BXBX NOVEL Chapter 423: Teaching a Lesson - Second Half
"Mr. Hawthorne," Greed instructed, "please confirm if everything is in order."
Alexander checked the contract and document about the loan and nodded at Greed to signify that everything was in order.
"Mr. Dubois," Greed began, addressing Pierre Dubois directly. "The reason I decided to visit you here is due to an unsettling rumor that you used our loan funds for gambling at a casino in Las Vegas." She paused, fixing her gaze on Pierre. "I want to know if this is true," she asked.
Pierre avoided eye contact and offered a wry smile as he shrugged. "What... What are you talking about? No one would be that stupid. Of course, it's not true."
Upon hearing this, Greed smirked before nodding to the lawyer, who produced another document. This document was the daily financial status report of the casino, including the loan transactions of the individual involved. Initially, it was just a small loan of a million or two, but it had rapidly escalated to an astronomical amount of around 27 million US dollars.
Miraculously, by the end of the day, Pierre had somehow managed to repay this entire loan amount.
Greed continued, "Based on our estimation, your liquid assets amount to just 5 million US dollars, your restaurant's cash flow is around 1 million dollars per month, and your fixed assets are valued at around 20 million. However, I haven't heard that you sold any fixed assets, and even if you did, the sale price would likely be lower.
It would be impossible for you to repay those debts unless you used our loan funds to do so." Greed stated, placing another set of data on the table—a bank statement from the same day showing a withdrawal of the full 30 million.
"Could you please explain to me why such a large withdrawal was made on the same day that you paid off your casino debt?"
Pierre sat in stunned silence, a cold bead of sweat tracing a path down his forehead. Greed's evidence was irrefutable; he was cornered.
"Uh... Ms. Goldwyn," Jacques stammered, attempting to salvage the situation. "Perhaps it's just a coincidence. Pierre used my money to settle the casino debt."
Greed's eyes narrowed. "In that case," she countered, turning to Jacques, "May I propose a full financial audit of this restaurant? While Mr. Pierre is your son, this establishment operates independently from Dubois Food Corporation, despite sharing the Dubois name.
However, any attempt on your part to intervene will be interpreted as a critical lapse in financial management, reflecting poorly on Dubois Food as a whole."
Jacques' frown deepened. "What's the difference? He'll inherit my company someday anyway."
"A significant difference exists, Mr. Dubois," Greed explained. "If this is solely Pierre's transgression, separate from Dubois Food Corporation, then his future inheritance remains unaffected. Your company's credibility will remain intact. Perhaps he'll learn from this, develop better financial practices.
However, if you become involved, Golden Empire Group will be forced to reassess Dubois Food's overall credibility. Trust me," she warned, her voice laced with steel, "You wouldn't want that."
"But if I allow you to conduct the audit, everyone will know that my son made a foolish mistake by using a business loan for gambling! It will stain his reputation for a long time. You know how investors are—they're a sensitive lot, quick to sell shares at the slightest hint of trouble. They're cowards, afraid of taking risks.
If my son inherits my company at that time, Dubois Food's stock market will plummet. It will take a very long time to regain the trust of those investors!" Jacques voiced his concerns.
Greed smiled in understanding. "I see your point, Mr. Dubois. I also have a daughter, so I understand your concern. Therefore, I've decided to give your son a chance."
The revelation that Greed had a daughter shocked both Jacques and Pierre Dubois. This was hot news! Could her daughter be the child born from her relationship with Daniel Emberweave? Rumors about Victoria Goldwyn being Daniel Emberweave's lover circulated widely among the elitist circles and high society in the US.
Turning towards Pierre, Greed continued, "I have an opportunity for you. Astral Tech Company will soon announce an RFP for their Helium-3 mining base program. If you can secure the main food provider rights for astronauts of this program without too much help from your father, I will overlook this financial mismanagement incident."
"Are you suggesting this is an opportunity? Why aren't you taking it yourself?" Jacques asked cautiously.
