A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 485 485

"Tomorrow morning, I'll have my secretary deliver the report to Secretary Rayburn's office."

Pointing out without explicitly stating.

Regarding Ilario Sinclair's matter, Dirk Carter didn't say a word.

Josias Rayburn, upon hearing this, smiled even more and said, "Then let me thank Minister Carter with tea instead of wine."

Dirk Carter clinked glasses with Josias Rayburn.

He said, "By the way, Secretary Rayburn, I helped you with a favor, could you do me a favor in return?"

Josias Rayburn's smile instantly froze.

He hadn't expected Dirk Carter to make a request so soon.

It seemed he wasn't someone with long patience.

He put down the teacup, nodded slightly, and said earnestly, "Please speak, Minister Carter."

"I heard your son majored in civil engineering. I have a friend in Serenity State who's in real estate. They just opened a branch in our Koryn City and asked me to find someone with a civil engineering background to serve as the project planning director. As you know, I've just arrived and am unfamiliar with the place, so I thought of asking your son to help."

Josias Rayburn was stunned upon hearing this.

His son, Briggs Rayburn, indeed graduated in civil engineering.

But he had never found a satisfying job.

Dirk Carter's so-called help was, in fact, a huge favor to him.

And starting off as a planning director was indeed a pleasant surprise for Josias Rayburn.

"Secretary Rayburn, as long as you're willing to help me with this favor, the salary and benefits won't be stingy. An annual salary of three hundred thousand, and if that's not enough, I can negotiate further."

Dirk Carter naturally observed his subtle change in expression and quickly added.

Three hundred thousand.

That's already a quite high number.

Josias Rayburn had no reason to be dissatisfied.

Moreover, Dirk Carter's conversational skill was quite remarkable.

He didn't directly say he introduced Briggs Rayburn to a job but presented it as if he was asking for a favor. This way, Josias Rayburn felt no burden and another layer of meaning was subtly conveyed, that by agreeing, the favor owed would be repaid.

After all, even I, Josias Rayburn, am "helping you."

"Minister Carter, look at what you're saying. There's no such thing as a favor or not. Just give me the company's details, and I'll talk to my son. Even if he's reluctant, I'll drag him by the ear to make him go."

Josias Rayburn said.

Dirk Carter, hearing this, showed a pleased expression, raised his teacup, and said, "Then it's settled, Secretary Rayburn. I'll thank you with tea instead of wine..."

With such an "interaction."

Subsequent conversations between the two were quite open-hearted.

After leaving the tea room, Dirk Carter got back in the car, and the successful negotiation with Josias Rayburn put him in a good mood.

"Dirk, was it a bit unnecessary to introduce a job for Josias Rayburn's son?"

Arlo Yarbrough asked.

Dirk Carter smiled and asked, "Why do you say that?"

"I just think such a relationship isn't very solid, after all, it's just a job."

Arlo Yarbrough said.

Dirk Carter laughed and said, "Having his son work at Apex Group's branch isn't about solidifying the relationship but about tying Josias Rayburn to Apex Group's chariot."

"What do you mean?"

"With the establishment of The Economic Development District, real estate companies nationwide will flock to Koryn City. This is a preemptive move. Once his son develops within Apex Group, he will naturally maintain the interests of Apex Group. When the district begins bidding, do you think he won't lend a hand?"

Dirk Carter asked.

At that moment,

Arlo Yarbrough seemed to have an epiphany.

He shook his head and said, "I don't think politics suits me. Your brains are too intricate, with every twist and turn having a purpose."

Dirk Carter patted Arlo Yarbrough on the shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "In the political arena, one is often forced to act."

The next morning,

as Dirk Carter just entered the Municipal Committee Compound,

he noticed a Rolls-Royce parked in the courtyard.

This car, being rare,

and the Municipal Committee Compound not being a parking place,

prompted Dirk Carter to take a second look.

Just as he approached the entrance, he saw the elevator doors in the lobby open.

Jeff Hughes came out, nodding and bowing, saying to the woman inside, "Ms. Tang, after you."

At that moment, Dirk Carter was taken aback.

He quickly dodged behind a pillar.

The woman walking with Jeff Hughes,

was none other than the elegant lady he saw in the hotel lobby last night.

Unlike yesterday, she wore a different outfit and had styled her hair anew, giving off an aura of elegance and sophistication.

Even at the age of forty, she was still charming and graceful.

"Secretary Hughes, I'll leave the matter concerning my daughter to you."

The elegant lady said expressionlessly.

Jeff Hughes nodded repeatedly, almost overwhelmed with flattery, and said, "Ms. Tang, no need for formalities. This is part of my responsibility. It's my great honor that you sought me out. Rest assured, once your daughter is found, I will notify you immediately."

After receiving this response,

the elegant lady didn't say thank you, and swayed her hips, entering the Rolls-Royce parked in the courtyard, while Jeff Hughes jogged along, waving until the car disappeared at the entrance.

Who exactly is this elegant lady?

Why does she make Jeff Hughes so deferential? Even if Fabian Vincent came personally, he wouldn't act this way, right?

While contemplating this,

Jeff Hughes had already returned.

Standing not far from Dirk Carter, he waved to Secretary Carla Vance.

Carla Vance jogged over to Jeff Hughes and asked, "Leader, what's up?"

"Call Cyril Carter and tell him to come to my office immediately."

"Okay."

As Carla Vance was about to turn,

Jeff Hughes seemed to recall something and said to her, "Don't let anyone know about Ms. Tang's visit today, especially not Robert Shepherd and Cornell Morgan. Understood?"

Carla Vance nodded and said, "Okay, leader, I'll keep it confidential."

After saying this, she jogged away.

Jeff Hughes also took the elevator, disappearing from the lobby.

What's going on?

Why can't Robert Shepherd and Cornell Morgan know?

Could there be something fishy?

Despite the doubts, Dirk Carter didn't dwell on it since this matter had nothing to do with him.

After the matter with Bennettson Dixon,

Koryn City's leadership infighting subsided for a while.

Everyone remained outwardly harmonious.

But beneath this harmony lay turmoil.

During this period, Dirk Carter worked normally during the day and visited Snow in the hotel after work.

Three days later,

Snow was almost fully recovered.

Having nowhere to go,

Dirk Carter had Little Feather pick her up from the hotel and temporarily settle her in Little Feather's place.

Of course, before leaving the hotel, Dirk Carter checked Snow's personal belongings and found a tracking device inside her expensive watch.

No wonder Snow's stepmother's people found her, that was the reason.

Fortunately, the tracking device wasn't very precise. Otherwise, Snow would have already been taken away.

A few days later,

news arrived from Ewan Forrest, who had been monitoring Cheney Marshall.

Cheney Marshall lost all his money in an underground casino in Koryn City and was heavily in debt.

Upon hearing this,

Dirk Carter immediately called Carly Lambert, saying just a few short words: "The plan can begin."