Chapter 913: A Hot Potato

Feeling he had given enough hints, Colby said nothing more and left. Roxanne's face fell as she watched the office door close. Lucian was the only person she could think of. If it really is him... what on earth was he thinking? The previous night's kiss remained vivid in her memory. If things were as Jack suspected, had he done this because of her? Panic overwhelmed her.

Meanwhile, Herbscape Group was in chaos. Investigations by two departments had exposed the company's past misdeeds to the public. Dean faced a lawsuit, his panic bordering on paralysis. Desperate, he contacted Jack. He reasoned that Damaris Group wouldn't idly watch Herbscape Group collapse, considering the latter's supply of medicinal herbs and Damaris Group's substantial investment. However, Jack repeatedly ignored his calls. Dean's heart sank, but he contacted Jack's assistant instead. Unlike Jack, the assistant answered promptly.

"It's me, Herbscape Group's chairman—"

Before Dean could finish, the assistant interrupted. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Damaris is busy. I'll convey your call when he's available." The assistant immediately ended the call. Dean's face paled as he listened to the dial tone. As businessmen, he understood Jack's message: Damaris Group was abandoning them.

"What are we going to do, Mr. Lacroix?" The company executives crowded around Dean, their faces ashen. His frustration intensified at their panicked questions. "What can we do? Am I the only one with a brain here? At best, we'll all end up in jail!" he exploded. Their usual composure vanished; their only response was "What can we do?"

Livid, Dean slammed his phone on the table. "A useless bunch of people!" he snarled. Terrified of imprisonment and now facing Dean's wrath, the executives fell silent.

After ending the call, the assistant looked at Jack. "What did he say?"

Jack, who had been in his office the entire time, had overheard the conversation. He had instructed his assistant to answer Dean's call, wanting to see if Herbscape Group could devise a solution to their crisis. The assistant shook his head. "As you instructed, he was asking for your help."

Jack scoffed. "What a loser. It's a miracle he even reached his position. He's at death's door and still relying on others. No wonder Herbscape Group ended up like this."

"What should we do about Herbscape Group?" Jack asked his assistant.

His assistant frowned. "Keeping Herbscape Group is like holding onto a hot potato."

Jack nodded, gesturing for him to continue.