Chapter 552 Ethan Schemes Against Howard
Ethan glanced up indifferently and saw that Brandon had indeed been called to the meeting room.
It was obvious that Howard was behind this, getting someone to distract Brandon and negotiate with him.
Previously, Howard had tried every means to arrange a meeting with Brandon but failed. It seemed he was waiting for today's opportunity.
After all, Brandon was a businessman who prioritized profit. As long as the Douglas Group offered enough concessions and conditions, Brandon would definitely agree.
Many people were waiting to see Ethan's downfall. After all, Ethan had been too smoothsailing in the past, and those who were jealous of him were now eagerly watching to see how he would fall into the mud.
Ethan, however, remained calm, sitting there, watching Jasmine and her milkshake, and even producing a piece of candy from somewhere.
Jasmine also felt a pang of concern, tentatively asking, "Ethan, do you trust Brandon? Will he really stand up to the Douglas Group's temptation for you?"
Jasmine didn't have a good impression of Brandon, and thus, she didn't trust him.
If Howard made a significant concession, convincing Brandon to agree to cooperate with the Douglas Group, it would mean Ethan would be ousted from Raymond, falling into the abyss once again.
Howard was now desperately pushing Ethan to learn to bow his head, to see the situation clearly, and to understand the consequences of opposing him.
Howard was trying to tame his son, to make Ethan as obedient as Daniel, knowing what to do and what not to do, and becoming a doormat who followed orders.
"Brandon is a man who prioritizes interests. If the Douglas Group offers extremely generous conditions, even at the cost of their own interests, Brandon will definitely agree," Ethan said, raising an eyebrow and smiling slightly.
"But," Jasmine said nervously, looking at Ethan. "The precondition for his agreement will definitely be to kick you out of the Raymond Group."
"If that's the condition, we're not at a loss," Ethan said, ruffling Jasmine's hair. "If Howard is willing to sacrifice the interests of the Douglas Group, which is not just a family business but involves too many departments and intertwined interests, the executives will definitely complain. Howard is using everyone's interests to vent his personal anger."
Only by completely losing Howard's trust could he further reclaim the Douglas Group.
Jasmine nodded understandingly. "You're right."
Ethan never intended to give up on the Douglas Group; he wanted to take it back.
He was waiting for an opportunity.
Waiting for Howard to become the target of public criticism.
"Take your time," Jasmine said, holding Ethan's hand. "With me here, you'll never fall."
She wouldn't let Ethan fall; even if he lost everything, he still had her.
Jasmine was also in the startup phase and could afford to support Ethan.
She wouldn't let Ethan suffer.
Ethan chuckled, whispering in Jasmine's ear. "Baby, are you going to support me again?"
Jasmine's ears turned red, and she coughed lightly. "It's not like I can't."
In the distance, Deborah was also waiting to see Ethan's downfall, but seeing him seemingly unworried, laughing and chatting with Jasmine, she clenched her fists in anger.
She wanted to pit Howard and Ethan against each other, to push Ethan to the brink of despair so he would know what it meant to awaken.
In Deborah's view, Ethan had lived too comfortably since childhood and he didn't know the horror of falling and plunging into the abyss.
In the meeting room, Howard greeted with a friendly smile, "Mr. Russell, it's impressive how young and capable you are. When I saw Raymond rise, I never imagined the company would have such a young president."
Howard appeared genuinely friendly on the surface, and Brandon reciprocated the politeness. They exchanged toasts and engaged in light conversation, creating a cordial atmosphere.
"Mr. Douglas, you flatter me," Brandon replied with a smirk. "But credit where it's due—your son Ethan is something else. Just look at what he's achieved for us at Raymond in such a short time. He's been instrumental in landing several major projects. Quite a talent, I must say." His words were designed to provoke Howard.
Indeed, Ethan's skills were supposed to benefit the Douglas Group, but instead, he was using them against his own family.
"That's quite the bold move," Howard said, his smile barely masking his intent. "Ethan is still young and complicated. I plan to take him away. Surely, you understand?"
Brandon narrowed his eyes, cutting to the chase. "Mr. Douglas, are you trying to poach my talent? Even if you are his father, I'm not letting go of someone like him easily."
Howard's smile grew. "No, no. The boy is rebellious and doesn't listen well. I'm just giving him a lesson. He needs to understand that crossing his father isn't a simple matter."
Brandon chuckled. "People in the industry are saying Ethan is worth over 100 billion dollars—not in terms of what he personally owns, but the value of his capabilities. I put in a lot of effort to bring him to Raymond. Since he joined, our company's market value has soared."
Every word Brandon spoke seemed to strike a nerve with Howard, a reminder that Ethan's departure was because of Howard's lack of sincerity.
"Mr. Russell," Howard said, leaning in, "business is all about long-term gains. We're not here just for one-off deals; we're in it for the long haul. Ethan will eventually come back home. And besides, he does have some issues—he's an outsider. Can you trust him so completely?"
"Trust?" Brandon replied, casual as ever. "It's not just about trust. If he's creating value for me, I'll keep him. If not, he's out. But I appreciate his skills."
Howard's gaze was sharp. "Keeping someone like Ethan might not be as beneficial as signing a long-term deal with the Douglas Group. We can ensure sustained benefits, providing Raymond with maximum returns at minimal cost. I'm confident that before long, our partnership's value will surpass Ethan's worth. What do you think?"
Brandon's eyes narrowed. "Is that so? Sounds like an interesting offer."
"Of course," Howard said smoothly, "the Douglas Group genuinely wants to collaborate with Raymond. Long-term cooperation is the key to mutual benefit."
Brandon raised an eyebrow with a sly smile. "And just how much of a discount are you offering, Mr. Douglas?"
Howard winced slightly. "Three percent."
Brandon chuckled. "That's not quite enough. Ethan's value here is considerable."
Howard sighed. "Alright, I can stretch it to five percent, but that's my final offer. You know how much that means given our existing partnership."
Five percent was already pushing the Douglas Group's limits, exhausting their upper management's share in this deal. Howard would need to work hard to keep his board members satisfied.
Brandon's eyes narrowed, a knowing smile appearing on his face. "Let's make it six percent. A fair deal—good for you and good for me. If you agree, I'll have the contract signed immediately."
Brandon's smile widened as he thought, 'Six percent will drain Howard's people's share completely. This way, everybody should be grumbling about it. Howard's clearly not as valuable as Ethan, and Daniel's a lost cause. The higher-ups at the Douglas Group must have noticed Ethan's success at Raymond by now. If we cut into their profits even more, someone's bound to get unhappy. Ethan's skill in outmaneuvering Howard is impressive. I can't wait to see Howard's reaction when he finally understands the full picture.'
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