Chapter 7 Julian’s Arrogance
The Brooklyn neighborhood was shrouded in gray twilight. Erin and I had just gotten back when Catherine's angry voice came from the living room.
"Erin! Have you lost your mind? You actually dared to take on that Olympus Capital project?"
Catherine stood in the middle of the living room, hands on her hips, her face flushed red.
Robert huddled in the corner of the sofa, holding a newspaper but not reading a single word, his eyes darting around, afraid to look at anyone.
Erin put down her bag and took a deep breath: "Mom, this is my own decision. It has nothing to do with Ethan."
"Nothing to do with him?" Catherine sneered. "You think I don't know? That loser must have put you up to this! Do you know what level of company Olympus Capital is? It's a global giant controlled by European tycoons! Even Michael couldn't land that project - what makes you think you can?"
I sat at the dining table, quietly pouring myself a coffee.
I was used to these scenes - they happened almost every week.
Erin's voice suddenly rose: "Mom! I've had enough! Haven't we been looked down on enough all these years? Suppressed by Michael, mocked by Victoria, ignored by Grandma - I'm really done with it!"
She turned to look at me, her eyes already red, but her tone unusually firm: "Ethan, I know my abilities are limited, but I want to try. I don't want you to be looked down on because of me anymore."
A warm feeling welled up inside me. Three years, and only Erin had never treated me like a loser.
I said calmly: "Erin, whatever decision you make, I support you."
"Support? What can you support her with?" Catherine shrieked. "You can't help her at all - you'll only drag her down!"
I continued drinking my coffee, letting her vent.
But in my mind, I was already thinking about how Victor would arrange Erin's interview tomorrow.
That $2.5 billion urban renewal project was designed for her from the start.
The real owner of Olympus Capital was sitting in this run-down apartment, and Catherine would never know.
The doorbell suddenly rang.
Catherine looked through the peephole, and her whole demeanor instantly changed.
She quickly fixed her hair and clothes, putting on a flattering smile as she opened the door: "Oh my! Mr. Blackwood! What brings you here? Please come in, come in!"
A young man in a custom suit walked in.
Julian Blackwood's eyes swept over the shabby living room decor, a flash of disdain crossing his lips, then locked onto Erin, his expression immediately becoming eager: "Erin, I heard you're planning to bid on the Olympus Capital project? That's big news in New York's architectural design world!"
He completely ignored my presence, as if I were invisible.
Catherine rushed over: "Mr. Blackwood, please sit down! I'll get you some coffee!"
She glared at me, signaling me to help, but I just kept sitting there, observing this uninvited guest.
Julian sat on the sofa, crossing his legs: "Erin, you might not know this, but my father's Blackwood Properties has deep cooperation with Olympus Capital. For this project, my dad can get at least a third of the subcontracting rights."
Catherine's eyes lit up, excitedly moving closer.
"I told my dad about your situation," Julian continued. "He agreed to subcontract out a project worth tens of millions to you. That way you can complete your family task without having to risk competing with those big companies."
"Oh my God!" Catherine almost jumped up. "Mr. Blackwood, you're our savior! Erin, why don't you thank Mr. Blackwood?"
She glared at me fiercely: "You loser just sit there doing nothing - look at how capable Mr. Blackwood is!"
Erin frowned slightly: "Mr. Blackwood, I really appreciate your kind offer, but I want to compete for this opportunity with my own abilities. And as far as I know, Olympus Capital's subcontracting process is very strict and requires open bidding..."
A flash of anger crossed Julian's face, but he quickly covered it up: "Erin, the business world is all about connections and resources. How could a small designer like you possibly land this level of project without backing?"
He stood up and walked over to Erin, his tone meaningful: "You need to trust me. Stick with me, and I can help you establish yourself in New York's architectural world."
His eyes swept over me, full of contempt: "Better than spending your whole life in a Brooklyn apartment with certain people."
I put down my coffee cup and asked calmly: "Mr. Blackwood, I'm curious - what specific projects does your company have with Olympus Capital? Can you name a few?"
Julian's face stiffened: "That's confidential business information. Why should I tell you?"
I smiled: "Because as far as I know, Olympus Capital's North American operations are very transparent. All partners are listed on their official website. I just checked, and I didn't see Blackwood Properties' name."
At these words, Julian's expression completely changed. He pointed at my nose and shouted: "Who the hell are you? How dare you question me? You can't give Erin anything! You don't deserve her!"
