Chapter 185  Michael nodded nervously. “Thank goodness we weren’t there when Tracia died. Running into that grandmaster would’ve been bad news. Still, it’s unfortunate Lauren escaped, but at least we have the herbs. When she returns to Rhodes Corporation empty–handed, she’ll have to answer for this failure!”  At this thought, a hint of a smile returned to Michael’s gloomy face. However, Bane suddenly. tensed and shouted, “Who’s there? Show yourself, or you’ll regret it!”  Michael spun around in terror, stuttering, “B–Bane, you don’t think it’s that grandmaster coming for us?”  A broad–shouldered man emerged from the shadows, and Michael immediately relaxed. “Oh, it’s just you, Jerry. You scared me half to death!”  Jerry scoffed. “Mr. Rhodes, if you want to take over Rhodes Corporation, you need to show more backbone. Being spooked by every little noise makes you look like a coward.”  Michael laughed. “Relax, Jerry, it’s just us three here. Even if I’m scared out of my wits, no one else will know. As long as others don’t see my true nature, they’ll never know what I’m really like!”  Jerry shook his head, thinking how inferior Michael was compared to Lauren. Still, despite his incompetence, being male meant he had the best chance of inheriting Rhodes Corporation.  “Jerry, weren’t you supposed to guard the trucks in the cave? Why are you here?” Michael asked, completely missing Jerry’s look of displeasure.  “What’s there to be guarded? They beat us to it!” Jerry snapped in frustration.  Michael’s heart sank. “What do you mean? Did someone take the herbs?”  “Forget about those truckloads of herbs,” Jerry replied. “By the time I got there, Lauren had already found them and had them moved.”  “What? She found them first? That’s impossible!” Michael exploded in rage. “How could she possibly find them? I hid them so carefully!”  Bane chimed in coldly, “I checked that location myself. Her people shouldn’t have been abl find it. Did someone on your end mess up?”  “My men were with me the whole time–there were no leaks,” Jerry growled. “It wasn’t ” Lauren’s people who found it anyway. It was that pretty boy Andrew.”  Michael gasped and turned to Ban  but you wouldn’t believe me!”  “See? It’s him again! I told you it was that damn bastard,  A murderous glint appeared in Bane’s eyes. “He’s becoming a real problem. It looks like we’ll have to get rid of him for good.“.  1/2  Chapter 105  “And he seems to suspect me already,” Jerry added. “Mr. Rhodes, it’s best if you don’t contact me for a while. I’ll help with your fight against Lauren, but if we go too far and Mr. Rhodes. Senior starts asking questions, I’ll be in trouble too.”  “Jerry, I need one more favor from you,” Michael snarled. “Kill that meddling bastard who keeps ruining my plans.”  22