Chapter 138

Benjamin paused before looking up at Ms. Patterson and asking, confused, "Ms. Patterson, is the food at Evermore Diner really that good?"

Ms. Patterson furrowed her brows. "Mr. Palmer," she replied, "I did ask someone to order takeout from Evermore Diner. While I don't like the restaurant, I have to admit the food is truly addictive. The ingredients are incredibly fresh; it felt like I was eating vegetables freshly plucked from a farm."

Benjamin's eyes lit up. "Ms. Patterson, it's almost lunchtime. Order some takeout from Evermore Diner for me. Let's see what's so special about it."

Ms. Patterson nodded and dialed a number. When the call connected, she said, "Order takeout from Evermore Diner and send it directly to Mr. Palmer's office. Now!" She hung up.

"Mr. Palmer, I've already sent someone," she reported.

Benjamin nodded. Then, he gazed at her and asked, "Ms. Patterson, is there a financial problem with our company?"

A solemn look appeared on Ms. Patterson's face. "Mr. Palmer," she said, "although the company hasn't faced a financial crisis, we've lost many customers and significant money. We're barely staying afloat. I've laid off some people to cut labor costs, but if sales don't improve, we risk going out of business."

Benjamin's face paled, his hands shaking slightly. His two uncles had been criticizing him to his grandfather for the past month due to Castronova Ventures' poor performance. They believed the company would fail if Benjamin remained in a core management position. To retain his position as the Palmer family successor, Benjamin promised his grandfather he would reverse the company's decline and obliterate Evermore Diner within a month. Considering Castronova Ventures' past success under Benjamin's leadership, Mr. Palmer gave him another chance.

Easier said than done! If Benjamin failed and destroyed the family business, he would likely be expelled from the Palmer family. This realization panicked him. He didn't want that to happen.

Looking at Ms. Patterson, his eyes sharpened. "Ms. Patterson, do you know how to revive our business and harm Evermore Diner? If you help me defeat Evermore Diner, I'll give you 40% of my annual dividends from the family business."

Ms. Patterson was surprised.

[The following paragraph is largely unintelligible and appears to be a fragment of text from a different source; it has been omitted.]

Hearing this, Benjamin immediately perked up. He sat up straight and asked, "What do you have in mind?"

"I applied for a job as a waiter at Evermore Diner a month and a half ago," she said, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Our spy has been befriending the chefs for the past two weeks. We can bribe them to contaminate the dishes. Then, we can pay journalists to report on the food poisoning. Evermore Diner's reputation will be ruined in days, and our business will recover."

She looked at Benjamin with an insidious smile. "Mr. Palmer, what do you say?"

Benjamin's eyes lit up. He clapped in agreement. "Brilliant plan, Ms. Patterson! Evermore Group will fall, and no one will suspect us! Handle this. Bribe the chefs. I'll pay whatever it takes. Just make sure they help us slander Evermore Diner."

Benjamin was determined.

Ms. Patterson replied respectfully, "Got it, Mr. Palmer."

"Get the reporters ready. I want to ruin Evermore Diner's reputation—cleanly. Leave no trace leading back to us." A vicious light flickered in Benjamin's eyes.

Ms. Patterson replied, "Don't worry, Mr. Palmer. I'll cover it up. I'll ensure Castronova Ventures isn't implicated."

Benjamin nodded with satisfaction. "Ms. Patterson, if it works, I'll give you 40% of my annual dividends as promised."

"Thank you in advance," Ms. Patterson bowed. Ms. Patterson was the general manager of Gastronova Ventures. Her full name was Carol Patterson.

They continued discussing the details of their plan. The rumbling in Benjamin's stomach reminded him that an hour had passed since Carol ordered takeout from Evermore Diner, but the food hadn't arrived.

He asked Carol, "Ms. Patterson, didn't you send someone to get food from Evermore Diner? Why is it taking so long?"

"I'll call him now." She retrieved her phone.

After hanging up, she said, "It's lunchtime. Evermore Diner is packed; people are queuing. He hasn't even been able to order yet"

Carol's words felt like a cruel joke.

He said, exasperated, "Well, I'll wait. Let's see how long it takes to get a meal at Evermore Diner."

Two hours later, when the food finally arrived, Benjamin and Carol were nearly fainting from hunger. Seeing the food, Benjamin urged, "Give me the food. Now!"

The final section ("SEND GIFT") appears to be unrelated to the story and has been omitted.