Chapter 800: A Big Fight

After breakfast, Hannah planned to sunbathe in the backyard. She was striving for peace in the house. The phone rang. "Hi, Manuel," she answered.

"Are you at the villa?"

"What else?" Hannah chuckled.

Manuel smiled. "I'm coming to see you."

"Why?"

"I have something to tell you."

"Can't you say it over the phone?"

Manuel hesitated. "Okay." He couldn't shake the feeling that Hannah still rejected him.

"Sarah will be joining the Cooper Group."

Hannah sneered, unsurprised. Oscar's previous assault on Sarah meant little; the Collins family's influence would ensure his compliance.

"Oscar has no choice," Manuel explained.

"You don't need to tell me this. The Cooper Group is yours; it's your decision. I won't interfere."

Embarrassed, Manuel said, "Then I won't disturb you."

Hannah hung up. Since Oscar chose divorce, she knew privileges were over. She would accept any setbacks calmly.

Manuel sighed, putting down his phone. He'd worried about Hannah first upon hearing the news. Oscar, too, cared about her feelings, prompting the call, but it proved pointless. Hannah neither objected nor approved.

He dialed his cousin's number.

"Manuel."

"Is it convenient to talk?" Oscar wasn't always readily available.

"Yeah."

"I just told Hannah about Sarah's position in the group, but she didn't react."

Oscar was silent, unsurprisingly.

"Okay, I know," he replied indifferently.

"Oscar," Manuel said as Oscar hung up, "Don't you want to appease the Collins family?"

Oscar, phone clenched, remained silent.

"I don't see the point. Just think about it," Manuel concluded, knowing Oscar had a broader strategy.

"I'll be out of Kensbury City for a while. Please look after Hannah for me."

"Sure."

They both knew Hannah needed no looking after. She'd act as she chose. Manuel set down the phone, glancing at his computer screen. He'd been overworked lately. The Wells Group required minimal attention, managed largely by the Wells family, but Phillips Bank and the Cooper Group were demanding.

He picked up the extension phone. "High-level meeting in half an hour."

"Yes, Chairman."

Half an hour later, the senior conference room of Phillips Bank buzzed with over twenty executives. Manuel sat at the head, Susan beside him. The impromptu meeting surprised everyone; its purpose remained unknown, even to Susan, who expected a routine work assignment.

Unexpectedly, Manuel began, "Susan, please report your recent work and future plans."

Susan was startled. Was this a joke? Unprepared, she could manage a report on past work, but lacked any future plan. Manuel, it seemed, had always been in control.

Susan's silence darkened Manuel's face. "Ms. Phillips?"

Nervous, she stammered, "I've mostly been familiarizing myself with the position, reviewing documents, attending meetings, and receiving staff reports."

Manuel seemed displeased. The other executives squirmed. Previously, Manuel was the employee, Susan the boss; now, their roles were reversed. Was Susan deliberately provoking him?

Manuel's voice turned cold. "Susan Phillips, I hired you to work, not vacation! Do you consider this satisfactory?"

Silence fell. Manuel rarely lost his temper, maintaining professionalism regardless of his position or experience. He was generally well-respected.

Yet now, tension choked the room as Susan's anger flared. The workload was crushing; she was constantly learning, struggling to keep up, working long hours. This public reprimand was unbearable.

She stood, shouting, "Did I want this job? Didn't you keep me here? Didn't I say I was incapable? Why this treatment?"

Awkward silence descended. Manuel stared coldly, annoyed.

Susan slammed her notebook shut. "I quit!"

"So what! It's just a job. I don't need it; I'm rich!" she thought.