Chapter 455
“I’m not sure about ‘spineless,’ but you’re definitely ruthless,” Eileen said honestly.
As she finished her sentence, Benjamin added, “Mr. Freguson, I’ve just secured an apartment in the suburbs. The occupancy rate is still under 10%, so it’s quiet and secure.”
“That’s great. Put the apartment under your name. I’ll cover the costs. Once we wrap this up, consider the apartment your reward,” Julio replied generously, clearly demonstrating his trust in his team.
Both Benjamin and Eileen felt reassured by his approach.
Benjamin joked, “Then I hope you find more women for me to handle.”
Julio burst into laughter, playfully scolding him, though his smile carried a hint of sadness.
“These days, at Apex Group, even the smallest incident is an excuse to throw a banquet and build connections,” Eileen remarked, steering the conversation back to business. “There will be many attendees tonight. Who do you think they’re really here to see?”
Julio’s face grew serious.
After a brief pause, Benjamin replied, “I think they’re here for the city’s new business-government partnership on the resort project.”
“And I’d guess they’ve nearly secured the project by some means,” Julio added thoughtfully, tapping his leg. “So, having us here tonight might not be about causing trouble but rather about flaunting their success.”
The car fell silent. Eileen gazed out the window, lost in thought as the scenery passed by.
Since she received the invitation from Brandon and Lydia, she had been wary of the potential trap they might be setting.
“If what you’re saying is true, this isn’t just to irritate me, but to send a message to everyone—urging caution in future partnerships,” Eileen remarked. “Apex Group still holds considerable influence.” It might seem petty, but it was likely an effective strategy.
Securing this project required strong connections with government officials. If Brandon had managed to influence such a project, it meant the government officials of Onaland must respect him as well.
This would allow him to extend Apex Group’s influence even further.
After all, who would challenge government officials?
“However, my findings suggest that neither Brandon nor Lydia has close ties with government officials. There must be another way they secured this project,” Eileen said, looking at Julio and Benjamin. “We should dig deeper tonight. We might discover something unexpected.”
Julio and Benjamin were taken aback by Eileen’s swift analysis.
Benjamin glanced at Julio. “Mr. Freguson, did you catch that?”
“I got it,” Julio replied, straightening his suit and averting his gaze. “But I won’t comment on it.”