Chapter 271 Causing a Rift
After leaving the hospital, the two of them didn’t bother to return home. Instead, they called their housekeeper and instructed her to take care of the two children before heading straight to the company. If such a big issue had happened on the construction site, there was definitely going to be a problem.
Sure enough, within just an hour, the news had spread and the internet was embroiled in discourse. “President Burton, news of the demolition crew beating people up is already trending.”
As soon as Justin entered the company, the head of the Public Relations department came up to him. “We called the media to try to remove the trending topics, but we couldn’t stop the major platforms from going live one after another. It was already way too late.”
Justin asked, “How are things at the hospital?”
“Frankie still hasn’t received any news yet.”
“First, make a statement and say that the Burton Group will take full responsibility for this incident. Compensate them and issue an apology. If the head of the household does not agree to the demolition in the end, then we will never touch his house.”
“Uh…” The head of the Public Relations department looked stiff. “President Burton, isn’t that too conclusive?”
In all previous crises, the Public Relations department issued a statement as soon as they happened, but they always left a loophole, and they didn’t make things too certain in case the situation came back to bite them in the future. The Phase Three Land project was finalized a long time ago. If the holdouts truly refused to relocate, the subsequent projects would not be able to proceed at all, and they would suffer a great loss.
Rachel, who had been following Justin, advised, “Mr. Clark, you should do as President Burton said first. If you’re still worried, you can bring the draft statement over and show it to me once you’re done.”
“All right.”
The head of the Public Relations department cast a grateful look at Rachel. With Rachel controlling these measures, even if something happened in the future, there would be someone else who could share the responsibility. Everyone in the company knew the relationship between Rachel and Justin, and that this guarantee was basically equivalent to an exemption from the death penalty—or in other words, getting fired.
As they followed him into the office, Justin was calling Frankie. With his tall figure, the man stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window with a white gauze on the back of his head that was still faintly seeping with blood.
“How are they? Alright. Let’s talk after you get back.”
After hanging up the phone, Justin turned around and saw Rachel looking at him. He explained, “Frankie said that the man at the hospital has a mild concussion and sustained many external injuries. After the medical examination, things will blow up even more.”
Rachel said, “Didn’t you appeal to the head of the household? We can’t let this matter get out of hand.”
“I did, but they are being stubborn and refusing to communicate.” Justin frowned. “You shouldn’t worry about this anymore.”
“This involves an investment made by Burton Pharmaceuticals. Who will care about it if I don’t?”
“That holdout is being stubborn and refusing to move no matter how much money we offer to them. There must be someone behind this. I don’t know if it’s Burton Group’s competitor, so you shouldn’t get yourself involved.”
“Don’t worry.” Rachel poured a glass of water and offered it to him. “Drink some water. I’m not that weak. I wouldn’t just let my superiors take care of matters once I encountered a problem. If I shy away from every problem, Burton Pharmaceuticals wouldn’t need my help anymore, and you could just run the company alone. I will take care of this matter with you.”
Justin froze for a moment and looked at Rachel. This feeling of working together suddenly felt very familiar, as if it had happened before.
Justin’s gaze made Rachel feel a little uncomfortable, so she quickly averted her gaze and changed the topic. “By the way, if we have to deal with this matter today, those people in the demolition team will have to come out and apologize. Those people… Are they Jason’s people?”
Justin came back to his senses at her words, his eyes darkening. “Yeah, I’ll take care of it.”
At that moment, more than two hours had passed since the incident on the construction site. Just as the news on the internet was trending, the story was heating up. In the summer villa’s study room, Arthur was furious when he saw the news.
“Did you do this?” Arthur roared into the phone. “Where are you now? Get back here this instant!”
“Didn’t I tell you? I have matters to take care of out of town, and I’ll only be back after I’m done.”
“You idiot! Your people attacked Justin, and you’re still acting as if nothing happened? Do you even think of him as your nephew?”
“That was an accident.”
“Accident? Did you think I have no idea what you’re doing? I’m warning you, the president of the Burton Group will never be you. Even if it isn’t Justin, it will never be you, so don’t go around getting ideas in your head!”
As Arthur said that, Dennis, who was next to him, broke out in a cold sweat. Did he really have to corner him like that?
Sure enough, Jason, on the other end of the phone, coldly replied, “I’ve never thought of him as my nephew, but have you ever thought of me as your son?” Saying that, he immediately hung up the phone.
“Hello? Hello?” Arthur was beside himself with anger. “B*stard!” He slammed the phone down with a loud smack.
Arthur’s cold voice sounded in the huge study. “Cut off all the resources that b*stard owns, and recover the funds he asked for immediately.”
In Cred Valley, which was 300 kilometers away from Riverdale, a pier was shrouded in darkness. There was a ship full of shipping workers. A black car was parked far away on the pier, and the middle-aged man inside the car frowned sullenly by the window.
“Master Jason, don’t be angry with Old Mr. Burton. There might be a misunderstanding. After all, Young Master Justin was injured. Those people in the demolition crew are a bunch of idiots. How could they injure Young Master Justin? They’re just causing you trouble.”
“Even if it wasn’t about the demolition crew, there will be other issues. This kid has been picking fights with me ever since he was a child and relies on my old man’s favoritism. He doesn’t take me seriously at all.”
“Even so, you’re Old Mr. Burton’s only son.”
When Jason heard this, his face eased a little, but not long after he felt better, there was an urgent knocking on the car window.
“What’s wrong?”
The car window rolled down, revealing the face of the assistant outside, and his tone was dire as he said, “Master Jason, there was a call from the drug factory in Riverdale earlier, saying that they didn’t receive the money.”
“What time is it?”
“It’s almost ten o’clock.”
Jason glanced at his watch as well. Then, his face sank, and he made a call, but he was directed to the voicemail. Arthur did not answer his call. After dialing Dennis’ number, the call went through.
“Master Jason.”
“My father didn’t allow the finance department to wire the funds to the drug factory?” As soon as the call went through, Jason immediately questioned.
Dennis replied, “Old Mr. Burton said that everything will be decided after you return to Riverdale.”
“I need that money now! It has to be wired to me by today.”
“Master Jason, this is Old Mr. Burton’s decision. If you really need it, you should come back soon.”
Jason was about to say something when he heard Arthur’s unsympathetic voice coming from the other end of the phone. “Why are you still talking nonsense with him? Tell him that if he doesn’t come back, he won’t be my son anymore, and he can’t rely on the Burton Family for anything in the future! Tell him he’s on his own!”
At that, Jason’s expression hardened, and he immediately hung up.
“Master Jason, what shall we do?”
Jason’s face was glum as he ordered coldly, “Return to Riverdale!”
