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Novel Catalog
Chapter_78
A Voice Recording
Matthew had successfully sent his family away after getting what he wanted. But I didn’t bother to see them off. Their departure, much like his, served my purpose just fine. If Matthew wanted to make a big deal out of our wedding anniversary, I’d give him exactly that. After all, I had nothing left to lose—he had already tarnished my reputation in front of everyone.
He left for work in high spirits after coaxing me with sweet words, but I barely listened. Once he was out of the house, I wasted no time. I called Johnson immediately to check on the progress. His voice was strained when he answered.
“Chlo, I did my best, but he won’t reveal his intentions. I couldn’t do anything about that either. I recorded the conversation you wanted, and I’ll send it to you soon. Also, he knows about your… meet-up with Mr. Atlas from ATL Empire. Matthew said… well, you should listen to the recording yourself.”
Before I could respond, Johnson hung up. Within moments, the recording came through, and I immediately played it. I listened intently as the voices filtered through.
Johnson’s voice came first: “Mr. Matthew, the representatives of ATL Empire and another company are meeting for dinner tonight. I have a bad feeling about it.”
Matthew’s reply was sharp, his tone filled with irritation. “Find out the purpose of the dinner.”
“Will there be any problems with our financial assessment? The assets under Ms. Chloe aren’t that convincing. We’ll be in trouble if they dig deeper. Additionally, our documents won’t be convincing if the bank refuses to cooperate with us. After all, the proof of yours and Ms. Chloe’s shared assets is fictitious. Since it’s easy for them to find out about this, it won’t work,” Johnson continued, his voice laced with concern.
Matthew interrupted, “You shouldn’t always be this timid. There won’t be any issues with the financial assessment since it’s not the first time we’ve bid on a project. Also, we’ve never had problems before, so why would there be a problem this time? Our reported net worth and cash flows align with the company’s model.”
There was a pause before Matthew added, “I noticed that Chloe has been acting strange lately. I had someone follow her and found out she met up with that guy from ATL Empire. I think you haven’t been able to find out anything about his background.”
Johnson hesitated, “Indeed, Chloe has no ill intentions toward Tanum Corporation, but what about Atlas? Don’t you think it’s strange that we still have nothing on his background? You need to keep digging. If necessary, hire someone reliable within ATL Empire to spy on him. We can find something about him if he’s been in Foswood for some time. I just want to know why Chloe met with him!”
Matthew took a deep breath. “It would be good if he’s still interested in Chloe. I’m just afraid she might not catch on. Then, we might miss the opportunity to take on ATL Empire’s project. We must admire Chloe for this, as her vision is exceptional. She grabbed ATL Empire’s project when she returned to the office. That’s why I need you to uncover everything about this Atlas guy. It’ll help me prepare the right strategy for Chloe.”
Johnson’s voice seemed uneasy. “But ATL Empire’s investigation of our company may not yield favorable results if they decide to do so. Regarding the financial assessment, it’s still best to be cautious. If they find any problems…”
Matthew cut him off again, “What could go wrong? I managed to move the funds before this, and I can return them to their place now. I would have quit my job if I couldn’t do this after working in this industry for many years. It’s not that I don’t love Chloe, but I can’t stand it whenever people bring up Tanum Corporation’s founding.”
He paused, likely contemplating something. Then, he continued with more conviction: “Once we secure a long-term partnership with ATL Empire, I’ll figure out how to merge Tanum Corporation with Ardora Construction. After overhauling everything, Tanum Corporation will become a thing of the past. I must say ATL Empire’s project is a godsend this time!”
Hearing Matthew speak like that made my blood boil. The audacity! He was planning to use me as his pawn, shamelessly taking advantage of my hard work and reputation to climb higher. His plan was so meticulously thought out—it was clear that I was nothing more than a stepping stone for him.
What shocked me even more was the fact that Melanie had hired someone to spy on me. She, too, was involved in this web of deceit. Matthew’s suspicions about me weren’t unwarranted; he knew exactly what was happening. I had underestimated how far he was willing to go to take control of everything.
I couldn’t believe how calculated and cunning Matthew was. But now, I had a real advantage. I had the recordings, and I knew his next move. He had underestimated me, thinking I was simply a victim.
As I mulled over everything, my phone rang, snapping me back to reality. The caller ID made my stomach twist. It was Melanie.