?


    Gabriel hung up without hesitation.


    Tom red at the phone. If he didn''t still need Gabriel, he wouldn''t tolerate this kind of attitude from anyone!


    Suppressing his frustration with a deep breath, he immediately instructed his assistant to arrange a meeting with the Sumner Group''srgest supplier.


    Over the past two weeks, all his attempts to schedule a meeting had been tly rejected. His patience was wearing thin.


    As expected, it didn''t take long for his assistant to call back with an update. "Mr. Genge, Mr. Basham still refuses to meet with you."


    Tom smirked. "Since he''s so determined to ignore my generosity, it seems he''d rather swallow the bitter pill. Send him those photos—him and his mistress, all wrapped up nicely."


    The assistant hesitated. "Mr. Genge, if we take this route, it willpletely ruin your rtionship with Mr. Basham."


    "I gave him a chance, and he chose to throw it away. If he wants war, we''ll give him war," Tom replied.


    "Understood, I''ll take care of it," his assistant said.


    Hourster, after the photos were sent...


    Karter Basham stormed into Tom''s office, his face livid. He mmed a stack of printed photos onto Tom''s desk, demanding, "What''s the meaning of this? Are you trying to ckmail me?"


    Tom gave his assistant a subtle look, signaling him to leave and close the door behind him.


    Once alone, Tom stood up with a smile. "Mr. Basham, there''s no need to be so upset. I simply wanted to meet with you, and, well, desperate times call for desperate measures."


    He added with a light tone, though his words were sharp, "And you shouldn''t be tossing those photos around. Don''t forget who''s keeping them out of your wife''s hands."


    Karter had built his business on his wife''s support.


    Like many men, he began to look down on her and had affairs after finding sess. His indiscretions were no secret.


    This wasn''t his first affair-every time his wife discovered one, he would end it with the mistress and beg for forgiveness.


    This time, however, was different. The mistress was pregnant, and Karter had grown attached. Otherwise, Tom wouldn''t have used it as ckmail.


    "You really think you can intimidate me with this?" Karter asked, his voice icy.


    Tom remained calm. "Mr. Basham, I hear your mistress is expecting. If your wife were to find out " "Shut up!" Karter snapped, cutting him off. He sank into a chair, ring at Tom. "What do you want?" Tom smiled and sat down across from him. "I thought I''d made that clear. I just need a small favor."


    Karter''s scowl deepened. He had already heard rumors about Tom''s intentions to target the Sumner Group, which was why he had


    l


    refused to meet in the first ce. He


    didn''t want to get caught in a conflict he couldn''t win.


    "I''m not going to help you go against the Sumner Group," he said firmly.


    Tom''s expression didn''t change. "Mr. Basham, I heard the Sumner Group recently ordered arge batch of construction materials from you. All I need is for you to switch those materials for something else. That''s all.


    "Do you take me for a fool? If I tamper with their order, the Sumner Group wille after me first when things fall through!" Karter eximed.


    Though he had feelings for his


    mistress and wanted her to have their child, he prioritized his own


    safety. He could always have more mistresses and children in the


    to


    future. But he couldn''t affe


    offend the Sumner Group. After all, it was backed by Prospectus


    Technology.


    Tom leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Mr. Basham, I don''t just have photos of you and your mistress. I also have proof of your little schemes to siphon offpany shares.


    "Given Mrs. Basham''s personality, she probably won''t forgive you after you''ve transferred shared marital assets, will she?"