Slap! Gladys smacked James on the head. "Watch your tongue! What makes you think you have the right to speak at the family meeting?" she reprimanded him.
"Alright, that settles it," Lex laughed heartily. Setting the Callahans up at the Trade City Center was unthinkable to him. That place was the future Glochaibal Financial Center; businesses from Cansington weren't the only ones seeking to establish themselves there. All large corporations nationwide would eventually gravitate towards it. If the Callahans managed to secure a location, it would be a symbol of prestige. Lex couldn't care less about the hundred-million entrance fee.
"Grandpa, I" Thea hesitated. Seeing Lex's delighted face, however, she didn't want to disappoint him. She hung her head. "I-I'll try."
"Chairman, you now carry the hopes and dreams of the Callahans," someone said. "You have to get us the right to set up shop."
"Worry not, chairman," another voice responded. "As long as you succeed in your negotiations, we'll find a way to get the money, no matter the rental cost."
"That's right," another chimed in. "But if you fail, that'll mean you're unqualified to be chairman." The Callahans' chatter continued; though seemingly supportive, they were actually ridiculing her. Thea knew they wanted to see her fail.
"Haha. We'll join our efforts and bring the Callahans to greater heights. Dismissed!" Lex stood up, laughing heartily, and headed upstairs. Thea glared at James.
"James, are you just looking for trouble?" David exclaimed, his face murderous. Tommy let out a laugh.
"Good luck, Thea," Tommy said. "It isn't easy to start a business at the Trade City Center. I'm afraid being the chairman isn't all fun and games."
Another added, "Thea, I heard that even someone like Alex Yates has to play nice during the process. I'm afraid he can't help you this time." "Haha, we'll await the good news," someone else chuckled.
The Callahans babbled incessantly.
Meanwhile, Thea left the Callahans' villa in a foul mood, James following close behind. Along the way, Gladys, David, and Alyssa criticized James relentlessly.
"James, I'm warning you," Gladys scolded. "Keep your mouth shut at the next family meeting. Stop embarrassing us."
David joined in, "Useless piece of trash. Do you even know what the Trade City Center is? You need an entrance fee of at least a couple of million to open a restaurant on food street, the same for fashion street. The prices are exorbitant for any company setting up shop there."
Despite their chastisement, James remained silent. Thea looked at him, disgruntled.
"You've made life difficult for me," she said. "Do you know Yuna of Longevity Pharmaceuticals had to go through an afternoon of paperwork to set up shop there? And she's the chairman of a hundred-billion-dollar corporation. What am I going to do? Will I even make it past the front gate?" James smiled. "Honey, I have faith in you. You can do this." "But I don't have faith in myself," Thea said, dismayed.
They continued to bicker on the way home. Xara stayed home and didn't go to the Callahans' villa. Seeing their expressions upon their return, she asked, "Why the long faces? Didn't you guys get the shares?"
"James, that piece of trash talked too much and got Thea into a difficult situation," Gladys criticized.
"Huh?" Xara glanced at James. "What happened?" she asked. Gladys explained. Xara looked thoughtful.
"Thea might be able to do this," she said.
James nodded. "Yes, I have faith in her. Besides, even if I had kept my mouth shut, do you think the other Callahans would allow her to keep her executive director's position? If Thea wishes to secure her authority, she needs to win them over fairly."
"Good thinking," Gladys said sarcastically. "Did you think we weren't aware of that? Do you take us for fools? We could've shirked our responsibility on that impossible task. Now, thanks to you, how is she supposed to obtain the right to set up shop?"
The final sentence was improved for clarity and removed the unnecessary quote marks. The entire passage was punctuated and grammatically corrected for improved flow and readability. The unnecessary website promotion was removed.