Chapter 7

"It's the head of the Quarles family!" The crowd all dropped their jaws as soon as George Quarles entered the scene.

As the head of Quarles family, George was always greeted with honor. No one in the building, in the wildest mind, could conceive that the head of one of the ten prestigious families had set foot in the Thompson Pharmaceutical Group building.

Old Madam Thompson's face was pale stone. She eagerly stepped forward to George to greet him, "It is my honor to meet you, Sir!"

George turned a blind eye to her, instead rushing toward his son, Luis. Meeting such an honored man with such a high position was a rare opportunity, so much so that if he were to just walk by and ignore someone, it was reason for shame.

"Dad, why…why are you here?" Luis was infuriated at the sight of his father.

This agreement between the Quarles and the Thompsons was solely his decision. He had yet to bring up to his father, George Quarles. George looked like he had steam coming out from his ears as he glared at the stunned Luis. He would never in his life thought that his beloved son would cause him this much trouble, especially in a pinch like this.

No one else knew what tactic Sean had used on the honorable heir to the Quarles family, but George did. With a phone call, all the world’s well-known and influential financial corporations could exert dramatic pressure; the likes of which no one could imagine. It was a risk that the Quarles would never be able to take on.

The thought of Luis making such an irresponsible decision--to make an agreement without prior discussion--maddened George deeply. His tolerance left him and in one swift move, his palm connected with Luis's cheek.

Pa!!!

This slap left Luis dumbfounded. No one in the office hall thought Luis deserved a slap to the face, so the crowd's expression took a 180-degree change.

Covering his inflamed cheek, Luis, his whole mind racing, asked, "Fa…father, wh… what is going on here?"

Luis was really in the thick of confusion now. Being the only son to the Quarles family, his parents pampered him like a golden egg. Even if he got someone pregnant out of wedlock, his father would not be as mad as he was that day. What was really going?

"What is going on? You spoiled brat, how dare you have the dignity to even ask that? You had better apologize to Mr. Young and Mrs. Thompson this instant!" roared George.

Confused by the sudden plot twist, Luis asked, "Apo…apologize? Dad, are you joking with me?"

Being forced to apologize to both the scumbag and the unlucky woman was out of Luis' expectations. He never would have considered it. Moreover, he was the Young Master of the honorable Quarles family; he had his own pride and dignity. How on Earth could he be willing to apologize?

The Thompsons' expressions gradually became blank as they were all also dumbfounded. The situation was quickly spiralling out of their understanding.

"You still think I’m joking, you insolent fool. Apologize, now. Or else, I’ll have to use my authority to expel you from the Quarles!" George said coldly.

George had already made up his mind that he would do whatever it took to please Sean, whatever price he had to pay. If Sean went berserk again, it could mean the end for the Quarles.

Luis was terrified. He had never seen his own father so mad in his life. He did not dare defy his father's command and, with a panicked look, he looked toward both Sean and Maisie. "I’m deeply sorry, Mr. Young, sorry Mrs. Thompson; please forgive my immaturity!"

The crowd was stunned, petrified at the sight of Luis’s public apology. Their mouths fell open so wide that they could fit a fist. Witnessing what had happened stunned Maisie. She could not believe that George would resort to violence, let alone force his own son to apologize to them.

A glance revealed a crowd of people with blank expressions. All but Sean's face alone was decorated with a very satisfied smile.

'It looks like yesterday's scare was a success. George is indeed a man who knows his stuff. He can tell what’s serious and what isn’t.'

Seeing the smile on Sean's face, George felt relieved knowing that Sean had calmed down. Sean's rage the previous day brought disaster to the Quarles. He was like a typhoon that came out of nowhere, and even with a full recovery, they lost a fortune of around 100 billion bucks. George knew how terrifying Sean could be when he was angry.

George got hold of the contract that Luis had and tore it to bits, ensuring the public saw. He pointed toward the first contract, which was lying on the table, and said, "This is the contract I personally handed to Mrs. Thompson. From now on, our cooperation with the Thompsons will only recognise Mrs. Maisie, and Mrs. Maisie alone."

'Only recognize Maisie?'

George’s statement put the Thompsons into uproar; they did not expect such a comeback.

With that, George, still feeling the breadth of his authority, turned around to face Sean. Sean just nodded, assuring that George that the crisis was over. He then turned back to Luis and roared, "What are you still doing here, brat? Get your head out of the clouds! Have you not caused enough shame?"

"Gulp!" Luis swallowed his nerves and, without further delay, he followed his father and left.

"Wa!"

As soon the Quarles left, the whole office hall was instantly filled with noise. From that moment onward, everyone looked at Sean and Maisie differently. Houston was as pale as a pig's liver, his mind filled with questions. All this was too huge a shock for him to take in.

Old Madam Thompson was also stunned as she looked at Maisie, "Maisie, my dear, what happened?"

"This…this is all thanks to Sean!" Maisie replied honestly. Maisie looked at Sean, puzzled. He really brought the thunder this time. If not for Sean, she might have been able to achieve this agreement with the Quarles. Sean had not produced any results in the past five years, but with these achievements, Maisie hoped that the whole Thompson family would pay Sean more respect.

"All thanks to Sean?" The Thompsons were thrown into confusion.

Sean was not even fazed by how the crowd judged him. In fact, he turned to face Old Madam Thompson. "Granny, since we’re the ones with the contract, I assume what you declared earlier is now voided?"

Old Madam Thompson felt unease now that the tables had turned. She was biased, siding with Houston because he was her grandson. She was not willing to give up her post as head of the family to some outsider like Maisie.

"Hmph! Don’t push it; we can wait until the collaboration with the Quarles is settled. Then, we’ll resume this discussion regarding the next heir. I’m exhausted; we’ll adjourn for now!" Old Madam Thompson left the scene, looking exasperated.

"Granny!" Maisie called out eagerly, but she did not even bother to reply. She continued to leave.

As he watched Old Madam Thompson fade into the shadows, Sean's expression changed. He knew that, even though he won this time, Old Madam Thompson and her family would not easily let Maisie be an heir.

At the end of the day, Houston was still the biological grandson. Maisie was still an outsider to the family.

Houston, reluctant to admit defeat, glared at Sean and said, "You win this time, scumbag, but it won’t last. I cannot believe that Langston guy helped you get this contract!"

As the leader of the younger generation of Thompsons, Houston was not completely a fool, immediately he thought of Moses Langston, who might be the answer behind Sean's mysterious win.

In order to help Sean out, Moses did not only only give him a contract worth 30 million bucks. This contract with the Quarles was his doing as well.

Houston then turned to face Maisie. "Maisie Thompson, you’ve seen it with your own eyes. You got the contract, but so what? Granny still favors me. I’m her biological grandson, and you’re just a side character to the family. You’re in no position to be heir, don’t you understand?"

When the crowd dispersed, Maisie looked at Sean, disappointed, "How could Granny do that?"

"Maisie, if you’re willing to take over the head of the Thompsons, I can grant your wish. In fact, you don’t even need to wait!" Sean said, eyes tenderly looking at her.

Maisie Thompson could not believe Sean’s words. "Are you for real?"