Jory watched her disappear behind the closing doors. He got even more crestfallen.
He rubbed his forehead and rearranged his thoughts. I’m meeting a VIP next. C’mon, get your act together! Soon, the doors open again with a ding, and he exited the elevator with steady steps.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Simon Barrymore’s voice, along with its hoarseness and vicissitudes that came with his age, rang from inside. One could actually feel what the old man had been through, even experience a little part of their life, just by listening to the sound of his voice.
“Mr. Barrymore,” Jory greeted him loudly.
Simon looked up from his work to acknowledge his guest’s presence. Yet, he was unable to recognize Jory. No one in the Barrymore Group would call him by his last name. Calling him by his title would have sufficed. So who was this strange, young man standing in his office?
“And you are…”
Jory tilted his head. “Don’t you remember me?” Simon only looked more confused, so the young man added, “I’m from Alpire Group.”
It took a while, but eventually Simon managed to pick up the man’s name from the depths of his memory. He stretched out a hand and rose from his seat. “Jory? When have you arrived at Marsingfill?”
“Not long ago,” Jory responded with a grin.
Simon poured his guest a cup of tea and then, when he saw that Jory was still standing in his office, offered him a seat on the sofa. “Why are you still standing there? Come, come. Have a seat. How’s your father been all these years?”
A green leaf could be seen floating on the steaming tea. Simon used a tea tray with designs depicting ancient Chanaean culture. Its grid-like weaving method made the simple art of tea sampling much more fulfilling.
One of Raphael’s paintings, “The School of Athens”, hung on Simon’s wall. It was apparent that the chairman was a great fan of Chanaean culture.
Jory was so deeply amazed by the ancient Chanaean relics surrounding him that it took him a while to respond to the chairman’s question. “He’s doing fine. I believe business is thriving at Barrymore Group as well?”
Simon waved his hand. ““No, no. We are no match for Alpire Group’s rapid growth after all. That’s a given.”
“Mr. Barrymore, I suppose I won’t dally any longer. I come here today with a business proposal,” Jory said, driving his point home. “As you can see, Alpire Group’s development is gradually stabilizing. But, in the process of it all, what we lack is collaboration. And as you know, collaboration between two strong companies is the unchanging rule for survival in this industry. So…”
Simon interrupted the young man before he could finish. “Jory, listen. As the chairman of Barrymore Group, I am more than happy to know that Alpire Group has chosen us to establish a partnership. But, Jory, since you’ve come to us seeking one, I’m sure you’re also aware of our company’s development so far. Our partners have always been local companies. Barrymore Group has never cooperated with multinational companies. And we don’t plan to start now.”
The corners of Jory’s lips drooped briefly and, when he smiled, he looked defeated. “Mr. Barrymore, that incident happened so long ago. You shouldn’t take it to heart. I have learned to move on, and you ought to let it go too. I’m the only victim after all.”
Simon looked apologetic. “But, Jory, you have to know, the Barrymores are in your debt because of what happened. While I’m pleased to know that you’ve moved on, that can’t be used as a reason for Barrymore Group to work with a multinational company such as yours. Look, Jory. If you insist on bringing it up, then I’m afraid you’re just wasting your time.”
The old man was clearly still brooding over the incident many years ago. He claimed that Barrymore Group had never worked with multinational companies. That was obviously an excuse to brush him off. The old man just did not want to get involved with him. He had so many years under his belt, and yet he still bore an immense fear of gossip.
Since Simon was so frank about it—that collaboration was a no-go—then Jory would not force him, nor would he keep pestering the old man until he changed his mind. After all, Jory knew very well that Alpire Group was currently a lot stronger than before. Besides, he still had a trump card up his sleeves—the bug which Gabriella had installed in Joan’s phone.
