The Supreme General

Chapter 7 The Contract That Changed Everything

At the private boardroom of Vanguard Enterprises, Marcus sat calmly at the long table.

Across from him, Chairman Leonard Reynolds looked very nervous.

The contact from the Supreme General had warned him not to mess this up. If only he had gotten there early he could have prevented this embarrassment.

“Stupid boy!” He cursed Robert under his breath.

His voice was respectful.

“Sir… I sincerely apologize for what happened downstairs. I was rushing to make it on time but traffic delayed me.” He was so scared of what would happen to him if the Supreme General decided to take this up. Forget his job, his life will be in danger.

“It’s not your fault.” Marcus waved it off.

Leonard nodded quickly.

“I thank you for your understanding.”

He then opened a folder on the table. Inside were contract documents.

He slid them toward Marcus.

“This is the deal you came for.”

Marcus glanced down.

The number written across the top page was bold.

$50,000,000

Leonard folded his hands.

“The Bennett Industrial Holdings contract.”

Marcus looked at him.

“It’s yours.” Leonard smiled politely.

“Thank you.” Marcus replied

Leonard then added something unexpected.

“Actually… I have another proposal.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

Leonard leaned forward slightly.

“You should become the new CEO of this division.”

Marcus blinked

“Me?”

Leonard continued quickly.

“I’m serious.”

“I have the chairman’s authority. The entire board would approve immediately.”

At that exact moment the door burst open.

Robert Langford who had been listening by the door rushed in carrying a silver tray.

The coffee trembled in his shaking hands.

He had heard the last sentence.

Marcus becoming CEO. That meant he would lose his job!

The tray slipped.

CLATTER!

The cup fell onto the carpet.

Robert rushed forward and dropped to his knees.

“Mr. Hale!”

His voice trembled with panic.

“Please forgive me!”

He bowed his head repeatedly.

“I was blind! I didn’t recognize someone of your status!”

Marcus looked down at him calmly.

Robert continued desperately.

“I insulted you… I ordered security to throw you out…”

“If Chairman Reynolds hadn’t arrived, I would have ruined everything!”

His forehead nearly touched the floor.

“Please… forgive me!”

The room was silent. Chairman Leonard waited for Marcus word so he could decide.

Marcus finally spoke.

“Stand up.”

Robert froze.

Marcus repeated calmly.

“I said stand up.”

Robert slowly lifted his head.

Marcus’ voice was steady.

“I’m not interested in your job.”

Robert blinked.

“You’re… not?”

Marcus shook his head.

“Relax. I’m not taking your position.”

For a moment Robert simply stared.

Then relief washed across his face.

“Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Hale!”

“I swear from today onward, if you ever need anything—anything at all—I will do it!”

Chairman Leonard frowned at him.

“Langford.”

Robert straightened immediately.

“Yes Chairman!”

Leonard’s voice turned stern.

“Let today be a lesson.”

Robert lowered his head.

“You became arrogant and looked down on others simply because of their appearance.”

Leonard gestured toward Marcus.

“And that arrogance nearly destroyed your career.”

Robert nodded repeatedly.

“Yes Chairman.”

“From today onward I will never judge someone by appearance again.”

Leonard leaned back.

“Good.”

He pushed the contract toward Marcus again.

“Sir… the deal is ready.”

Marcus picked up the pen.

With a few calm strokes—

He signed.

Just like that.

A $50 million contract now belonged to Bennett Industrial Holdings.

Twenty minutes later Marcus exited the building.

The signed documents were safely inside his bag.

Outside the lobby, two familiar faces were still waiting.

Emily and Sylvester.

The moment they saw Marcus walking out, they rushed toward Robert Langford who had followed him out.

Emily’s voice was sharp.

“Mr. Langford! What just happened there?!”

Sylvester added quickly,

“Yes, why did the chairman personally escort Marcus upstairs?”

Robert’s expression darkened instantly.

“You two…”

Emily blinked.

“Yes?”

Robert’s anger exploded.

“Do you know what you almost did to me?!”

Both of them froze.

