Chapter 16 Apology
I looked at her, the urge to expose her true nature to everyone nearly overwhelming. But I held back. Perhaps leaving Skyliho wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.
A true warrior must face adversity with courage.
Just as I was about to exit, a voice echoed through the room. "Ah, what a lively scene!"
All eyes turned to the door, where a man in a costly suit stood, flanked by two assistants carrying briefcases.
Jenny's brow furrowed, but Philip's face lit up with delight. He rushed over. "Mr. Walker, welcome! Why didn't you inform me so I could greet you downstairs!"
Lily also seemed pleased and quickly whispered something to Jenny. Jenny's frown eased, and she greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Walker. I'm Jenny, the Director of the Marketing Department at Skyliho Group. Welcome to our company!"
"Hello, Jenny!" Mr. Walker responded, shaking her hand. He then scanned the room, "It seems I've arrived at an interesting time!"
"No, Mr. Walker, we were just rehearsing a surprise for you!" Philip quickly interjected, earning approving nods from Lily and Jenny.
Philip seemed quite pleased with himself; his quick thinking had served him well.
As the trio put on their grand display, the rest of the room straightened up, their attention riveted on the newcomer.
"Isn't that Edward Walker from Walker Company?" someone whispered.
"What? Walker Company? The one valued over a billion dollars?" another voice chimed in.
"Yes, that's him. I heard Walker Company is expanding rapidly. They're even investing six million dollars in a promotion this time!"
"Six million dollars? My God, does that mean Philip is about to hit the jackpot?"
"Absolutely!"
The room buzzed with excitement. A project worth six million dollars—securing this deal would be equivalent to a year's worth of performance for most!
The higher the project value, the higher the personal commission. By conservative estimates, this deal could earn Philip nearly eighty thousand in commission!
I was taken aback. I hadn't expected Edward to be the CEO of Walker Company. This was a pleasant surprise.
While I was still reeling from the revelation, Edward spotted me. His face broke into a wide smile. "John!" he called out.
He quickly approached me, shaking my hand enthusiastically. "What are you doing here?"
His joy was evident.
"Oh, I'm an employee here!" I replied.
"What a coincidence! You must be in the marketing department, right? I was actually debating whether to choose Skyliho. But now that you're here, let's just go with Skyliho. Of course, you'll be the project manager!" Edward declared with a smile.
The echo of Edward's declaration hung heavy in the room, and a ripple of disbelief washed over the faces of those present.
Jenny and Lily, too, were caught in the wave of shock, while Philip, quick to recover, stepped into the fray. "Mr. Walker, there seems to be a misunderstanding. John, here, is no longer part of our organization. He was just dismissed for conduct unbecoming of our company's standards."
Edward's brow knitted together, his voice a low growl. "You dare call my good friend here a disgrace? Are you blind to his worth, or simply ignorant? To slander him in my presence speaks volumes of your character, or lack thereof."
Philip was rendered speechless, his mouth hanging open, no words forthcoming.
"Since you've seen fit to dismiss John, I see no reason to continue our collaboration. I've heard promising things about Skyliart Group; they seem to have a solid reputation."
Edward reached out, clasping my hand in a firm grip. "John, I propose we align ourselves with Skyliart. I plan to invest six million dollars in advertising. I doubt the CEO of Skyliart would turn away such an opportunity."
The room seemed to hold its breath at the mention of six million dollars. The sum was a staggering increase from the initial five million, making it a significant investment for the entire Sevan region.
"I trust your judgement, Edward," I replied, my voice steady.
At this, Lily and Jenny cried out in unison, "Don't leave!"
Edward's brow furrowed deeper, his tone icy. "Do you intend to hold me here against my will? When did Skyliho Group start resorting to thuggery?"
"Mr. Walker, you misunderstand," Jenny interjected, stepping forward. "Perhaps we could discuss this further in the conference room."
She cast me a series of meaningful glances, which I chose to ignore. Edward was clearly advocating for me, and I wasn't about to undermine him.
This situation demanded resolution, and it wasn't going to be swept under the rug.
Seeing her silent pleas fall on deaf ears, Jenny bit her lip, turning to Lily. "Mr. Walker, we can't let you leave without resolving this. We believe Skyliho is a better fit for you than Skyliart."
Edward scoffed, "Why should I entrust my advertising to a company that calls my good friend here a disgrace and fires him?"
He gestured towards Philip, whose face was a vivid shade of embarrassment. "Mr. Walker, I..."
Before he could complete his sentence, Jenny cut him off, her voice icy. "Philip, apologize to John. Now."
Philip's face flushed a deeper red, his eyes filled with humiliation. With visible reluctance, he turned to me. "I'm sorry, I was wrong."
His insincere demeanor and resentful gaze were clear indicators of his forced apology.
I didn't care whether he was coerced or not; the satisfaction I felt was undeniable, especially given the expressions of those around us.
"Is that your idea of an apology?" Edward's tone was sharp, his expression dark. "That's not remorse, that's a declaration of war!"
Lily, too, frowned, her voice equally cold. "Philip, apologize again. This time, mean it."
Philip's teeth ground together audibly. Eventually, he bowed his head, his voice a defeated whisper. "John, I was wrong. Please, for the sake of our past as colleagues, forgive me."
"Sorry, we're no longer colleagues," I replied nonchalantly, turning to Jenny. "Isn't that right, Jenny?"
Jenny's face was adorned with a smile, but I knew she was seething beneath the surface. Yet, she wouldn't let a six million dollar deal slip through her fingers; the company's reputation was on the line.
If Edward and I joined Skyliart, Skyliho would be the laughingstock of the industry, and the blame would undoubtedly fall on her. She understood the gravity of the situation better than anyone.
"John, my previous words were spoken in anger, and should not be taken to heart," Jenny said, her tone softer. "Here's my proposal: you return to the marketing department, your salary and year-end bonus reinstated. As for this year's annual assessment, I'll ensure you receive an 'excellent' rating."
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