Chapter 670
Business is a battlefield, and there are countless dirty tricks played in the shadows. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Tammie and Benedict for not being sharp enough.
After saying this, Torin added, “Mr. Fletcher, your top priority now is to get to the production line and ramp up output p>
The Banks Group’s latest jewelry line was a massive hit, with pre-orders already hitting one hundred thousand units. They needed to increase production to capitalize on this incredible stroke of luck.
“Yes, Mr. Banks. I understand p>
Asher was about to say more when, suddenly, *BAM p>
The office door was thrown open. Torin’s secretary stumbled in.
Asher immediately scowled. “Linda, is this your first day? Don’t you know Mr. Banks’s rules p>
Linda looked distraught. “Mr. Banks, they insisted. I couldn’t stop them p>
Just as she finished speaking, several uniformed police officers walked in from behind her. The officer in the lead flashed his badge and approached Asher. “Asher Fletcher p>
“Yes, that’s me p>
The officer nodded. “You’re under suspicion in connection with a major case of corporate espionage. Please come with us to assist in our investigation p>
Torin was completely stunned. Before he could even ask what was happening, another officer approached him. “You’re Torin Banks, the legal representative of The Banks Group, correct? You’ll need to come with us as well p>
Before either Torin or Asher could process what was happening, cold handcuffs were snapped onto their wrists.
“Officers, you must have made a mistake!” Torin protested. “We’re a legitimate business! We don’t engage in illegal activities p>
“Rest assured,” the officer replied coolly, “we don’t frame the innocent, and we don’t let the guilty go free p>
As the police escorted him out, Torin shouted over his shoulder to his secretary, “Call Adler! Get our lawyer, now p>
“Yes, Mr. Banks p>
By the time Tammie left the police station again, it was early evening. He looked completely drained, all the life gone out of him. Benedict stood beside him, unsure of what to say.
Just then, Tim emerged from another exit. After a day in custody, compounded by his mother’s death, he looked just as exhausted. When he saw Tammie, he didn’t even have the energy to yell, simply walking past him in silence.
“I’m sorry,” Tammie said suddenly, his head bowed.
The word made Tim stop. A sarcastic smile twisted his lips. “Sorry? You think ‘sorry’ fixes everything? Can ‘sorry’ bring my mother back to life p>
Tammie kept his head down, unable to answer Tim’s raw accusation. After a long moment, he looked up. “I’ll take responsibility for what happened p>
“Responsibility? How?” Tim’s eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed Tammie by the collar. “Do you have any idea how horribly my mother died? She worked hard her entire life, and she didn’t even leave behind an intact body p>
Tammie was tormented by guilt. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Money p>
“I don’t want your money! I want justice!” Tim shoved him hard. “This isn’t over until you’re dead p>
Tammie staggered backward and fell to the ground. After his parting shot, Tim turned and walked away.
Benedict helped Tammie to his feet
and sighed, “Don’t overthink it. I’ll
help you handle this.” Though Tammie had made an unforgivable mistake, they were business
partners and, more importantly, best friends. He couldn’t abandon him now.
Tammie nodded numbly. “Okay. Thank you, Benedict p>
“We’re brothers,” Benedict said, then added, “I hope you learn from this p>
“I know p>
Back at the villa, Tammie ate a large bowl of noodles before heading upstairs to shower. Afterward, dressed in his pajamas, he sat in his study and started working through a pile of documents. CL Jewels had been through so much turmoil that a mountain of work had accumulated.
Benedict sat beside him, relieved to see that Tammie seemed to be handling things relatively well. They worked until after midnight before finally clearing the backlog.
Benedict brought two cups of instant noodles upstairs. “Tammie, I made some noodles. You hungry p>
“Yeah,” Tammie nodded. “I was just getting hungry p>
Benedict handed him a cup. After a few bites, Tammie turned to him. “Do you remember the last time we ate instant noodles together like this p>
“I do,” Benedict said. “It was back when CL Jewels was just starting. We were pulling all-nighters, working until two or three every morning p>
They were exhausted back then, but life felt full and purposeful. Things were simpler then, weren’t they?
The memory brought a faint smile to Tammie’s face. “Time flies, doesn’t it? It’s been so many years p>
Seeing Tammite’s mood lift slightly,
Benedict felt a wave of relief. He clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t dwell on things. Finish your noodles and get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day. I’ll take care of everything with Lindy’s family p>
“Okay. Thanks, Benedict p>
After finishing the noodles, Tammie went to his room. He lay down on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as memories flickered through his mind like scenes from a movie.
After some time, he sat up and opened the drawer of his nightstand. Inside was a small knife.
He picked it up and drew it across his left wrist.