Eric was perplexed about Jessica's abrupt departure. When Grace came out, she noticed Jessica's hurried exit and asked in puzzlement, "What transpired with that poor girl? Let me remind you that Vee is at home caring for our child. You mustn't betray her trust."Eric quickly explained, "Mom, I'm not that kind of person! I don't know what happened to Jessica either. She wanted me to invite her for dinner, but when I suggested another day, she got upset and left."Grace nodded and said, "Alright, alright. I'll have my secretary send the food to the office. We can eat and talk there."Meals at Montgomery Corp. were decent, though Eric found the food at Innova Group preferable. Grace and other employees dined on the same dishes. Even members of the Association who visited Montgomery Corp. ate the same food as the staff.At Montgomery Corp., everyone was treated equally. This was integral to Grace's success—she had earned the trust of her employees.While seemingly straightforward, ach
Initially, Grace was completely unaware of the Oberdeens. To her, they were merely a relatively obscure family. A few years back, the Oberdeens lacked significant renown, especially to someone like Grace. It wasn't until she encountered Queenie during her visit to Salt City that she learned about them.Grace affirmed, "I've recently been keeping tabs on them. I had someone conduct an investigation, and it appears that their influence is on the verge of elevating them to second-tier wealthy family status. However, they are still categorized as third-tier upon assessment."Curious, she asked, "Why this sudden interest in the Oberdeens?"Grace hadn't deeply explored the Oberdeens' background. Initially, she speculated that it might be related to Queenie's marriage into the Williams family, seeking support from the alliance. However, she dismissed this notion, considering that such a trivial matter could easily be resolved with a brief phone call from Eric. There seemed to be no necessi
"W-What do you mean?" Eric asked.Suddenly, Eric remembered Jessica and realized she must have contacted Sylvia. Otherwise, Sylvia wouldn't have made such a comment."You definitely know what I'm talking about!" Sylvia exclaimed. "Just think about it. I know you rarely pay attention to online news or browse those jokes. Just take a moment to think literally! Alright, I won't disturb your lunch break. Take care, don't overindulge, and be cautious around beautiful women."With that, Sylvia hung up.Eric pondered for a moment, and understanding dawned upon him. His expression darkened. He had mentioned it casually, not considering its implications. Facing Jessica now seemed impossible.-Seeing that it was almost time to finish work, Eric hurriedly left. He wanted to leave early, but there were no taxis downstairs. Just then, his phone rang. Seeing that it was his mother calling, Eric quickly answered, "Mom, I'm downstairs."Grace instructed him to wait for her downstairs, and Eric
Trevor did not know what was going on with his sister's mind. Was she not supposed to have lost interest in Eric?-Grace convened the Association members early in the morning for a meeting at Montgomery Corp. The primary objective was to commence the review process for the Oberdeens' application to join the Association. Apart from those from the original ten major families, any subsequent applications had to undergo this review process.Families whose strength did not meet the criteria or couldn't bring benefits to the other families in the Association were not permitted to join. Ultimately, the Association's foremost goal was progress, with wealth accumulation serving as its most tangible manifestation.This naturally encompassed the accumulation of technology and techniques, all of which ultimately needed to be translated into wealth.Before the meeting, the Association had already informed the Oberdeens, who were elated. Many families in King City had aspired to join the Assoc
At noon, the review team's roster was finalized. Alongside representatives from each family, several highly specialized professionals were included. Their responsibility was to inspect and evaluate families seeking admission to the Association, ensuring only those meeting the necessary qualifications could join.-The following morning, without prior notice, the review team departed for the Oberdeen Group. This lack of advance warning was integral to the review process—it tested the sincerity of those being assessed.In response to the notification, the Oberdeens had already begun preparations.The initial task of the review team was to assess the Oberdeen Group's assets. In King City, wealth served as the most straightforward criterion for evaluating a family's status. If a family failed to meet the required financial standard, they would not be considered for Association membership.If a family lacked sufficient financial resources, what value could they offer to other Associati
"Mr. Oberdeen, there's no need for that right now. Time is tight, and the task is demanding. Have you prepared all the documents as instructed in the notification?" Drew responded.Francis nodded promptly. The Oberdeens had been awaiting this moment for too long, and they would not slack off.The review work began immediately. Since Eric did not understand these matters, he refrained from intervening.Francis and his son stood to the side, personally offering coffee and water. While handing coffee to Eric, Ivan furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Mr. Lopez, have we met somewhere before?"He had a deep impression of Eric. After all, he had never encountered anyone as powerful as Eric before, and he was undoubtedly someone not to be trifled with. Now, upon taking a second glance at Derek in front of him, he felt that he resembled Eric.Eric chuckled. "This is my first visit here. I'm certain you've mistaken me for someone else."Ivan nodded. He was certain that Eric wouldn't be
The review team swiftly commenced organizing the data upon their return. By approximately 8:00 p.m., relevant information regarding the Oberdeens found its way onto Eric's desk.Upon receiving the materials, Eric declared, "Alright, you all go ahead and have dinner. Everyone must be famished. Let's wrap it up for now and reconvene at 9:00 a.m. sharp tomorrow.""Are you not joining us for dinner?" Jessica asked. "The Association has already arranged dinner for our group."Eric shook his head. "You go ahead. I'll take a moment to review the Oberdeens' information."Eric possessed limited knowledge about the Oberdeens, only aware of their background in the pharmaceutical industry. Notably, none of the major families associated with the Association had ties to this particular sector, making the Oberdeens' inclusion significant in bridging this gap.As Eric read, he noted that families like the Oberdeens had emerged relatively recently. In just about two decades, they had transitioned
Seemingly significant matters were actually trivial in the Association. For instance, two companies with identical qualifications might engage in fierce competition for a specific project. However, such conflicts could be resolved by assigning the project to one company initially and then alternating for subsequent projects within the Association. The primary purpose of the Association's existence was to safeguard the interests of its members. Otherwise, why bother establishing it?The prominent families in King City knew the benefits of joining the Association, so they eagerly sought membership.After Drew's briefing, Eric nodded and remarked, "Tomorrow, let's delve into the Oberdeen Group's finances once more. Regardless of the outcome, inform the Oberdeens that, with their current standing, they remain unqualified for Association membership unless they demonstrate their worth."Drew grasped the rationale behind scrutinizing the Oberdeens' finances and concurred. "Understood.