Chapter 584 Threaded

Susan glared at Manuel, irritated by his bossy attitude. She considered him to be working for her, believing she would one day be his superior.

Ignoring her simmering anger, Manuel retrieved his laptop from her arms and began working, his fingers dancing smoothly across the keyboard. Susan, furious at his apparent disregard, turned to the window. There, in the car's reflection, she saw his profile; he was intensely focused on the screen, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. Suddenly aware of her intense scrutiny, she tried to distract herself.

Manuel, completely engrossed in his work, remained unaware of her subtle shifts. His initial hunch proved correct; he found no evidence of a Phillips Bank network breach. Sway hadn't accessed any confidential information; the problem wasn't their doing.

Suspicion now fell on Henry Parker. Manuel believed Henry was using this situation to oust him from the company. Without Manuel to hinder his progress, Henry could regain Edward's favor and ultimately seize the chairman's position. The goal, Manuel concluded, was his removal. And the best way to achieve that was to make him fail to deliver on his promise to the board. Henry's strategy was to portray the situation as a consequence of market competition.

Manuel pondered this in silence. Soon, they arrived at the largest Phillips Bank branch in Kensbury. Security guards and police officers struggled to control the noisy crowd, who demanded that the bank rectify the situation.

The scene startled Susan; she hadn't been briefed. Before she could question him, Manuel exited the car and approached the agitated throng. Hesitantly, she followed.

Manuel's appearance momentarily silenced the crowd.

"I am Manuel Johnson, General Manager of Phillips Bank," he announced.

The crowd erupted.

"Finally, the big boss shows up! Fulfill your bank's promise and explain why our bonus has been so low for two years," one person shouted. Another added, "Compared to your colossal profits, our share is a pittance. Our contract guarantees 50% of the profits from our deposits, but we're receiving only 20% at most. Explain this, and compensate us." Another simply demanded an explanation and compensation.

Watching the angry crowd, Manuel remained serious. These were precisely the kind of troublemakers Susan disliked most.

"Quiet, please," Manuel said calmly, maintaining his composure. "I have the answers you need. This financial product stemmed from Phillips Bank's commitment to customer benefit and expressing our gratitude. That's why it was only on sale for a week, limiting the number of participants."

"A lie!" someone interrupted, shouting furiously. "We waited all night for tickets!" Others echoed his sentiment.

Manuel raised his voice. "This product is the most beneficial in recent years, and the bonus is unprecedentedly high compared to other banks. Calculate your return, including the bonus, and compare it to a standard interest rate…"

"That's not the answer!" a voice from the crowd cut in. "What we received is what we're due. A significant benefit isn't justification for breaking your promise."

"We fulfilled our promise," Manuel countered, producing a contract. "The contract stipulates that customers share 50% of the net profit—income minus operational costs, not gross income. If this is gross income, the project is operating at a loss for the bank!"

"How do we know the net profit?" someone pointed out. "Did you show us the financial statements before allocating bonuses? No. You've been deceiving us!"

A subtle shift in Manuel's expression was visible. He realized the protesters lacked briefing, or even training.

"I can show you the financial statement now," Manuel said calmly. He'd prepared it in the car.

"We won't understand it. How do we know it's accurate?"

The group seemed more interested in creating a disturbance than finding solutions.

"Then why did you ask for the statement if you can't understand it?" Manuel challenged.

The man, flushed with anger, sputtered in response.

Susan, standing beside him, was impressed by Manuel's debating skills.

"I've prepared the statement and a solution. Please come to our VIP lounge. I'll give you a clear explanation," Manuel announced. He needed to resolve this quickly; the longer it lasted, the more damage it did to the bank's reputation.

"No way!" The ringleader, sensing a potential compromise, grew agitated. "Don't trust him! He'll threaten us and stop us from fighting for what we deserve. Give the solution here, in front of the cameras. Don't fall for his trap again!"

Manuel's face darkened. The leader was clearly intent on causing trouble.

"Under Northfield law, rumor-mongering, rabble-rousing, and intentional defamation are crimes. Given the negative impact on Phillips Bank, you could face a decade in prison!"