This day, in the morning, Brown and his son Cilio were having breakfast together. The atmosphere at the table was a bit dull, not just because of etiquette; the two ate in silence due to the already intricate father-son relationship, seldom communicating over the years.
Even if they did talk, it often ended on a combative note.
Brown felt his son should learn to be low-key, understand the importance of restrained words and actions, and quietly develop his own strengths.
Cilio, on the other hand, was more ambitious and adventurous, believing that both his father and Tike lacked the boldness expected of leaders.
In the workplace, Cilio’s ambitions weren’t limited to rely becoming an executive president; he aid to surpass his father and achieve sothing greater.
Of course, before surpassing that position, he first had to obtain that position.
This was tied to his father’s support for Tike, who would secure that position before him, making Cilio increasingly dissatisfied.
"I’ve been here for several days, leaving tonight to return to the North Arican headquarters," Mr. Brown said, setting down his knife and fork and wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Cilio didn’t even lift his head, rely uttering an "hmm" as acknowledgnt.
Apart from publicly showing obedience the day he welcod his father, this was his usual deanor in private.
Mr. Brown frowned, warning, "This ti, I’ve embarrassed Bai Xiaosheng thrice in succession, and he’s tolerated it. He’s not simple. After I leave, be sure not to clash with him in any way; ideally, avoid any contact altogether. I’m confident in Tike, but with you, I must caution you!"
Cilio raised his brows and placed down his knife and fork, no longer eating. He also picked up the napkin to wipe his mouth.
"Your private matters, be they minor or major, had better be cleaned up thoroughly!"
Mr. Brown observed Cilio’s casual deanor and frowned, warning sternly.
Cilio sneered and looked at his father, "What could possibly be wrong with ? If you an the collaboration with Caroline in North Arica, even now, I find it excellent, despite being slightly non-compliant with so-called rules! I and my people took sothing, but it wasn’t much! If the headquarters monitoring departnt doesn’t exaggerate things, how can they prove their worth?"
Cilio argued confidently.
Mr. Brown looked at Cilio with a trace of anger, "Don’t you realize your mistake? If you’re secretly embezzling, you must have the ability to clean it up thoroughly! This ti, I’ve protected you, but what about next ti? What if I step down? I’ve asked Tike to appoint prudent deputies for the enterprises under your control, just to prevent you and your chosen people from ssing around. And yet, you drove away half of the people Tike picked for you for various reasons! Look now, the enterprises in trouble are those without anyone to caution them!"
Mr. Brown grew increasingly agitated as he spoke.
Cilio bristled with impatience as he listened.
"Father, I’m already the executive vice president of the African division, shouldn’t I have full authority over basic personnel decisions? Do I still need soone acting as a spy in my managed enterprises? You trust Tike more than your own son! You even want to recomnd him to succeed your position; I might as well resign!" Cilio retorted angrily.
"You!" Mr. Brown trembled with anger, pointing at Cilio, wishing he could hurl the plate in front of him.
This ungrateful brat had no idea of his father’s good intentions!
His grooming of Tike was to shield Cilio from storms!
Having Tike select personnel to assist in overseeing Cilio’s enterprises was also a form of protection!
But all those painstaking efforts were being treated like garbage!
Seeing his father’s fiercely punitive stare, Cilio suddenly deflated, remaining silent.
Just then, Mr. Brown’s phone on the table lit up, vibrating and buzzing.
It was a call.
Still fuming, Brown glanced at the phone and saw it was from a person at the group’s headquarters, soone whose position wasn’t as high, but held special status, soone he interacted with often and closely. Brown was catching his breath, not wanting to reveal distress, thus didn’t answer, thinking he’d call back shortly.
But as soon as the call ended, another call ca in from a different person at headquarters.
Before Brown could answer, another alert ca in for a third call.
Not only were these calls multiplying, but a series of short ssages were popping up rapidly.
Brown frowned imdiately, sensing sothing unusual.
Without hurrying to check the ssages, Brown first picked up a call.
The caller spoke urgently and briefly before hanging up.
Those few words were enough to change Brown’s expression dramatically, with shock reflected in his eyes as he stood up abruptly.
Cilio was startled by his father’s sudden actions, looking at him confusedly.
Brown’s face was sowhat contorted as he set down the phone, gazing at Cilio with a deep, raspy voice, "Sothing has happened!"
Cilio watched his father in amazent; he had never seen the old man so "out of sorts."
Without needing his father to elaborate, within ten minutes, they received an official notice from the group’s monitoring departnt.
The core points were as follows:
The group’s African division’s four enterprises were suspected of major illegal operations, severely damaging the group’s interests, with conclusive evidence. The responsible parties have been officially sued by the group’s legal team.
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