Chapter 462 Clarification
Sam shot a cold glare and said, "Losing an arm? That's me being nice. If I catch you using my name again, it's game over."
The young guy stammered, "No way, Mr. Ross! I only pretended to be you to get in with the Thornberry family, nothing else."
Sam turned to Roman and said, "Dude, you should be apologizing to him. That's Aaron, the president of the Abbott Group, the guy you were supposed to be working with."
Roman looked like a deer in headlights, glancing at Aaron but too freaked out to say anything.
He felt like a total idiot for looking down on Aaron before. And to think he even laid hands on him, not knowing he was the big boss of the Abbott Group!
Why would a big-shot president be playing bodyguard for Susanna?
The room got tense, and Kayle chimed in, "Hey, you can't really blame us. Who'd believe the president of the Abbott Group would come to Philly to be Susanna's bodyguard? It's nuts."
Roman nodded like a bobblehead, looking at Aaron with puppy-dog eyes. "Mr. Abbott, it's totally our bad. Please don't hold it against us. We were duped, that's why we messed up."
Susanna jumped in, "Oh, now you're all sorry and begging for mercy? You were so cocky before. Didn't you even lay hands on him? Forgot that already?"
Kayle was about to say something, but Roman yanked her back.
Roman shamelessly nodded, "Yeah, we messed up big time not recognizing Mr. Abbott. But hey, now that we know the truth, Mr. Ross, Mr. Abbott, you're VIPs for the Thornberry family today."
Kayle grudgingly agreed, "Yeah, what he said."
Aaron's voice was ice-cold, "No need for that. I'm here to tell you that the Abbott Group is canceling the deal with Thornberry Corporation."
Kayle and Roman went white as sheets.
Kayle, looking desperate, said, "Why cancel? Please don't."
Roman quickly stepped up, pleading, "Mr. Abbott, I know I messed up. Please don't hold it against me. Our partnership is a win-win. Don't cancel it so fast."
Aaron's tone was frosty, "Thornberry Corporation isn't good enough for the Abbott Group."
"Why not? Thornberry's a big name in Philly. Why can't we work together?"
Aaron's secretary scoffed, "You brag about your rep? Your company got here by marrying three times and scamming the brides' assets. Everyone in Philly knows your dirty tricks. Your proposal wouldn't even make it past the Abbott Group's review. Just give it up."
The secretary was fuming, thinking, 'Who do these Thornberry folks think they are to look down on Mr. Abbott?'
His words cut deep, but the Thornberry family didn't dare to talk back.
Susanna couldn't help but give the secretary a thumbs-up. That was some satisfying smackdown.
She came all the way here just to see Kayle and Roman get a major reality check. Totally worth the trip.
Roman was fuming but knew he couldn't clap back right now. Kayle, on the other hand, wasn't used to being treated like this.
Kayle stepped up and pointed at Susanna. "Mr. Abbott, you're canceling the deal because of Susanna, right?"
Susanna raised an eyebrow, thinking, 'How's this my fault?'
She shot back, "You mistook Aaron for a bodyguard. Got amnesia or something? How's that on me?"
"Well, he was working as your bodyguard! Who'd guess a bodyguard is the president of the Abbott Group?"
Aaron said calmly, "I chose to be her bodyguard."
Kayle looked puzzled. "Why?"
"I'm pursuing her. What's it to you?"
Susanna was momentarily stunned. Did he just say he was pursuing her? Wasn't he here for Lillian?
Kayle couldn't handle it and quickly said, "Mr. Abbott, she's not what you think. She might look like the Jones family heir, but she's a divorced woman with a kid. Don't be fooled."
Aaron stayed cool. "I like women like her."
Kayle almost choked. "Mr. Abbott, your standards are too low. You could do better. Claudia's way better."
If Aaron liked Claudia, maybe the deal wouldn't be off.
Aaron coldly replied, "She's too ugly."
Susanna was impressed. Aaron was really good at pushing buttons.
Seeing it was enough, Sam said, "Alright, let's get to the main business."
Aaron turned to the reporters. "The Abbott Group never agreed to work with the Thornberry family. This was all done by a rogue branch manager. I'm here to clear that up. Hope you guys get the story straight."
The secretary's assistant added, "The Abbott Group's PR will be in touch. Let's stay connected."
The reporters nodded. "Got it, Mr. Abbott. We'll set the record straight."
They knew having a connection with the Abbott Group could be huge for them.
Roman's face turned dark, looking like he'd been hit by a truck.
Kayle, panicking, said, "Roman, what do we do? Didn't you say if this deal's off, we'll be finished?"
