Chapter 23
Chapter 23: No Invitation Needed
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Invitation?
Bruce White smiled faintly when he heard the man. He replied immediately, “Why do I need an invitation to return to my own company?”
As soon as they heard those words, the two staff members who were blocking his way burst out laughing.
“Your own company? Come on! Pray tell, what company is that? What company has the honor of belonging to you?” The two employees were clearly amused by the notion and began teasing him.
But Bruce White said, without the slightest irony in his voice, “The Zane Corporation!”
What?
The two took another look at each other and started laughing so hard they bent over completely.
“Give me a break! I’m just being polite. Are you for real? If the Zane Corporation is yours, then the Hugo Group is mine!”
“That’s right! Stop making up stories here. Everyone knows that our chairman’s name is Thomas Zane. Tell your story somewhere else. You can’t convince us with this one.”
“That’s enough. Don’t mess around here. Get out of here quickly, or else when our supervisor comes over here, you will get us both in trouble.”
These two employees continued to push him out impatiently, but Bruce White wore the same indifferent expression from beginning to end. “I’m definitely not a Zane. My name is White, Bruce White!”
Boom!
Bruce White?
When they heard this name, a horrific realization dawned on these two men so quick that they went into shock.
Although these two hadn’t been with the Zane Corporation for long, everyone in the entire Zane Corporation knew the name of Bruce White and who he was.
“Are you the chairman who was convicted of embezzlement five years ago?” An employee looked at Bruce White with great surprise and some disbelief in his eyes.
The other employee frowned as well. Why did Bruce White show up at this juncture?
Both of them were a little puzzled, but they knew that it didn’t matter whether this man was telling the truth or not—he must not be allowed to get inside the hotel today!
Otherwise, it was highly likely that both of them would lose their jobs.
“I don’t care whether you’re telling the truth or not. Why do you have to mention the name Bruce White? Hurry up and get out! You are not welcomed here. Or else, I will call the security,” one of the employees said with disgust, his face full of impatience.
“Go, go, go...” The other employee was about to shoo him out when Kirin’s unbending frame got in front of the two of them and gave them both quite a fright.
Kirin who was over six feet tall had an unwavering stature like a javelin. Just by standing there, he was enough of a deterrent to these people who tried to stop them.
“What...what do you want to do? Who are you trying to frighten? Don’t think that because you are built like an ox that we are afraid of you!” the employee said shakily, but immediately looked at Kirin with trepidation. “Someone, quick, call security!”
“Someone, come to the front now! Someone is here making trouble!”
With a shout, about two dozen employees from the Zane Corporation immediately surrounded them. Among them were seven or eight guards from the hotel security who blocked the exits at once.
“Br...Bruce?”
At this time, a slightly chubby young man with glasses squeezed through the crowd.
“Fatso?”
The moment Bruce White saw the young man, his brows knitted tightly.
This man was named Howard Wagner. He was his college roommate and one of his right-hand men back in the days. It was fair to say that in the early days of the company, they relied heavily on his professional knowledge.
Before Bruce White had been imprisoned, he was in charge of the company’s technological management. What happened to him since then for him to look like this now?
If they didn’t know each other so well from before, Bruce White would have never recognized him. He could never associate the hapless young man in front of him with the chubby optimist that he once knew.
“It’s rea-really you! Brother!” The fat man squeezed through the crowd and gave him a big hug.
This hug was the same as it had been a lifetime ago.
“What is going on? Thomas Zane didn’t even spare you guys?” Bruce White frowned, and it was clear from his face that a burning rage was building up just below the surface.
Howard Wagner gave a long sigh. A lot had happened, and he didn’t know where to start explaining, or if he even had the words to say.
Soon after Bruce White was imprisoned, Thomas Zane and Peggy Vade tried everything they could to force their long-time employees to sign a noncompetition agreement.
Some of those employees who were in support of Bruce White were reluctant and unhappy, and they proceeded to bargain with them. The next day, some of them vanished, while others met with unimaginable personal tragedies.
Howard Wagner and the rest of the employees, who were afraid for their lives and that of their families, had no choice but to sign the agreement out of the fear that something worse would happen to them.
Finally, Thomas Zane and Peggy Vade did not fulfill their original promise, and they also found all kinds of excuses to suppress and undercut them.
Howard Wagner was one of their victims. Now, he was just a deputy supervisor of the assembly line, supporting his family with a meager wage.
It’s not that he never thought of leaving the Zane Corporation, but he was sorely afraid. He lived in constant terror that Thomas Zane would not let him out of their sight so easily, so all he could do was to continue living this sorry existence.
Although Howard Wagner did not complain, Bruce White’s heart was filled with outrage and anger when he heard this.
Thomas Zane!
Bruce White gritted his teeth. At this time, Howard Wagner learned of Bruce White’s intention of attending the celebration and immediately proceeded to dissuade him. “Bruce, don’t be hasty. The Thomas Zane of today is one who has all the power and connections.
“And I just heard that an important official from the Headquarters of Eastern Defense will attend tonight’s celebration, so it’s better not to cause any more trouble.”
Confronted with Howard Wagner’s reasoning, Bruce White just shook his head. “Fatso, don’t worry. If I am not a hundred percent sure, I won’t be here right now. Thomas Zane will personally feel everything that he has done to me!”
Hearing this, Howard Wagner gritted his teeth as well. He turned around and said to the employees who were still blocking the way. “It’s fine. Everybody leave now. Nothing to watch here. You can all go now.”
When they heard Howard Wagner’s order, those employees couldn’t help but stare at one another. This was Bruce White! Was it really okay to let him through?
Just as everyone was dithering, a thin, harsh voice came from behind them. “Fatso, you are getting bolder as surely as you are getting fatter. How dare you to let this troublemaker through?”
A thin-lipped man with sharpish features came out of the crowd. He exuded a pretentious air, looking at Howard Wagner with disdain and contempt.
When Howard Wagner saw the man, his face instantly darkened.
This man was Baxton Vade, a distant relative of Peggy Vade. Being an expert at the art of licking boots who was also exceeding ingratiating, he made it to the position of an assembly line supervisor.
In terms of rank, he was Howard Wagner’s immediate boss. As a general rule, he was not particularly kind to Howard Wagner and often treated him harshly. Howard Wagner, on the other hand, had quarreled with him more than once or twice.
However, Baxton Vade had always resorted to his relationship with Peggy Vade to make Howard Wagner’s life as miserable as possible. Over time, Howard Wagner became a little weary of the man.
“Baxton Vade! You are in charge of the events inside. Those things at the front of the house do not need your interference!” Howard Wagner said with much disgust.
But Baxton Vade only laughed scornfully after he heard the words of Howard Wagner. He looked at Howard Wagner contemptuously. “Fatso, you are seriously stupid, aren’t you? Ate too much grease that it’s clouding your mind?
“This troublemaker, Bruce White, is clearly here to cause trouble. Not only are you refusing to stop him, but also you want to let him in?
“Hahaha.... let me tell you, you’re dead meat! I’ll tell you what—you take the graveyard shift at the assembly line tomorrow!”