Capítulo 16: Chapter 16

"Oh"

The conference table was long and Noah sat deliberately at the head of the table with everyone else taking up the space around him, if Selwynn wanted to sit he could only sit in the lower seat opposite him on the other end.

Noah sat leisurely with the cigarette in his hands watching for his reaction.

"Oh?"

"Do you have nothing else to say?"

Selwynn unhurriedly walked to the conference table and sat down in the seat that was deliberately left out without changing his face.

Noah's grin widened,

Selwynn replied, "I heard it. So what?"

Noah and the other executives laughed. Seeing that he was seated, Noah offered him a cigarette.

Selwynn took the unlit cigarette and leaned back in the chair, crossing his legs relaxedly. He seemed even more unhurried than Noah.

Unlike Noah, Deputy Manager Ronald couldn't suppress his anger at all and advanced aggressively, "Selwynn you have to explain to the executives what happened yesterday!"

He slapped the table angrily, however, at the same time as he did this, Selwynn flicked the lighter and lit the cigarette, cupping the flames in his hands.

This move seemed small but it actually dispelled the aggressive momentum that Ronald had just created.

The entire conference room fell into silence.

Selwynn slowly lifted his head and let the smoke escape from his lips.

Ronald met Selwynns sharp eyes like a beast and for a moment he felt scared followed by an even more uncontrollable anger, but the arrogance he displayed was suppressed.

"Selwynn, " Noah said flatly, "It's not that I want to make things difficult for you, but some things must be given an explanation."

"Otherwise the entire organization that your grandfather left you would turn into chaos."

Noah flicked the cigarette soot onto the table, "He wouldn't want that now,"

"Would he?"

Selwynn fixed his eyes on him as he spoke, "No, he wouldn't."

When he wanted to say more, Selwynn said slowly: "May the dead rest in peace."

Noah smiled and didn't force it, he looked at Selwynn: "Let's get down to business, what can you say about yesterday's incident?"

"For all I know, the current capital chain cannot afford you to make reckless decisions like this."

"So tell me why?"

"Intel told me you bid 45 million on a single unit of land in Norwegia."

Selwynn looked up, "There was no loss to the organization, we lost the bid."

Another executive Clark shook a glass of vodka and said with a sneer, "It is not just about bidding, what you have done has harmed the interests of the organization."

"What if you hadn't a loss, your bid of 45 million would have jeopardized the entire capital chain."

He shook the wine glass mockingly,

"You treat such a big investment like a joke, how can you manage the organization well?"

"Not to mention because of negligence, there was a leak and we lost the Norwegia bid"

"This land was crucial for the prospects of Arlington and all its industries"

"Do you really deserve to control this organization?"

Selwynn chuckled softly, "Unfortunately I received news of the leak late because of an...accident."

"Furthermore, it seems that many companies received the news of the leak at the same time as I did. "

He asked, "Do you what that means Clark?"

Clark spread his hands, "Enlighten me."

Selwynn took a puff of the cigarette, then ground the butt on the conference table listening to the sizzle as it burned the mahogany wood, "It's mean that there's a rat."

The hazy smoke covered the conference in grey, hiding the gloomy eyes burning in the dark.

"And this rat seems to be coming from internal affairs."

"Isn't that under your jurisdiction, Clark?"

"If that's the case, what do you think we need to do?"

The corner of his eyes was cold, " Shouldn't the subordinates under you be punished?"

Clark paused for a moment,

"Naturally I'll investigate those under me and give you a satisfactory report."

His eyes were sombre when he looked at him,

Noah abruptly spoke up, breaking the heavy tension:

"Today we are here primarily to summarize the quarterly financial statements"

Immediately someone answered: "Yes, the first item in the meeting is the P2P project that previously had high prospects."

"The report has been completed today. There has been turmoil all over the site and the previous contractor has disappeared, leaving unfinished work and unpaid workers."

This was told by Harold, the director of Finance.

Cate scrutinized him sharply, trying to see if knew something more.

"If this project falls through, the estimated loses will be as high as 60 million dollars."

"Leaving aside the stated losses, if there is a gap of 60 million, many of the previous contracts will either have to renegotiate or we will have to break the contract and pay liquidated damages and that takes time, at least a year."

"If the payment can be made, there will still be an overdraw, and other projects will have to be delayed."

"Therefore this project must be continued and funds have to be injected into it, in order to keep other projects."

Noah laughed, and tapped the cigarette butt, "You took 40 million as a joke yesterday, If there is no loss that's fine, there is no need to mention it."

"But now it's better to fill the gap and complete the project "

"Otherwise, " he chuckled, Selwynn you really can't escape the blame. The contractor was hired by your team and the channels are under your name, if anything goes wrong you can't be absolved from blame."

Selwynn could almost see what was going on in their minds - they wanted to pull him off his horse. Just like they did in his previous life.

Except Noah's preemptive strike failed this time and they took another route.

This project was a bottomless hole that could only be filled with money, and hard to complete, the police have already locked onto the site because of the previous matter, workers are dissatisfied, raw materials are gone and many policies would change in the upcoming months.

Not to mention, half of the working capital of the organization was held in Noah's hands, if he doesn't let go, what will Selwynn use to fill the gap?

Furthermore there was still another force interfering in this project.

If he accepted it, they would find ways to completely destroy the project later and if he didn't they could use this as evidence of his incompetence and force him to give up his position.

Selwynn reclined against the headrest, slowly observing the expressions of all the persons in the hazy conference room, letting the silence sink in.

They were all waiting for his decision.

Just when they thought he was going to give up, there was a tap,

"Okay."

Selwynn leaned forward, resting his hands on the edge of the table.

"However, I will personally oversee this project."

A meaningful smile flashed in Noah's cold eyes

"That will be for the best."

After the dust settled, Selwynn announced, "This is the end of today's meeting."

Before everyone could leave Selwynn suddenly spoke up as he walked past, "Let me remind you, smoking is not allowed in the conference room."

Noah sneered, and waved his finger holding the cigarette in front of him, "Sorry, I'm an old smoker, I'm afraid I won't be able to quit."

However before he could finish, Noah felt pain in the hand holding the cigarette, and then his hand was forcibly pushed into the ashtray with the cigarette in his hand.

There was still an unburned cigarette in the ashtray and his fingers were scalded by it. Noah's face twisted instantly, and he opened his mouth to curse, but a low male voice sounded next to his ear: "Did you hear what I said"

"No smoking in the conference room."