stjorthotic Chapter 60, Part 1
Chapter 60, Part 1
On the balcony on the fourth floor of the association.
Clarissa hung up the call with Meng Ran.
Holding her phone, she began to ponder: "How can I subtly get Howard to call a board meeting and re-elect the executive director?"
However, only one hour later,
She suddenly realized that she didn't need to think of any solutions at all.
Because, after losing Ford and GM's customers, Howard took the initiative to announce that he would hold a board meeting to re-elect the executive directors.
Good guy.
Upon receiving the message, Clarissa was at a loss for words.
To her even greater surprise, Mira and Frank both came to her on Howard's behalf, trying to garner her votes.
4 pm.
Inside Clarissa's office.
Mira, sitting on the sofa, hinted, "Howard said that once he becomes an executive director, he will allocate the Ford and GM projects to all project teams to work together."
As soon as she finished speaking, Frank, who was sitting next to her, immediately added: "The main reason why Eunice was able to become the executive director was because he was able to get projects from the government."
But starting last October, government funding for environmental projects completely dried up. Since then, Eunice hasn't been able to earn a single penny for the association…”
"So, you're planning to support Howard?" Clarissa interrupted their rambling, wanting to confirm their thoughts.
"Ahem... We're also considering the future of the association. Howard is clearly a better leader." Mira coughed lightly, expressing her stance tactfully.
"Although we were promoted by Eunice, we cannot let personal relationships affect official business," Frank stated.
Seeing how shameless the two were, Clarissa found it amusing but wasn't particularly surprised.
Because these two were never "loyal subjects".
If they were loyal subjects, then she and Meng Ran would never have thought of using the profits from the banquet donations to scheme for their votes.
However, it seems that there's no need to allocate profits to these two now.
Thinking this through, Clarissa nodded and said, "Since you all agree, then I have nothing more to say."
Upon hearing this, Mira and Frank exchanged a glance. Then, Mira tentatively asked, "So, what are you planning to do...?"
"Let me think about it some more," Clarissa said, waving her hand to signal that the two lobbyists could leave.
The two didn't dwell on it, got up and left, having already said what needed to be said.
After watching them close the door, Clarissa pondered for a moment before making another call to Meng Ran, explaining the situation, including Mira and Frank's attitudes.
Half an hour later...
After receiving some guidance from Meng Ran, Clarissa knocked on Eunice's door.
Upon entering, I saw Eunice sitting behind his desk with his head down.
Her hair, which was usually combed meticulously every day, was now messy and hanging down in front of her forehead, making her look very haggard.
It seems he was well aware that he was doomed to lose this time.
Clarissa walked slowly to the desk, picked up a book and flipped through it casually: "Mira and Frank asked me to campaign for Howard."
Eunice raised his head, his tone stiff, and said, "So, even you've been bought off by Howard?"
"Shouldn't I have been bribed?" Clarissa retorted.
"Don't forget, it was Howard who fired Bane."
"You were involved too, weren't you?" Clarissa's gaze, which had been on the pages of the book, turned to Eunice.
"..." Eunice was speechless.
"Of course, I won't blame you for this, after all, you shouldn't offend Howard over something like this."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Eunice had no patience for playing games with Clarissa.
"Your expulsion from the association is a foregone conclusion. Since Howard dared to do this, he must have already won over the other board members."
"so what?"
"Aren't you willing to hand over the association you created to Howard? Don't you want revenge?" Clarissa asked.
"Do you have a solution?"
"I don't have one." Clarissa said, placing Meng Ran's business card on the table and pushing it forward with two fingers. "But he might have a way. You can try to talk to him with some sincerity."
"What can he possibly do?" Eunice looked at the name on the business card, somewhat disbelieving.
"You think you have a good eye for people?"
"..." Eunice was speechless again. If he had a good eye for people, he wouldn't be in this predicament now.
"I've given you the chance; it's up to you to decide what to do."
Clarissa said no more and turned to leave the office.
Watching her disappearing figure by the door, and glancing at the business card on the table, Eunice's expression gradually darkened.
Do I really have to go and beg the person I fired?
How could I possibly swallow this pride?
He continued to struggle with this decision.
Clarissa, who had just left the building, had already arrived at Howard's office on the third floor.
Howard clearly hadn't expected Clarissa to come back to him.
He leaned back in his chair, eyeing him curiously and tentatively asking, "Don't tell me you're here to stand up for Eunice?"
"I hate you just as much as I hate Eunice."
"Thank you for your frankness, Ms. O'Connell. I don't like you either. You're too arrogant. My nephew Jimmy has lost face in your presence."
"Do you want to stand up for Jimmy?" Clarissa asked back.
"No, no, no." Howard stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and paced back and forth. "I won't do anything to you. You can continue being your environmental star, and I'll be your executive director."
You can spend the money you earn yourself, and you can manage your own team. Don't worry about my finances either. What do you think?
In fact, Howard's words were already a gesture of goodwill.
He really didn't want to get into a fight with Clarissa, an environmental celebrity who had risen to fame in Detroit and already had a certain influence.
But Clarissa would never let him go.
Because she had just learned that Howard not only maliciously fired her, but also conspired with Jimmy to hire the River Rat gang to injure people.
Suppressing her disgust, she followed Meng Ran's instructions on the phone and said, "How about this, I support you becoming the executive director."
"Are you sure?" Howard was somewhat surprised. If Clarissa could also support him, then he would have more credibility in driving away Eunice.
"But you have to agree to one condition."
"Conditions?" Howard pondered for a moment, then guessed, "They want me to fire Jimmy to avenge Bane?"
"I do want you to fire a few people, but not Jimmy."
"Who is that?" Howard asked, intrigued.
"Mira and Frank."
"Who?!" Howard's voice rose slightly.
"These two men were entirely promoted by Eunice, yet they betrayed him without hesitation. I don't like working with people like that; I'm worried they might betray me in the future."
Howard didn't reply, but instead frowned and began to think.
After thinking about it for a moment, he asked again to confirm, "Are you sure you want to fire them?"
"Don't tell me you want to keep them?" Clarissa retorted.
"Of course not, you're right. They can betray Eunice today, and they can betray me tomorrow. In fact, Eunice promoted them in the first place to keep me in check," Howard laughed.
Even if Clarissa hadn't brought this up today, he would have found an opportunity to gradually get rid of them later.
Thinking of this, he continued, "In that case, we can just vote them out at tomorrow's board meeting. With your support, it's entirely possible."
Once Mira and Frank are gone, the association will be completely under their control, and no one will be able to oppose their opinions.
Skillful.
Meng Ran and Clarissa thought so too.
This is a rare opportunity. If we don't take them all down, why should we keep these two opportunists around?
Meanwhile, Mira and Frank, the fence-sitters, were still immersed in their joy.
In their view, Clarissa was going to share the profits from the dinner with them, and now Howard was going to share the project with them too—it was like their luck had turned around.
Howard also felt that his time had come.
Watching Clarissa's departing figure, he was extremely smug.