Chapter 168 - Face A Setback

At the Matthews mansion,

Secretary Harrison reached the mansion earlier than every day. The dark bags under his eyes were getting more and more profound as the days passed. He rushed upstairs and paused sensing the graveness in the air. 

Casper, who had completed his workout, sat in the second living hall on the second floor. Gianna was sitting on the couch opposite to him with a coffee cup.

It was very rare for this husband and wife to sit and have a conversation. Their conversation could be nothing good to look forward to. It was always the bad news, warnings, threats, and orders exchanged between them.

Secretary Harrison held back from delivering the crucial information to Casper. He waited for them.

Casper blandly asked his wife, "What is it?" Meantime he rejected the coffee his PA was trying to hand him.

Gianna placed her cup down elegantly. She looked at her husband's frowns while she sat there like a graceful elegant lady. "Madam Dalton had called me to inform us that they are breaking the engagement. It will be announced to the media."

How could anything out of his wife's mouth be good news?

Casper's face darkened a few shades after hearing Gianna. He had sat and worked half of the night to solve the crisis at Dalton company, just to know in the morning that he had stumbled right at the beginning of their analysis.

Secretary Harrison clenched his teeth, realizing he was late to deliver the information. Yes, Casper and he worked late into the night while preparing to help the Dalton Company. 

No, they weren't going to help the Dalton company directly as it will provoke Alvin to continue with his ruthless plan of attacks. So Casper was using a company that they had acquired a long time ago. That small company would help Dalton companies without using the Matthews name publicly.

Of course, Casper wasn't just lending a hand to solve the issue. He made sure to be very careful with the clauses and business partnerships. Thus when everything stabilizes, Casper would be a major shareholder of Dalton companies. Then he could influence the Dalton board of directors to support him and get the whole company under his wing. 

It was the flawless master plan to get the massive company without the need for engagement or marriage deal between the two families. 

However, they had judged the whole situation wrong. They assumed President Dalton was reaching them to ask for help. Now they discerned he was reaching out to him for a different matter.

Further considering the matter, they guessed there could only be one reason for Dalton to propose severing the engagement between two families. That is president Dalton was aware that Alvin was the one who attacked them.

How could Casper think Alvin wouldn't let the Dalton company know he was the perpetrator?

Thus President Dalton tried to reach Casper to confront him about his son's actions. Because reaching Alvin was impossible until Alvin would allow them. 

Casper wasn't the type to beg or request others. So will he let his years of patience to acquire the Dalton company go in vain?

Will he accept his defeat against his son?

Absolutely not.

Casper looked at Secretary Harrison and faintly nodded. The latter understood easily that they were going as per their plan. 

Initially, they planned to let President Dalton know Casper was behind that small company and keep the public and media in the dark. So that Alvin doesn't get to know about the same. 

Now, they won't let anybody, including President Dalton, get to know that Casper was behind the small company. Thus, Casper will acquire the Dalton companies when everything stabilizes.

Secretary Harrison left quickly to make the required changes in Casper's schedule.

Gianna glanced at the PA as she mulled over the things. The PA had reported to her that Alvin was the one who attacked Dalton companies to break off the engagement between them. So she expected Casper to lose his cool. But he just looked angry.

Thus Gianna ended up assuming Casper was growing fond of the bastard. She wanted to rile him up with some words but more than anyone, she is aware that such tricks don't work on Casper.

So she focused on her duty as Madam of the Matthews family, "Their announcement will affect our image. How are we handling it?" She wanted to clear her schedule if they were holding a press conference.

However, Casper stood up. They were certainly going to be bad-mouthed with the public assumption that they abandoned the Daltons, hence their stock prices would be affected. Casper has to think of releasing a statement that could convince the crowd. That statement shouldn't throw the blame on Dalton as they were facing huge losses, at the same time, Matthews should appear helpless. 

Casper ignored his wife and looked at his PA, "Instruct the PR director to meet me immediately." Then he walked away. It was a silent indication there won't be any press conference for them to appear as a couple.

"Roger that," PA responded to Casper but his eyes went on Gianna whose delicate ladylike appearance turned dark as she gritted her teeth for being ignored.

Well, Casper was the same even before Alvin came into their life so it wasn't something to be blamed on Alvin. She could only curse her husband and return to her bedroom.

—––––––

At Dalton companies,

Once Madam Dalton understood their situation and showed her support, President Dalton rushed to the company. He instructed his secretary to block all Flora's cards. Thanks to technology, everything was done in a few minutes. Flora was too prideful to ask anybody for help so she would undoubtedly reach him.

