Chapter 373 Clash of Wills
A legend in the business world? Susan was taken aback.
Most of her accolades at RH Company had been credited to her brother, so she hadn't been lauded as a female entrepreneur like Grandma Solomon or Janna.
The younger generation were familiar with the achievements of Grandma Solomon and Janna. But Susan? It was doubtful anyone knew about her.
Where did this bewitching woman get her information?
"Absolutely," Roy conceded. He leaned in toward his aunt and lowered his voice, "Before drafting the proposal, Miss Rhoads spent a great deal of time learning about our company's history, so she's well aware of your contributions."
"A few pretty words can’t sway me, Miss Rhoads. I'm not easily persuaded. I approve of reform, but not at your hands. If there's a breach, the penalty's coming out of your pocket. But RH Company definitely needs a new planning team," Susan stated matter-of-factly.
"Aunt Susan!" Roy exclaimed, clearly distressed.
"Roy, would you mind stepping out to prepare for the upcoming meeting? I'd like a word with Miss Rhoads in private, if that’s okay?”
Roy glanced around uneasily.
Susan, however, was indifferent. She was staunch in her decisions, and no flowery speech from Fiona would change her mind.
"Okay, then!" Roy patted his thigh.
Shortly after, Laura and her team followed Roy out of the CEO's office.
"Listen, you might know your way around middle-aged men, but I suggest you save your tactics for someone else," Susan said, sipping her tea.
"Have you seen my proposal?" asked Fiona.
Susan scoffed. "I don’t need to. Do you folks really think you can produce something that aligns with the brand of Armie Country?"
"Oh, you haven't seen it then." Fiona nodded.
"I've seen your designs. They’re flashy and flirty," Susan sneered.
"Looks like you have gotten older. From the stories I've heard about your younger years, you were wise and graceful, not prejudiced or narrow-minded. Honestly, I was looking forward to our chat today, but now... I'm just disappointed."
"Why, you!" Susan was taken aback.
"Before we continue, I want to show you something."
Fiona fired up her iPad, tapped into a secured document, and pulled up a video.
But Susan was visibly resistant. "I've said it before, I won't collaborate with you. No matter how much you try to belittle me, it's no use..."
She was cut off mid-sentence by a familiar voice.
"Good thing that old hag is still alive and holding shares. That little bastard Roy is afraid of her, otherwise, he'd have gone through with those drastic changes to the company!"
Susan snatched the iPad immediately. The screen displayed a secretly recorded video from a restaurant. There was four men in the video, and Susan knew all of them. The one who had just spoken was James, a trusted associate of Susan's, now part of RH Company's upper management.
The others were influential figures within RH Company as well.
"If he makes those changes, where are we going to skim our profits from? We could lose millions, billions even!"
James chuckled coldly. "Susan's really lost her touch. I discredited that Chelsea girl, since Susan doesn’t like women who use men to advance themselves. I just nudged her into that narrative. Then I fed all those international leaks to Susan, and she fell for it hook, line, and sinker!"
"In my opinion, it doesn't matter if it's about using men or not. Susan never married, so she's obviously jealous of Miss Rhoads' beauty. Tsk tsk, say what you will, but that woman is stunning! If she wasn't from the Rhoads family, I would have tried to hit on her to see how she tastes!"
The four men erupted in laughter.
Susan's face turned ashen, her hands trembling.
Fiona, unmoved, gracefully lifted a pristine white cup and poured herself some tea.
The conversation in the video pressed on.
"She’s beautiful and competent, so I must admit I was dumbstruck at the project presentation. If we follow through with the plan, RH Company might make a remarkable comeback..."
"What's that to us?" scoffed James. "Besides, I have no intention of wasting that plan."
"What are you saying, James?" the three of them asked hurriedly.
"Remember how we talked about starting our own food company a couple of years back? I've already set things in motion for it and leased a space. I plan to apply this proposal from Monsoon Investment to the new venture...” James replied, raising his glass. “Once it takes off, I don't plan to stick around at RH Company.”
"We need to be a part of this, James!"
"Absolutely!"
"Don't worry, I've factored you guys in for shares as well!" James toasted, "Here's to the future global food industry giant, and to Susan from RH Company who helped us at her own expense."
The video ended there.
Susan sat there, seemingly in shock.
James had been working under her wing since his teens.
She had treated him like her own son.
How could he betray her like this?
After a moment, Fiona gently pulled the iPad from Susan's hands, closed it, and placed it back in her briefcase. She then retrieved a small USB drive.
"That dinner lasted for four hours. This was just a small part of it. Everything else is on here. You can have it verified for authenticity," Fiona said, sliding the USB drive across to Susan.
Susan glanced at the USB drive, then up at Fiona with an unfriendly look. "Do you think this will make me accept your team?"
Fiona smiled lightly. "Ms. Renier, I initiated the investigation into James because the way you were repeatedly dismissing our drafts in meetings seemed overtly antagonistic. I spent a few days digging since I believed that what I read about you in RH Company's files didn't make you seem so unreasonable."
She paused.
Looking up at Susan, she continued, "As for collaborating with RH Company, the arrangement was meant to be mutual – I get paid to help the company grow and succeed. If we can't work together, I’ll regret it. We could have helped a democratic enterprise rise. My regret won't stop me from working on other projects. Like James said, RH Company will be the only one to lose out."
Susan's expression darkened.
"I hope you'll give RH Company a chance. Take an objective look at Monsoon Investment's proposal and our previous work for another family-owned business without any bias against me personally."
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