Rags to Riches

Chapter 11 How Do You Two Know Each Other?

"Globestone Investments' corporate website has just published an article about this, and there's a photo of Ms. Snowden and Vivian signing the contract! It really is an investment worth 500 million dollars! The Lorimer family is saved … Wait, why is Globestone Investments investing in Vivian and not the Lorimer Group?

"How dumb are you? Once Vivian becomes the head of the Lorimer family, her money will be equivalent to the Lorimer Group's money!"

The members of the Lorimer family were so excited that their eyes turned red.

"That's impossible! My uncle, Vincent Rook, is the general manager of Globestone Investments! Just wait—I'll call him right now and expose you for the liars you are!" Frederick spat.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Vincent's number, but the phone was turned off.

Then, he frantically called his father. The call was only answered after a few tries.

"Frederick, Verdant International's gone bankrupt. We're done for!" That was the only thing Frederick heard before collapsing to the floor, looking ashen.

No one dared to make a sound.

The Lorimer family and the Lorimer Group couldn't compare to the Lloyd family and Verdant International in terms of status or wealth.

In fact, the Lloyd family was only one step away from joining the ranks of Cromford City's most prominent families, yet everything had been destroyed overnight.

No one knew all of this had happened only because Marcus had desired it.

"Mr. Coleman, if there isn't anything else, I'm gonna go." Wendy approached Marcus after completing her mission.

Marcus nodded silently.

"How do you and Ms. Snowden know each other?"

After Wendy left, Vivian asked Marcus with a slight frown.

There had to be something she was missing out on.

Why would the general manager of Globestone Investments personally make a trip here to help her settle this issue?

"Uh, maybe she remembered me because I'm handsome," Marcus scratched his head awkwardly.

Vivian scoffed. He was becoming more and more thick-skinned. "Well, I don't really need you to answer me right now. I bet Mr. Fletcher's the one who helped us out again!" She crossed her arms.

Aside from the Fletcher family, she couldn't think of anything else that Marcus could use to order Wendy around.

"If you say so!" Marcus shrugged. It wasn't time to tell her the truth yet.

At this moment, everyone in the conference room rushed over to Vivian and surrounded her.

"Vivian, I watched you grow up and even held you in the past. Remember to keep an eye out for me in the future!"

"Yeah, and I've always talked about how outstanding you are. I knew you had it in you all along!"

"It's all thanks to you that we've made it through this crisis. If not for you, the Lorimer Group would've been dead meat by now!"

Now that everyone knew Vivian had 500 million dollars at her disposal and would definitely be the next head of the family, they practically fell over themselves to praise her.

Vivian blushed at their sucking up; she was elated.

"Grandma, Vivian managed to get a 500-million-dollar investment. She won the bet and saved the Lorimer Group. Don't you have an announcement to make?"

Marcus was worried that Nora would go back on her word and quickly struck while the iron was hot.

"I …" Nora looked like she was in a tough spot.

She'd originally intended to use this bet as a way of formalizing Luke's appointment as her successor; who would've expected Vivian to suddenly manage to get such a massive investment?

"Why are you in such a rush for that, loser? Are you trying to steal the family fortune or something?" Luke said sarcastically.

He was using this to insult Marcus and also remind Nora that Marcus was an outsider. He knew Nora was deathly afraid of the Lorimer family's fortune ending up in an outsider's hands.

Sure enough, Nora broke into a cold sweat.

She'd almost served the Lorimer family's fortune to an outsider on a silver platter!

She tightened her grip on her walking stick. No matter how capable and outstanding Vivian was, she was nothing but an ordinary woman. There was no guarantee that she wouldn't hand the family fortune to a loser who only knew how to leech off them.

After a moment, Nora asked, "Vivian, you're okay with handing the funds over to the company, right?"

"Of course! I'm also a member of the Lorimer family; it's only right for me to do so," Vivian immediately answered.

She felt incredibly excited as she stared at Nora and waited for her to make the announcement.

"Good. I thank you on behalf of the Lorimer family. From today onward, you and your family will receive a bigger portion of the company's resources," Nora said emotionlessly.

"Thank you, Grandma. Is … Is there anything else?" Vivian plucked up the courage to ask.

"Of course. Now, we need to continue with this meeting to discuss how the funds are to be used." Nora seemed to have completely forgotten about the bet as she gestured for everyone to take their seats before commencing the meeting.

Everyone gave Vivian odd looks but didn't say anything.

Vivian was absent-minded throughout the meeting because she was focused on becoming Nora's successor. Finally, the meeting came to an end, but Nora acted like she didn't even exist.

Why was she being treated like this? Her eyes turned red with grievance, and she bit her lip so hard that she almost drew blood.

"Grandma, you haven't forgotten about the bet, have you? You and everyone present today were there to witness it!" Marcus said.

"What right do you have to stick your nose in the Lorimer family's business, you brat? I've said it once, and I'll say it again—the successor to the Lorimer family and Lorimer Group has to be someone who's capable and outstanding." Nora gave Marcus an icy look.