He didn't want to be harsh on his daughter but to afford the life of Flora, their well-being, and their status, it was better if they don't go against Alvin. Alvin wasn't a simple man who they could control. Alvin wasn't a greedy businessman to negotiate with him. Alvin was simply unreachable for them.

All the secretaries and managers were busy. They arrived at the company earlier than the working time. President Dalton listened to the development in the meeting hall. He had planned to control the situation before the market opened but his daughter didn't cooperate with him on time. Hence he also ignored her calls when she tried to contact him.

Think of the devil.

Flora stormed inside the conference room and slapped her expensive handbag on the table without caring that the subordinates of her father were right there.

The secretary of the president meticulously vacated the room as stopping Flora was impossible.

Flora didn't care when to speak. She glowered at his father and scorned, "Are you satisfied, Dad? You have ruined my image. I am a laughing stock in the city."

President Dalton who would have continued to control Flora noticed the glaring marks of fingers on the cheek of his daughter. He stood up in panic and rage.

Flora didn't have the habit of carrying cash with her so he instantly regretted blocking her cards by thinking somebody slapped his daughter for not paying for something. 

However, his brows knitted and clenched his fist, pressing down his bubbling anger. He decided to handle the person who dared to hit his daughter but after the engagement was canceled and the situation came under control.

He ignored her words, "We are holding a press conference in an hour. Be prepared." He instructed her calmly. He wasn't certain whether to take her to the press conference because Flora was a type who might nod her head at him, however, she could go back on her words in front of the reporters.

Flora ignored his words too. She fetched her mobile from the bag and opened a picture on her mobile, "I don't care what you do. I want this b*tch at my feet by the end of the day." She passed her orders spewing every word in anger. "I will show her the hell." She added through her teeth.

Of course, she didn't tell him or show the picture of the car the lady was using. Because she doubted if her father would dare to offend her so easily.

President Dalton pressed his lips to a thin line and took a glance at the screen. It wasn't a clear picture but he could see the lissom lady in black.

He always tended to his daughter at her first word. This time he held back. He was holding back with all his might. He negotiated as Flora gave a lot of importance to her image, "Break off the engagement. I will bring her to you."

Flora couldn't believe her ears that her father was using every chance to make her accept. Incensed, she screamed to decline, "I won't. I won't do that." 

It would be more humiliating to break the engagement when she had lived for five years like she was the princess of the Dalton family, soon-to-be queen of the Matthews family. For her, Liam's wife was just a weak woman.

Thus father and daughter continued to argue. He did mention Alvin was attacking them but Flora wasn't ready to believe it. 

—–––––

After an hour, Flora screamed and slammed the door but to no avail. Her mobile was taken away and she was locked in the room so that she doesn't turn over smart during the press conference.

President Dalton faced the sea of reporters in front of the company. He initially wanted to arrange the conference in the hall but the crowd was too big and he couldn't arrange a huge hall in such a short time.

The questions were like sharp arrows, piercing his ears again and again. There were questions about the issue followed by if Matthews would help them.

President Dalton was patient before responding at the last. "I am aware everyone is eager to know about the situation. I can assure you that Dalton Companies won't be affected easily. We will keep you updated if there are any developments." He looked calm with his voice. 

He paused before continuing, "I have heard most were discussing that Matthews companies will help us to resolve. So I thought to bring light to the matter." He paused as his eyes brushed over the reporters. 

"Matthews and Dalton are strictly business partners. My daughter and the second son of the Matthews parted their ways a long time ago. We hadn't publicized it to avoid pressure on the kids. So I hope everyone can understand the situation and stop pressuring the Matthews family." 

He had to add in a lie as he couldn't say as Flora was living in her delusional world. If he doesn't mention his past, it might seem like Matthews forced them or they got a better match. 

Without waiting for more questions, he thanked the reporters, "Thank you." He turned around and entered the building under security while the reporters were shooting their questions continuously.

—–––––

At Matthews Industries,

Having no damned choice, Casper gritted his teeth and grunted at the PR director to publish the statement as per President Dalton.

He couldn't believe Alvin to be so quick-witted that his work was done without appearing in front of anybody. However, a vile smirk stayed on his lips. 

Did Alvin do all these for that small-town girl? Then he better see one of them face a setback.

"Help Harper Johnson to escape."