Chapter 832
Leopold took a calming breath, looking at the irate women with a sense of determination in his cool gaze. “I assure you that I will settle this matter,” he said to them. “The smartphone is produced by the Sinclair Group. It’s clear that there’s a quality control issue in the manufacturing process. I’m in talks with the Sinclair Group. Once we reach a decision, this billion-dollar debt will be paid, either by the Sinclair Group or by our studio. We’re not running away
from this.”
Hearing Leopold not trying to haggle over the price, even mentioning paying them a billion dollars, the women looked at each other in surprise. They had come prepared to fight this out together till the end.
“We meant a billion for each family, not a billion split between us!” one woman barked, her hands on her hips.
“Yes, a billion for each family!” the other woman echoed.
A colleague in the studio was about to speak up. A billion seemed way too much; it was unheard-of compensation for accidental death:
But before he could, Leopold stopped him, “Once I’ve finished negotiating with the Sinclair Group, each family will receive a billion. Not a cent less.”
The women looked at each other again, doubt creeping into their eyes. He had agreed to two billion without batting an eyelid? That level of readiness was suspicious.
“How do we know we can trust you?” the taller, thinner woman asked; her sharp gaze trained on Leopold.
Leopold frowned slightly with a thoughtful look flittered through his eyes, “Give me two days. I’ll resolve this matter within two days. If you don’t hear from me by then, feel free to come back and raise hell, or even take me to court.”
Two days.
The studio couldn’t just pack up and leave within such a period.
The women shared another look, then seemed to agree with Leopold’s proposal. With that, they left with their family and friends.
The colleague who had earlier tried to speak up turned to Leopold. “Mr. Sinclair, can you really settle this in two days?”
“Don’t worry. Just get this place cleaned up. The studio took a lot to get up and running; we can’t have it looking like a dump.” Leopold’s expression was calm; his eyes were deep and heavy, even with a touch of despair in them.
Sensing his somber mood, the colleague didn’t prod further. Instead, he led the others to clean up the toppled chairs and tables, sweeping up the broken ceramic pieces.
Leopold sat quietly in a corner, watching his colleagues bustle around tidying up the studio.
Once everything was back in order and was as tidy as before, he stared at the place in a daze. After a while, he stood up and left.
When it was time to leave work in the afternoon, Thalassa got up and was about to head out when her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she felt her nerves tighten. It was Lysander. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered the call, “Hello?”
“Come down,” he commanded; his voice was domineering yet brief.
His words sent a shiver down her spine.
Was he waiting for her outside the Crawley Group building?
Was he purposely waiting to pick her up?
Without wasting any time, Thalassa quickly took the elevator down and hurried out of the Crawley Group building.
A black Rolls-Royce was parked outside, its luxurious shine reflecting the sunlight. It was hard to ignore its opulent and profound presence. Thalassa slowed her pace as she approached the car.
The window rolled down, revealing Lysander sitting in the passenger seat. His handsome face, his deep-set eyes like a distant mountain under the night sky, were alluring and impossible to read.