Chapter 34

It was midday at Moonlight, which was a five-star restaurant in Dewsbury. In the private VIP dining room, Richard sat at the head of the table with Joseph beside him. The two were chatting quietly, occasionally letting out a knowing chuckle. The door opened, and Russell stepped in. "Mr. Upton, what a pleasure." Russell extended his hand with an all-too-eager smile. Richard rose slightly to shake it. "Mr. Stringer, please have a seat. I heard from Joseph that you wanted to have a word?" Russell took a seat across from him and adjusted his tie. "Yes, I understand that Upton Group is exploring a potential partnership with Butterfield Group. As a… senior executive there, I wanted to get some clarity on the situation." Richard swirled his wine slowly, watching him with quiet amusement. "Oh? So you're here on Butterfield Group's behalf? I was under the impression this was a personal meeting." Russell hesitated. If he said yes, it could backfire. But if he said no, he had no reason to