Gunner felt the softness of that small hand, and his other hand reached out instinctively towards Ruth’s slender waist.
“Gunner, have some respect!” Ruth exclaimed in shock, pulling away from him and standing up. Disgust was written all over her face.
Flynn’s expression turned cold once again.
Rose furrowed her eyebrows and spoke icily. “Gunner, back then when you were desperate and on your knees begging my mother for help with tears streaming down your face, she took pity on you and gave you some orders. The Moore’s Group survived because of that.”
“As a result, you gradually established yourself in Niarak as the top distributor of medicinal herbs in Shipmeda.”
“What did you say back then?”
“You said that for this lifetime, the Sharp family would be your only master. You would always be their servant.”
“And now this is how you repay me?” Rose’s eyes turned icy with anger.
Of course she knew Layla had used her connections to blacklist Energence Pharmaceuticals. But even though Ruth insisted on helping them despite this fact, Rose had put aside her pride to go toast Gunner at his table.
She thought he would be grateful; even if he couldn’t help them openly due to Layla’s threats against him or his business interests or whatever else it might have been, surely he could still find a way to cooperate with Energence Pharmaceuticals behind closed doors?
But instead of helping them out somehow, Gunner not only refused but also humiliated her like this!
Gunner looked slightly uncomfortable but forced a smile anyway, “Tinley only helped me once back then; I could’ve survived without her just fine.”
“All my achievements today are thanks solely to my own hard work; what does she have anything to do with it?”
“And besides,” he continued defensively, “when did I ever kneel before Tinley? And when did I ever say that the Sharp family was my one true master?”
“Who saw me do these things? Don’t try to smear me by making up lies!”
Rose’s expression darkened upon hearing such shameless words from Gunner. She remembered clearly being present when he begged Tinley for help. How could he lie like this?
“If you don’t even acknowledge your blood oath anymore,” Rose said coldly, “then there isn’t much left for us to talk about here today… but let me remind you: people should always show respect where it is due! Don’t tempt fate by saying things like ‘may lightning strike five times’ so casually!”
Instead of feeling ashamed or apologetic however, Gunner sneered at Rose, “If we’re talking about showing respect here… I think nobody needs it more than you!”
“When the Woods family, Hussain family, and Swanson family were all so powerful back then, and they wanted cross-shareholdings with your company, you didn’t hesitate at all before turning them down.”
“The Sharp’s Group ended up being acquired completely because of your own mistakes!”
“Ms. Sharp, I know you’re angry, but it’s no use taking it out on me. Who asked you to overestimate yourself back then?”
Rose’s face darkened and she didn’t bother arguing with such a person.
But Flynn laughed when he heard this and turned to Rose with a frown. “What kind of shady business was the Sharp’s Group involved in with their partners? It seems like they were all scumbags.”
“You too, why waste your breath on this trash? Do you really think a leopard can change its spots?”
This statement made Gunner suddenly angry and he coldly said, “Who are you to interrupt when I’m talking to your boss?”
Flynn’s face darkened as he calmly replied, “I’m not that powerful either. At most one phone call from me could make you beg for food.”
He turned to Rose and complained slightly, “I’ve told you several times already. If there are any difficulties just tell me directly instead of groveling before trash like him.”
Rose was speechless.
She had called every herbal medicine supplier she could contact but none were willing to cooperate. Gunner had offered help through Energence Pharmaceuticals so how could she not try?
“Since today is a celebration party, let’s eat and drink well first. Later on I’ll make a call and have the Traditional Medicine Bureau help us contact suppliers.”
“The Bureau?” Gunner frowned at first but then sneered disdainfully, “Their director is friends with Lilia; do you think they would help you?”
Gunner’s bodyguards also pursed their lips in cold laughter.
“I thought this guy was capable; turns out he only knows someone from the Bureau who might be just an ordinary employee!”
“This guy even said one phone call could make Gunner beg for food! Forget about knowing an ordinary employee or even the director himself; he doesn’t know anything about Gunner’s influence or what Ms. Woods’ team is capable of!”
Katrina shook her head too.
Flynn clearly underestimated Layla’s abilities.
If the Bureau could help them, then she would have contacted them through Travis’ connections long ago; why would she agree for Ruth to come pour drinks?
Rose sighed lightly as well saying, “It won’t work because the director has good relations with Lilia who has caused trouble for the Sharp’s Group many times before.”
“The Shipmeda’s Bureau?” Flynn paused briefly before sneering, “I may look down on Layla and her crew, but I believe they can establish a connection with the Shipmeda’s Medicine Bureau.”
“Of course, I’m not naive enough to go looking for some director again.”
“If we’re going to slap Layla in the face, we have to approach Ostrad’s Medicine Administration!”
As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence in the room.
The employees of the research and development department looked shocked.
Ostrad’s Medicine Administration was a national deputy-level unit! They had authority over all medical affairs and were responsible for developing strategies, plans, policies and related standards for traditional medicine and ethnic medicine. Their power was immense.
If Flynn could get someone from Ostrad’s Medicine Administration to come down here, then perhaps Layla would have to give Energence Pharmaceuticals some face and back off.
Gunner sat up straight and frowned at Flynn with an expression of disbelief. “Young man,” he said. “Do you know anyone from Ostrad’s administration?”
“No,” replied Flynn calmly as he took a sip of his tea.
A smile crept onto Gunner’s lips as he continued, “Then do you know any employee inside?”
Flynn repeated himself, “I don’t know anyone.”
Everyone froze.
If he knew no one inside Ostrad’s administration, then what was the point? They wouldn’t even acknowledge his existence!
Rose rubbed her forehead feeling a headache coming on. She thought that Flynn had connections but now he claimed not to know anybody? It seemed like it had been all for nothing…
Flynn wouldn’t think that by going to the Ostrad Medicine Regulatory Authority to complain about the Woods, Hussain, and Swanson families regarding Energence Pharmaceuticals, they would automatically take action, right?
This required evidence! If suppliers didn’t want to supply Energence Pharmaceuticals with medicinal herbs then they could find countless reasons why not. Without proof how could they possibly help them?
Gunner laughed heartily when he heard this, “I thought you had some connections but it turns out you don’t even know anybody there! Why should they help you if you don’t even know them?”
“At best they’ll take note of your complaint and tell you to wait for further notice.”
“After one or two years maybe they’ll respond but by then Energence Pharmaceuticals will already be bankrupt!”
When Flynn mentioned knowing someone from within Ostrad’s administration, Gunner did feel startled; if he actually knew their director, then perhaps Energence Pharmaceuticals might survive after all…
But if it was only an employee who knew him well enough, given Layla’s influence, Energence Pharmaceutical would still be stuck between a rock and hard place.
Later, Flynn said that he didn’t know anyone and he laughed out loud, completely disregarding Flynn. However, at this moment, Flynn shook his head and casually said, “I really don’t know anyone from Ostrad’s Medicine Management Bureau, but I do know its superior department, the Minister of Health for Ostrad, Hudson Mcguire!”