Chapter 387: The debt has been paid

[GLOBAL PRIME LOGISTICS HEADQUARTERS]

"Atlas Bennet!"

Atlas paused when he heard a voice burst into his office. He slowly lifted his gaze to see the chairman and Sven standing in the doorway. The chairman’s wrinkled face was flushed with anger, while Sven wore a cunning smirk.

’So they heard,’ Atlas thought, anticipating their reaction after what he had done the previous day.

The chairman, using a cane, stormed over and threw the proposal papers onto the desk. Atlas briefly closed his eyes, allowing the papers to fall to the floor. When he opened his eyes again, he looked up at the enraged chairman.

"What is the meaning of this?!" the chairman demanded, panting for breath. "Atlas Bennet, do you plan to destroy this family business?!"

Atlas’s expression remained stoic as he slowly rose from his seat. He picked up the paper on the desk and glanced at it, confirming that it was indeed the proposal he had offered to Ito Motors. Once assured, he faced the chairman again.

"Chairman, why don’t you sit down first?" he suggested, his tone polite but cold. "I’ll explain the situation to you..." He trailed off as the chairman slammed his cane on the desk.

"I don’t need to sit down, Atlas Bennet! I want you to tell me why you increased our prices to Ito Motors!" the chairman roared. "Are you out of your mind?! Or are you just trying to ruin me and this business I’ve worked so hard to build?!"

"Grandpa, please calm down," Sven said, placing a worried hand on the chairman’s arm as he saw the chairman was nearly out of breath. The chairman had yet to change his will, so he couldn’t die just yet. "Grandpa, I’m sure Atlas has a good reason for disrupting my negotiation with Ito Motors and for his aggressive actions!"

The chairman’s anger only intensified at Sven’s words. "Atlas, I told you to let Sven handle the negotiations! How dare you barge into Ito Motors’ office with such an absurd proposal?!"

"Ito Motors has been leeching off our services, and we’ve barely profited from them all these years," Atlas began, since the chairman was unwilling to sit down for a discussion. "Prices are increasing globally, including our services. If we don’t raise our prices and instead lower them, we will be slowly and painfully killing this company."

BAM!

The chairman struck the desk with his cane again. "What are you talking about, brat?! Have you forgotten that we already offended Ito Motors because that sister of yours married a hooligan abroad?!"

The moment those words left the chairman’s mouth, Atlas’s stoic expression turned sharp. "We’ve been supporting Ito Motors all these years, but they have tried to bite the hand that fed them. I didn’t offend them; they offended me."

"Hah! This brat!"

"Grandpa, please..." Sven interjected, sensing that the chairman’s anger was escalating. He glared at Atlas, thinking his cousin was trying to kill the chairman early. "Cousin, are you out of your mind?! Just because you’re the CEO of Global Prime Logistics doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want!"

Seizing the opportunity to make himself look good, Sven straightened his back and raised his chin. "Atlas, I’m not sure if you’ve forgotten, but Ito Motors was one of the reasons Global Prime is here today! Without them, Global Prime wouldn’t even exist! Our ties with them go way back!"

"Even if you’re greedy and selfish, you can’t make the entire family and company suffer!" he added. "Though we barely profited from Ito Motors, they have been a great help to us! We benefit from them in one way or another! Business isn’t just about money! You should know that as the head of the family!"

Atlas looked at Sven with amusement, almost applauding his cousin’s act and dedication. Sven was clearly showing off to make the chairman see him as superior to Atlas. It was somewhat entertaining.

"Sven Bennet, since you know I am the head of the family, you should also know that I can break your limbs as punishment for speaking out of turn," Atlas remarked coolly, causing Sven’s breath to hitch. "I suggest you keep your thoughts to yourself until I need them. Otherwise, your team will miss you."

Given that Atlas had invoked the family rules, even the chairman could not defend Sven. No matter how fond he was of Sven, Atlas was right.

Sven seethed, grinding his teeth but unable to say another word. The chairman was a stickler for the rules, especially family rules, and Sven knew he couldn’t rely on the chairman for support in this matter.

"Hmp!" the chairman snorted, glaring at Atlas. "Atlas, since you seem to remember the family rules, I expect you to remember that it was my clear instruction for you that Sven will handle the negotiations. However, you’ve ruined it, and now Ito Motors is demanding that you step down."

This didn’t faze Atlas. "And who are they to make such demands?"

"Atlas Bennet, Ito Motors was a huge help to us when this company started. We— you and I—owe them our success. You wouldn’t have the privileged life you do without their trust," the chairman said firmly. "If you want to keep your position, I suggest you go to them and apologize. Otherwise, even if your father begs me, you will step down."

"And Ito Motors would have lost their privileged position long ago if not for the Bennet Family—if not for Charles Bennet," Atlas retorted just as firmly. "The debt has been paid, and Ito Motors has recovered. It’s time to do real business with them."

SLAM!

The chairman slammed his cane against the desk once more. "You! You’re not thinking straight, brat! Even so, having Ito Motors on our side is a huge advantage! If people find out that Ito Motors has left Global Prime Logistics, who do you think will still want to do business with us?!"

"You brat!" the chairman raised his cane, this time aiming it directly at Atlas. "The Ito Motors connection is broader than ours! Have you not considered that?!"

Just as the chairman was about to swing the cane at Atlas, the door suddenly flew open. Everyone turned to see Allen standing there, his face pale.

Atlas furrowed his brows. "Allen, what is it?"

Allen, panting and visibly shaken, said, "Sir, a representative from the Pierson Corporation is looking for you!"