Chapter 20 Who Succeeds In Business Are Truly Ruthless
Sara
I carried my newly purchased phone and credit card receipt out of the store and got into the asshole’s car.
"It's the latest model, just like you said. I let them pick the color randomly, since you said color didn't matter."
When I mentioned color, my tone changed slightly.
Shawn interrupted me, taking the phone back: "As long as it's purchased, that's fine."
I sighed with relief, turned away, and looked at him carefully. His expression remained virtually unchanged from start to finish; he didn't seem to mind the rose gold color.
He glanced at the signature area on the payment slip before casually tossing it into the trunk of the car.
He then opened the box containing the phone, took out the phone and its accessories, and tossed the box directly into the trash bin outside the window.
His fingers froze as he held the phone. Suddenly, he reached out to me, "Give me the phone."
I hesitated, then handed him my old cell phone. My old phone was not in good condition.
However, I was counting on the fact that Shawn might not know this, planning to use Insta for a few more hours and then delete it later.
Since Shawn had asked for my phone, I assumed he wanted to delete the chat from it. In fact, I really wanted to add that I used Insta for legitimate purposes —discussing legitimate matters —and I wondered if I could delete it...
"Hey, what are you doing..." I looked at him in surprise as he removed the SIM card from my phone and inserted it into my newly purchased phone.
He moved very quickly. After the card was replaced, he turned on the phone and began typing rapidly. I thought he was going to use my card for something, but he had already finished typing.
Then my old phone was thrown away...
"Shawn, you..." I muttered and tried my best to shut my big mouth.
Before I could protest, the phone I had just spent ten to twenty thousand on was thrust into my hand. "My number is already saved there. As we agreed, I'll be ready for your call."
I accepted it nervously, frowning and looking up. "It's fine, but my phone..."
What worried me most was that the cost of this phone would be deducted from the remaining 190,000.
After all, he'd just as easily declared that I would pay the fine and cover my medical expenses.
"Sometimes you'll have to work as my assistant for a while." Asshole turned his head as he started the car, adding calmly, "I don't want others to think I treat my employees poorly."
I felt a slight disappointment at this explanation.
If it had just been a gift, I could have resold it immediately. A limited-edition phone, like a nearly new used one, could easily account for at least ten thousand of the deductible.
Ultimately, I was two hundred thousand short, and with my current salary and time, saving another ten thousand was difficult.
The phone, worth between ten and twenty thousand, felt heavy in my hand as I carefully tucked it into my bag.
I turned to look at him in surprise. Was he trying to console me? But there was no warmth in his comforting tone, and I hesitated.
Shawn's head spun under my gaze, his handsome brows furrowing. "Of course, if anything happens, it will be your own accident. Just to be clear, if any incident occurs within a month, I will extend the deadline."
I immediately turned away, realizing that those who succeed in business are truly ruthless.
Shawn hadn't gone anywhere else; he had driven me straight back to school.
"Then I'm leaving..." I seemed to hesitate a little as I got out of the car.
After we agreed, I saw Gu him for the second time, and my thoughts were preoccupied with when I would be able to receive the remaining 190,000.
After all, I wouldn't rest until I received the money.
However, given the rule that the money could still be deducted, perhaps Shawn intended to give it to me until the last moment.
Thinking about this, I opened the car door.
"Wait." Shawn had been watching my face, distorted by conflict, the entire time, and only when I decided to leave without a word did he finally stop me.
He took out a checkbook and pen, quickly wrote something, and handed it to me.
I glanced at it and saw that it only contained 100,000.
"I'll pay half first." He capped the pen without looking at me. I thought about it and decided that this approach was correct and in line with their business rules.
Nevertheless, to confirm, I asked, "So the remaining 90,000 will be paid in twenty-five days?"
As soon as Shawn heard "twenty-five days," his gaze, sharp as a sword, pierced my heart, icy and piercing: "Why don't you specify the exact time, down to the minute and second?"
Calculating so precisely, I seemed to be counting down the days.
His lips tightened, his patience wearing thin. Without waiting for me to speak, he immediately looked away and started the car again: "Get out!"
I, holding the receipt in my hand, didn't dare stay in the car any longer.
Only after getting out did I suddenly remember what exactly Shawn had invited me to today.
In all this time, he'd only bought a phone. "Damn it!" I pressed my hand to my forehead, feeling dejected.
Didn't he think about how many numbers I hadn't saved or transferred when he threw away my phone? I checked the new phone and saw that there was only one name in my contacts, Shawn Romano!
This name evoked a complex mixture of emotions.