As Finn departed, Darnell’s gaze turned sharp.
He knew he had made another enemy, but he wouldn’t let Finn’s intimidation get to him. Otherwise, it would be more troublesome in the future.
Fifteen minutes later, Areli swiftly signed the $200 million order for the Harmony Hospital.
After finalizing the major procurement items, Areli asked Darnell to take her back to the company to work overtime. She wanted to strike while the iron was hot and settle all the details.
This way, the contract could be executed on Monday.
Jazmine and David were unwilling, but they couldn’t go back on their public bet and had to fulfill their promise.
As they watched Darnell and his team leave, David snapped three golf clubs in anger, his fury directed at his subordinates.
Tia remained as stoic as ever, her emotions unaffected.
After signing the order and returning to the office, Areli dismissed Darnell. “I have work to do. You can go back. Take the car.”
“You did well today. I’ll give you two days off.”
Darnell looked aggrieved, “Miss Fanshaw, it’s already the weekend.”
Areli pretended not to hear him, “This order doesn’t have much profit, but your share will be given at the end of the month.”
Darnell weakly asked, “Is there a reward for having a girlfriend?”
Areli’s eyebrows shot up. “Get out.”
She thought of the fifteen kisses on the golf course, especially the last deep kiss, and wanted to strangle Darnell. This rascal was getting too bold.
Darnell was dissatisfied. “Areli, why are you so heartless to me again?”
Bang!
As Darnell was about to speak again, Areli slammed the door shut.
Staring at the closed door, Darnell felt indignant. How could she turn her back on him after using him?
In his frustration, he tilted his head and knocked on the door again.
Areli opened it once more. “You’re still here?”
Darnell suddenly pointed at the chandelier behind her. “Hey, that light looks like it’s about to fall.”
Areli instinctively turned around but saw nothing wrong. As she turned back to scold Darnell for talking nonsense, she found her lips pressed against a face.
Darnell had quietly moved closer and shouted, “Thank you for the reward, Miss Fanshaw.”
“Darnell!”
Areli jumped up to grab a paper cutter. “I’ll cut you!”
Darnell ran off in a flash.
Watching Darnell disappear in an instant, Areli angrily slammed the door shut. However, she couldn’t deny a sweet feeling inside her heart.
It wasn’t strong, but it was definitely there, like a gentle drizzle nourishing silently.
“What? Areli signed a $200 million order?”
At almost the same moment, in a booth of a downstairs cafe sat Eliezer and Brian with a few others.
Roberto rushed over with a frosty expression, looking at his confidants angrily.
“Can’t even have peace on a Saturday! And this order is from the Harmony Hospital? What’s going on?”
“How could Areli sign Jazmine’s order?”
Roberto knew very well what kind of woman Jazmine was.
As the head of Whiteville’s largest private hospital with connections in both legal and illegal circles, she always considered herself superior and had an instinctive hostility towards Abbigail and Areli. Therefore, the Harmony Hospital always purchased medical supplies from Pioneer Properties.
Jazmine had once hinted at a party that as long as Areli remained in the branch office, she wouldn’t place a single order with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals.
What was more, she had terminated all previous collaborations between both parties. Now Jazmine not only cooperated with Areli but also signed a $200 million deal. Roberto was puzzled.
Seeing Roberto’s angry expression, Eliezer quickly responded,
“Jazmine didn’t want to sign this order either. But because of David’s connections, she was forced to give $200 million.”
In reality, he knew Darnell’s role but didn’t want to overemphasize it lest he appeared incompetent.
“Damn! This woman is really starting to take full control of power, even using men.”
Roberto pulled out a cigar with a sour expression. “There are five hundred hospitals in Whiteville. If each placed a $200 million order with her, no, even $20 million each, she would quickly surpass $5 billion in sales. She would then secure her position as general manager completely.”
“At that point, we would have no place left.”
The Spades Tribe’s $40 million and Chandler’s $5 million deals were now joined by the Harmony Hospital’s $200 million deal. Roberto felt a sense of crisis.
“Mr. Gower, don’t worry.”
Eliezer analyzed, “This is just an accident. Areli absolutely won’t meet her target. $5 billion in sales is no easy feat.”
“The previous pharmaceutical distribution network is basically fixed at about $2 billion annually.”
“My sales department has always controlled sales. Even if we go all out, it’s only about $1 billion annually.”
