CHAPTER 34: SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FOOT AND DIDN’T KNOW IT

Back at the suite where Summit Partners and NL Group were meeting, Derek aggressively grabbed Allen’s hand for a handshake. "Thank you, Director King," he said, managing to reclaim the limelight. "I’m looking forward to working with you."

Allen’s smile stiffened as he felt Derek’s grip. Even when he tried to pull his hand away, Derek squeezed it harder, as if making a statement. When Derek finally let go, Allen cleared his throat, fighting the urge to react and hiding his irritation. Harvey, beside him, also shook their hands, a gesture of partnership.

"Anyway, we’ll be taking our leave," Allen announced, turning as a sudden knock came at the door. All the men turned, watching someone walk in with a trolley tray of tea.

"Oh..." Justin frowned slightly. Not only was the tea delayed, but it was being delivered by someone else. Derek, on the other hand, clicked his tongue. His cousins merely raised their brows, noting the late arrival of the tea.

"They took their time," Derek cleared his throat, not letting it faze him as he faced Allen. "We apologize for that. We asked for a refill as the tea had gone cold, but it seems something happened."

Allen and Harvey’s brows rose, blinking almost innocently as they replayed Derek’s remarks twice in their heads. Tea? Again, they blinked, recalling a certain person carrying a tray of tea earlier. Their faces twitched slightly as they refocused on Derek.

"I see," Allen nodded in understanding. "And that’s alright. If there’s anything, reach out to Harvey. He’ll oversee this project as well."

The Lancaster men smiled and nodded, seeing the two off quietly. But as Allen and Harvey walked away, with the hotel staff pushing the trolley, Allen suddenly slowed and looked back at them.

"About the tea..." he hummed, watching the men refocus on him. "Who asked for the refill?"

Confusion quickly spread across their faces; Allen’s question seemed random.

Allen smiled as he clarified, "The owner of the hotel is a good friend of mine, and he values his service very much."

"Oh..." Derek cleared his throat before beaming. "I am the one who asked, but the server wore this green fish mask. He quite had an attitude, but it’s alright. I just hope he does his job well, since we value this meeting very much."

Allen and Harvey were rendered speechless, staring at Derek quietly.

Before valuing this meeting, you should value your life first, they thought.

Derek maintained his smile until he caught a brief look of pity flicker in their eyes. It was so brief he wondered if it was simply a figment of his imagination.

"Is that so?" Allen’s smile returned as he nodded. "I’ll let him know, since I’m meeting him right after this. Anyway, have a good day, gentlemen."

Derek, Justin, Travis, and Caullen lowered their heads until they heard the door click open and shut. Once they raised their heads, a smug smirk appeared on Derek’s face.

Slowly, he turned to Travis and Caullen. "See?" he sneered. "I don’t need the two of you."

"Did you forget that Summit Partners wanted Travis on the project?" Caullen was quick to retort, but this time, Derek’s confidence didn’t falter.

"It’s obvious Summit Partners would want Travis because of his title," Justin remarked, smirking. "But only to be a part of it. I don’t remember Mr. King saying he needed his input." He paused and shrugged. "If anything, I believe Summit Partners simply made this request just to raise the odds. They’re Summit Partners, so they know whose name to add to a project just for the public."

"A name’s still a name—" Caullen stopped when Travis slightly raised a hand, his eyes on them. "They have a point, Caullen. No point in arguing since we’ll benefit from this project regardless of who leads it."

"See? Even Travis knows there’s nothing he can do since he’s not really needed." Derek laughed out loud, casually shoving his hands into his pockets. "Well, if you’re going to tell Grandpa, why not tell them how I aced this meeting and how Mr. King is very satisfied with it?"

He smirked as he turned, strutting away, his ego so inflated he might as well have been floating. "Don’t bother with that," Derek cast at the hotel staff and spat out. "The meeting’s done—bad service."

The staff blinked and watched Derek leave with Justin and a few other bystanders. But... but we served it as soon as we heard the request, was what the server wanted to say, but he didn’t have the chance. The poor server could only lower his head with furrowed brows.

Meanwhile, Caullen’s face twisted with bitterness. "That bastard," he hissed the moment Derek and his company walked out. "This project’s going to take him to heaven with that ego of his."

Travis was quiet, staring at the door before he spoke. "Why do you think Mr. King asked about the tea?"

"Huh?" Caullen frowned. "Why are you wondering about such a mundane thing? He already said that he’s friends with the owner of Lion Square, so there’s that. Or are you just trying to distract yourself that jerk Derek is growing more cocky since Summit Partners answered him?"

"No." Travis kept his eyes on the door as he murmured, "I just found it odd that Mr. King would ask such mundane things. After all, he didn’t seem to wonder over such things as tea serving."

And Travis wasn’t wrong, because it wasn’t the tea Allen was curious about, but the explanation for why the big boss of Summit Partners was carrying a tray full of tea.

****

As Harvey and Allen walked down the hallway, heading to a particular suite where Atlas was checked in, Allen finally spoke.

"Harvey, arrange a meeting with Chairman Lancaster," he ordered solemnly. "Do it with discretion."

Harvey furrowed his brows as he rushed to Allen’s side. "Sir, is there..."

"Damage control," Allen sighed heavily. "Perhaps Sir Atlas will meet him and talk with him regarding real business. That proposal is horrible enough, but Derek Lancaster has shot himself in the foot—and he doesn’t know it yet."

Knowing his boss, Derek would only realize he had shot himself in the foot when he had bled out and was on the brink of death. Allen shook his head at the thought. Harvey, on the other hand, gulped nervously.

"Yes, sir." Harvey nodded before he peeked up at Allen. "By the way, why is the big boss wearing that ridiculous fish mask?"

"Disguise," was all Allen said with slight disappointment. "...not to garner attention. He’s pro at it... so as he claimed."

"Not to garner attention?" Harvey stopped in his steps, looking up, imagining the mask the big boss was wearing while walking around.

How was that trying not to garner attention?! That fish mask is the opposite of not garnering attention!