Chapter 17: Settling the Score with Andrew
1162 Words
Andrew's face instantly turned pale, his heart sinking like a stone in water. However, all the banquet guests were staring at him, their eyes fixed on his every move, especially the captivating Clara who stood right beside him, her gaze unwavering.
"I can't panic, I can't let them notice anything amiss," Andrew thought to himself. With a tremendous effort, he mustered a strained smile and replied, "Haha, thank you, Mr. Hewitt. I've always valued our relationship and look forward to continuing our successful cooperation. In fact, I've already prepared the renewal fee for this round. It's a substantial sum of one million dollars!"
As Andrew spoke into the phone, the voice on the other end delivered a crushing blow. "I'm sorry, Mr. McDonald, but our company has dispatched a representative from the headquarters to assume control of taxi's operations in Los Angeles. We no longer require the services of a general agent like yourself."
Despite the devastating news, Andrew maintained his facade, laughing outwardly while his heart teemed with despair. "It's alright, no problem at all. We shall raise a toast to our enduring friendship when we next meet," he forced out, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.
Jackson, somewhat confused by Andrew's response, pressed on, "Did you actually hear what I just told you? You are no longer the agent, and no amount of money you spend will change that fact!"
Andrew, struggling to maintain his composure, replied, "Okay, okay, Mr. Hewitt, rest assured, we will continue to have a fruitful cooperation in the future."
Jackson, growing increasingly exasperated, reiterated, "You must be out of your mind! You're not addressing the situation at hand. Anyway, when the agency contract expires next month, the headquarters will send a replacement. That's all I have to say. Goodbye!"
Andrew, putting on a brave face, exclaimed, "Okay, Mr. Hewitt, until we meet again," before forcing a smile and ending the call. Ethan, observing the exchange with a furrowed brow, wondered, 'Could it be that Alex Jose hasn't informed Jackson yet? Why is Andrew acting so cheerful in this conversation?' The others present could only hear Andrew's side of the conversation and were left in curiosity.
Alexander was the first to approach Andrew, a concerned expression on his face."Mr. McDonald, based on what you just mentioned, I assume that the contract renewal has been finalized?" Alexander inquired.
Andrew smiled and replied confidently, "Of course, it's going to be a fruitful cooperation!"
Alexander quickly raised his glass, saying, "Come on, Mr. McDonald, let me toast to you. I wish you endless success!"
"Thank you, Mr. Reynolds," Andrew acknowledged as he raised his glass of white wine and swiftly downed its contents in one gulp.
Alexander exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, you're quite direct, Mr. McDonald! You downed it all in one go!"
Clara, picking up her glass, remarked, "Mr. McDonald, it's clear that you have a close relationship with Mr. Hewitt."
After finishing the glass of wine, Andrew felt a tinge of sadness creeping in due to the turmoil within him. However, he swiftly refilled his glass to the brim. Clara's lovely visage began to blur slightly in Andrew's vision as he replied, "Indeed, Mr. Hewitt and I have faced many challenges together."
Clara then raised her glass, saying, "I'll toast to you as well, Mr. McDonald. I wish you success in your business endeavors, and I hope we can come to know Mr. Hewitt through you." Andrew clinked glasses with Clara and responded, "It's a minor issue. I'll take care of it."
Andrew proceeded to drink another glass of wine, and the surrounding guests cheered enthusiastically. "Mr. McDonald, you really can handle your drinks well!" they praised.
"You seem to be in high spirits now that the contract renewal has been secured, Mr. McDonald. Are you in the mood for more drinks?" remarked a guest.
However, within moments, the attendees noticed something amiss as Andrew's tears began to flow while he continued to drink, his emotions mixing with the colorless white wine. "Mr. McDonald, why are you crying? Are you okay?" Samantha inquired with concern.
At this moment, Ethan shook his head in exasperation and spoke candidly, "Andrew, stop pretending if you can't handle it. There's a time and place for everything, even if you want to show off. What's the point of pretending? It's clear to everyone that you're putting on a front. Why not just be honest and admit that you've been relieved of your duties as an agent?" Ethan confronted Andrew with the very words Andrew had once said to him.
In truth, Clara and the other guests had already sensed that something was off with Andrew. His exaggerated behavior contradicted the idea that he had successfully secured the contract renewal. If he had truly accomplished that, he wouldn't be displaying such extreme emotions.
In a moment of realization, Andrew understood that his exaggerated behavior was only appropriate if the contract renewal had indeed fallen through. With a background not as strong and a business empire not as established as many in the room, Andrew had managed to integrate into the elite circles of Los Angeles and secure the position of general agent for Prime taxi drivers through a stroke of luck a few years ago. Without this role, he felt he wouldn't belong among the guests in the same way. That's why he had chosen to put on a facade.
However, Ethan's blunt exposure had shattered Andrew's charade. Fueled by alcohol and emotions, Andrew slammed his hand on the table and strode over to Ethan. "So what if I've been stripped of my license?! It's only because prime taxi is taking over directly and no longer requires an agent. This has nothing to do with you, you pathetic loser!" Tony exclaimed.
Ethan remained composed, smiling calmly as he sipped his tea. "Interesting. You clearly caught me on the phone, and now you're taking the initiative to clear my name."
"Haha, if you believe I had nothing to do with it, then fine. I have no interest in creating another enemy."
The guests were all engrossed in a lively discussion, pondering the possible connection between Andrew's recent agent license revocation and Ethan.
Many present had recently pledged their support to sever ties with Ethan to safeguard the future of the Reynolds. If Ethan wielded such significant influence, the potential repercussions seemed daunting!
In response to the escalating tension, Ms. Julia swiftly rose from her seat, addressing the room with a sense of urgency. "Everyone, let's not jump to conclusions. There's absolutely no way our son-in-law, who hails from a humble farming background, could be linked to someone as influential as Mr. Hewitt in the capital!"
Sophie, standing up alongside Ms. Julia, added, "Indeed, this good-for-nothing has been a part of our family for three years, dutifully following our every instruction. If he truly had connections to such a powerful individual, why would he willingly play second fiddle to us for all this time?"
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