Chapter 40 All Birthday Gifts
News of the Windsor family's daughter's birthday party spread throughout high society!
Clara heard about it too. Looking at the photos of the extravagant setup posted by social media accounts on her phone, her face twisted with jealousy.
"Mom, who exactly are the Windsors? For their daughter's birthday party, they actually bought the best house in Starry Residence. I heard they spent 1.5 billion dollars including the renovations."
Celeste peeled off her face mask and rubbed the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
"The Windsors are a big deal - they're a super wealthy family from Imperia City. Have you and Lucas settled things about the wedding?"
Clara nodded, blushing.
"Yes, Lucas said once he's feeling better, he'll get engaged to me."
"That's good!"
Only when a great guy like Lucas was truly secured would Celeste feel at ease.
Thinking of Lucas's gentle care toward her, Clara felt very satisfied.
Oliver had just walked in when Clara rushed over to him: "Dad, I want to buy a necklace to wear at the engagement."
"Okay, I'll buy it for you!"
"Thanks Dad! Three million dollars should be enough!"
Oliver was shocked: "What kind of necklace costs three million dollars? Clara, don't be so wasteful, and don't try to compete with others. All our family's money is what I've worked hard to earn!"
Clara felt wronged.
Wanting to spend three million dollars on a necklace was wasteful?
Oliver's phone rang.
"Mr. Smith, our recent project investment failed. The losses are pretty big."
"Investment failures are normal. What does Hill Finance say?"
Oliver wasn't bothered by the failed investment. After all, he had failed investments eight or ten times a year. With Hill Finance and Summit Financial backing him up, the Smith Group wouldn't have trouble finding other partners.
The secretary's voice was hesitant: "Other companies have all cut business ties with us."
"If they cut ties, so be it! We still have Hill Finance and Summit Financial, what's there to worry about?"
Hill Finance, a financing company that emerged domestically in recent years, quickly established itself in the market with sharp investment vision, solid capital chains, and several major projects under its belt.
Summit Financial was a financial investment company second only to a few monopoly enterprises in Imperia City. Last year they even opened an oil mine. They had projects flowing like water, with plenty of people wanting to partner with them.
With Hill Finance and Summit Financial partnering with the Smith Group, there were plenty of companies eager to curry favor with them.
"Mr. Smith, Hill Finance and Summit Financial have sued us, saying our investment losses are too large and they want to hold us legally responsible!"
"What did you say?"
Oliver jumped straight up from the sofa in alarm!
"Hill Finance and Summit Financial sued us!"
Although their partnership terms did include a performance agreement, it had never been enforced before.
"Also, Nexus Media says our company's movies caused them huge losses and they're demanding 300 million dollars in compensation."
Nexus Media was a famous film company in Imperia City.
Oliver had previously invested in several movies, all using Nexus Media's actors and directors, but he'd replaced several leads with his own mistresses.
Making Nexus Media's best actor and best actress play supporting roles to his mistresses.
"Nexus Media didn't mention this before. Why are they demanding compensation now!"
"Harmony Enterprises is also demanding compensation, saying the artists our company sent over had bad character and caused Harmony Enterprises to face recent public criticism, and they're demanding compensation."
Oliver was shocked.
He had indeed sent several women to Harmony Enterprises, thinking he could help those women debut as stars and save himself some money.
But those women's private lives were pretty messy, which damaged Harmony Enterprises' reputation quite a bit!
"Why are they all demanding compensation from me? Get a lawyer quick! Have our legal department prepare immediately. I need to meet with the bosses of these companies personally!"
This must all be a mistake!
He must not be fully awake, otherwise how could he be hearing all this news about contract terminations.
"Our company's lawyers previously infringed on several documents, and Philip's law firm contacted the prosecutor's office to file charges..."
Oliver nearly fainted on the spot!
The Smith Group's legal department generally used whatever documents were available, avoiding costs whenever possible.
Philip's legal documents were everywhere - any famous case had his mark on it.
To view Philip's legal documents, you had to pay his law firm copyright fees. Oliver had never paid once.
Viewing a document cost a hundred thousand dollars each time!
Oliver said through gritted teeth: "Get the legal department moving first. If we need to pay, we'll pay. Have finance allocate the funds."
"You previously said you wanted to build roads and cell towers for your hometown. Finance already transferred the money today, so there aren't enough liquid funds in the account right now."
Oliver was confused.
"When did I say I'd build roads for my hometown?"
That dump - what's the point of building roads there?
No media would even report on his good deed!
"Your video was posted online. I thought that was your intention."
Oliver quickly exited the call and opened the trending topics online.
[Rural Entrepreneur Remembers His Roots, Invests in Building Roads and Towers for Hometown]
His disheveled appearance in front of Neil had been filmed and posted online.
There were even comments saying he was balding.
And in the video, he clearly said he would build roads and cell towers for his hometown!
Five million dollars!
What road is worth five million dollars!
"First contact the bosses of those companies for me. I'm heading to the office now. Invite them out for a meal together."
There were too many companies - having Oliver treat them separately would be painful.
Anyway, last time when discussing partnerships, the bosses had met together too.
"Let's go to that hotel from last time. It's cheap."
"Okay, I'll contact them right away."
Hanging up the phone, Oliver let out a long breath.
Those companies must have all gone crazy!
Actually collectively demanding compensation from him!
Calculating it all, after the Smith Group paid the compensation, they'd completely become a second-tier company, unable to hold their heads up in Serenitia City anymore.
"Clara, contact the Johnson family and ask them to help us out."
"Okay, I'll call Lucas right away. He'll definitely help us!"
Thinking of Lucas, Oliver's expression improved somewhat.
Such a good person who would secretly help them renovate their house wouldn't just stand by in this matter either. As long as the Johnson family helped, the Smith family could definitely get through this!
Starry Residence, The Windsor Mansion
Two buildings occupying the central location of Starry Residence complemented each other perfectly.
Sunlit Mansion, purchased by Alexander.
Moonlight Mansion, purchased by the Windsor family as a birthday gift for Catherine.
Early in the morning, it was already bustling in front of Sunlit Mansion.
All the famous people from Imperia City were rushing over to give gifts!
Just looking at this scene, you could tell how beloved Catherine was. If they could curry favor with her, their futures would be set!