Chapter 405: 405: Proactive Lending_1

“What?”

When Quella Radcliffe heard this, she didn’t react at first.

Wasn’t it about debt collection?

Could she have heard wrong?

The others were also stunned.

But they soon realized, it must be about the debt, and their ears must have deceived them.

“President Clark, the Radcliffe Group actually owes your bank ten billion?”

Bran Cook frowned slightly, he hadn’t expected the Radcliffe Group to be in so much debt; according to preliminary estimates, the company’s market value was only around ten billion or so.

If they owed Celestial Bank alone ten billion, what about the other banks?

How much money would that add up to!

“President Clark, I am the Radcliffe Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Dempsey Davenport. I am very clear about the company’s finances. The Radcliffe Group does have debt with Celestial Bank, but it’s only three billion.”

Dempsey Davenport approached Darius Clark and emphasized again, “Not the ten billion you mentioned.”

She had already sorted out the company’s debts when various businessmen were kicking the company while it was down, prepared for the best and worst scenarios.

“President Clark, regarding this ten billion debt, it’s impossible for us to acknowledge it. Although you have ties with Bran Cook and are coming to our company for money at his behest, if you seek to slander us like this, I will have the lawyer take you to court over it.”

Quella Radcliffe spoke very seriously.

She was already trying to solve problems, and even if she couldn’t, she would not leave bad debts, even if it meant auctioning off the company.

But these bankers were making baseless accusations, turning three billion in debt into ten billion, a difference of a whole seven billion!

And that was just Celestial Bank; if the other banks followed suit, the Radcliffe Group might end up owing fifty billion.

“Cough, cough!”

Bran Cook coughed dryly and said with a smile, “President Clark, just ask for the money honestly, and I will remember this favor. Let it not be for helping me that your career should suffer.”

To come out and claim ten billion, even he felt it was a bit excessive.

If Quella Radcliffe really took this to court, Darius Clark’s career might indeed be impacted.

Now, Bran Cook was suddenly feeling rather elated. These bank presidents were indeed sparing no effort to help him!

“What are you talking about?”

Darius Clark frowned and said, “President Radcliffe, what I said was, we’re willing to lend you ten billion, and I was wondering if that would be enough?”

He repeated himself.

He clearly hadn’t misspoken, so why did everyone think he was here to collect debt?

Could it really be that, as Celestial Bank’s Gonzalez City Branch President, his only role was to take orders from Bran Cook?

This upset him considerably!

“A loan?”

Dempsey Davenport blinked her eyes and asked tentatively, “You’re not here to demand repayment?”

Currently, entrepreneurs in Gonzalez City were all adding insult to injury, not only terminating cooperation but also many owed the Radcliffe Group a lot of money and weren’t paying back.

Even if they went to court, the other side would just drag things out, trying all means to delay until the Radcliffe Group went bankrupt.

Under these circumstances, someone actually wanted to voluntarily lend money to the Radcliffe Group?

And weren’t these bank presidents already tipped off by Bran Cook?

Why would they still be willing to help her?

Dempsy Davenport’s first thought was that this must be dodgy!

A scam!

Mocking her!

“President Clark, no matter what, you’re still the respected President of Celestial Bank’s Gonzalez City Branch. Now you’re also coming to ridicule us, isn’t that quite meaningless?”

Dempsey Davenport scoffed coldly, her voice suddenly turning stern, “If you want money, just ask for it. To say that you’re offering us a loan, what’s the point? Doesn’t everyone know that Bran Cook has already contacted you privately to set up this debt collection?”

With the Radcliffe Group’s current financial condition, banks were scrambling to avoid risk, and previously, Dempsey Davenport had visited various banks seeking to borrow some money.

But without exception, she was turned away.

And so ruthless, not giving an inch.

Now four or five bank presidents have come to her door collectively, all proactively offering to lend them money?

No fool would believe that!

“Boss Reed, I really am here to lend you money!”

Darius Clark suddenly got angry. He walked over to the desk in front of Quella Radcliffe with his briefcase, unzipped it, and took out a document, laying it in front of everyone.

“I, Darius Clark at least am the Branch President of Celestial Bank in Gonzalez City. Even if Bran Cook is highly influential, it’s not his turn to interfere with my work, is it?”

Bang!

Darius Clark slammed the document down and looked at Dempsey Davenport: “Please, take a look, what does it say, in black and white, on this paper!”

As a respected bank president in Gonzalez City, he was usually revered by all the major merchants, and he would willingly cooperate with those wealthy businessmen as a favor to them.

And now, to his dismay, the entire city of Gonzalez thought he had to listen to Bran Cook!

“Really?”

Dempsey Davenport picked up the contract skeptically and began to read its contents.

Halfway through, she was so shocked that she gasped, “President Clark really wants to lend us money?”

“If it weren’t for the order of a high-up, I really wouldn’t lend this money! So many people begging me for loans, but here you are, getting insulted every time I actively come to offer a loan!”

Darius Clark turned his head away.

“President Radcliffe, it’s true!”

Dempsey Davenport pushed the document over and quickly said with an apologetic smile, “President Clark, I’m so sorry. The Radcliffe Group has been in such trouble lately, with everyone turning against us, and then all of you bank presidents showing up together, I…”

At that point, she looked at the other bank presidents: “Then you…”

“We also brought contracts! As long as Miss Radcliffe needs it, we’re ready to lend at any time!”

The bank presidents opened their briefcases and placed the documents on the table.

This time, it was Bran Cook’s turn to be dumbfounded.

He grabbed the hand of the President of Green Flag Bank, asking in a faint voice, “Weren’t you here to press for debts?”

Just yesterday morning, he had called all the presidents, and they had all stated that they would certainly come to collect the money today.

So how come now it has turned into offering loans?

“Young Master Cook, you have a big reputation in Gonzalez City, that’s true! But are we, the bank presidents, supposed to clear our decisions with you?”

The President of Green Flag Bank said dismissively: “This is an economic policy matter, do you want to intervene in this too?”

He shoved Bran Cook’s hand away and smiled as he walked up to Quella Radcliffe: “President Radcliffe, we can offer you fifteen billion, and as for the interest, it will absolutely be the lowest! You can rest assured of that.”

“What the hell! I proposed it first! Mister Shaw, I’m warning you, don’t steal my business!”

Darius Clark pointed at the Branch President of Green Flag Bank in Gonzalez City, looking ready to fight.

“Hmph! Why should you get to lend first just because you got here earlier? I can provide a better policy than you. Darius Clark, don’t be too overbearing!”

The President of Green Flag Bank stood his ground equally unyielding.

The Radcliffe family members were completely dumbstruck by now.

Wasn’t it agreed that they were coming to collect debts together?

Wasn’t it agreed that Quella Radcliffe had to leave?

So now, will the Radcliffe Group still go bankrupt?

“Boss Reed, I’ll go make you a cup of tea…”

The Radcliffe Clan members who were previously gearing up to attack Dempsey Davenport now hurried to flatter her.

“Boss Reed, I’ll get you a chair…”

“Boss Reed…”

“Enough! We’re discussing business here, can’t you see that!”

Dempsey Davenport shouted and those people quickly left the chairman’s office.

“Boss, we will take our leave then…”

As they turned around, they were on the verge of tears…