A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 146

Lionel's eyes grew big with anger as he stood outside the coffee shop. He was watching Cassandra and Rufus who seemed to be happy, drinking coffee, talking and enjoying each other's company.

Rufus and Cassandra, on the other hand, were unaware that they were being watched. They continued chatting and laughing while taking a sip from their mugs. Lionel's blood brewed in rage at the display of affection. In his eyes, the way they talked with each other revealed that their relationship was more than that of a boss and an employee. He had always been doubtful about their relationship.

Upon hearing from Amanda that she saw Rufus and Cassandra in the coffee shop near the company, Lionel instantly left his office and headed towards the coffee shop. Judging from their interaction, his suspicions were now confirmed. He wanted to walk in and confront them right in their faces but refrained from doing so. Since he had divorced Cassandra, he discerned that he had no right to question her about her relationship with Rufus.

Just as Lionel was fumbling his mind whether to confront them or not, Rufus and Cassandra walked out. Afraid of being caught eavesdropping, he was about to hide. However, he was held frozen when he saw what Rufus was doing with Cassandra.

Rufus put his arm around Cassandra's shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Blushing instantly and bashfully pushing Rufus away, Cassandra turned around and headed toward the company building.

With the mirth evident on his face, Rufus looked at Cassandra's back until it disappeared at the corner. Then he walked to his car, got in and drove away.

He had to host a meeting for the Union of Real Estates. Before his departure, Cassandra told him to come home early and asked what he wanted to eat for dinner. "I want you!" he whispered, which was the reason why Cassandra walked away with a blushed face.

When he arrived at the building of the Dawn Star Group where the meeting was to be held, Rufus was warmly greeted by Arthur, the leader of the Dawn Star Group.

This was the first meeting since the founding of the Union. To show the importance he had attached to the meeting, Arthur waited on the first floor to welcome all the members who were coming to attend the meeting.

"Welcome, Mr. Luo! The Dawn Star Group is greatly honored by your presence. The meeting room has already been set. Let my secretary lead the way,"

Arthur said politely as he shook hands with Rufus, who in return responded with a ceremonial smile. Although Arthur treated Rufus and the Tang Group as his biggest opponent, in such a condition he had to pretend to be nice and respectful because Rufus was the Director of the Union.

Arthur had already known that Cassandra and Lionel had recently got divorced. That was really a piece of good news for him!

He had planned to isolate Cassandra from the Tang Group. Before he could carry out his plan, however, Cassandra herself terminated her marital relations with Lionel and moved out of the Tang family house.

If Cassandra resigned from the Tang Group, they would have sure lost an excellent designer who could outwit the designers of the Dawn Star Group in project biddings.

Arthur had carefully studied the government's planning of the entire tourism industry. He got the conclusion that the architectural design in this particular field should be both practical and aesthetic, and that was just what he was good at. Without Cassandra competing with him, he confidently believed that his company could win those projects easily.

These past days were really good days for Arthur. His company had stolen several big projects from the Tang Group. The only regret he had was that he had to share the amusement park project with the Tang Group.

Originally, he could get the renovation projects of the amusement park in the bag. However, Jasper Li, his investor, intervened and asked him to cooperate with the Tang Group on this project.

At first, he freaked out at the unreasonable request. Not wanting to confront his investor directly, he controlled his rage and tried to persuade him, "Mr. Li, my company has already won this project. I'm confident that we could handle the job perfectly. If the project would be a success, which I am sure would be, we will have an advantage in cooperation with the government in the future. You're my investor, and that would definitely be good for you as well. I really don't understand why you ask me to share it with the Tang Group. Can you give me an explanation?"

Last time when he competed with Rufus for the position as Director of the Union, Arthur was forced by Jasper to give up. Although that was against his will, he gave in for the sake of wanting investment from Jasper's TY Group. But this time, Jasper intervened again by making another unreasonable request.

"Young man, the enterprising spirit is a credit to a businessman. But if you seek to prevail over others in everything, that's not good for you. The construction of the tourism industrial area is a huge project. The Dawn Star Group can't take it alone, neither does the Tang Group. You have to let other companies have a finger in the pie,"

Jasper said with a slow and deep tone, which was a typical feature of this calm man.

"Since so, why not volunteer to give a small part of this project to the Tang Group for the exchange of a good reputation in the industry? And the Tang Group in return would be less hostile to you. I know the Tang Group is your biggest rival. But you two companies are both important members of the Union, you have to learn how to seek agreement while shelving differences. Remember that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," he continued.

Syncing his mind into what Jasper was speaking, Arthur thought he was right. Currently, the Dawn Star Group was not strong enough to play head to head with the Tang Group. After a moment of silence, he said with a discontented tone, "So you mean that I must make a concession? But I'm not going to give the impression of weakness!"

Arthur had always been proud and boastful, not always willing to be outdone.

"You're not showing weakness, Arthur, but friendship. You must show the Tang Group that you're a friend and not an enemy. Money is earned endless. But if you do not know when to stop, no one wants to cooperate with you. Then how could you carry on your business? The Dawn Star Group has still a long way to go. It is unwise to make a lot of enemies,"

Jasper stated more seriously. He knew that Arthur stole the amusement park project from the Tang Group. He despised and looked down upon this kind of improper practice.

Anyhow, what Jasper had said worked its way through Arthur. He began to reflect on himself.