novelraw Chapter 244: Rachel Royce Needs to Return to the Family
Chapter 244: Rachel Royce Needs to Return to the Family
Chapter 244: Rachel Is Needed Back Home
Upon hearing this,
Julian Jennings said in surprise, "Then I’ll go with you to negotiate tomorrow." Rachel Royce politely declined, "Professor, you don’t need to get involved. Joanna and I will talk to them first tomorrow." This was their job, and there was no need for Julian to personally intervene yet.
Julian Jennings knew Rachel Royce was a person of strong principles who insisted on solving every problem herself. Sometimes, he felt she didn’t need to be so unyielding.
But he wouldn’t force the issue.
"Alright, then. Call me again if you run into any problems." "Okay." She hung up.
Still, Julian Jennings had someone look into the situation at Norvane.
He had already reviewed the merger proposal. If everything went through the normal procedures, it could be completed before the end of the year.
This was the project that Rachel and her team had won in competition with Alexander Sullivan’s company, Creston Ventures.
For Norvane to back out now and turn to Creston, even at the cost of facing losses, it must mean that the terms Alexander was offering were enough to cover those losses and still be more profitable.
But Alexander hadn’t offered better terms before, and it was unlikely he would do so now.
Based on his understanding of Alexander, no matter how much he doted on Claire Ainsworth, he wouldn’t joke around when it came to business.
Of course, the Ainsworth Family could provide assurances on Claire’s behalf.
Still, the whole affair seemed very strange no matter how he looked at it.
He made a call and had someone look into the situation at Norvane.
Rachel Royce received a call from Tristan Sterling.
"Still at the office?"
Rachel said, "What is it?"
Tristan said, "Melissa is at Stella’s house. Let’s go pick her up now."
June Jennings had sent Rachel a message earlier today.
Ivan Alden was back in the country, and he had been looking after Stella for the past two days. Although June had been granted custody of Stella, they were co-parenting the child.
’She remembered their skiing trip, how Stella had looked at Melissa with such envy for having a father. It was clear Stella dearly missed her own dad.’
’That’s why men are always so self-righteous, thinking they can control everything. And when it all falls apart, even seeing their hurt child, they never reflect on their own faults. They just think the woman didn’t love the child enough, that she failed to fulfill her duties as a woman.’
’That was the selfish, heartless nature of this type of man.’
After school today, Stella had invited Melissa over to her house to play. Ivan had brought back a lot of gifts for Stella, and knowing her dad was coming back, she had asked him in advance to bring extra presents to give to Melissa.
Melissa had called Tristan Sterling.
Tristan had agreed and sent a bodyguard with her.
Right now, Melissa and Stella were at Ivan’s villa. June was there too, and she had even sent Rachel a photo of the two children playing with toys together.
’Just like Tristan, Ivan always put on the appearance of a gentle, doting father in front of his child.’
"I still have work to do right now. Tell Melissa she can stay at home for the next few days. I’ll pick her up this weekend."
Tristan started to ask, "What work are you so busy with—"
Before he could finish, Rachel had already hung up.
Listening to the dial tone, Tristan Sterling lowered his phone.
Just as he was putting his phone away, it vibrated. Seeing the caller ID, he pressed the answer key and held it to his ear.
Claire Ainsworth’s joyful voice came through the phone, "Tristan, I have some good news for you."
Tristan asked, "What good news?"
Claire’s tone was brimming with unconcealable happiness and excitement. "I landed a project today."
Tristan said, "That’s fast progress. What project did you land?"
Claire’s eyes shone with undisguised pride. ’It’s not just Rachel Royce who’s so outstanding.’
"It’s a merger and acquisition project. Tristan, are you going to celebrate with me?"
After hanging up with Claire, Tristan Sterling called Alexander Sullivan.
"I went to the dinner with Norvane’s Mr. Bell tonight. I’ve also seen Claire’s proposal, and there’s indeed nothing wrong with it." The proposal was exceptionally thorough, perfectly aligning with Norvane’s current interests.
Tristan asked, "Do you think Claire completed the proposal herself?"
Alexander replied, "I had someone look into it. Claire proposed the plan and negotiated the project herself. She’s been quite busy these past few days, even staying out." He owned a company called Creston Ventures, and Claire had previously taken the initiative to ask to go there for training and experience, so he had arranged it for her. Creston had been in contact about the Norvane M&A case before, but they hadn’t managed to close the deal.
Unexpectedly, Claire had managed to secure the deal in the end, and the other party was very satisfied.
"The Norvane M&A deal was previously secured by Rowan, with Evelynn in charge." ’Thinking back to running into her and Joanna Sutton at the hotel today, they must have had a conflict over this. Judging from what Evelynn said, they must think I intervened on Claire’s behalf.’
Hearing this, Tristan’s dark eyes narrowed. "So Norvane would rather pay the penalty for breach of contract and offend Rowan just to partner with Claire and Creston."
Alexander said, "It is indeed very strange." Although Claire had majored in management in college, for all these years, she had just been a pampered young lady. It was only recently that she had learned from Tristan’s assistant at Cedarwood for a while and was now attending related training courses at Kingsland University.
Even a genius couldn’t snatch a project back from highly skilled professionals after such a short period of study.
"Look into the Ainsworth Family." They both knew what was going on. Claire certainly wanted to prove herself right now, but there was no way she could have pulled this off on her own. Someone had to be behind it, and who else could it be but the Ainsworths.
Alexander said, "I’ve already had someone look into it."
"Okay. We’ll talk again when you have results."
"The project was originally Evelynn’s. What do you plan to do? I hear she’s scheduled a detailed discussion with the people from Norvane tomorrow at noon." As it stood, Norvane was already very satisfied with the proposal from Creston and had signed a letter of intent. Their sincerity was clear, and judging by their attitude today, tomorrow’s meeting likely wouldn’t change a thing.
Tristan said, "Are you planning to take this project?"
Alexander replied, "Depends on you. Don’t you want to show off a little in front of your wife?"
Tristan let out a soft chuckle. "She might not appreciate my good intentions."
"So there’s finally someone you can’t have—and it’s the wife you once cast aside. Doesn’t that sting a little?" Alexander teased.
Tristan, however, accepted this frankly. He allowed for things to happen outside of his expectations. He wouldn’t regret or avoid the things he had done in the past; regret itself was a meaningless waste of energy.
Nor would he admit he was wrong, because his past actions had been appropriate reactions based on his emotions and interests at the time.
He needed Rachel Royce to return to the family now. It suited his current needs, and therefore, it was what he would do.
"I’m no god. I can’t know what the future holds."
"So, do you want it or not?"
Tristan said, "I suppose showing off a little wouldn’t hurt."
He hung up the phone.
Tristan Sterling dialed a number and gave an order, "Go and check who Miss Ainsworth has been in contact with recently, as well as her academic performance at Kingsland University."