Chapter 293 A Collaboration With Someone Using Unconventional Methods
Rachel had a terrible headache when she woke up the next morning. After her morning routine, she went downstairs and saw Justin having breakfast in the dining room.
“Are Charlotte and Samuel awake yet?” Justin hummed in response as he pushed the phone on the table toward her. “You left your phone in the living room last night.”
“Thanks. I was looking for it.” As she was checking her notifications, she pulled the chair back to take a seat. She seemed to have seen something that caused her brows to frown. After sipping her coffee, she rose to her feet and added, “I have something to attend to. I shall head off first.”
“Where are you going?” he questioned, his cold voice echoing in the spacious room.
“To the office.”
“You aren’t going to see Jason, are you?”
Rachel turned to face him. “Did you check my phone?”
“I saw it by accident. Why are you in touch with Jason? What are you going to do?”
“This only involves me and Hudson Pharmaceuticals. I don’t think that I need to report to you about this?”
“Rachel!” Justin rose to his full height with a stern look. “I believe that you know what Jason is up to without me having to remind you. Are you going to lead Hudson Pharmaceuticals into taking the crooked path once again?”
“The crooked path?” She furrowed her brows. “As far as I’m concerned, Jason’s men have been the one to ensure that many matters of the Burton Group smoothly proceed. Since the Burton Group can use them, why can’t I?”
“It’s not the same.”
“How so? You walk in integrity if you use it, but I’m taking the crooked path if I do the same?” Rachel’s rebuttal had rendered him speechless.
Not wanting to make things tense between them, she half-heartedly explained, “Don’t worry, Hudson Pharmaceuticals is currently in a difficult position, so we need to use some unconventional method to ease the situation. I won’t go beyond the principles.”
“Rae, let me help you.”
“No need. I prefer to depend on myself.” With that, Rachel turned on her heels and left.
Judging from Justin’s attitude, he seemed to have known what Jason did in secret. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given such a huge reaction.
Without wasting any more time for further consideration, she gave Jason a call once she had left the house. “Mr. Burton, I’m sorry for not answering your call last night, but I saw your message. The goods are ready. From your message, you seemed to agree to collaborate with me?”
“Of course. To show my sincerity, let’s have a meal together where I’ll introduce you to a few friends.”
“No problem.”
“I’ll send you the exact time and location later.”
“Sure.”
“Remember to bring the drug formula along with you. ”
“Of course.”
Rachel hung up the call and tightly clenched on the steering wheel.
According to the address given in the evening, she drove all the way to a small private restaurant in Riverdale.
The building that featured an architectural style from the 20th century seemed rather historical while the surrounding shady trees formed shadows that danced under the street lights.
Rachel remembered that Janice had once said that this sort of place, where there were many obstructions, would make catching criminals extremely difficult. If they weren’t careful enough, the suspect could easily climb the trees or over the walls to escape.
While Rachel followed the waiter who led her to the table, she intentionally and casually posed a question. “Does Mr. Burton come here often?”
The waiter, who seemed to know the unspoken rules well, flashed a smile at her. “I’m new, so I’m not very sure.”
Judging from the way he was able to handle the question with such ease, he didn’t seem like a new staff member, but his reaction had given Rachel a rough idea of the situation.
“Mr. Burton, Miss Hudson is here.” The waiter knocked on the door and mentioned, to which Jason’s voice came from the private room. “Come in.”
The door of the ancient building swung open and the door hinge creaked from the friction. Rachel stepped over the threshold on her high-heels onto the carpeted floor. Jason and his assistant were seen in the private room, as well as two bodyguards, one standing at the window the other at the door.
Jason nodded at her and made pleasantries. “I reckon it wasn’t easy for you to locate the place. Thank you for your patience.”
“It’s fine, although it was a bit difficult. Mr. Burton, how did you know about this place?”
“A friend had recommended this place to me.”
She thoughtfully surveyed the surroundings. “Is this person the friend who is coming? Has he arrived?”
“What’s the rush? We’ve just finalized our collaboration and haven’t even established complete trust between us. Ms. Hudson, perhaps you should show your sincerity?”
Jason’s gaze landed on Rachel’s side where her purse was since that was the only thing which she carried with her.
Before Rachel had managed to react, a swift bodyguard snatched her purse and emptied its contents onto the table in front of Jason.
Thud! All her belongings—cosmetics, car keys and a phone—fell on the table, and lastly, her empty bag.
“Where’s the drug formula?”
Rachel seemed unfazed by the situation, as though she had expected this. Calmly, she replied, “Mr. Burton, what’s all this? Are you planning to scam me?”
“Ms. Hudson, you are surely a bright person. You didn’t bring anything with you.”
“Of course I brought it. I’ve said that I’ll show you my sincerity and I will never eat my words.” She touched her temple and added, “The drug formula is in my head. If you use this sort of rough method, I’m afraid that things may not go according to your wish.”
Jason’s expression fell.
Without beating around the bush, she straightened her posture and continued, “Mr. Burton, I know that you have been dissatisfied with me because of the incident that involved President Gunson. However, if you continue to push my bottomline like this, I’m afraid that our collaboration may be delayed until God knows when and nobody will benefit from it.”
After saying that, she took out a list. “This is the latest batch of medicines made by the factories of Hudson Pharmaceuticals and you only need to give me 10 percent of the price stated here. You are free to decide who you want to sell them to and at what price.”
Jason’s eyes brightened, especially when he saw the quantity of the medicine on the list. “So much?”
Rachel sipped her tea and asked, “What’s wrong? Is it difficult for you?”
“Let me think for a moment.” Arthur had long been dissatisfied with Jason and as a middleman, Jason had no proper business in his hands as his income came from his connections. Although he seemed successful on the surface, in fact, he didn’t earn much. Hence, it was apparent that this batch of goods was rather tempting to him.
It was the reason why Rachel was certain that he would accept her condition.
Sure enough, after some consideration, he took the list. “According to the rules, I’ll transfer 30% of the amount as deposit to your account while the rest will be transferred once the transaction is completed and the goods have been safely received.”
“No problem.”
She glanced at her watch. “Alright, may I take my leave now? From the looks of it, there won’t be any friends coming over today, right?”
Jason stood up. “Don’t blame me for being distrustful. It doesn’t hurt to be extra careful when I’m in this line.”
“It’s understandable.”
“Speaking of which, Ms. Hudson, I heard that you are quite close with Officer Hawkins from the Riverdale Investigation Bureau.”
Rachel remained impassive. “What’s the matter? Do you need her to pull some strings? She’s an impartial person, so I’m afraid that it won’t work.”
