Zorn watched as Frank left, his lips curling into a sneer. “So, he’s done for tomorrow? Fate is really on my side…” “Rory… Zorn…”
Gene called out feebly from the toilet just then.
Zorn and Rory traded a gleeful smile just then but quickly composed themselves to look worried as usual.
After Frank took a cab back to Lanecorp, he found Cindy throwing a major tantrum in one of the hallways.
Picking up a vase, she threw it at Will and screamed, “You promised you’d help Helen get those land lots! Well, look what you’ve done now, not getting even one after I bragged so much! Do you know how that makes me feel?! I can’t even bear to face Helen!”
Her outburst was naturally drawing a crowd, even as Will dodge the oncoming vase.
He had come to talk to Frank and explain himself, only to run into the crazy bitch who snapped at him before he could say a word.
He really would have slapped her twice if he did not have to keep pretending to be her boyfriend!
“What’s happening here?” Frank arrived just then, feeling a headache when he saw the mess in the hallway, a seething Cindy and a hugely relieved Will.
Cindy snapped right then, “Oh, there you are! Didn’t you promise that we’d get the land lots too? So where is it? You men are all the same, all talk and no action!” The stereotypical comment left the men present frowning right then-that was way out of line!
Will hurried to Frank just then. “Mr. Lawrence I-“
“It’s fine. It’s not your fault.” Frank shrugged. “I have the full picture now. If anything, it’s our fault for having the bad luck of coming up against Gene Pearce.”
Around them, the Lanecorp staff was left gaping when they heard Frank mention Gene.
Will was even gasping audibly. “Gene Pearce… As in the richest man on the east coast?”
“The very same.” Frank smiled exasperatedly and assured him, “He’s buying land on a blank check. It’s only natural that we would lose, and there’s no shame in it. S
Most of the Lanecorp staff had been despondent for losing the bid, though they now felt resignation instead since Frank told them someone like Gene was involved.
“I see…”
That was when a rowdy laughter resounded from one of the offices down the hallway.
Frank strode up and opened the door to find that it was Kallum, who had been confined there for days.
He was laughing even as he sat
behind his chest, pointing at Frank and the others. “Where’s Helen Lane? Well, I don’t see her… either way, I see that you’ve all failed! Three tand lots? You can’t even get one! Are you all really working for garbage like Helen
Lane? You’d better plan your way out
already! Lanecorp is as good as dead! Hahaha…”
Kallum’s laughter really stung, but no one present could argue against that.
That was when Helen finally stepped out of her office, striding toward Frank’s side.
Leveling a glare at Kallum, she said coolly, “You heard the news yourself. Gene Pearce, the richest man on the east coast, took part in the bid.”