He continued with clarity, “A gap of $2 billion, without all of Adventure Industries’ former clients, Areli would need contracts with over a hundred hospitals to meet this target.”
“This is simply impossible. The market is saturated, and Pioneer Properties is suppressing us. How can Areli achieve this?”
“Don’t forget that David’s father is the Director of Commerce.”
Roberto sat down heavily in his seat and snorted, “With him stepping in to snatch orders from Pioneer Properties isn’t difficult.”
Eliezer confidently replied, “Mr. Gower, so what if David has some connections? Theresa from Pioneer Properties isn’t easy either. She won’t let orders be taken away easily.”
“I can assure you that before New Year’s Eve, Areli absolutely won’t fill that $2 billion gap unless Adventure Industries returns as a major client.”
“Adventure Industries won’t work with us again. Those substandard drugs from back then have already chilled their hearts.”
Roberto lit his cigar. “I hope so.”
Eliezer said with a bright smile, “As long as Adventure Industries doesn’t cooperate with Areli again, she absolutely can’t fill this $2 billion gap.”
“If not for our own interests at stake, the sales department’s $1 billion performance could be halved instantly, but that price would be too high.”
“We can’t halve it.”
A glint flashed in Roberto’s eyes. “Losing Adventure Industries as a major client has already cost us a large portion of our income. We can’t afford any decline in sales performance or else we won’t even get year-end bonuses. Headquarters would not only remove Areli but also replace us with new blood.”
“Besides, I spent millions getting intel on Areli’s pledge from headquarters. I need to recoup that loss.”
Eliezer nodded along with the others. “Understood.”
“But we mustn’t let our guard down either.”
Roberto spoke calmly, “Keep an eye on Areli’s actions closely. Report any contract she signs immediately.”
“As long as she fails to achieve $5 billion in sales by year-end, her tenure as general manager ends.”
“And be careful yourselves. Don’t give her any reason to target me.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, “Understood.”
Roberto had learned from headquarters that when Areli was parachuted into the Whiteville branch as general manager, it coincided with mega-client Adventure Industries terminating cooperation.
This instantly slashed Spectrum Pharmaceuticals’s performance by $2 billion. initially making board members reluctant about Areli’s appointment due to the limited impact expected from someone new. Only Spencer’s strong support plus Areli’s pledge secured her position temporarily.
Areli promised shareholders she’d restore the Whiteville branch’s performance back up to $5 billion within one year or step down post-New Year next year if failed, a confidential agreement Roberto managed uncovering which reignited hopes for himself rising higher again.
“Mr. Gower, is there any way to deal with Darnell? His presence hampers many things within my sales department.”
At this point, Eliezer suddenly remembered something, complaining bitterly while frowning deeply.
“He constantly opposes me, not only winning over Phoenix Team members but also undermining my authority several times. I want to discipline him yet fear retaliation since he is backed by Areli herself.”
“That bastard is indeed troublesome.”
Recalling the kicks he’d taken from Princess Africa and the scheme that had led to Brian’s dismissal, Roberto felt exasperated.
If it weren’t for that bastard, his life would be much better. He wouldn’t have to show up for a small meeting like this on weekends.
“I want to crush that son of a bitch more than you do. If it weren’t for him, I would have already become the general manager.”
Brian also gnashed his teeth. “I will sooner or later disable that bastard!”
Roberto turned his head and asked him,
“Brian, have you been in touch with Nick and the others these days? Get him to mobilize some of the Apex crew and get Darnell out of Whiteville.”
A trace of helplessness crossed Brian’s face as he heard Roberto’s words. “Mr. Gower, Nick and his gang got hurt. After the bar incident, they were discontented after losing face.”
“They tried to take revenge on Darnell twice, but not only did they fail to beat him up, they ended up battered by Darnell.”
“A few days ago, Nick was even arrested by the police.”
Roberto’s expression tightened. “Arrested by the police? Why?”
“For fighting in a crowd and disturbing the peace.”
Brian sighed, “Fortunately for him, Darnell got away, and there was no victim to press charges, or else Nick and his gang might have faced more than three years in prison.”
“Even so, the Apex had to pay a lot of money and use many connections to get him bailed out.”
Hearing this, Roberto snorted, “A bunch of losers.”
“But where one door closes, another opens.”
Brian forced out a sentence, “Harry, who was tricked by Darnell, has found some formidable companions for revenge.”
“I’ve given them Darnell’s address, and I estimate they will make their move against Darnell in the next couple of days.”