Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan) novel Chapter 364

Landing a deal with the Wilson Group? That was beyond Jaylan's wildest dreams. If anyone deserved a pat on the back, it was this lady right here. Me!

Of course, I knew Bennett was just giving Jaylan a little nudge.

Jaylan, grinning like a Cheshire cat, didn't miss a beat. "Mr. Richardson, you flatter me!" He seemed to have forgotten just how hard I had to hustle to get us this opportunity.

Bennett didn't linger on the subject and turned to my dad, "Mr. Wilburn, it seems like small talk isn't getting us anywhere. How about I show everyone around VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals? I know you're familiar with the place, Mr. Wilburn, but there's always something new to see."

Dad was on his feet in a heartbeat. "I've been meaning to share some thoughts with you, Bennett, just never found the right moment. Let's walk and talk!"

Bennett gestured grandly and led the way, with an energy that commanded attention.

Throughout the tour, we saw it all: the assembly lines, the storerooms, the showcase of products, even the sales charts. And then, the top secret – a peek at the ultra-secretive lab, usually off-limits to outsiders.

Bennett was playing a masterful game of carrot and stick, leaving Jaylan so bewildered that he couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Finally, before we headed back to the office, Bennett slipped my dad a hefty dose of reassurance.

"Mr. Wilburn, VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals is a behemoth – that's the real reason I've been hesitant to launch new products," Bennett confessed as we settled back into his office.

Dad and I caught the subtext immediately.

"You've got that private lab, too, right? Maybe one day you could..."

"Mr. Wilburn!" Dad was cut off mid-sentence by Bennett's firm interjection, "I'm afraid that's out of the question! Besides, that lab isn't even in Silverdale City."

Bennett was adamant, and Dad just nodded thoughtfully, not pressing further.

"Mr. Richardson, is there an alternative path we could take?" Dad probed.

"There might be," Bennett mused, "but it's never quite satisfactory."

"Settling for the next best thing?" Dad suggested, "It could bypass the local conflicts and give us a new testing ground. Kill two birds with one stone!"

"Mr. Richardson, I think we should continue this discussion elsewhere. After all, we are in VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals," Dad suggested.

As the three men chuckled, I found myself raising an eyebrow, my inner cynic skeptical about the games these sly foxes might be up to.

Bennett stood up, ready to move on. "Then let's go somewhere else! But let's not call it a meeting, just a casual chat." He emphasized 'casual'.

Dad and Jaylan stood up as well. "I'll pick the place!"

"How about Camellia Crest? It's been a while. Quiet and private," Bennett suggested with a look towards my dad.

"Camellia Crest it is!" Dad agreed with a flourish.

Right then, the office door was knocked urgently, and an elegant secretary stepped in. "Mr. Richardson, some of the senior shareholders are here to see you. They insist."

The room was filled with the tension of unspoken business and the scent of brewing strategy.