Chris Shelby asked, “Dear, what’s the matter?” Esther, with a worried expression, replied, “Honey, do you have some time? Can you accompany me out for a bit?”
Hearing this, Chris Shelby was taken aback. “Why do you need me to go out with you?” Esther sighed and explained, “Dear, our company has encountered a problem recently. We sent out a batch of goods worth three billion dollars, but the other party hasn’t paid us yet.
This shipment is significant for our company. When our people went to collect the payment, they were beaten up. So I want to go personally.”
“Who dares to mess with my wife’s money!” Chris Shelby’s face immediately darkened. This was his territory on the East Coast. Anyone daring to cheat his wife was asking for trouble. “Don’t worry, dear, I’ll get that money back for you!” Chris Shelby’s eyes flashed with cold determination. Bullying his wife was crossing his line. No matter who it was, Chris Shelby would make them pay.
Hearing this, Esther breathed a sigh of relief. Though three billion dollars wasn’t much for Chester Group, it was still a considerable amount. More importantly, the other company was acting like hooligans by not paying despite receiving the goods. Esther couldn’t swallow this insult if it went unresolved.
“Thank you!” Esther said gratefully to Chris Shelby. No matter what happened, Chris Shelby always managed to solve her problems, and that felt wonderful.
Chris Shelby asked, “Dear, what’s the background of this company that dares to owe Chester Group money?” Esther sighed and said, “The owner of this company is said to have backing from the East Coast Governor’s Office; otherwise, no ordinary company would dare owe Chester Group money.” Chester Group was the top group in Amerosia and held significant influence on the East Coast. Everyone knew it was owned by the King of the East Coast, and no one dared offend them.
Hearing this, Chris Shelby narrowed his eyes. The East Coast Governor’s Office again? It seemed it was time to teach them a lesson! As a military officer and with the governor being a civilian official, their paths rarely crossed. But lately, the Governor’s Office had been causing him trouble repeatedly. Did they think he was weak?
In the afternoon, Chris Shelby drove Esther to collect the debt. The debtor was a company called Drake International. Drake International was also a major enterprise on the East Coast and had always had pleasant dealings with Chester Group. But this time, they suddenly started delaying payments and even beat up Chester Group’s debt collectors. It was clear someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.
Esther had reached her limit and decided to handle it personally. This time, Chris Shelby didn’t bring anyone else; it was just him and Esther. Half an hour later, they arrived at Drake International.
“Hello, is your chairman in?” Esther asked at the reception desk upon entering Drake International. The receptionist looked at Esther arrogantly and said, “Do you have an appointment? Without an appointment, you cannot see our chairman.” Seeing such rudeness from the receptionist, Chris Shelby coldly remarked, “Is this how Drake International treats its guests? Your company is doomed!”
Esther pulled at Chris Shelby to calm him down and softly said, “Alright! We’re here to collect money, not to fight.” Hearing this, Chris Shelby took a deep breath and refrained from arguing further with the receptionist.
Esther calmly said, “Hello, I’m Esther from Chester Group; I have an appointment with your chairman.” The receptionist made a call to confirm and then said to Esther, “The chairman will see you in his office on the top floor.”
Without further ado, Chris Shelby and Esther took the elevator to the top floor. Soon they arrived at the chairman’s office. Opening the door, they saw someone sitting inside-Dylan Piper, son of the East Coast Governor! Seeing Dylan Piper made Chris Shelby narrow his eyes slightly; this visit was indeed premeditated.
“Hahaha! Chris Shelby, we meet again!” Dylan Piper laughed upon seeing Chris Shelby. His face showed resentment as he remembered being beaten by Chris Shelby in the hospital last time-a grudge he hadn’t forgotten but hadn’t had a chance to settle until now.
Chris Shelby calmly said, “So it’s Mr. Piper who dares owe my company money.” Dylan Piper smirked but didn’t respond directly to Chris Shelby; his target today wasn’t him but Esther.
Dylan Piper looked at Esther and asked, “Are you Esther from Chester Group?” “Yes,” Esther nodded. “Your company has owed us payment for months; I’m here to collect it today.”
Dylan Piper sneered and said, “Getting that money won’t be easy! No matter who comes today, I won’t give you a cent!” He had planned this trap for Esther and had no intention of paying.
Seeing Dylan Piper’s refusal to pay made Esther’s face turn grim. She took out a contract from her bag and placed it on the table. “This is our contract; according to it, your company must pay us on time.”
Dylan Piper picked up the contract and suddenly tore it into pieces. “Sorry, but contracts mean nothing to me.” He threw the shredded contract onto the floor.
“You…” Esther trembled with anger at Dylan Piper’s brazen behavior; she never expected him to be so domineering as to tear up their contract right in front of her.
“I can sue you for this!” Esther gritted her teeth in anger.