Tenant’s Secret Love

Chapter 51: Renee's crisis

I still looked at Mark very calmly, but Harlan asked in shock, “Mark, do you mean that the top management of Jumei is going to do something to their new CEO?”

Mark nodded very affirmatively and said, ”Yes, Jumei is a family business, you should have heard of it.”

Harlan and I nodded at the same time. If it weren't a family business, how could Renee, at the age of 26, be the CEO of such a large shopping mall? We just didn't know what position Renee held in the family.

Mark continued, “More than two years ago, when Clark, the founder of Jumei, was attending a business meeting in Shanghai, he was involved in a serious rear-end collision with a truck that had broken down on the highway without setting up warning signs. Unfortunately, he was killed. Jumei has since been managed by his younger brother Darren. However, Clark also has a daughter who has been studying in the United States for several years and only returned to China a few days ago. She is the new CEO of Jumei, Betsy (Renee)...”

Mark didn't finish his sentence, so I interrupted and asked, “Manager, is it his uncle Darren who wants to do something to Betsy?”

Mark smiled and said, ”Obviously it's him. He has been the nominal chairman of Jumei for several years. Now that Clark's daughter has returned to China, his position will definitely be threatened. It's hard to let someone who is used to being in a high position go down!”

I said indignantly, “This old boy is too much of a beast. Jumei originally belonged to his brother, and now that his brother has died in an accident, he has left behind such an orphan. As an uncle, he still has the heart to do it!”

Mark waved his hand and said to me with a serious expression on his face, “The family feuds in these family businesses are not something we outsiders need to worry about. What we need to do now is to seize this opportunity, suppress Zhuo Mei, and become the leader of the department store industry in Suzhou.”

Harlan nodded in agreement. I was speechless, but an inexplicable rage welled up in my heart.

Mark continued, “Manager Li from the Merchants Department of Jumei interviewed me this morning about this matter. Next month, the lease agreements with two international first-tier brands will expire. Darren has instructed the manager of the Merchants Department to use the reason that the current CEO's management style is unsatisfactory as an excuse to jump ship with these two first-tier brands to our Baoli, and then use this as a reason to join forces with the board of directors to attack Clark's daughter and force her to transfer her shares in Jumei, so as to achieve the goal of completely monopolizing Jumei.”

I exclaimed in shock once again, “That's ruthless. They're willing to cut off an arm to take over the ownership of Jumei!”

This really shocked me. If Jumei's investment manager really jumps ship with two international first-tier brands to our Baoli, then our Baoli will have 10 international first-tier brands, and with the decline of Jumei, there will only be 9 left. Everyone understands the importance of international first-tier brands to top department stores. Even if Darren really gets the ownership of Jumei, the price is huge!

Mark smiled and said, “Darren has to resort to such a drastic measure if he wants to completely take over the ownership of Jumei. There are many of Clark's former close associates on the board of directors, and they are all supporting Clark's daughter. If Manager Li has joined us at Baoli with two international first-tier brands on the grounds that he is dissatisfied with the current CEO's management style, then it is a serious management accident caused by the CEO. Such a management accident has affected the fundamentals of the company, and those who originally supported him will also waver. At that time, the board of directors will collectively exert pressure, and it will be difficult for Renee to refuse to surrender management rights and ownership!”

Harlan, who had been silent, finally asked Mark at this time, “Isn't Darren really afraid that Jumei will be fatally damaged and surpassed by our Baoli in one fell swoop if he does this?”

I simply answered on Mark's behalf, ”Even if he is surpassed by Baoli, Darren will still be the supreme leader of Jumei. If Clark's daughter remains in Jumei, he will be replaced sooner or later. A leader who has been in a high position for many years is used to being superior and will not be willing to live under someone else's roof.”

Mark nodded in approval and continued, “Human nature is like this, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us at Poly. But Darren is not such an easy character. I heard that there will be an overseas capital injection into Zhuomei in the near future, and Zhuomei's Nanjing and Shanghai stores are already preparing to open. Their strategic hinterland is already not just Suzhou, but the larger market. Furthermore, even if they lose the two first-tier brands, with Jumei's popularity in Suzhou over the years, it will not collapse easily. Darren has a trump card in his hand, so he dares to do this. As long as he can successfully get rid of Clark's daughter this time, he will be in control. Compared to this, it is still worth the risk!”

Harlan and I fell silent. Even though we have worked together for many years, the war and cruelty of the business world have never been presented to us so starkly as they are today. At this moment, I understand that there are indeed rules in the workplace or business world. Those of us at the bottom want to move up, and we do so by working hard and seizing opportunities. Those at the top, however, play mind games. This kind of mind games makes me fear from the bottom of my heart. The ugliness of human nature is magnified many times under these mind games.

Mark finally made himself a cup of tea at this time, took a sip, and then said to me and Harlan, “You have been my subordinates for several years, and you are the ones I am going to focus on training. Especially Harlan, I see potential in you, which is why I am sharing with you this matter, which can be considered the company's top secret. My hope is that you can seize this opportunity to create value for the company while also achieving a breakthrough of your own. You two must do well with this sales promotion plan, understand?”

Harlan nodded solemnly, while I was lost in some kind of emotion.

“What about you, Lucas?” Chen Jingming asked again, looking at me.

Harlan nudged me, and I came back to my senses. I said to Mark, ‘I understand.”

...

After leaving Mark's office, Harlan immediately dragged me to the staff lounge and asked me in a low voice, ’Lucas, Mark still doesn't know about your relationship with Renee, does he?”

“Nonsense. If he knew I knew Renee, he wouldn't have told me this.”

Harlan nodded and said with a serious expression, “No matter what, you must not tell Renee about this. Not to mention your own career prospects, just for the favor Mark has done us, you must not tell Renee, understand?”

I didn't respond to Harlan, still a little dazed.

“Lucas, you need to know what's important and what's not. This is no laughing matter. Even if Renee really is your girlfriend, you still have to keep this a secret. Not a word can get out.”

I suddenly flew into a rage and glared at Harlan angrily, “Are you f*****g human? Can't you see this from Renee's perspective? She's already lost her father and is all alone in the world. Now she's been cheated by her own uncle, who has taken away her father's business. How much suffering she must be going through!

Harlan covered my mouth tightly and said to me nervously, still keeping his voice down, “Keep your voice down, this is a power struggle between the higher-ups, not something that little people like us can get involved in. This matter not only concerns the interests of the company, but also Mark's personal future, and even ours. If you tell, how can you live up to Mark's trust?”

I finally fell silent. Mark had indeed been kind to Harlan and me. If this matter ended with Charmacy's investment manager bringing two first-tier brands into our Bao Li, Mark, as the biggest contributor, would at least be promoted to the level of deputy general manager by the company's senior management. Harlan and I, as his trusted subordinates, would also benefit from this. This matter had already affected the fate of too many people...

Harlan then said to me in silence, “Lucas, you must promise me that you will pretend you didn't hear about this today, okay?”

I remained silent for a long time, as if I had suddenly found myself at the most difficult crossroads of my life...