Chapter 12 It's True

• After Emelia left, Chester finally lowered his hand. His eyes had reddened from holding back tears.
• He took a long, deep breath and mulled over their encounter today. No, something is off. Her demeanor has been strange today, as if she is dealing with a problem she can't solve on her own. But what could possibly trouble her like this?
• He knew her well after two years together. She was a formidable force at work, always composed and efficient, and she navigated her personal life with equal grace, never making enemies or engaging in conflicts.
• If it wasn't a personal issue, it had to be something related to her work. But she was always so meticulous; it was hard to imagine her making a significant mistake.
• He recalled that before leaving, he had finalized a major contract between her company and Callister Group. Once the final payment from Callister Group was made, it would secure a substantial profit for her business.
• Wait a minute—finalized...
• The thought of this contract struck him like a bolt of lightning.
• A dreadful suspicion crept into his mind. Can it be...?
• Without wasting another second, he hailed a cab and headed straight for her company, the urgency of the situation pressing heavily on his mind.
• Within ten minutes, he was standing at the entrance of her company.
• The atmosphere in Emelia's company was bleak, a stark contrast to the bustling scene it used to be. He frowned slightly as he stepped into the building, immediately sensing the tension that hung in the air.
• As soon as he entered, he was met with the sharp sound of heated arguments echoing down the corridors. Following the noise, he made his way to the company's meeting room, which was filled with people, all animatedly voicing their frustrations.
• "I'll say it one last time. The company's cash flow has dried up. It's not that I don't want to pay you; I simply can't. Coming here every day isn't going to change that!" Sherry's voice rose above the clamor, strained with exasperation.
• "If you don't have the money, then you better prepare for a lawsuit!" someone shouted furiously.
• "Exactly! Running a company with no money—who are you trying to fool?" another chimed in.
• "Where is Miss Parker? I demand to see her!"
• "If we don't get paid today, none of you are leaving!"
• The crowd's unrest only grew, with a mixture of demands and complaints filling the room.
• "I've told you all, there's no money! Can't you understand that?" the company accountant shouted, clearly at the end of his tether.
• Chester pushed through the crowd and finally caught sight of the beleaguered group surrounded at the center. They were Emelia's management team and there were familiar faces he had seen on several occasions before.
• Among them was Sherry, Emelia's secretary, whom he knew well enough to approach for answers. He moved closer to her and asked, "What's going on here? Who are all these people?"
• "They're suppliers, and they're all here to demand payment," she sighed, looking worn out by the situation.
• "What happened? Weren't you doing well? I heard you even signed a big contract with Callister Group," he questioned, trying to piece together the sudden turn of events.
• "Chester, isn't it all because of you?" the company's accountant, Katherine Zitters, accused him, her voice sharp and filled with frustration. "You divorced Emelia and then kicked us while we were down. You made Callister Group cancel their orders with us, and the money they owed never came through. Do you think we'd be in this mess if it weren't for you?"
• "Katherine!" Sherry quickly interjected, trying to defuse the growing tension in the room.
• Chester stood frozen, blindsided by the unexpected accusation. Could it really all be his fault?
• A supplier standing next to him eyed him suspiciously. "Who are you?" he demanded, stepping closer.
• "I know him," shouted someone from the back of the crowd. "He's Emelia's ex-husband! Stop him! Don't let him leave. We need to know where Emelia is!"
• Suddenly, the supplier in front of Chester reached out and grabbed his arm, attempting to restrain him.
• "Get lost!" he shouted and kicked the supplier away, sending him stumbling back.
• The room fell silent, and the crowd was stunned by his audacity to resort to violence in such a tense situation.
• "Not paying us and now attacking people? Is there no justice?" someone yelled, their voice echoing the collective outrage of the group.
• "Let's see who dares to come forward!" Chester challenged, his voice steady and calm as he stared down the group of people rushing toward him.
• The ones at the front of the group abruptly stopped in their tracks, momentarily frozen in place. They were caught off guard by the aura of calmness that he exuded, a serene confidence that clashed with the chaos of the situation, and the strange smile playing on his lips.
• "Fine. You want your money, right? I'll give it to you. But remember, once you get your money, you all better apologize to them and Parker Group." He pointed at the crowd, making his demand clear, before reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone.
• "Hmph, it's our money. Why should we apologize?" someone muttered defiantly, unwilling to back down.
• "You have money? Let's see it first before you start making demands," another voice chimed in, challenging Chester's assertion with skepticism.
• …
• The suppliers initially appeared dismissive, but when he mentioned he would pay them, they stopped their clamor and waited quietly as he made a phone call.
• "Come to Parker Group immediately!" he instructed succinctly once the call connected, and then he hung up without another word.
• With that done, he found a chair, sat down, and lit a cigarette. The executives of Parker Group, along with the suppliers, remained silent, all waiting in anticipation. The suppliers eyed him with skepticism, clearly doubting his ability to produce the promised funds.
• After a few minutes, a sharply dressed middle-aged man appeared at the entrance of Parker Group's meeting room.
• "Mr. Walker…" murmured someone, breaking the silence with a note of awe in his voice.
• In Kinlande, there wasn't a single person in the business community who didn't recognize Sheldon of Callister Group.
• Seeing Sheldon ignore them and head straight into the room, the suppliers quickly stepped aside to clear a path for him.
• The employees of Parker Group rose to their feet in surprise at his sudden arrival.
• "Mr. Walker, the orders from Callister Group have always been fulfilled with the utmost care and quality from our side. Please take a look at our products and grant us another chance," Sherry pleaded cautiously and hurried over to intercept Sheldon.
• "Yes, Mr. Walker, we're begging you!" chimed in others from Emelia's team, their voices a chorus of desperation.
• Sheldon was a figure they had dreamed of meeting. They all longed to plead their case to him, yet he had consistently refused even to meet with Emelia herself, let alone her team. Now, seeing him in person, their excitement was visible.
• In their excitement, they failed to realize that he was there at Chester's behest. Without acknowledging anyone else, he walked directly to Chester.
• "Mr.—Did you call for me?" he asked, his voice calm but respectful.
• He had initially intended to address Chester as Mr. Newman,' but he quickly remembered Chester's preference to avoid such formalities in public, especially in the presence of others, so he adjusted his address accordingly.
• The suppliers stood frozen in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock.
• Emelia's team mirrored this reaction, equally taken aback.
• The realization hit them like a thunderbolt: the person Chester had summoned with just a phone call was none other than Sheldon himself!
• What kind of person was Sheldon?
• He was no ordinary businessman. He was the president of Callister Group, the most prestigious corporation in Kinlande. In the city's business circles, he was a formidable figure, a man whose influence and power were well-known and respected.
• Yet here he was, coming at the beck and call of this young man with remarkable speed.
• However, what happened next was even more astonishing!