“Mr. Wood, please don’t get angry. They’re just trying to make you lose control on purpose!”
Madison and Orion showed no anger at all. Orion even smiled and said, “Winners take all. Who cares about pride?”
“You stole my company! You’re shameless and disgusting!” I shouted in rage.
“So what if I’m shameless? Your wife loves me. All I had to do was crook my finger and she came crawling like a dog to play with me! Then she helped me drain your company dry!”
This Orion used to be broke and nearly had his legs broken by loan sharks. Madison once said he was her cousin from the village and begged me to give him a job.
Out of kindness, I hired him with a high salary of $20,000 a month!
I pulled him out of the mud and this was how he repaid me, betraying me with my own wife and helping her steal everything I built.
Suppressing my burning anger, I stared Madison straight in the eyes and said, “You will regret this.”
She sneered and replied, “Live for today, drink while there’s wine. I don’t care about regret! But you’ll probably be sleeping on the streets in a few days.”
Hearing this, Leila leaned in and quietly said, “Mr. Wood, the company’s cash flow is gone. This product launch is our last chance.”
If customers liked the new product, they would place orders with down payments and that money could save us.
I took a deep breath. “Let’s begin.”
The deputy tech manager started the presentation.
From design to concept and quality, the new product was a full year ahead of the market.
The clients’ eyes lit up. Excited voices quickly filled the room.
“Give me ten million worth. Send it as soon as you can.”
“Mr. Wood, I want five million!”
“I’ll pay eight million cash, just ship fast!”
“Give me three million worth…”
Seeing the customers so eager to place orders, hope filled my heart. Maybe the company could still be saved.
“Did you celebrate too soon?”
Orion looked around, then pulled a product from his briefcase.
“This product was just finished. Its functions and design are pretty much the same as Mr. Wood’s.”
“But the wholesale price is 30% lower.”
The room went silent.
I shouted in anger, “You... you copied my product?!”
Madison sneered, “Mr. Wood, don’t put it like that. But it’s true, our price is lower.”
She turned to the customers and said, “If you work with us, we’ll even give you another 10% off.”
The customers exchanged glances, many swallowing hard.
“Mr. Wood, I run a small business. If the quality’s the same, I have to go with the cheaper option.”
“Sorry, Mr. Wood. I don’t have enough money. If you can’t lower the price, I’ll have to buy from Mr. Alcott.”
In an instant, most of the customers turned their backs on me. Only three or four long-time clients, out of loyalty, placed small orders worth a few hundred thousand each.
Furious, I shouted, “Madison, you’re trying to destroy me completely!”
Madison shrugged. “Chasing profit is the rule in business. If they want to buy from me, what can I do?”
“Besides, your failing company is already close to bankruptcy. Do you even have the money to produce anything?”
In a burst of anger, I rushed forward to hit her.
But three security guards blocked me. The head of security slapped me hard across the face.
I stood there, stunned, glaring at him. “One day, I’ll make sure none of you have a place to die!”
The guards laughed. “Your wife ran off with another man and your company’s collapsing. Do you really think you have a future?”
Everyone around looked at me with mocking eyes.