“You called Mr. Hale a beggar.”

“You mocked him.”

“You nearly cost me my career!”

Emily’s face turned pale.

Sylvester tried to explain.

“There must be some misunderstanding—”

Robert cut him off.

“Security!”

Two guards immediately approached.

Robert pointed at them furiously.

“Throw them out.”

Emily gasped.

“What?!”

Robert’s voice was cold.

“And blacklist them.”

“Neither of them is allowed inside any Vanguard property ever again.”

The guards grabbed Sylvester immediately.

Emily screamed.

“Let go of me!”

But it was useless. They were dragged toward the exit like criminals.

Marcus watched quietly with amusement. Oh how the tables has turned

Robert turned back to him respectfully.

“Mr. Hale… please allow me to drive you home.”

He gestured toward a luxury black sedan waiting nearby.

Marcus looked at it.

Then he smiled faintly.

“No need.”

He walked past the car.

A moment later he unlocked a simple bicycle parked by the street.

Robert stared in disbelief.

Marcus placed the contract safely in his bag, he rode away on the bicycle.

By evening the Bennett family mansion was in chaos.

Emily sat on the couch crying loudly.

Sylvester sat beside her with a stiff expression.

The entire Bennett family surrounded them.

“What do you mean you were thrown out?!” Jonathan demanded.

Emily sobbed.

“That stupid Marcus!”

“He somehow convinced the chairman to meet him!”

Sylvester clenched his jaw.

“It doesn’t make sense…”

“How could someone like him even get inside that boardroom?”

The family argued loudly.

Trying to understand what had happened when the front door opened.

Marcus walked in calmly as all eyes turned on him.

Jonathan stepped forward angrily.

“What did you do?!”

Marcus simply placed a folder on the table. Inside were the signed contracts.

The Bennett family rushed forward.

Their eyes widened when they saw the number.

$50,000,000

Margaret Bennett looked up sharply.

“What witchcraft did you use to get this?!”

Jason sneered.

“You must be having some disgusting relationship with that chairman!”

Marcus’ expression darkened.

For the first time that day real anger appeared in his eyes.

He picked up the contract.

“Should I return this to Vanguard?”

The room froze.

Marcus continued calmly.

“And maybe tell Chairman Reynolds what you just said about him?”

Panic exploded instantly.

“No!”

“Wait!”

Margaret rushed forward.

“We didn’t mean that!”

Jason forced a smile.

“Yes Marcus, we were just joking!”

Marcus placed the contract back on the table.

“Before I give this to you, you should keep your promise.”

Margaret quickly nodded.

“Of course!”

She turned toward Sylvester.

“You!”

Sylvester blinked.

“Me?”

“Go bring Marcus’ belongings from the garden shed.”

Sylvester’s face turned red with humiliation.

Just hours ago he had been laughing at Marcus, now he was being ordered to run errands for him.

Marcus leaned casually against the wall, a faint smirk appeared on his face.

“Better hurry.”

Sylvester clenched his fists, but he had no choice.

He walked outside.

Minutes later Marcus’ suitcase and belongings were placed inside the main house.

A new closet was prepared for him, right beside Sophie’s closet.

Sophie stood there silently. Her nails dug into her palms. Face burning with anger.

Her mother whispered beside her.

“Endure it.”

Sophie turned slightly.

Margaret continued quietly.

“Once we finish using him…”

“We’ll find a way to throw him out.”

A slow smile appeared on Sophie’s face.

Good.

Because she already had someone better in mind.

The heir of the Fourth Group — Goldspire Group.

A man far more worthy than Marcus.

Back in the living room, Marcus finally handed over the contract.

The Bennett family signed eagerly.

Not one of them bothered to read the contact.

Marcus smirked as he watched them quickly sign the contract without reading it through. If they had, they would have seen a single clause buried deep inside the document.

The Vanguard contract must be personally managed by Marcus Hale.

If Marcus Hale is removed from Bennett Industrial Holdings, the contract will automatically transfer to whichever company he joins.

Marcus watched them sign quietly, a faint smile on his lips.