Chapter 449: Chapter 449: Compensation at Market Value
The autumn rain was sparse and cold, making the short distance from the parking lot to the restaurant’s front entrance feel like an insurmountable gap.
At the door of the top-floor private room, Evelyn Clayton took a deep breath before entering.
"Evelyn, you’re finally here."
Inside the private room, Lynn Yates, sitting next to the main seat, immediately stood up with a welcoming smile.
Evelyn Clayton put on a perfectly appropriate smile herself, and embraced Lynn with cheek-to-cheek greetings, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Lynn smiled and said, "Not at all. Please, take the main seat."
After some polite exchanges, Lynn Yates eventually moved to the main seat, while Evelyn Clayton took the seat to her left, proactively pouring Lynn some wine.
Lynn nodded courteously while holding her glass.
The bubbles in the white wine were quietly popping; there were four people in the private room: Lynn Yates, her main secretary, Evelyn Clayton, and Rhys Jacobs.
The atmosphere was extremely quiet.
"Come on, Evelyn, let me first propose a toast to you." Lynn raised her wine glass, smiling warmly at Evelyn.
Evelyn, unable to gauge the reason for Lynn’s sudden toast, felt her mood gradually sinking.
But she could only comply first, smiling as she clinked glasses with Lynn.
After finishing the glass, Lynn got straight to the point.
Her smile was perfectly calibrated, tinged with a subtle detachment: "Evelyn, I have seen the news online."
Evelyn’s heart fell heavily.
Yet there was an inexplicable sense of relief.
A bitter smile flashed in her eyes.
After contemplating for a long time, Evelyn finally calmed down, "So, Director Yates is planning to terminate our partnership?"
"Not terminate, but maintain," Lynn replied effortlessly, with calm indifference, "We are both businesspeople, Evelyn, you should understand my predicament."
Evelyn struggled with a final attempt: "I can deal with the media controversy soon. Could we extend the deadline a bit?"
"Maintaining the partnership already represents an extension," Lynn remained unwavering, as she spoke about business, she was colder than anyone, "Evelyn, you should know, if it were someone else, I wouldn’t even have attended today’s meet-up."
Evelyn’s eyelids twitched slightly, unable to describe the feeling.
She didn’t want to interpret Lynn, this remarkable woman, with malice, yet Evelyn felt some things needed to be clarified.
"So, Director Yates, does this mean that from the beginning, the partnership was based on James Grant’s influence?"
Lynn rarely showed a moment of hesitation.
This fleeting doubt confirmed for Evelyn that Lynn’s cooperation was indeed based on that connection.
Evelyn wasn’t surprised; instead, she felt a mix of inevitability and irony.
Lynn deliberated for a while, sincerely gazing into Evelyn’s eyes.
She slowly said, "Evelyn, you should be well aware that with Gem’s current size, it actually lacks the qualification to collaborate with established groups. My trust in Gem is firstly due to your undeniably proven capability, and secondly, yes, because of James Grant. But I have never underestimated you, and you should be aware of this."
Evelyn nodded subtly, "Yes, I’m aware. But since that’s the case, thank you, Director Yates. I am grateful for your choice to maintain the partnership."
After a pause, Evelyn lifted her gaze, her eyes becoming resolute.
"Give me three days. After three days, I will calm the media storm, ensure Gem emerges unscathed, and ensure the subsequent project proceeds smoothly and unhindered. If I fail, I will pay compensation in accordance with the breach of contract amount specified."
After speaking, Evelyn refilled her glass and drank it all in one go.