Hollis nodded and said, “That is correct as per my client’s request.”
Monroe sneered and said, “Five hundred million is not a lot and I definitely can afford it. However…”
He let out a few unusual laughs and continued speaking, “Money does not grow on trees. How could you possibly think that I will give your client that much money as compensation fee?”
“He is eligible based on the fact that your men had caused harm towards him. My client’s reputation has been ruined and his bodyguards are still in the hospital for emergency treatment. You have caused damage in terms of his wealth and mental health. Monroe, don’t you think that you should bear responsibility regarding this matter?”
“Of course! I should that’s for sure! I offered in coming to a peaceful agreement after all. I would have ended in jail otherwise!” Monroe nonchalantly said, “But this amount is rather far-fetched, isn’t it? Can’t you be lenient a little? How about setting the compensation fee a bit lower?”
“Absolutely not!” Hollis was irritated by the arrogant and unconcerned attitude of Monroe. Hollis was being treated disrespectfully by Monroe despite him being considered as one of the famous layers within the industry. Monroe neither greeted him nor served him tea. He was clearly being a bully.
“Alright! It shall be five hundred million then!” Monroe sat upright. He then put the tobacco pipe from his hand into his mouth and blew out a smoke ring.
Hollis was taken aback upon seeing Monroe being so easygoing. A few seconds later, Monroe looked at the man next to him and said, “Show him what you have.”
The man next to Monroe opened his briefcase and took out a few photocopied documents before placing them over.
The assistant picked up the documents and took a quick glance. It was the travel records.
He handed the documents to Hollis with a puzzled look on his face. The facial expression of Hollis had changed rather slightly after reading the contents of the copies.
Monroe spit out a smoke ring and said, “Do you think that these documents are worth a billion? I can always increase the said value if you do not share the same opinion with me.”
Monroe’s words were basically signaling Hollis that he still had groundbreaking information with him. Hollis was aware of the insider story when he accepted this case.
The opposing party must have done his homework judging by how he chose to disclose the travel records of Ornard. Hollis felt a little nervous and held the information in his hand. “Let me make a call.”
“Sure! You are welcome to do so and I would be waiting for you no matter how long it takes!” Monroe leaned back lazily after he had finished speaking.
Hollis stood up and went out of the private room. He found a quiet spot and dialed Gurmisran’s number. “Mr. Knight, things do not look good.”
“Is Monroe unwilling to pay the agreed fee?”
“It is not about that! He promised to pay us the fifty hundred million without thinking twice. However, he took out Ornard’s travel record and questioned me whether the said document is worth a billion or not. He even said that he can always disclose more information if I do not think that his value is appropriate.”
Gurmisran was shocked upon hearing about it and asked, “Where on earth did Monroe obtain the travel records?”
“I am unclear regarding this matter but it seems that Monroe is trying to cause trouble for Ornard. Gurmisran, this matter is beyond my negotiation ability!”
“Alright. Do give me a second and I shall give you a reply later.”
Gurmisran ended the conversation with Hollis and immediately dialed Ornard’s number. “Ornard, we have encountered a hiccup during the negotiation process. Monroe has disclosed your travel record and demanded a billion from us.”
“What? That bastard! I would fucking…” Ornard was so pissed off that he was experiencing chest pain.
Gurmisran knew how was Ornard currently feeling. However, he needed to make his point clear, “Ornard, I do think that Monroe has ulterior motives in his mind. Has he been targeting you for a long time? Did he create all this chaos just for you to take the bait? By the way, he even threatened Hollis that he could always bump up the price. It seems that his triumph card is not just getting ahold of your travel record.”
Ornard cursed after hearing about Gurmisran’s elaboration. He assumed that he would win this battle and did not expect that he had fallen into a huge trap.
Monroe had humiliated Ornard which had caused his reputation to be ruined. Monroe apologized for having mistaken Ornard as someone else but he still continued to demand so much from him. It was absolutely impossible for one to bear such a ridiculous thing. Ornard was dying to get rid of him once and for all.
However, there was nothing that Ornard could do as he was currently abroad. Besides, Monroe must had came prepared seeing how confident he was in threatening Ornard. Hence, it was not a good chance for Ornard in laying a finger on him.
Ornard suppressed his anger and said, “You shall go and find out what other information that he currently has.”
“Ornard, we are now definitely at a disadvantageous point judging by your travel record even if he does not have anything else to offer. Your entire plan would be flushed down the drain should Monroe give the said information to the Floyd family.”
Ornard knew what was Gurmisran trying to say. It was not the perfect timing to offend the Floyd family and Ornard said, “You should see if there is anything else in the hands of Monroe. You can then negotiate with him in hoping to decrease the compensation price.”
Gurmisran agreed and hung up the phone having admitted defeat.
Monroe was seemed to be slightly impatient when Hollis finally entered the private room. “How was it? Are you willing to agree on the one billion compensation fee or not?”
Hollis signaled his assistant to leave and said, “I would want to have a private chat with Monroe.”
Monroe rolled his eyes and said with a chuckle, “Sure! You guys should make a move as well.”
The private room was only left with the two of them. Monroe was obviously feeling annoyed and he said, “I do not like to do things in an indecisive manner and you should just cut straight to the point. I truly want to make things difficult for Ornard. The explanation of me saying that I have mistaken him for someone else is absolute bullshit. I just want to create negative rumors about Ornard. I am aware of the full picture regarding what he and Paisley had done. Do help me to convey something to him. I have no problem with him disagreeing to pay me the compensation fee but I shall seek for the Floyd family to obtain it instead. It would be fun should the Floyd family gets to know that Ornard and Paisley had joined forces in stealing away their business. They might even give me two billion in cash as a token of appreciation!”
Hollis was astonished by Monroe’s cocky attitude. It was very clear that Monroe had the bargaining power as he was not worried that Ornard may seek revenge on him.
What else was there to discuss further then? Hollis had no choice but to convey Monroe’s message to Gurmisran.
Gurmisran then sent Monroe’s warning to Ornard, who got so upset until he had rolled his eyes upon reading about it.
There was nothing left to say since things had turned out this way. Monroe was clearly blackmailing him. Ornard had to surrender as Monroe had groundbreaking information with him.
Angel did not say a word to Emily. However, she was feeling enraged as Azalea had successfully manipulated her.
She left Azalea’s apartment and headed straight to the company to find Callum. She began to cry as soon as she entered his office, “Dad… I… Sob…”
Callum glanced at Angel, who was balling her eyes out. “Why are you crying? Who had bullied you?”
“No… No one had sought trouble on me!” Angel wiped her tears away and continued sobbing, “I just… I just went to visit mummy. I feel so pitiful for her having to live life so miserably throughout these years!”
“What happened to Emily?” Callum swiftly questioned.
“Nothing happened to her and Azalea was the one who was caught in a mess instead. It was that moment I realized that Emily has been wronged over the years.”
Angel sobbed and told Callum about how Azalea had been beaten up by Abbie. “Azalea is nevertheless the niece of my mother. Abbie recklessly laid a finger on Azalea without showing any mercy on her. She had the guts to go physical despite the presence of Emily. My mother cried upon seeing Azalea being injured but there was nothing else that she could do. Abbie was very disrespectful towards Azalea. I was also being given a hard time by her when I tried to make peace. It is imaginable how wronged Emily was these years as a powerless figure!”
Angel deliberately did not mention Valeria and only brought Abbie into the picture. Callum frowned and said, “This is ridiculous! Azalea is nevertheless an artist working under the Floyd family. Why did Abbie hit her? I need to have a word with Richard about this!”