Chapter 468 The Game (11)

The elevator doors closed. Susan and Manuel stood silently, the atmosphere tense.

"Why did you assign weekend work?" Susan asked, unable to bear the silence.

Manuel remained silent.

"Are you trying to get back at Henry?" she pressed.

He offered no response.

"Manuel, don't mix personal matters with work," Susan said, her annoyance growing at his apparent disregard. "You outrank Henry now, but that could change. Remember, Phillips Bank is family, and my father will never hand it over to an outsider."

Manuel listened impassively.

"Manuel Johnson!" Susan exclaimed, furious. "Have you lost your tongue? How dare you ignore me?"

"Because I don't know how to answer," he replied.

"So you agree? What I said is true, and you're out of arguments," she retorted.

"Whatever you say," Manuel replied nonchalantly, his indifference infuriating Susan.

"You're a plague! Martina will dump you sooner or later!" she hissed.

Manuel watched the elevator numbers. When the doors opened, he stepped out, unfazed. Susan followed angrily, only to find herself in the basement garage. Frustrated—she should have arrived on the ground floor to call a taxi—she remembered Henry's plan for her to go home first. Fearing she might disturb him, she'd decided against driving herself. Now, thanks to Manuel, she was stranded. The inconvenience, minor in itself, fueled her rage, especially when a black car passed her. Susan screamed, setting off the car alarms. She returned to the elevator, sullen. Her anger gave way to a grudging respect; Manuel had left without a word, his composure unnerving. The man recovered quickly!

...

It was Monday. Hannah had just settled into her office when Manuel called. "Henry's on his way to court."

Henry had called Manuel last night, announcing his intention to sue Sawyer Group for fraud that morning. He'd called again moments ago, confirming he'd filed a petition and the court would investigate that day.

"That's good," Hannah nodded, already aware of Manuel's reliability.

Putting down her phone, Hannah turned to Rose. "How's the international e-commerce project progressing?"

"Very well. We've started pilot marketing, and it's exceeding expectations. The convenient ordering process and localization are receiving excellent feedback. Here's the data."

Hannah reviewed the reports, a smile playing on her lips. Rose was perplexed; why give Sawyer Group such a successful marketing scheme?

Hannah instructed, "Rose, contact Sawyer Group. Tell them I want to discuss expanding the international e-commerce project. Also, schedule a video conference with Mr. Jones."

"Okay," Rose replied, though puzzled, she obeyed.

Ten minutes later, Rose returned. "Ms. Hannah, I've scheduled appointments with Sawyer Group and Mr. Jones. Sawyer Group invited us to their offices at 10 a.m. for the discussion."

"Excellent," Hannah agreed. "Tell Tan we'll leave in twenty minutes."

"Okay."

They arrived at 9:50 a.m. and entered the meeting room at 9:55 a.m. Lee, Charles, and Martina were present, demonstrating Sawyer's seriousness about the video conference with Bills—Martina had been the sole negotiator with Hannah previously.

They connected with Bills precisely at 10 a.m. After pleasantries, Hannah began, "After launching the international e-commerce channel, we selected test regions and, using precise data analysis, targeted users with online shopping needs. Two thousand people participated in the pilot marketing; two hundred made purchases—a 10% conversion rate. We followed up with those customers; 98% expressed satisfaction. Of those who didn't purchase, 80% said they didn't find the right products. Client reviews indicate a wider product selection is needed. My analysis suggests it's time for a comprehensive promotional launch."

"I agree," Bills stated. "I've read Hannah's report; it's a thorough analysis. I concur that the timing is right for a full-scale branding campaign."

"I agree as well," Lee added.

"With both Mr. Jones and Sawyer Group's endorsement, I'll outline my proposed nationwide expansion strategy…"

Hannah explained her plan in detail. It was so impressive that even Charles, known for his arrogance, acknowledged her superior abilities. Her seriousness revealed a hidden charm he'd never perceived before. He’d previously dismissed her as a rigid, uninspiring woman lacking independent thought. Now, he found her dazzling and unattainable, fighting to suppress his admiration, even affection.

After presenting her plan, Hannah concluded, "Finally, the funding. You've already reviewed and signed off on the initial funding details. The next phase is projected to cost approximately 300 million…"

As she spoke, the door burst open, and three uniformed men entered. "Judicial authorities. We're investigating Sawyer Group for fraudulent loan acquisition."