His Naughty Lessons-Chapter 289: Partner vs. Partner

** Eli **

This ridiculous woman simply didn’t know when to stop ... Although this time, Eli had to admit that she found a point.

Voyage Bank did own a significant market in Davenshire’s media industry, and they had sponsored the convention center as well, just like the baseball stadium. These local channels would never go against the will of their sugar daddy when it came to running promotions for their clients. If Vanessa truly meant to go all out ... then it was possible indeed that she could sabotage a new product campaign at its crucial early stage.

Such a situation wouldn’t be ideal. But in the end, it wasn’t like Miracles couldn’t focus on advertising outside the city, and the price that Voyage would have to pay in hurting their own business might come out even higher than the return Vanessa could ever manage to get. Eli was about to point out the obvious loophole in her logic, when he noticed that her father was already exchanging glances with the man standing on the podium, who had been watching the chaos unfold below with a deep frown.

"Miss Jones." Ronald Sterling finally spoke up. "I believe that this becomes relevant to my second announcement tonight—"

"No, I will not accept that one anymore!" Vanessa snapped, turning to her own father. "I reject the business proposal. We can’t partner with a company run by people who disrespect me like this!"

Hmm. So that was the actual announcement Emory had overheard before. A business proposal. Thank goodness it wasn’t the personal type that she misinterpreted it to be.

"Miss Jones—" Ronald Sterling was obviously trying to pacify the distressed heiress and fix the situation, though he didn’t get the chance to do it before he was cut off yet again.

"Miss Jones, I think the party may have gotten a few too many drinks in you." Eli offered the empty-headed woman a perfectly fake smile. "You’ve gotten the facts on disrespect the other direction around, but that’s alright. As the new CEO of Sterling Trust, I agree that there is no point in any future investment deals between our companies. And you may rest assured that your current burden as the market leader in local media won’t last long ... because Sterling Trust will soon find better use for the responsibilities in that same position."

Vanessa’s eyes went wide. As did probably every other guest’s eyes. "You sure talk big," she snorted. "If you think you can manage to take our place with no prior focus on this industry at all, you are delusional!"

"Not if he finds a better partner that offers him more than you can."

The unexpected interjection made both of them pause. Especially Eli, because he recognized the voice ... one that he didn’t think would appear at a time like this.

"You might remember, Miss Jones, that your company has already lost the most recent bid for the College Town commercialization program." Leaning against a marble column, Tyler spoke slowly yet surely. "It’s a big bite out of those ’media channels’ you mentioned, isn’t it?"

"... Who the heck are you?" Vanessa, being confronted a second time tonight by an unfamiliar face, had finally learned to ask.

"Tyler McKenzie, Director of Horizontal Development at Sanderson Funds. Also known as Harper McKenzie’s brother and Eli Sterling’s future business partner." Tyler shifted his gaze briefly to meet Eli’s eyes, and the brother plus partner grinned with an expression that borderlined a smirk before turning back to Vanessa. "Oh, and mind you that the College Town program appears to be especially aimed at younger customers ... Precisely the target audience for products such as a video game, I believe."

If the look on Vanessa’s face could get any darker, it would probably become an ink blotch any moment now. Once again, she turned toward her daddy, pleading with her eyes for help.

Her daddy, turning to another man in the crowd, relayed that helpless yet hopeful look. The crowd’s attention followed his gaze, landing on a person who Eli recognized to be the president of Sanderson Funds.

The people getting involved in this were surely getting more and more interesting.

"Looks like we have much to discuss in our next business meeting, CEO Sterling." The Sanderson president obviously shared that feeling, nodding at Eli with an intrigued smile. "Our firms have discussed collaborations multiple times in the past, though regretfully without reaching a satisfying conclusion. Now, with the new leadership and new business direction coming from your side, I surely look forward to resuming that conversation with you and achieving a result beneficial to both of us."

With that, he returned a meaningful smile to Vanessa’s father. Vanessa’s father, in turn, passed on a shocked look to Ronald Sterling.

"We have discussed the partnership plan in depth and agreed upon it, Ronald." It was a half reminder, half accusation. A statement that was simultaneously demand and reproach. "You can’t back out of it last minute!"

Now everyone’s eyes were instantly on the old Sterling CEO. For a moment there, Eli almost felt bad for the old man — a dispute between executive leaders like this was rare, and of course everyone would be in it for the gossip, just the way his father hated the most.

"What was the second news that was never announced tonight, Mr. Sterling?" someone asked out loud. "Is your company’s current business strategy still following your plans, or will the leadership change make it complicated?"

"What is your take on the Miracles business deal?" someone else asked. "Are you all in for partnering with Sanderson and opening up the market with them as well?"

"Is there a reason why your previous discussions with Sanderson never came to fruition? Is it related to your connections with Voyage Bank?"

"..."

The questions started flying, the guests growing increasingly excited as more and more speculations were tossed into the air.

Eli watched his father look between the presidents of Voyage Bank and Sanderson Trust, conflicted. Then he looked at his son. Then he looked at the crowd.

And then ... Ronald Sterling fainted.