Filed to story: Disdained Son-in-Law, Destined Riches >>
Sure enough, as soon as he apologized, someone started, “Wow, it’s not easy for Clinton Tucker to apologize. Besides, you can’t really force him to eat the table, can you? Let’s forget about it, shall we?”
“Yes, he’s right! Forget about the table, we’re still waiting for our lunch! Let’s get started!”
Joe knew that it was impossible for Clinton to eat the table, but he needed to have his ass kicked for being so cocky and pompous. His goal had been achieved now that Clinton apologized.
However, there was a limit to his cockiness. This lesson was not enough for him to learn from his mistake. It was just the beginning, something more miserable and devastating was waiting for him later.
Hence, Joe started, “Since Clinton has apologized, I’ll forget about the table-eating bet. It is Douglas’s restaurant’s opening ceremony today, let’s not steal his limelight!”
Clinton heaved a sigh of relief. On the other hand, his blood was boiling within him and he wanted to kill Joe to relieve his resentment.
Joe didn’t plan to let him off the hook so easily either. He sent a message to Doris, “Do we have a deputy general manager with the last name Tucker? His son is Clinton Tucker. Please check on this for me.”
Very soon, he received a reply from Doris, “Yes, Joseph Tucker. What’s the matter, Chairman? Any orders?”
“Fire him right away.”
“On it!”
Clinton didn’t know that his father had been expelled from Emgrand Group and was going through the employee termination procedure right now.
He could finally feel relieved after getting over the bet, but he was secretly anticipating how he could take revenge on Joe!
More importantly, he had to find a way to clean up his reputation among his former college mates. Otherwise, how could he show off in front of his friends in the future after being humiliated by Joe twice?
Just when he was pondering how to restore his dignity, there was a sudden commotion at the main entrance of the restaurant.
The noise attracted everyone’s attention and they looked towards the door.
A group of youngsters with malicious looks barged into the restaurant. They had tattoos all over their limbs and body, holding baseball bats, galvanized water pipes, and the like in their hands. They didn’t look like they were here for a meal at all.
Everyone was extremely shocked upon the horrid sight, especially Douglas and Lily, their eyes full of fear.
A man with the visible scar on his face was obviously the head of the group. He stepped forward, scanned the hall, then pointed at Douglas with an evil grin. “Boss, why didn’t you come and say hi before the opening ceremony? Are we invisible to you?”
Blood drained from Lily’s face. She squeezed a bitter smile and said, “What… What do you want from us?”
Before the opening, Lily heard that there were protection racketeers lurking in this neighborhood. The previous owner of this restaurant was said to have been harassed by these gangsters that he went bankrupt and had to sell this shop.
Despite this, Lily decided to rent the place at a low price and manage it as she felt that these people wouldn’t dare to be so pompous as to ask money from them in broad daylight.
However, never did she expect these gangsters to appear at their opening ceremony!
Scarface grinned. “If you want to do business here, you’d have to be on good terms with our boss, Bill the Bear. We don’t want much, just give us a 20% share of your profits and you’ll be under our protection forever. You can just call us if anything happens in the future.”
Then, Scarface continued in a cold voice, “However, if you don’t agree, I’m sorry to say that we’ll make sure your restaurant won’t be able to operate starting today!”
Douglas and Lily sucked in a nervous breath upon hearing the fee.
Twenty percent share!
It was a freaking daylight robbery, period!
“I’ll give you a minute to think about it.”
Suddenly, Clinton saw it as a chance to make himself a hero!
He stood up immediately and said, “Who’s your boss?”
Scarface grinned viciously. “Who are you? Why do I have to tell you that?”
Clinton sneered. “I’ll tell you this, my father knows people from the legal forces and the underworld in Aurous Hill! I’ll call the boss of the developer and ask right now!”
Scarface’s expression shifted a little. He looked at him cautiously and asked, “You know him?”
“Of course!” Clinton shouted arrogantly, “Get lost if you don’t want trouble!”
Scarface frowned in agitation. “Well, if you can find someone whom I can talk to, I’ll leave this place alone. But if you can’t, I’ll have your ass whooped right now!”
Lily glanced at Clinton nervously and said, “Clinton, please make the call, please!”
Clinton smiled faintly and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll call the boss right now!”
Emgrand Group had some projects here in the redevelopment zone, which was under Clinton’s father’s jurisdiction. Hence, the head of the developer mingled frequently with his father and that explained why he was familiar with the man too.
Clinton retrieved his phone, called a number, and said in an arrogant tone, “Mr. Lee, why are there a bunch of protection racketeers in the redevelopment zone? They even came to my friend’s restaurant!”
The voice on the other end of the line stuttered and said, “Oh, Clinton, what’s going on?”
“A friend of mine opened a restaurant in the redevelopment zone, and some gangsters have barged in to ask for a protection fee. I’d like to ask if you can handle it for me.”
The man on the other side of the line was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice, “I’m sorry, Clinton, it’s not for me to handle those things you’ve mentioned. I’m in a meeting now, bye.”
Before Clinton could say anything, the man on the other end ended the call.
Clinton was utterly stunned.
What happened? Mr. Lee used to curry favor with his father in order to get more investment from Emgrand Group, why did he shut him up so quickly now?
What Clinton didn’t know was that the news that his father was fired from Emgrand Group had circulated throughout the business circle in Aurous Hill!
Clinton was extremely dumbfounded by the abrupt reaction from Mr. Lee and was very annoyed, but as his friends were still watching him, he gritted his teeth and searched for another contact.
This time, he called the director of the district police branch.
He remembered that this person also had a close relationship with his father.
When his call was answered, he immediately started, “Hi, Mr. Kent, it’s me, Clinton, Clinton Tucker. I have some problems in the redevelopment zone…”
He illustrated the matter all over again.
The man at the other end of the line cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “Clinton, he is Bill’s guy, and Bill is Don Albert’s guy, I think you’d better not get involved in this matter.”
Clinton asked in confusion, “Don’t you want to do something about it?”
“You should know Don Albert’s status in this city, it’s not within my control.”