Greed didn't directly answer, only smiling as she stood up. "Consider this incident forgotten… for now. Also…" She looked straight into Pierre's eyes.
"Don't think I'm unaware of your spies in my company, Mr. Pierre. I'm a businesswoman first and foremost. A mere $500 in business malpractice doesn't create enough ripples for me to act. What matters is who you wronged... perhaps it will come back to bite you when you least expect it." Greed delivered her final words before leaving with her lawyer.
After Greed left with her lawyer, Pierre mulled over Greed's words in his mind and was shaken. Had he unknowingly offended someone he shouldn't have? He didn't know if he had used up all his life's luck to survive this ordeal unscathed, but he realized how close he was to bankruptcy.
Jacques also picked up on an implication from what Greed had said. "What matters is who you wronged," is quite specific. This meant his son must have unknowingly offended someone he shouldn't have.
Slap!
Jacques slapped his son across the face, his anger evident as he demanded, "What have you done!? Tell me everything you've been up to!"
"Dad!" Pierre touched his slapped cheek, still tingling with pain. "What the hell are you doing!? You've never hit me before!"
"That's why you've caused this shitpile of a mess! I'll start hitting you from now on! Now, tell me what the f*ck is going on in your damn restaurant!?" Jacques blew his top, demanding answers from his son.
After hours of interrogating and reviewing security camera footage, Jacques now knew what had happened. He pointed at the man in a suit who arrived with several stunning women.
"Look, This guy is Daniel Emberweave, the Founder of Astral Tech Corporation and Chief Inventor! His company supplies a lot of military weapons and vehicles to the US government, all cutting-edge." Jacques paused, noticing his son's face pale, and then continued, "The reason the US government was able to finish the campaign to reclaim Texas is solely because of his weapons."
He gestured towards Penthesilea. "This is the current Director of Astral PMC. I don't know what her name is."
"And this," he pointed at Anastasia, "She's Anastasia Romanov, Anastasia the Third. The current princess of the Romanov Dynasty." He paused dramatically.
"Then… Who is this, Dad?" Pierre pointed at Envy, a charismatic beauty with purple hair who had left a deep impression on him that day.
"She is the Duchess of Somerset, you idiot! The friend of the British queen! Hadn't you paid attention to the news!? She has a lot of influence within The Windsor royal family! You MORON!" Jacques roared at his son in frustration.
"Listen here! Do you have any idea what you've done? These gatherings are likely secret meetings between the UK, Russia, and Astral Tech, probably about the Moon base project that Ms. Goldwyn mentioned. And you, you play a prank on the founder of Astral Tech because you can't keep your D*ck within your pants!" He paused, his anger bubbling.
"Do you have any idea what would happen if this news got out? How vultures from those companies would try to garner favor with Daniel Emberweave and Astral Tech? Even Congress might find some random excuse to bury us!" Jacques was on the verge of a stroke; his son had unknowingly sabotaged a once-in-a-lifetime chance to host this meeting.
"Dad… Is it that serious?" Pierre asked, fear creeping into his voice at the potential consequences.
"It's that serious, son," Jacques said more calmly, relieved that Pierre seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. "What I've described might be a worst-case scenario, but it's still possible. You need to pay close attention to the news and politics, and learn from this mistake! Also, you need to learn how to make a good proposal. You've offended Mr.
Emberweave; don't think he'll make it easy for you." Jacques lectured his son.
"Yes, Dad… I'll do my best," Pierre replied earnestly.
"Your best isn't good enough! You must achieve it or die trying!" Jacques roared again before softening his tone. "I'll help you take a loan from the bank to establish the food research laboratory. We need to prepare now!" Jacques ordered, and Pierre quickly nodded, following his father's instructions.
Jacques hoped that his son would survive this brutal business competition. The business world is ruthless, and his son had made it even harder for himself. He knew Pierre wasn't all bad and was quite smart in business compared to the average businessmen. He's too much of a playboy, and this time it backfired.