Chapter 80: Chapter 80

Chapter 80 Engagement As soon as Lloyd entered Smith Group, he saw many employees in the lobby. They all were in a hurry, looking more or less anxious.

When the employees saw Lloyd coming, they all stopped and greeted him.

Lloyd was Alston’s valuable assistant. They wanted to know something about the company from Lloyd.

Everyone hesitated for a long time. Mr. Johnson from the marketing department finally couldn’t hold back, stepped forward, and asked, “Mr. Evans, is our company okay? I see Mr. Smith looked terrible these days. Is there something wrong with the company?”

After Mr. Johnson asked, he stared at Lloyd closely, and the employees gathered around with listening ears and observing eyes.

The news of Miller Group breaking the contract had become a public matter. It had been more or less involved in the projects they managed. Now Miller Group had retracted its materials, resources, and talent.

Apparently, it would fight Smith Group to the end.

Lloyd’s eyes flashed when he looked at everyone’s earnest gazes, and suddenly he let out a long sigh, saying full of helplessness. “Well, Mr. Smith didn’t expect Miller Group to break the contract. After all, Mrs. Smith is Mr. Miller’s daughter. We didn’t think Miller Group would be so heartless, but...”

Speaking of that, he got a little anxious. “Now that Clare Smith has left Smith Group with a large number of partners and resources. And Miller Group made matters worse. Mr. Smith didn’t get enough rest these days, so he looks terrible.”

“Then... Then what will we do next?” Mr. Johnson became anxious. He had worked in Smith Group for many years and all his wealth was here. If it went bankrupt, he and his family would have to live on air.

The employees behind were lamenting and discussing.

“Miller Group has withdrawn from the project that our team managed, so we can’t go on. That project will probably fall through.”

“I have spent so much effort to enter Smith Group. I hope it can do well, otherwise my efforts for so many years will be in vain.”

There were several discordant sounds among their discussions.

“Mr. Smith is too young after all. He can’t compete with his Uncle Clare.”

1 “I heard that Mr. Smith’s Tansy Group has been recruiting employees recently. Employees from Smith Group are given hiring priority. Is that true?”

Some employees became active when they heard that. Due to Lloyd’s presence, they were not so obvious. But they couldn’t hide the excitement and eagerness on their faces.

Lloyd looked at them with different expressions and hidden thoughts, and a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes At the end of their discussion, he pretended to try to appease them and said, “Don’t worry, everyone. We have seen Mr. Smith’s strength. Smith Group has been through, and we will definitely survive this time. Don’t listen. to rumors. We must be united and work together to deal with this difficulty.”

After he finished speaking, there was a burst of echoing voices. It sounded like they were high-spirited, but there was no way to know whether they were sincere.

Then Lloyd returned to the office and sat at his desk. Not long after, Alston came.

He picked up the paper on the table and walked towards Alston’s office.

Alston wore a neat black suit with an indifferent expression, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. His tall figure seemed to be made of steel, looking indestructible.

“Mr. Smith.” Lloyd stood behind him respectfully, saying, “There are people from Clare Smith who are in various departments. They were spreading rumors in the lobby just now, helping Clare Smith recruit employees.”

Alston turned around, and Lloyd handed over the paper. “Here is the list of those people.”

“Release the news that Smith Group has problems with cash flow and will lay off employees. Get these people fired.” Alston took a few glances and smiled slightly. Although he was smiling, he looked cold.

Lloyd nodded, with a cold look in his eyes.

When the news of Smith Group’s redundancies was released, Clare and Beck were eating in the private room. Hearing the news, Beck was in a good mood and drank a few more glasses of wine.

But Clare had some doubts, “It has been only a few days. Smith Group has laid off employees. It shouldn’t be so fast, and the staff who got fired so far are the ones he placed in Smith Group.

Was that too coincidental?

“Mr. Smith, don’t think too much about it. Alston is still a kid in his thirties. How powerful he can be. We caught him by surprise this time. He must so be desperate that he decided to downsize.”

After Beck finished speaking with a smile, Clare was relieved, but he still warned him, “Alston is insidious and cunning, you should be on guard.”

Beck nodded.

Clare took the initiative to fill up the wine in Beck’s glass. He was very passionate, saying, “There is something I want to discuss with you.”

Beck frowned slightly and thought, “He is so polite suddenly. What does he want to say?”

“What’s the matter?”

Clare clinked a glass with him. Then he said with a smile. “Cherry is 25 years old this year, the same age as my son. I met her at the banquet before. She is well-educated, with excellent appearance and temperament. She is simple and straightforward. I like her very much.”

Beck’s heart skipped a beat. He had guessed what Clare wanted to say, and he quickly sighed and said, “Although I have two daughters, Cynthia is already married to Alston, and she is absolutely devoted to him. I will let her go. But Cherry has been with me since her childhood. I only have her now, and I want to keep her for a few more years.”

Clare’s face darkened slightly. Although Beck praised Cherry so much, he was still very dissatisfied with her. She was not as pretty as Cynthia, and she was petty just like her mother. Clare would never let such a girl.

marries Ivan.

But Ivan had suffered from sexual impairment. His reputation had been ruined while he was in prison, so Clare had no choice.

As long as Cherry could give birth to Ivan’s child, he didn’t care about anything else.

“Let me get this straight. I want Ivan and Cherry to get married. They are about the same age, and have known each other since childhood. I think they are a good match. What do you think?”

Beck was so angry that he wanted to hit him when he heard that.

“No match!” he thought.

“Alston is a well-known dandy and good-for-nothing waste in Fort, who is still in prison. Clare said he is suitable for Cherry. Does this mean that his daughter is also a useless idiot?!”

He held back his anger and smiled stiffly. “Cherry is spoiled by me. She is arrogant, reckless and impulsive. I am afraid that she is not good enough for Ivan. Besides, they should choose their own husband or wife. Am I right?”

Clare got a dark look, thinking, “I have been very clear, but he still refuses. Does he look down on his son?!”

He sneered. “After all, it’s just a partnership between us. It could fall apart at any time. If Cherry and Ivan get married, we will be relatives, and we will be inseparable. So no matter what problems you encounter, I will do my best to help. Isn’t that good?”

Those words were half a threat and half a promise. Although Beck was unpleasant, he wavered.

Clare struck while the iron was hot. “After their babies are born, you can adopt one of them and give the surname Miller, so that you will not be afraid that your family will have no successors.”

Beck’s eyes suddenly lit up when he heard that.

The only thing he regretted in his life did not have a son. There were few children in the Miller family. He had tried many methods, but he had no other kids apart from Cherry and Cynthia.

He hadn’t thought about having a son when he got older. Clare had read his mind.

Beck finally agreed. “Okay. As long as you promise to adopt a baby to my family, I will agree to their marriage.”

Only then did Clare smile with satisfaction and refill Beck’s wine glass. “Let’s discuss the wedding date...”