“Dad, our company has been seized for
review!?”
It was slightly later when Channing heard
the news. He raced over to Weston’s office
and barged in with this question.
Just then, Weston was having an
emergency meeting with several of
Channing’s uncles.
Weston had a gloomy expression on his
face as he said, “It’s been seized. I just got
the news that people from the taxation
department and Department of Food and
Drug Administration have arrived at the
company’s headquarters. Nearly all our
land has been sealed off.”
The muscles on Weston’s face twitched as
he spoke. He had never had something
like this happen during the many years he
had been in charge of the Habers family
business.
“How’s that possible? What about our
friends and contacts in those
departments? What did they say?”
Channing asked frantically.
As the heir, he knew perfectly well that
his privilege and power came from his
family. He would also be in trouble if his
family’s business ran into difficulties.
It concerned every aspect of his life, so of
course he was frantic.
Weston’s face was a pale shade of green as
he said, “It’s no use. No one is of any use
because the order came right from the
province magistrate’s office. No one can d
o anything about it. Who would dare go to
the provincial magistrate and help put in
a good word for us?”
“That doesn’t make sense. We didn’t
offend anyone…”
Channing was in the middle of his
sentence when his gaze met Weston’s. A
name flashed through the father and
son’s minds.
“Jasper Laine!”
Channing yelled out those two words in
astonishment.
“But we just ended’ our phone call a short
while ago. Does he hold that much power!?”
“He needed just half an hour to contact the magistrate and use his power to mess with us!?”
Channing’s dismayed exclamations caused the look on Weston’s face to turn even uglier.
Just then, Weston’s phone rang.
“It’s from a friend who works in Swallow
Capital. I asked him to look into
something a while ago. Let me take this first.”
Everyone in the office held their breath and stared at Weston when they heard what he said. No one dared make a sound.
“Mr. Haddow, it’s me, Weston,” Weston immediately said after answering the phone.
He had not expected the person on the other end of the line to be in an even greater panic than him.
“Weston, what are you doing? How could you have offended Swallow Capital now?”
Weston was at a total loss as he said, “Mr. Haddow, you know how I am. I’ve always stayed in Raydon and had no ties with Swallow Capital except for you. How could I have offended Swallow Capital? Besides, how could a small family like mine have the guts to throw our weight around in a place like Swallow Capital?”
“You won’t admit it even to me?”
The person on the other end of the line sounded visibly angered as he said, went around asking about you and got so frightened I broke into a cold sweat. Tell m e, you aren’t attending the economic forum at Waterhoof City today, right?”
Weston said indignantly, “I’m not attending. It’s got nothing to do with me anyway. Come on, am I a criminal just because I refuse to attend a forum?”
“God, it wouldn’t have been an issue if you didn’t attend, but you shouldn’t have been so final with your words. Not to mention, you said them to Jasper Laine. D o you know what kind of person he is?”
Mr. Haddow sighed and said, “On paper, this economic forum hosted by Jasper Laine will discuss private capital, but in reality, it’s got a lot of support from the
officials. Do you know who’s attending? M r. McNeal himself from the Ministry of Finance is attending it with his people.
Weston exclaimed, “How’s that possible? Jasper is just a businessman…”
“He’s indeed a businessman, but haven’t you taken a look at who he works for now? He works for the country!
“Now, Swallow Capital is counting on
Jasper to step up and take the lead!”
Mr. Haddow said ruefully, “The current situation is that the West wants to launch a sneak attack on the domestic financial market and bring down Somerland’s economic development. If you take this into account, Jasper is suited to be a leader in private capital. He’s hosting this economic forum to resolve this matter.
“But look at what you did. You refused to get involved in this matter just because grain prices were rising. That can be ignored, but look at the attitude you showed Jasper, as well as the way you spoke to him. Do you know how you’re acting?
“If they’re nice, you’ll be called selfish. If
they decide to exaggerate things, you’ll be
a double-faced traitor!”
It was not just Weston, the entirety of the
Habers family felt a layer of cold sweat
form on their foreheads when they heard
that. Panicked expressions appeared on
their faces.
“Mr. Haddow, you know what sort of
person I am. I did not have that
intention !” Weston hurriedly explained.
“So what if I know? The problem lies with
what the higher-ups think!”
“You’ve got a bounty on your head now.
The higher-ups think you’re ignoring the
greater good for personal gain, and Mr.
McNeal is coming over to conduct the
investigation into the Habers family
himself and find out if you have any
offshore capital. Mr. Habers, you have to b
e honest with me. Do you?”
Mr. Haddow’s voice on the other end of
the line turned solemn as he arranged his
features into a serious expression.
He had already decided that if the Habers
family showed even the slightest hint of having offshore capital, he would cut ties with the Habers family immediately.
He did not have the guts to get involved in something that was such a big deal.
Weston immediately said, “Mr. Haddow, I swear on my entire family’s life that the Habers family has zero offshore capital!”
Mr. Haddow felt slightly more at ease when he heard that, and sighed before saying, “That’s good. At least it won’t be a s serious as anticipated. But more trouble i s probably coming your way since there’s a bounty hanging over your head now.’
“Mr. Haddow, you have to help me,” Weston said frantically.
Mr. Haddow laughed bitterly and said, Help you? What means do I have to help you? You have to address the root cause of the problem. Go to whoever caused you to get into this trouble in the first place and ask them for help.
“Listen to me. You must go to Jasper Laine immediately. If he’s willing to not hold it against you, the Habers family might come out the other end unscathed. I f not, you’re on your own.”
Mr. Haddow hung up after saying that.
Weston felt as if he had been wrung inside out as he put his phone down. He glanced a t Channing and said, “Find a way to get in touch with Jasper Laine immediately.”
Channing looked near to tears as he wailed, “But I don’t have his number. I only got in touch with him because I called then little prince.”
“Then call the little…”
Weston did not finish his sentence before changing his mind and saying, “No, go to Waterhoof City immediately! We can’t afford to waste even another second!”
