chapter 24 I wouldn't lead you to be such a deceiver.

"Everyone heard that, right?" Jackson said loudly. The atmosphere in the sales department was eerie, every employee had an expression of shock and disbelief. Jackson and Frederick were both star employees. They just had a confrontation and no one else got a chance to interject. They settled the bet then and there. When everyone came to their senses and thought about the stakes these two had set, their expressions were priceless. "The drama of the year, one wave after another!" "Even more exciting than the confrontation with Vice President Carlos yesterday. Losing means streaking, haha!" "Frederick isn't bad either, walking around the company in underwear, what an idea!" The employees were all prepared for a great show. Even Waylon, the manager of the sales department, was alarmed when he learned of the confrontation between Jackson and Frederick. He was extremely troubled. Both were aces of the sales department, one holding the sales champion title for two years, and the other backed by the chairman, even Vice President Carlos had to cower. Unfortunately, their bet was related to the company's performance, and Waylon didn't dare to intervene, as it would be akin to turning away money. In the end, Waylon decided to report this information to the chairman. "Let the young people make a fuss," Apollo said with a chuckle upon hearing this. With the chairman not opposing, Waylon, as a manager, naturally wouldn't interfere. However, he became even more curious about Jackson's true identity. "Mr. Jackson, can you handle it?" Wade said, wiping sweat. "It shouldn't be a problem." Jackson's response was conservative, but he didn't take it too seriously in his heart. During his three years abroad, he completed missions and saved many dignitaries. People are made of flesh and blood, and apart from a few ungrateful ones, most were grateful to Jackson. There were not a few chairpersons, presidents, and executives of large international companies like Sophia. At the very least, he could pull in an order from Sophia and repay her through other channels. So, from the start of the bet, Jackson was in a winning position. He just waited for Frederick to walk around the company in his underwear before streaking for three laps. Fight me? I'll make sure you lose! Jackson smiled sinisterly. ... Frederick returned to his seat, feeling very excited. "Jackson brought in 7,500,000 dollars, the whole company knows him. If I bring him down now, my name will spread throughout the company." "Then President Violet will definitely notice me!" Thinking of this, Frederick couldn't help but feel excited. Frederick, not yet thirty, had shown incredible business talent since graduating and brought numerous performance contracts to the Griffith Group. If Frederick weren't poor at management, with his performance and experience, he would have been at a managerial level long ago. This was his sixth year at the Griffith Group. The bonuses he received over the years had given him a very comfortable life, wearing expensive Armani suits and Rolex watches worth millions. Almost every pharmaceutical company in Jimstantham City had invited him, offering conditions far superior to his current benefits at the Griffith Group. But no matter the offer, Frederick refused to leave, staying put at the Griffith Group. There was only one single reason, Violet. In his graduation year, when he first joined the Griffith Group, he saw Violet, then still a university student, by chance. After that glimpse, Frederick could never forget her. Especially when Frederick learned that Violet was a research genius, he was utterly impressed. Although Frederick never spoke a word to Violet in these six years, he firmly believed he was the man who understood her the best in the whole world. He also felt deeply inferior. Violet's aura was too dazzling, and Frederick knew he wasn't worthy of her. Since then, he worked hard, trying to get Violet to notice him. "As long as I crush Jackson, President Violet will notice me and know how outstanding I am!" Frederick was full of drive. As for the possibility of not crushing him... Frederick shook his head, dismissing some unrealistic thoughts. As the reigning sales champion, if he couldn't handle a new employee, what right did he have to deserve Violet? "Frederick, are you really going to make the bet with Jackson?" a colleague asked worriedly. Frederick huffed, "That kid is too arrogant. If I don't teach him a lesson, he won't know there's always someone better." "But..." the colleague hesitated to continue. "Lucas, why are you hesitating today?" Frederick frowned. It was Lucas who told him about Jackson taking the sales champion and advised him not to trouble Jackson. Lucas sighed and proceeded to tell Frederick about Jackson's achievements in the company these past few days. Especially regarding the incident where the Chairman invited for a dinner, and how Waylon, the deputy general, was forced to admit defeat, Lucas spoke in great detail, trying to make Frederick understand that clashing with Jackson would not end well. "What!?" Frederick's face turned green, "Why didn't you say so earlier!" "You were too hasty, I hadn't gotten the chance to speak before you went to trouble Jackson," Lucas said with a wry smile. Frederick experienced a great turmoil inside. He hadn't expected Jackson to have such a significant background. However, more than Jackson's background, he was worried about the other party playing tricks. From Lucas's narrative, Frederick