âThere are two most important aspects in business: number one, strategy; number two, information. I wouldnât dare leave any one of these aspects out," James said.
Charles leaned forward, his straight legs folded together, raising his eyebrows slightly at his words. "I, on the other hand, think that money is the most important thing."
James let out a hearty laugh. "Yes. It will only be easier if the funds are in place!"
He led the conversation back on track. "Harris Corporation and Jones Group have partnered up in the electrical appliances business. This time, Master Harris plans to deal Jones Group with a heavy blow and he will only end up wounding himself, which isnât going to be worth it."
Charles smiled faintly. He could already guess his intentions.
However, he made no reply.
James had no choice but to go on saying, "The White Industries may be lagging behind Jones Group, but we have entered the electrical appliances market more than twenty years ago, hence we have a certain advantage in this respect.
"As the chairman and president of White Industries, I am more than willing to work for Master Harris."
The main point was in the last sentence.
Charles sighed. "I understand what you mean, Mr. White, but Iâm sure you know that my grandfather has never liked me very much to start with.
Moreover, he isnât very pleased with the White family as well as you."
"Youâre too humble, Charles." James laughed. "Iâm sure Master Harris will agree as long as you discuss this with him."
Charles looked at him and smiled without answering.
James knew that he was waiting for him to add some incentive, hence he gritted his teeth and said, "If you are willing to be our go-between and match us up successfully, then I will give Harris Corporation a ten percent profit for three consecutive years."
He would be making far less money after surrendering a part of the profit to Harris Corporation, but it was way better than making no profit at all.
"Iâm sure you are aware that I don't own any Harris Corporation shares now, Mr. White?" Charles asked slowly.
James replied readily, "Transferring the remittance into a private account wonât be nice to see nor will it be easy to handle. Why donât we do this, you can be our companyâs nominal consultant and I will transfer parts of the profit to your account in the name of labor remuneration. Plus, Iâll also tell you an exclusive trade secret, howâs that?"
James was doing it partly out of selfish motives when he gave the suggestion. Charles was a walking reputation in the business world. It would benefit White Industries greatly if he became White Industriesâ nominal consultant.
"Itâs too ostentatious this way. I'm afraid my grandfather will not be happy about it." Charles tapped his finger on the table a few times. "Sophia is now the assistant financial officer of White Industries. Give her the title as a consultant then transfer the remittance to her account."
James wanted to take advantage of his reputation, hence he said, "This isnât a small sum of money, Charles. Letâs go with my suggestion. Iâm sure Master Harris wonât make things difficult for you. After all, this will also benefit Harris Corporation."
"No, Sophia is my woman. It's safe to leave my money with her," Charles said without hesitation.
James had no choice but to agree. "Soph must have sheer pure dumb luck to be able to meet a good man like you."
"Thatâs not something that I enjoy listening to, Mr. White. Sophia is a very outstanding woman. She deserves a good man," Charles said.
James could not tell whether he was praising Sophia for being outstanding or praising himself for being a good man.
He changed the subject and did not continue on with this topic.
"I'm quite curious about the exclusive trade secret that you mentioned earlier, Mr. White," Charles said.
James was more or less bitter for not achieving an outcome he desired. "I said that I will only tell you about this exclusive trade secret on the condition that you become the White Industriesâ consultant."
"Even if I become White Industriesâ nominal consultant, I wouldn't be doing anything either. Must you be so persistent, Mr. White?" Charles asked, "If you want to use my reputation and take the opportunity to incite defection in clients who are cooperating with Harris Corporation in electrical appliances, then youâre no different from Jones Group."
Sounding as though he was placed in a difficult situation, he continued. "If thatâs the case, I think itâs best for me to not tell Grandpa about it lest he gets angry."
James grew slightly anxious after hearing what he said. "I was just joking, Charles. Donât take it too seriously."
Charles smiled and took a sip of his tea.
"The trade secret I mentioned earlier has something to do with Master Harris." James was afraid he would go back on his words. "William and Leah had always shared a close relationship. Even though William had run away from home because of Soph, there had never been any particular serious conflict between the siblings."
"Yesterday, William suddenly returned to the Jones family, saying that he would only go home if he could obtain twelve percent of the Jones Group's shares to stay level with Leah.
Charles was not too surprised by this and asked, "You said that this has something to do with my grandpa, Mr. White?"
"William first canceled the marriage contract with the Sommer family, then ran away from home, making the Jones family extremely displeased.
Under normal circumstances, other members of the Jones family would not agree to his request. However, your grandfather seems to be very unhappy with Leah as he supports William publicly, putting pressure on the Jones family," James said.
Charles put the teacup on the table, his eyebrows stained with an extremely faint trace of a smile. "The Jones agreed?"
For a long time, Sophia had not made a single move, yet when she did, she amazed him with a single brilliant feat. Now, the entire Jones familyâs dynamic had changed.
The Jones Group was facing internal conflict. The Harris, White, and Johnson families would certainly not miss out on this opportunity and would definitely step in. It really was... a pool of muddy water.
"They agreed, but they also wanted William to renew his marriage contract with the Sommer family. William has also agreed to it." James said, "Charles, I just received the news this afternoon and honestly, I told you about it straight away. Youâ"
"Rest assured, Mr. White. What you have proposed is beneficial to both Harris Corporation and White Industries. I believe that Grandpa will agree to it." Charles took the initiative to answer him.
After obtaining his assurance, James smiled, feeling completely relieved.
*
Sophia knocked on the door. After entering the room, she found her mother standing in front of the window again, not knowing what she was looking at.
"You're here, Soph." Jenny turned around when she heard movements and wiped the corners of his eyes in a hurry, looking at her in an uneasy manner. "Would you like to eat some fruit? Should I ask the servants to cut some?"
She was like a wind-up toy that had been twisted to the limit. Every single fiber of her body was taut, making it uneasy for anyone to look at.
"I'm full from the meal earlier. Iâll pass." Sophia walked to her side. "Are you feeling down, Mom?"
Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!
ï¤Chapter 321 Why Donât You Say Something!
She looked out the window but could not see anything apart from the trees and the sky. She had no idea what her mother was staring at standing here all day.
"Iâm not feeling down, really. I just feel like I canât do anything right. Even though I mean well, the things I do will only end up irritating others."
"Then thereâs also the Lenyess Corporation you guys were talking about, as well as the contracts, projects, and whatnot, I donât even know a thing about them... Soph, am I just like what your dad said I am? That I canât do anything right other than cry all day?" Jenny looked extremely depressed.
Sophia opened her mouth. For a moment, she did not know what to say.