Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 205: Business Is Business

After Ethan Sterling returned from the airport, he held a video conference with relevant members of the company’s project team in the car, and before he entered the elevator of the company building, he finalized the decision to advance the launch of Daydream by a month.

Instead of choosing Christmas, he opted for Singles’ Day, emphasizing "You don’t have to feel lonely even if you’re alone."

After Ethan Sterling threw out this concept, the PR team was fired up and instantly felt that this theme was more in line with Daydream’s concept. They eagerly wanted to praise the boss and began to prepare the online and offline marketing campaigns in full swing.

This time, Ethan Sterling’s decision was somewhat aggressive, because he wanted to free up his schedule to deal with the Hollis Family and the Aldrin Family.

Since he took over as CEO of The Sullivan Group, he had not had the time to put The Sullivan Group’s transformation on the agenda. Although he had stabilized The Sullivan Group’s collapse with the old ways, he hadn’t utilized all of The Sullivan Group’s resources.

After spending half a day conveying the project change plan for Daydream, Ethan Sterling had a lengthy conversation with Howard.

"Since I took over The Sullivan Group, I’ve been secretly auditing and observing various major projects. I’ve listed a problem roster. These people all have complicated ties with Rhonda Sullivan. After Rhonda’s incident, there were still some trying to get her out of the hospital. I give you a year to get rid of them."

Ethan Sterling tossed the list to Howard. "You’ve been by my side for so many years, and I trust you can handle this well. If you succeed, I’ll directly allocate you five percent of The Sterling Group’s shares. But remember, The Sullivan Group will always belong to The Sullivan Family."

"Understood." Howard glanced through the list. Though entrusted with this heavy responsibility, he felt rather at ease inside.

He was Ethan Sterling’s confidant and most capable assistant, but he never doubted his managerial abilities. If he were a mediocre person, he wouldn’t have been by Ethan’s side for so long. He wasn’t without ambition, but he recognized reality.

One who can serve well as a chancellor doesn’t need to have an emperor’s dream.

Ethan Sterling nodded and handed him another document. "This is your appointment letter, with my signature and seal."

After settling matters at The Sullivan Group, he let Howard clock off.

Howard was a bit surprised. "You’re not leaving?" Ruby Sullivan had already gone to Meridia, and he really couldn’t figure out why Ethan Sterling was working overtime. As the driver, he felt it necessary to ask.

Ethan Sterling shook his head. "I’m going to meet someone important later."

Howard stopped asking after hearing this. He packed up some personal essentials from the office and, after ensuring nothing was left behind, left the company, ready to face tomorrow’s challenges.

Seeing that it was almost time, Ethan Sterling got up, straightened his clothes, and drove to keep his appointment.

At a small folk music bar, Aidan Sinclair, dressed in sportswear, was drinking beer and munching on boiled soybeans, looking completely unlike the suited and booted CEO he usually was.

This bar, called "Paradise," was a place both he and his sister liked very much. Last year, due to poor management, the owner couldn’t keep it running, so he bought it. Although he continued its previous style, he changed the alcohol and snacks. With good marketing, it gained popularity and has shown improvement, with less of a loss now.

He remembers when his sister enlisted her friend Dina Finn to take charge of this when the menu was changing. The vibrant energy of the two young girls is still fresh in his mind.

Aidan Sinclair stopped reminiscing, took a sip of beer, and saw Ethan Sterling approaching his direction, raising his arm to wave, "Hey, over here."

Ethan Sterling was momentarily stunned, almost not reacting, although he knew Aidan Sinclair was recently on a break, he didn’t expect his leisure state to be so casual.

"You should have gone home to change your clothes first." Aidan Sinclair looked him up and down, unabashedly dissing, "With that outfit here, you look like you’re selling insurance."

Ethan Sterling smiled, took off his jacket, and placed it aside. "Thinking about the alliance between The Sinclair Group and The Lawson Group these past days has made it so I can’t sleep well, unlike your leisure." He gestured to the waiter for a glass.

Aidan Sinclair snorted, "Isn’t it that you can’t sleep because you’re lonely for your wife now?"

Ethan Sterling was speechless. Just who did these siblings inherit the knack for exposing people’s weaknesses from? He thought his uncle was quite an approachable man.

This meeting was initiated by Ethan Sterling seeking out Aidan Sinclair. He knew that although it wasn’t a great time now, if he waited until Aidan Sinclair came out of his sorrow, there wouldn’t be time.

"I sought you out today with one goal, hoping you’d consider giving up the collaboration with The Lawson Group and choose to work with us instead."

"I’m willing to meet you because I’m very grateful that your mother has been with my father recently. I know the old man is more upset than I am, thank you, but I don’t want to discuss work right now."

"I can help you swallow The Sinclair Group." Ethan Sterling ignored his lazy rhetoric and continued to toss out his chips.

"I can swallow The Sinclair Group without The Sterling Group." Aidan Sinclair’s expression turned serious.

"The goal of The Lawson Group is to eliminate The Sterling Group’s fragrance from the market. Do you think, after collaborating with The Lawson Group, it’s better to first deal with us, or to first deal with The Sinclair Group?" Ethan Sterling smiled, "Mr. Sinclair isn’t a fool."

"I heard before my sister died, she suffered a lot from your brother. Why should I cooperate with you?"

"I’m me, and my brother is my brother. By your logic, your father has been pursuing my mother, my ex-wife is your sister’s good friend, so it’s inappropriate that you’re now teaming up with outsiders to eliminate The Sterling Group, isn’t it?" Ethan Sterling finished with a serious face, "We’re businessmen, talking business. I have another request in cooperating with you, which is to push out the Aldrin Family."

"I’ll think about it." Aidan Sinclair relented. "Since you’re here, you ought to try our house’s liquor. My sister mentioned the biggest regret was not having your ex-wife set a new menu for the bar, Wenny truly is outstanding."

Naomi Sinclair and Dina Finn’s relationship was the result of years of connection, but for Wenny, it seemed to be just a bond over a bowl of braised pork.

Ethan Sterling saw that dreamy look on his face and immediately became vigilant, "Wenny is mine, and no one should think of taking her."

"Didn’t you get a divorce?"

"How did you know?"

"I recently read my sister’s diary." Speaking of, this sister really didn’t think of him as a brother; she didn’t even mention something as significant as Ruby Sullivan and Ethan Sterling’s divorce. To know, this couple’s divorce is different from ordinary divorces, as Wenny’s name is directly tied to The Sterling Group’s performance for the latter half of the year.

If he had known earlier, he would have brought The Lawson Group in, even at a big loss, and certainly wouldn’t be sitting at the same table drinking with Ethan Sterling now.

He sighed, refrained from thinking further, raised his glass, "Come on, let’s drink."

Ethan Sterling clinked glasses with him, noticing his expression, and thought, if Azure Hollis hadn’t bullied his wife, he wouldn’t have been unable to resist being the first to ask him out for a meal. Everyone is smart, and Aidan Sinclair daring to boast in front of Old Mr. Finn like that, if he doesn’t want to end up humiliated, collaborating with The Sterling Group is the wisest choice.

However, he couldn’t wait for this young master to fully alleviate the sorrow of his sister’s passing. His wife’s hard-earned fragrance must not encounter any mistakes this time.