman, he was naturally perturbed and anxious about the unfolding situation.At that moment, the project manager rushed in and spoke hastily as he ran,

"", his words tumbling out in haste. "Mr. Phillips, Mr. Cooper, something has happened!""

""What's going onthere's been another incident!""What now?""?" Cooper asked quickly.

""queried swiftly."At the sales office of Shine Manor, manya crowd of customers who have already purchased houses have gathered and demandedhomes are demanding cancellations. They don't wantrefuse to stay in a place where people have died.death has occurred. The situation at the sales office is almost out of control!""nearing chaos!" the project manager exclaimed urgently.

Upon hearing this, Cooper and Eric's expressions grew even darkergrimmer. The situation was worse than they had imagined.

spiraling beyond their initial estimations.Eric narrowed his eyes and said, "", questioning, "How is it possible that the accident happened at the construction site occurred less than a day ago, and yet all these customers are already knowaware? This can't be true!""

""accurate!""Mr. Phillips, it must be the workdoing of the Horizon Group. They must have leaked this information to thosethe customers!""!" Cooper grittedasserted, his teeth.

"" gritted."The Horizon Group wants to give meis looking for trouble, don'taren't they? They wentThey've stooped so farlow as to sacrifice over ten workers just to achieve their goalobjective. They're heartless beasts!""!" Eric said fiercely.

Ericspat out, his words seething with anger.His anger was angrydirected not only at the Horizon Group for secretly causing troubletheir underhanded tactics but also at their lack of humanity.

blatant disregard for human life.Eric's father had been a construction worker and had tragically lost his life in an accident on a construction site.

Therefore accident.Hence, upon hearing this news, Eric was filledconsumed with furyrage. Behind those ten lives, there mightcould be ten families, contributing to the rise inpotentially increasing the number of single-parent households, much like his own!".