Chapter 18 At Least Try To Be More Sincere When Apologizing
Four Seas Corporation was a new second-generation internet integration company in the country.
It had three distinctive video streaming platforms – a film company, a media company, and a recommendation engine based on data mining.
Under the leadership of Jack over the years, the company had managed to seize a considerable amount of market shares.
However, compared to big internet companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft… there was still quite a gap to be closed.
After Alex acquired Four Seas Corporation, he wasn’t going to sit back and watch as it continued to fall behind these major internet companies.
Seizing market shares was equivalent to spending money, and what he had was money to invest.
At that moment, outside Alex’s office.
“The chairman isn’t a very amicable person, so please mind your tones when you speak to him later. If you upset the chairman, even God won’t be able to save you.” Jack warned Madison and her manager.
His eyes swept over Madison’s sexy appearance, and a hint of regret flashed in them.
He had initially planned to sign Madison, but her manager, Felicia Scott, had unexpectedly vetoed his offer.
“Sure.” Madison nodded.
Felicia abruptly said, “By the way, a security guard named Alex Jefferson ran into Madison’s car earlier. He was quite an arrogant prick too. Please get rid of him. Just the sight of him disgusts me.”
What?
Jack was taken aback, and his face stiffened. He was about to stop the two of them, but Madison had already knocked and entered the room after.
He had stretched out his hand, but it was too late.
Jack cursed in his heart before hastily following them in.
“It’s you!” Upon pushing into the office, she was shocked to see Alex leaning back in the chairman’s seat while smoking a cigarette.
“You really have some guts to smoke in the chairman’s office without permission!” Felicia immediately upbraided Alex the moment she realized it was him.
“Oh, so you came in here to smoke without permission? You scared me for a second there. A loser like you sure has the guts to sneak into the chairman’s office.” Madison’s initial shock subsided, and she came back to her senses.
She joined Felicia in castigating him. “Fess up now! Are you a mole placed here by another company to steal the chairman’s documents?”
I’m a mole?
Alex lazily blew out a puff of smoke and glanced at the two of them with amusement in his eyes.
Jack, who came in after them, instantly turned pale. “Both of you, shut up!” He quickly yelled before things spiraled out of control.
He was seething with fury. Both Madison and Felicia’s hearts leaped into their throats as they whipped towards him with confusion sprawled across their faces.
“President Sawyer, he’s the disgusting security guard I just told you about!” Felicia spoke in a righteous manner.
Smack!
Jack gave Felicia a tight slap and roared with unadulterated rage, “Are you f***ing blind? That is our chairman!”
“Ahh?”
Felicia and Madison’s eyes bulged out of their sockets in utter disbelief.
Smack!
Jack slapped himself across the face and bowed his head, speaking in a voice heavy with fear, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Jefferson. I had no idea that these two offended you. It’s all my fault. I’m willing to accept any punishment you give me!”
Isn’t… Isn’t he just a security guard?
How is he the chairman all of a sudden?
Madison and Felicia trembled in their places and seeing Jack’s frightened look intensified the fear creeping into their hearts.
Smack!
Felicia reacted quickly, slapping herself just like Jack did before lowering her head to apologize, “I’m… I’m sorry, sir! We were both ignorant fools for crashing into you earlier. Please give us a chance to make it up to you, sir!”
As Felicia spoke, she tugged on Madison’s sleeve, which resulted in a yelp from the latter before she dipped her head to apologize as well.
“S-Sir, I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I-I…”
Seeing the trio bowing their heads in pure terror, Alex’s lips curled slightly. “You should at least try to be more sincere when you’re apologizing, don’t you think?”
Felicia’s blinked in fright, and she quickly motioned for Madison to slap herself.
Only then did Madison snap out of her daze to slap herself, and her cheek immediately flushed a deep scarlet red.
“I’m sorry, Sir. Please don’t be bothered with my foolishness from earlier. All I ask is that you give me a chance to redeem myself!” Madison pleaded in an unsteady voice, not brave enough to raise her head.
Alex glanced at Madison and Felicia, drawing a long puff of his cigarette before speaking with indifference, “Speak. Why have you come to see me?”
“It’s nothing. It’s nothing!”
Felicia answered quickly, “We only came to pay you a visit, Sir. If you have some free time, Madison was planning to treat you to a meal.”
“Yes, yes. We came to invite you for lunch!” Madison nodded profusely.
Alex gave them both a flat stare before directing his gaze at Jack.
Jack hurriedly explained, “Mr. Jefferson, Madison Zucker is a contracted artist under our subsidiary company, Volcano Media Group, and Felicia Scott is her manager. When they heard that the company had a new chairman, they contacted me to set up a meeting with you, and they wanted to treat you to a meal if you happened to be free.”
Alex transferred his gaze back to Madison and her manager, stating in a grave tone, “A meal is nothing special. All I expect from my employees is honesty and practicality. Having these values will earn you my respect rather than treating me to a dozen meals.”
“Especially you.” The temperature in the room dropped drastically.
Alex pinned Madison a stare and spoke in a frigid voice, “As a public figure, not only did you neglect your image, but you also even stubbornly refused to admit to your mistakes. Do you think you’re immune to the negative impact the media can cause you just because you’re a superstar known across the globe?”
His jaw clenched as he continued, “The company spent a lot of money to nurture you so that you can bring in more profits, not so you can throw a tantrum whenever and wherever you please!”
His last few words were said in a rather intimidating tone, causing Madison to shake like a leaf.
“S-Sir, I was wrong. I won’t act so rashly again!” Madison stuttered.
“I’ll give you two one last chance since I can sense that you’re sincere. If I catch a glimpse of your bad attitude again in the future, don’t blame me for blacklisting you!”
Alex then waved his hand, gesturing for them to leave.
Both of them wasted no time and retreated from his office.
“Mr. Jefferson, I…” Jack still had his head lowered, afraid to meet Alex’s eyes.
“It’s fine. The matter has been settled. Yesterday, I told you to inform the other shareholders about having a meeting today. Have you informed them?” Alex asked.
“Yes. All of them have arrived and are currently waiting for you in the conference room,” Jack replied courteously.
“Good. Let’s head to the conference room.” Alex nodded. He got to his feet and walked out while Jack trailed after him.
Meanwhile, the two women were still in shock.
“What should we do now, Felicia? We’ve offended the chairman, big time! Do you think he’ll really blacklist me?” Madison frantically questioned.
She genuinely did not understand why Alex would dress up like a penniless loser when he was the chairman. If she had known that he was the chairman, she would never have dared to be so rude to him even if she was given nine lives.
Felicia was silent for a moment before responding, “I don’t think he will. Blacklist you, I mean.”
She continued speaking, “Even though he seems cold and detached, based on my years of experience mingling with people and also from what he said to us, I think that beneath his hard exterior is a gentle-hearted man.”
“Madison, trust me. Just behave well from now on. We’ll wait for the chairman’s anger to die down and visit him again after a few days. Then, we’ll invite him to a meal and test the waters to see if he’d be interested in you in that way. If it’s a firm yes, you’d rise up in the popularity ranks like nobody’s business.”
“Okay. We’ll come again after a few days. With what I have to offer, I’m sure the chairman won’t be able to reject me.”
Madison nodded firmly, having absolute confidence in her own abilities.