He turned to Erin, his voice somewhat hysterical: "Erin, wake up! A woman as outstanding as you should find a man who can provide resources and protection, not this deadweight loser!"
Erin stood up abruptly, looking at Julian with cold eyes: "Mr. Blackwood, thank you for your 'kind offer,' but I don't need it."
"First, I'll compete for this project with my professional abilities, not by going through the back door. Second, Ethan is not a loser - he's my husband, the only person in this world who truly treats me well and respects my choices. Third, please leave my home immediately and don't come back."
"Erin! Have you gone crazy?" Catherine screamed. "Mr. Blackwood came to help us!"
But Erin had already opened the door, her attitude resolute.
Julian's face turned ashen. He straightened his suit and stood up: "Fine, Erin Wilson, you'll regret this. When you crash and burn at Olympus Capital, you'll realize what a huge mistake it was to pass me up!"
He glared at me viciously: "As for you, loser, just wait and watch your wife fail!"
He slammed the door and left.
Catherine rushed to the door, but Julian had already gotten into his Maserati and driven off.
She turned around and glared at me: "This is all your fault! You loser! You drove away Mr. Blackwood! You've destroyed our family's hope!"
"You're bad luck! You can't do anything, and you've made Erin go crazy with you! Mr. Blackwood kindly offered to help, and all you could do was make snide remarks! If you're so capable, why don't you go land the Olympus Capital project yourself!"
Robert tried to intervene but was shut down by Catherine's "You're a loser too."
I wiped my coffee cup clean, my tone flat: "Mom, Julian was just talking nonsense. He has no ability to help Erin get the project. If his father really had cooperation with Olympus Capital, why couldn't he even name a specific project? This guy just saw that Erin is beautiful and wanted to take advantage of the situation."
"I won't listen! I won't listen! It's all your fault anyway!" Catherine collapsed on the sofa and started crying. "Why am I so unlucky! I married a useless husband, and my daughter found a loser! Erin, Mom is begging you, while there's still time, divorce this loser! Mom will find you a good family!"
Erin held my hand, her voice firm: "Mom, stop it! Ethan and I won't divorce! Tomorrow I'm going to interview at Olympus Capital, and when I land the project, you'll see we weren't wrong!"
She pulled me back to the bedroom, leaving Catherine wailing in the living room.
In the bedroom, Erin sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes red: "Ethan, was I too impulsive? What if I really can't land the project... I don't regret rejecting Julian, but I'm afraid of disappointing you, afraid of making the family look down on us even more."
I sat beside her, gently putting my arm around her shoulder: "Erin, you'll never disappoint me. Trust me, when you go to Olympus Capital tomorrow, everything will go more smoothly than you imagine. I promise you, someday I'll make everyone who looks down on us see us in a new light."
Erin leaned on my shoulder and gradually fell asleep.
I gently laid her on the bed, covered her with a blanket, then walked to the window and took out my encrypted phone.
I sent Victor a message: "Look into Blackwood Properties in New York. If they have any cooperation projects with Olympus Capital, terminate them all. Also, have the legal department investigate all of Julian's business dealings. I want him to know there are some people he can't afford to mess with."
Soon, Victor replied: "Understood, Boss. Blackwood Properties is indeed participating in one of our small projects through a secondary supplier, worth $48 million. I'll terminate the contract immediately. Also, I've arranged for Claire to personally receive Ms. Erin Wilson tomorrow. The design contract for that Midtown Manhattan renovation project will go directly to her."
I looked at the lights of Manhattan outside the window, a cold smile playing at my lips.
Julian, you think your father's small company can cooperate with Olympus Capital?
My empire never associates with arrogant clowns who don't know their place.
When your father receives the contract termination notice tomorrow, you'll understand what real capital power is.
At the same time, in a VIP booth at an upscale Manhattan bar, Julian was downing drink after drink.
Recalling Erin's cold rejection and my questioning, fury burned in his heart.
"Erin Wilson, you think by rejecting me you can succeed? Dream on! When you hit a wall at Olympus Capital, let's see how proud you are then!"
He drunkenly called his father: "Dad, do me a favor. Tomorrow Olympus Capital has a project meeting, and someone named Erin Wilson is going. Find a way to get her rejected."
On the other end, the voice was hesitant: "Son, Olympus Capital isn't someone we can afford to offend..."
"I don't care! Didn't you say you have cooperation with them? Just make a phone call!" Julian hung up.
Just then, old Blackwood's phone rang - caller ID: Olympus Capital Legal Department.
His heart tightened. He answered the call, and his face instantly turned deathly pale...
