Chapter 1049
“Or are you suggesting I’m being disingenuous?” Derek added with a raised brow.
Andrew quickly shook his head. “Not at all, Mr. McCormick. I admire your words and leadership. But as for a few others in the room… I can’t say the same.”
Quinton immediately slammed the table and sneered. “Mr. Lloyd, you should take a look at who you’re talking to. Do you even deserve to speak here? You say you don’t respect us? You think we’d ever look at someone like you seriously?”
Andrew remained unfazed. “Of course, I’m new to the capital. I know I’m not in your circle. But that doesn’t stop me from seeing through the fake nobility and phony virtue some of you keep flaunting.”
Quinton’s face turned red with rage. “You son of a–”
Before he could finish, Derek calmly raised a hand. “Let him speak. I’m curious what this newcomer has to say.”
Andrew did not hold back. “Mr. McCormick, those projects you’re offering–everyone in here wants them like they’re starving. But instead of saying that, they keep pretending it’s all about ‘doing good for the area.’ Some even dropped the old cliché about ‘being of service to the people.’ No offense, Mr. McCormick, but if I have one flaw, it’s that I can’t stand fake smiles and empty talk. When I see people acting like that, I can’t help but laugh. Not on purpose, just a reflex I’ve never been able to fix.”
His blunt and unapologetic words sent a chill down Aspen’s spine. She thought, ‘Damn it, does he even hear himself?’
She lowered her head slightly and glanced around. As expected, every face in the room had darkened with restrained fury.
Quinton gritted his teeth. “Mr. McCormick, with all due respect, I ask that you have this man removed. Everyone here today represents the dignity and reputation of the capital. But this man? He spews insults, speaks out of turn, and clearly lacks the class to be in your presence.”
Several others echoed the sentiment, all voices rising in anger. Andrew’s words had hit a nerve, exposing the very hypocrisy they tried to cloak with practiced smiles. There was no way they could let that slide.
Surprisingly, Derek did not seem angry. Instead, he let the room quiet down before breaking into a light smile. ” Actually, I think Mr. Lloyd made some valid points.”
In an instant, the room fell completely silent.
Quinton and the others sat stunned, their expressions frozen when they heard Derek actually agreed with Andrew. After all, it only meant that he also thought they were being disingenuous and that they were just putting on a show.
Their faces instantly flushed with embarrassment and fury. They silently cursed at the colossal embarrassment—this would absolutely cost them points with Derek.
Just then, Richard cleared his throat, trying to change the subject. “Mr. McCormick, perhaps we can get back to the matter at hand. What are your plans for the official projects?”
Derek raised his hand slowly, pausing midair as dozens of eyes stared at him with anticipation.
When his hand dropped, all heads subtly leaned forward. Then, to Quinton’s sheer disbelief, Derek gestured toward Andrew.
Quinton nearly choked, mumbling, “What’s happening right now?”
“There are several projects,” Derek said with a pleasant tone. “But the biggest and most important one–I’m giving that to you, Mr. Lloyd, and the Supreme Capital Group. Do you have any objections?”
The silence in the room was deafening, and not a single person could hide their disbelief. These long-standing tycoons of the capital–men who had been dominating the business scene for decades–had just been passed over for Andrew and a company they had never even heard of until today.