By this point, both of Ford’s hands had been stepped on by Leo. It’s likely that for a long time to come, he wouldn’t be able to hold a cigar with his hands.
“Ford, has the pain made you a bit more sober? Do you remember anything about Sophia Cosmetics Company now?” Leo’s cold voice echoed in Ford’s ears.
Larry, lying weak on the floor, had been terrified by Leo’s fierceness. He endured the intense pain and crawled up from the ground, hoping to escape through the door.
Leo picked up a fragment of a chair from the floor and casually waved it. The shard cut Larry’s knee, causing him to scream in pain before collapsing on the ground like a sack of potatoes.
“Under my watchful eye, no one can escape!” Leo turned back to Ford, who crawled up to him and pleaded, “This was all Ford’s idea, please spare me!”
“Making a mistake isn’t as simple as admitting it. Both of you are adults, and you must pay the price for your actions!” Leo took a sip of tea and continued, “So, how can you be spared?”
“How can I make you spare us?” Ford now hoped Leo would offer conditions.
“Since you both seem cooperative, I’m not entirely unreasonable,” Leo’s expression softened. However, this change in demeanor only made Ford and Larry more uneasy.
“Sophia Cosmetics Company and Merano Group’s combined order for this collaboration was six million dollars. Due to your schemes, it has severely tarnished the reputation of these two companies and Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company,” Leo paused for a moment, then fixed Ford and Larry with a piercing gaze. “How about you use money to compensate? I believe the negative impact this has had on Sophia Cosmetics Company, Merano Group, and Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company would require approximately thirty million dollars to rectify. What do you think?”
“Thirty million…” This figure almost made Ford and Larry cry. Leo wasn’t negotiating; he was outright demanding a king’s ransom. The combined orders for Sophia Cosmetics Company and Merano Group amounted to only six million dollars, and now Leo wanted them to pay thirty million, a fivefold increase!
In Ford’s mind, if Leo had asked for ten million, he might have agreed, but thirty million was a sum he didn’t want to part with.
“I can see that both of you seem quite unwilling,” Leo’s icy voice continued. “Ford, I’ve been patient with you for too long. If you don’t come up with thirty million as compensation, I will leave you permanently disabled. I believe someone like you would be better off spending the rest of your life in bed.”
Ford and Leo had dealt with Leo more than once, so they had no doubt that Leo was capable of doing what he said.
“Leo, can we make it 20 million?” Ford forced a reluctant smile onto his face, trying to negotiate.
Leo extended four fingers, “40 million.”
Ford thought, “Damn, ruthless!” His heart sank; he wanted to curse.
“Leo, Leo, please don’t be so harsh. I really can’t come up with that much money right now.” Ford wore a pitiful expression, hoping Leo might show some mercy.
Leo’s gaze turned icy, and he said in a stern voice, “Ford, I don’t like haggling. If you can’t come up with 40 million in compensation, then give me your two legs. You have three minutes to decide.”
The atmosphere in the office suddenly became eerily quiet. Larry, who was Ford’s accomplice, dared not even breathe loudly. He was terrified that Leo might turn his attention to him.
Even if it were four million, Larry couldn’t come up with that much money right now.
Ford gave Larry a fierce look, then turned to Leo, saying, “40 million, I’ll give it to you! Just promise me you won’t pursue this matter any further!”
Ford reached into a drawer, pulled out a cashier’s check, and wrote 40 million on it before handing it to Leo.
Leo accepted the check and sneered, “That’s more like it. Money can solve many problems.”
“So… about this matter…” Ford looked at Leo with hope in his eyes.
Leo stood up from the couch, wearing a wicked smile. “Ford, Larry, I’ll spare your lives, but the law won’t. ”
Leo took out a voice recorder from his pocket and flashed it in front of them.
Seeing the voice recorder, Ford and Larry froze for a moment, then begged Leo not to do it.
Ignoring their pleas, Leo left the office gracefully.
“Everything’s over…” Ford slumped to the ground.
When Leo descended from the sixth floor to the lobby, the security guards he had knocked down earlier kept their distance, no longer daring to approach him.
The guards’ reaction brought a smirk to Leo’s lips. His trip to Spring Wind Tower today had not been in vain.
After leaving Spring Wind, Leo drove to Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company.
…
Floral Bank, General Manager’s Office.
Frank leaned back in his boss’s chair, feeling quite satisfied. He had seen the trending news this morning about Sophia Cosmetics Company selling subpar products.
Ever since the auction, Frank had been closely monitoring everything related to Leo and Sophia. To deal with someone, you had to understand everything about them, find their weaknesses, and strike a fatal blow.
“Bear, how’s the task I assigned you earlier?” Frank glanced at the man standing beside him and asked.
Bear respectfully replied, “Mr. William, I contacted an expert, but to engage his services, you’ll need to personally meet him.”
“Oh, who is this person?” Frank became curious.
“He’s a martial cultivator!” Bear replied.
“A martial cultivator!?” Frank was slightly surprised.
“Yes, he’s from the Fiery Blaze Sect, a martial cultivation sect. At first, he didn’t want to get involved, but after I mentioned Leo’s name, he suddenly changed his mind and said he’d be willing to help us.” Bear explained.
“Does he have a grudge against Leo?”
“I’m not sure, but after I mentioned Leo’s name, I could clearly sense a strong murderous intent emanating from him.”