Chapter 14 I Shouldn’t Have Been Rude

Javier put down the phone in the security booth and turned to see the security guard giving him a thumbs up.

“Awesome, man. This is the first time I’m seeing a supplier threatening a purchasing manager. You’re the sh*ts!

“What a pity you aren’t a robber. The police would have to run if they see you otherwise because you’re absolutely the sh*ts!”

Ignoring the guard’s mocking, Javier left the security booth and found a rock to sit on in the shady area outside of the building. He pulled out his phone to call Ciara.

“Ciara, I’ll send you the company’s name. I want their company’s list of tire orders. Don’t disclose my identity…”

Javier had no wish to come into contact with his family, for now, so he left it to Ciara. After the call, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it up before puffing on it leisurely, not at all looking remorseful that he had just offended a purchasing manager.

The security guard looked at him from afar like he was looking at an idiot, unable to understand which unlucky company would hire an idiot like him for a salesperson.

About ten minutes later, a fat man ran over from the factory’s office area, his extra weight jiggling as he did. He looked completely out of breath but he continued to dash for the entrance anyway.

The security guard straightened up once he saw the fat man and greeted respectfully, “Mr. Farlow!”

The fat man was the general manager of Fusion Electric Cars, Wade Farlow. He ignored the security guard and ran over to Javier’s side, huffing and puffing, before he greeted him servilely, “Hello, you’re Mr. Kersey, the vice GM of Beacon Tires, right?”

Javier nodded and Wade introduced himself immediately as he stretched out his hand to shake Javier’s in a friendly manner. After the pleasantries, Wade probed, “You’re related to…”

Javier did not know who Wade was referring to. There were too many people in the Kerseys and they must have gone through several levels down to where Wade was. Who knew how many petty connections it had taken? There was no way Javier would know whichever small fry Wade was speaking of.

With a side-eye at the man, Javier answered curtly, “That’s beside the question. I’m here for sales!”

Wade grinned awkwardly. “No way, someone as brilliant as you came here for sales? Is this a joke?”

Javier, who was seated on the rock, retorted, “Am I close to you? Why would I joke with you?”

Well, that made the situation awkward for Wade. Fortunately, Javier did not put him in the spot for too long as he spoke up again, “Your purchasing manager, Jeremey Laster, is it? That man’s a wonder, huh? He refused to even see me when I’m here for a business deal and threatened me with the sales, asking for my boss to fire me. Question for you, what’s so great about him, yeah?”

D*mn it. He knew it. Wade knew that something must have happened. Why else would the commerce bureau’s higher-up call him personally?

Wade was furious the moment he heard that Jeremy had caused trouble. That b*stard could not wait for his company to go down, could he?

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Kersey. My apologies. I had neglected to train my staff and they have caused you trouble.”

After a series of apologies, Wade called Jeremy. “Get yourself here right this instant—the factory gate!”

Jeremy was reveling in Zack’s pandering and flattery in his office. He had to mention that expensive cigarettes did taste smoother, too.

Suddenly receiving his boss’s enraged call, he got up to rush to the man’s side. Wade slapped a hand down Jeremy’s head the moment he got to the gate.

“Either do your job properly or get the hell out of here!”

Jeremy was bewildered. “Mr. Farlow, why are you hitting me?”

Did he just ask that? He had the cheek to ask him? Wade kicked the man out of rage and pulled him to the side to relay the entire situation.

Jeremy was startled. He had completely thought that Javier was nothing but a fool only for the latter to turn out to be some big shot. He plastered on a smile—more like a grimace really—as he walked toward Javier.

“Mr. Kersey, I apologize for looking down on you and insulting you just now. I was blind. I shouldn’t have been rude…”

As Jeremy apologized, he felt wronged. Who was the rude, insolent one here? He was a purchasing manager who got threatened by a supplier and he had to bow down and apologize meekly. Oh, the grievance!

Javier did not make things difficult for Jeremy, saying, “I just want to know why you called the security guard to chase me out when you’ve already agreed to let me in, and taunted me too, at that. Care to share the reason?”

Jeremy was infuriated once this was brought up. He had Zack to thank for! If it were not for Zack, he would stay unscathed today. Would he have offended this big shot? Would he have been slapped and kicked by his boss?

Almost instantly, he poured out everything that Zack had told him, the whole truth. Realization struck Javier. He finally understood. Things had been fine when he came, but Jeremy had then lashed out at him for seemingly no reason.

Zack Dilley, the braggart…they met again. Great. Javier smiled at Jeremy and asked, “Mr. Laster, regarding the order for our company’s tires…”

Before Jeremy said anything, Wade decided there and then. “All of it. As long as our factory’s manufacturing, the order is your company’s!”

Javier nodded. “And Zack Dilley’s car seat factory…”

Jeremy was quick to speak up this time. “Rejected, nullified. Anything we have. We’ll cease all collaborations with them from now on!”

“And my identity?” Javier tossed the last question he had.

“Kept confidential!” Wade and Jeremy answered simultaneously.

Very well. Javier was happy with the men’s attitudes, so he stood up, patted the dust off his bottom, and glanced over at the security guard who stood straight like a flag pole.

The security guard felt his soul leaving him when he felt Javier’s gaze on him. How could he possibly know that the visitor was someone so influential that their general manager had to bow down to him? If the latter knew that he had just mocked the man, he would be sacked immediately!

Despite what had happened, Javier ignored him and turned to leave. It made the guard breathe out a sigh of relief. He was aware that Javier did not find fault with him not because he had forgotten about it, but because he couldn’t care less. This was the mannerism of someone successful—generous and magnanimous!

At the same time, Zack was puffing a cigarette in a great mood in Jeremy’s office. He could not help imagining Jade kicking Javier out for ruining the business when he returned to the company. And as Jade fretted over the deal, Zack would then arrive like a heroic savior and put in a few good words for her to Jeremy.

When the deal went through successfully later, Jade would look at him with starry eyes filled with admiration, give him her heart and a kiss…the more Zack fantasized, the more excited he grew that he nearly laughed out loud to himself.

It was at the same time the door to the office opened and in came Jeremy.

“Dilley, get the f*ck out of here! With your car seats!”