learned that Jackson was a returnee from overseas. His big deal was also brought in from abroad. Frederick had been wondering. In the entire Jimstantham City, his connections in the business field were second to none. He had heard of all the business experts in Jimstantham City, even if he hadn't met them. But this Jackson seemed to have popped out of nowhere. A deal worth 7,500,000 dollars, such a large transaction amount, should have caused a small stir in the business industry. However, Frederick hadn't heard of any company recently showing new cooperation intentions with the Griffith Group. The fact that Jackson brought in orders from overseas explained everything. Now, Frederick knew nothing about Jackson's overseas connections. If Jackson brought in another huge amount of money from abroad, wouldn’t his dream be shattered? Ordinarily, anyone hearing about Jackson's background would cancel the bet. But Frederick was determined to crush Jackson to gain fame and catch Violet's attention. Thinking of this, Frederick gritted his teeth and walked up to Jackson. "What's up now?" Jackson, who was playing games, was too lazy to even lift his eyelids. Frederick said sarcastically, "I heard even the Chairman supports you. How impressive!" "Don't worry, regardless of the outcome of the bet, I won't let Chairman Apollo pressure you." Jackson guessed what the other was worried about and couldn't help but laugh silently to himself. Hearing Jackson's promise, Frederick finally relaxed. "Also, I want to set another rule. For this bet, only the performance within Jimstantham City will count!" Frederick insisted. "Why?" Jackson raised an objection. Frederick's face stiffened. He hadn't thought deeply about this question and stammered, "Of course, it's, it's for boosting Jimstantham City's economic development!" Pfft! Hearing such a far-fetched reason, the employees couldn't help but laugh. Frederick probably realized his reason was weak and hastily added, "I heard Mr. Jackson is a returnee. Since it's a bet, it must be fair. Now that Mr. Jackson is in Jimstantham City, he shouldn't use his overseas connections, right?" "What a joke, you can't control where I get my performance from. I have neither connections nor ways in Jimstantham City, how can I compete with you?" Jackson let out a cold laugh. He did have connections in Jimstantham City but didn't want to use them. He considered Frederick's bet as a bit of fun, but now the latter's overreach made Jackson unhappy. "I'll get my performance from wherever I can. If you don't accept it, then don’t bet!" Jackson said irritably. Frederick immediately panicked. He was counting on stepping on Jackson to gain Violet's attention. If Jackson backed out now, how would he execute his plan? "Fine, have it your way. But I'll stick to my principles and won't pull in performance from overseas!" Frederick reluctantly agreed, pretending to be principled. "If you don't have overseas connections, just say it. I won't laugh at you," Jackson retorted. Hahaha! The business department's staff couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter. "Bringing in performance and making money for the company is what matters. Why make such a fuss?" "Playing double standards pretty smoothly, huh." "Exactly, and you have the nerve to talk about fairness. Mr. Jackson pulls in performance in Jimstantham City, why don’t you go overseas, Frederick?" The employees jeered. Frederick's face turned both green and purple with anger. Just as he was about to defend himself, suddenly, an incredibly beautiful woman entered the business department, capturing all the employees' attention! President Violet! The employees immediately suppressed their laughter. This was working hours, and it wouldn't be good if the President saw them like this. "Pres, President Violet!" Frederick almost moaned, calling out, but his voice was too soft, and Violet walked past him without hearing. Including Frederick, everyone was guessing why Violet came to the business department. Departments like business and marketing, if not for special reasons, the company's executives rarely visited. This question was quickly answered by Violet herself. She walked up to Jackson and said, "The car is already waiting downstairs. Get ready." "Uncle Apollo?" "He has to work overtime. Let's go home first." Jackson hummed in response and then said to the stunned Wade nearby, "Leader Wade, I'll be leaving work now." "Uh… okay, okay." Wade was almost in tears. Damn it, the President personally comes to pick you up from work, why report to me? Brother, you can't be this mean. The employees of the business department were green with envy. They also had a good guess about Jackson's background. Closely related to the Chairman and living under the same roof. It was obvious that Jackson was probably a distant relative of Chairman Apollo. And Violet must be Jackson's cousin of the same generation. Judging from their ages, she should be his younger cousin. So, her picking up Jackson from work made sense. Definitely! The employees were excited. With such a 'royal relative' in the business department, the marketing department, which had always suppressed them, dared to be arrogant? "I am such an idiot!" Frederick regretted not slapping himself. He never dreamed that Jackson would be Violet's 'cousin'. To catch Violet's attention, cozying up to Jackson was a shortcut. But he had started a conflict with Jackson and even pretended to stick to principles. If he tried to cozy up to Jackson now, it would be a joke.