Chapter 22
Chapter 22
"Tom, I make it. Exactly twenty minutes. I'm not late." Samuel had an ingratiating smile on his face and
bowed slightly in a reverent manner. If the Scott Family saw this, they would be too stunned to believe
their eyes.
Tom looked at his sweaty face and said thoughtfully, "Look at your sweat. I'm so sorry to put you in
such a hurry. You won't be angry with me, will you?"
Samuel hurriedly shook his head and said in a fluster, "of course not! How could I be angry with you?"
"Really?"
"Positively no!"
Tom chuckled and sipped his coffee languidly.
Samuel also ordered a cup of coffee and then said cautiously, "Tom, do you call me because you have
something to talk with me?"
Tom kept him dangling for almost a minute before nodding gently. It was humiliating for Samuel but he
hid his anger well, afraid of offending him.
"Actually, it's not a big issue. I just forgot to bring money and hope you can kindly pay my bill." Tom said
delightedly.
Upon those words, the smile on Samuel's face froze, and a burst of rage rushed up from his chest and
straight to his head!
He had never ever been humiliated like this before and was always treated with great respect
throughout the whole H City. He almost lost his temper, but the sneer on Tom's face sent a shudder
down his spine and he suppressed his fury.
Tom was not the Tom he used to be. He couldn't afford to mess with him.
He took a deep breath and pinched his thigh hard to keep himself calm. He squeezed out a smile and
said, "So that's it. No problem. I'll pay your bill right away."
After he stood up, Tom asked, "After 50 billion dollars vanished all of a sudden, how has your life been
in the Howard Family?"
Samuel paused, fury and indignation flashing across his face. "Tom, what happened four years ago
was our fault. We wronged you and have been regretting it ever since. We have always wanted to find
you back and make it up to you."
He was really good at making a show of looking repentant. He even had tears in his eyes. If Tom hadn't
known him, he would have bought it.
Tom was dismissive of him in his heart but pretended to be moved, "Uncle, do you really think so? Can
I really go back to the Howard Family?"
Seeing Tom rise to the bait, Samuel gloated secretly, despising Tom as a credulous fool. On the
surface, he offered sincerely, "Of course! You are my brother's only son. You have the Howard's blood
in you. You're welcome to come home anytime!"
However, Tom looked as something struck him and the joy on his face was replaced by rue. "But I... In
order to retaliate against the Howard Family, I donated the 50 billion dollars that I inherited from the
grandpa in anger. I can't help the Howard Family."
"What?!" Samuel flared up because of his words. He jumped to his feet, his eyes wide open, his face
flushing with anger, and his body trembling. "You-you donated all the money? You bastard, you
bastard! I..."
Seeing Tom sitting there calmly and smiling at him wryly, not rueful at all, Samuel instantly realized that
he was fooled.
For a moment, he stood there and cringed.
"Uncle, it seems that there are other reasons why you want me back." Tom said sarcastically.
In his heart, Samuel called Tom a bastard and cursed him violently, but he didn't say a single word, just
smiling awkwardly.
Tom had achieved his goal. He didn't want to waste any time with Samuel and said directly, "It's not
impossible for me to go back to the Howard Family. I'll be upfront. Four years ago, you framed me for
harming grandpa and expelled me. I am not over that. If you play nice and allay my anger, I may come
back."
Samuel breathed a sigh of relief. Things would be much easier as long as Tom was willing to come
back. "Tom, what compensation do you want? You can have anything we have!"
Tom took a sip of coffee and didn't answer immediately. After a while, he said, "ZQ Media is valued two
billion now, right?"
"Yes." Samuel nodded. He didn't understand why Tom mentioned the company. The Howard Family
had an array of industries in various fields. That company with a market value of two billion dollars was
just an unremarkable one among them. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Tom said, "Since you're so sincere, I intend to buy the ZQ Media for 2.5 billion dollars, 500 million
dollars more than its market value. What do you say?"
Although Samuel couldn't make heads or tails of Tom, he definitely wouldn't refuse money. Moreover,
now that the Howard Family was in a financial crisis and the capital chain was broken, with this 2.5
billion dollars, it could have a respite.
"It's a deal!" Samuel agreed. "When do we sign the contract?"
"Now. Also, I don't want the Howard Family to gossip around about my identity."
"Understood! I'll see to that!"
Samuel was very efficient. After less than half an hour, the transfer process was completed. From now
on, Tom was the biggest shareholder of the ZQ Media, holding 60 % of its shares.
There were two reasons why he acquired the ZQ Media. First, his father founded this company, and it
had been his wish to buy it back. Second, Mr. Cook, who wanted to get Phoebe laid, was a manager in
this company.
Rumors said Mr. Cook was rich and powerful, so he wanted to see for himself.
"Phoebe, I said I would protect you, and I will keep my word!" Tom clenched his fists and determination
flickered through his eyes.
After the transfer process, Samuel immediately informed the top executives of the news and warned
them to treat their new boss carefully. He revealed that Tom had a strong background and was
extremely rich! It put lots of strain on the top executives and they were all nervously waiting for the
coming of the big boss.
The self-styled beauties in the company, including female staff and stars, all dressed themselves with
scrupulous care in case that the big boss got an eye on them.
The male leaders in the company also racked their brains to get the new boss like them.
Mr. Cook, as the manager of the ZQ Media, was completely confused when he heard the news. He
knew the company was on the wane and its profits were shrinking because of too many rivals. Why
would someone acquire a company like it?
Regardless of the new boss's lack of business acumen, at least one thing was certain: he was super
rich!
He must treat such a man carefully.
And an idea struck him when he thought of the beautiful woman who would spend the night with him
today.