Chapter 397 Treat a Good Friend as Back-up
Before Justin finished his call, he turned and saw Rachel standing at the door, which startled him. “We’ll talk later. I have something else to attend to.”
He hung up the phone and joyfully took a few steps toward Rachel. “Didn’t you go to see the lights? Why are you back so soon?” “If I didn’t come back so soon, I wouldn’t hear your phone call. Who was that? Manager Hoult or Manager Thompson?”
Justin was slightly taken aback. “What’s the matter?”
“I just randomly said it before, but I never thought that it would be true. So now, it seems like the departure of Burton Group’s executives is really related to you?”
“You’ve misunderstood. You’re right. Manager Hoult called me, but that’s because…”
“Because of what? Because the new company wants to retaliate against Julian and bid against Burton Group, so he consulted with you, the person who’s most familiar with Burton Group. Are you helping those people deal with Julian?”
Rachel couldn’t understand. “Even if you don’t acknowledge him as a younger brother, Julian can still be regarded as your cousin no matter what! He never caused you harm, so why are you doing this behind his back?”
“Rachel, I really didn’t do anything.”
Justin raised his hands. “I swear. I didn’t know anything about their departure in advance.”
“You swear? What do you swear by?”
“How about this? I swear by Charlotte. If I arranged all of this in advance, then I will never see Charlotte again.”
Justin appeared truthful.
If this were in the past, he wouldn’t be willing to explain himself to clear such a senseless misunderstanding, but now, it was different. He didn’t want to cut off Rachel’s only remaining tolerance for him because of any misunderstanding.
She was surprised by his declaration.
She knew what Charlotte meant to Justin. Besides the Burton Family, Charlotte was all he had.
“You really didn’t arrange the mass resignation of Burton Group executives?”
“I really didn’t.”
Rachel gradually calmed down, “Well, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. What I did before makes it hard for you to believe me. I understand.”
“I just don’t understand why those executives suddenly left Burton Group so unanimously. No matter what, Burton Group is an excellent company and won’t harm their development.”
Justin turned and poured a cup of tea before handing it to her. “Then, have you ever wondered why they would leave if it really won’t bring them harm?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Whether they were an executive or an ordinary employee, they took the initiative to leave for nothing more than two reasons. One is that someone outside has given them a better opportunity, just like you suspected of me, and the other is that the existing environment is bad and they have to leave.”
“Are you saying that the current situation in Burton Group is bad?”
Justin’s expression was plain. “I don’t care about Burton Group’s affairs anymore. If you’re concerned, you might as well ask Frankie. Julian isn’t as weak as you think. He doesn’t need my help in managing Burton Group.”
She was taken aback by his observation of Julian.
She vaguely understood what Justin meant.
Thinking back to what Julian had just said to her, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
Meanwhile, Julian didn’t go and find Jolly and the others after she left.
The old town’s narrow alleys were full of people, all of whom had come to see the lights.
After making his way through the crowd, Julian walked into a deserted alley while dialing a number.
“We’ve arrived in Triburg Valley’s old town.”
There was a male voice on the other end of the line. “Where’s Jolly?”
“She and Rachel had a bit of an argument. We’re at the Lights Festival. Let me remind you that she’s not in a good mood.”
“Then, I should thank you. The timing is perfect.”
“No need to be so courteous. It’s just a mutual benefit. This is a fair deal as long as you tell me what the base bid is.”
“Fair? Aren’t you afraid that Rachel will find out one day?”
“As long as you don’t say anything, and I don’t say anything, how would anyone know?”
There was a moment of silence at the other end, then he said quietly, “President Peters, you’ve changed. You have given me a lot to think about regarding you as an individual.”
The look on Julian’s face was one of rare indifference.
He glanced at the time after hanging up the phone, and his eyes darkened.
Meanwhile, Jolly and Gloria quarreled for a while before discovering that Rachel was gone.
“Where’s Chris?”
“What?” Gloria looked around as well but didn’t see Rachel.
Victor was holding a child in each hand, and all three of them shook their heads, indicating that they had not seen her either.
“Why is Dr. Peters gone too?”
Jolly’s eyes suddenly lit up. “It seems that the two of them are avoiding us.”
Gloria rolled her eyes. “How do you know that Miss Rachel didn’t go back?”
“Go back? Why would she go back?”
“Of course, it’s to…” Gloria deliberately extended the last syllable. “Go back to work. Didn’t Miss Rachel say that there’s still work to be done?”
Jolly’s expression suddenly changed. “Impossible!”
Although she said it was impossible, she panicked a little. Then, she turned back in the direction of the homestay.
“Hey, where are you going? Aren’t you going to look at the lights anymore?”
“You guys carry on. I’m not interested.”
Jolly rushed back home in a huff.
As soon as she entered the door, she saw Rachel helping Justin wash the dishes. One of them washed the dishes while the other wiped them dry. They cooperated well, and they were even talking and laughing.
“Jolly?” Rachel was surprised to see Jolly enter the door. “Why are you back?”
“You can come back, but I can’t? Am I interrupting you?”
Jolly was filled with rage. “Chris, do you treat people as fools? If you want to get back together with Justin, just say it. Don’t you know how much Julian has done for you over the years? Do you think it’s appropriate to let a good friend be a back-up?”
Rachel was fiercely stunned by her animosity. “Jolly, what are you talking about?”
“You keep saying that it’s impossible to have a future with Justin, so what are you doing now? Don’t tell me that you’re still friends. I don’t believe a word of this nonsense.”
“Can you calm down?”
“I’m very calm. You’re the one who’s not. I’m telling you objectively that what you’re doing right now is simply unethical!”
“What are you being objective about? Don’t you just want Miss Rachel to be with Julian?”
Gloria’s voice came from outside the door, and she looked annoyed too. “You’re using your status as Miss Rachel’s friend to dictate her feelings. You only consider Julian’s situation, but have you ever considered Miss Rachel’s wishes? You’re just forcing her to do what you think is best!”
“I’m forcing her?” Jolly gritted her teeth, so angry that her face was flushed. “Chris, is that what you think too?”
The veins on Rachel’s temples jumped as she was forced to endure a scene like this.
What’s going on?
At this moment, Jolly’s cell phone suddenly rang, so she pressed the answer button. “Leroy, are you here? I don’t want to stay here anymore. Quickly come and pick me up. I want to go home!”
“Hello?”
The other party said something, and Jolly’s face suddenly paled. “Where are you? Hello? Hello?”
Either he hung up, or something else happened because Jolly suddenly turned around and ran out, knocking into Gloria and causing her to stagger. “Have you lost your mind?”
Finally, Rachel realized something was wrong, then figured something terrible must have happened.
“I’m going to have a look.” She set down the bowl and hurriedly ran out, and she even neglected to wash her hands to catch up with Jolly while Justin chased after her.
