Chapter 260 A Storm Is Brewing!
Sophia replied, "I've already sent someone to investigate the source of this news. We'll definitely get to the bottom of this. This is an insult to our company and to your reputation!"
Ryder waved his hand and said, "We can set this matter aside for now. Do you have any updates on the Phoenix Real Estate situation I mentioned?"
Sophia shook her head. "So far, I've only received news that Phoenix Real Estate's president, Roy, was hospitalized last night due to excessive drinking. Other than announcing a one hundred and ten million dollar investment in the Johnson family yesterday, there have been no other updates."
"That's strange," Ryder said, frowning slightly.
Ever since he learned from Sandra last night that their ultimate goal was to target Maple Real Estate, he had become instinctively cautious.
After all, Sandra was different from his previous enemies. Ryder could intuitively tell that she wouldn't be so easy to deal with. She was nothing like those fools Matthew and Andy.
Underestimating her as an enemy could lead to massive losses!
"Alright, keep an eye on things, and report to me immediately if you notice anything unusual."
"Got it!" Sophia responded, then turned and left the office.
Ryder stood up, hands behind his back. Looking at the busy street outside the window, he clenched his fists slightly.
"Perhaps the coming period will be the biggest obstacle I've faced since inheriting my father's estate."
Meanwhile, at the SR Group, things were tense.
Since Phoenix Real Estate announced its investment in the Johnson family yesterday, the SR Group had been on high alert. Everyone knew that the SR Group was about to face an unprecedented challenge.
Fortunately, due to Sarah's arrival at the company and the warehouse fire incident, the company had undergone two rounds of personnel reorganization. The remaining employees were almost all loyal to Sarah.
Everyone was working diligently, fully preparing for the upcoming battle.
In the president's office, Sarah was staring blankly at an article on her computer.
She thought, 'Is the president of Maple Real Estate actually gay?'
Sarah doubted the authenticity of the news.
Although she had never met the president of Maple Real Estate, she could tell from their multiple business collaborations that he was definitely someone with a solid and firm personality.
How could he be gay?
But then Sarah's mind suddenly flashed to Barbara's confession to her last night.
'I don't know how to reject Barbara's feelings. What if she goes to extremes after I've spurned her? And Ryder can't find out about this, or he will definitely be jealous!'
The more Sarah thought about it, the more her head hurt.
In the western suburbs of Houston, there were various abandoned factories.
A black Buick was slowly driving down a muddy road.
Matthew, who was driving, complained, "This road is too difficult to drive on! Sandra, what are we doing here?"
Sandra looked cool as she sat in the back seat, wearing sunglasses. She said indifferently, "Don't ask so many questions. Just focus on driving. We're almost there."
Matthew nodded and did as she told him to.
Earlier that morning, Sandra had asked him to drive to a place in the western suburbs. Both the reason and purpose of the trip was unknown.
A few minutes later, the Buick stopped at the entrance of an abandoned water treatment plant.
Sandra and Matthew got out of the car and walked into the plant.
Matthew glanced around and noticed that, despite the abandoned state of the water treatment plant, there were two cars parked nearby.
'Could Sandra have arranged to meet someone here?' he wondered.
They walked into the warehouse of the water treatment plant.
The damp warehouse was cluttered with discarded plastic barrels and tattered worker uniforms. A pervasive musty smell filled the air.
Sandra clapped her hands and said, "I'm here. No one followed me. You can come out now."
A door to a compartment in the warehouse opened, and five or six people walked out.
Leading them was a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a face full of acne.
Matthew was taken aback at the sight of him and instinctively said, "Aren't you Paul? You were one of the directors of the SR Group."
Paul nodded. "Yes, that's me."
Matthew felt a surge of shock. The other people's faces were familiar too. They were all former directors, general managers, or key high-level executives of the SR Group.
After the warehouse fire, they had been expelled from the SR Group and had since disappeared. Matthew never expected to see them here.
Paul stepped forward and bowed deeply to Sandra, saying, "Sandra, it's been many years, and you still have the same charisma. When you called me and said you were back in Houston, I could hardly believe it!"
Sandra took off her sunglasses and replied indifferently, "It's been many years, but you haven't lost knack for flattery."
Paul awkwardly scratched the back of his head and laughed.
Matthew asked curiously, "Sandra, have you known Paul for a long time?"
Paul nodded and quickly answered, "Actually, before Sandra left, I was just a low-level employee at the Smith Group. Later, Sandra personally helped introduce me to Joseph, which gave me the opportunity to rise to a high-level position within the company. Over the years, I've never forgotten Sandra's kindness."
Sandra snorted with slight dissatisfaction. "I supported you back then to help you gain some influence in the Smith Group, maybe even to sideline Joseph. Not only did the Smith Group turn into the SR Group, but you and your people were also completely expelled. What a disappointment!"
Hearing this, Paul and the others trembled in fear and quickly knelt to beg for forgiveness. "Sandra, the failure was due to my incompetence. I let you down! I apologize. Please give me another chance! If it weren't for that bastard Ryder, we would have already taken control of the SR Group!"
Sandra sneered. "Yeah, right. I know what you were up to. Even if you had gained control of the company, you planned to sell it off and split the money between you, leaving me out of it completely."
Paul shrank back, not daring to say a word. The atmosphere remained tense and oppressive for a while.
Sandra suddenly sighed. "Forget it! I won't hold past events against you, but if you fail in your next task, you're really in for it!"
Paul and the others quickly nodded.
Sandra continued, "I've already arranged for someone to lead you in what you need to do next. Follow his instructions to the letter. If you succeed, I promise you'll get everything you want."
With that, Sandra called toward the door. "Come in!"
A man dressed in black, wearing sunglasses and a mask, walked in. He was covered up so well that he was unrecognizable.
"Long time no see, everyone," the man said calmly, then removed his sunglasses and mask, revealing his face.
In an instant, Paul and the others widened their eyes in shock. "It's you!"