##Opulent Dining Room, Private Suite
In an elegant dining room, six individuals were seated around a round table. Besides Lysander and his two associates, there were members from the Forest Group.
Lysander''s gaze swept over the unfamiliar faces, his brow furrowing slightly. They were already ten minuteste, and the team''s key figure, Forrest Whitmore, was still absent.
This business negotiation had been fraught with dys, and his patience was wearing thin.
Prompted by Leonard, the three representatives exchanged uncertain nces before one of them stepped out with a phone to make a call. Momentster, he returned to the room, looking apologetically at Lysander.
"Mr. Whitmore wants to speak with you."
Mr. Whitmore? Could it be that Forrest Whitmore was his real name?
Lysander frowned, nodding for the phone to be put on speaker.
Once on speaker, a faint breeze could be heard from the other end. After a long pause, a man''s smooth, pleasant voice broke the silence.
"Lysander, it''s been a while."
Lysander instantly recognized the voice, his expression turning briefly dark before he regained hisposure. He didn''t reply.
The room was engulfed in a tense silence.
Giselle was taken aback. Did Lysander know someone from the Forest Group?
Just as she was about to ask, she caught sight of Leonard''s displeased expression from the corner of her eye, and a sense of foreboding settled in her chest.
What was going on?
Realization dawned on her only when Lysander slowly enunciated a name, "Forrest Whitmore."
A warmugh came from the other end, "Seven years, and you still remember me."
How could he forget?
Lysander''s fox-like eyes were cold, though his tone remained calm. "When did you get back? Why didn''t you say anything? I could have arranged a proper wee for you."
The voice on the line chuckled, a bit muted. "Lysander, since when have we been the type to sit down for a pleasant meal together?"
This meeting ended on a sour note.
From the moment Lysander confirmed the identity on the other end of the line, he had abandoned any notion of cooperation. He was certain Forrest Whitmore felt the same way.
This was all intentional.
...
The members of the Forest Group exited the suite, visibly relieved.
Even though Chairman Montgomery hadn''t said much-always smiling, in fact-
they felt an overwhelming pressure in his presence.
Once outside, with the call still active, curiosity got the better of them.
"Mr. Whitmore, do you have a vendetta against Chairman Montgomery?"
Their coboration had already been decided, and partnering with Montgomery Holdings was never an option. Yet Mr. Whitmore had sent them anyway and chose not to show up himself.
It was a deliberate slight.
They found it hard to believe that Mr. Whitmore, usually so warm and amicable,
would intentionally embarrass someone. Their curiosity was piqued.
A softugh came from the phone, "Of course, there''s a vendetta."
"What kind of vendetta? What happened?"
Those gathered around the phone were eager for gossip, only to hear a calm voice drop a bombshell.
"Stolen love."
What?
No way, what?
Love?
The group was dumbfounded, until one hesitantly spoke up, "Love? Wait, is Chairman Montgomery married?"
"Seems so."
Someone was frantically searching on their phone, "Looks like he is. There was an announcement seven years ago, but the wife''s name wasn''t disclosed."
"Wow, so Lysander''s wife is someone Mr. Whitmore was fond of?"
"More than fond, if she was stolen."
"Mr. Whitmore?"
The gossip seekers got no response, and when they checked again, the call had already ended.
Back in the suite.
Giselle was anxious.
"Lysander, I-I had no idea the Forest Group was connected to him. If I had known,
I never would have..."
"It''s alright. He made sure you wouldn''t find out," Lysander assured her.