The Cherished Wife

Chapter 81

In Joseph’s office, a shadow of concern crossed his face. The issue Noelle brought up at today’s meeting had him sending people to dig up some information. If turned out Collosus Group had been cutting back on their orders, and it had been going on for a while. However, it was only getting serious now.

Joseph could not figure out what game Collosus Group was playing. In the past, even if the books did not balance, they had never meddled. Frotconn was its own thing, and barely connected to Collosus Group. The only reason they ever backed him was because he once helped out a kid from the Hoffman family, which had earned Frotconn some brownie points.

Joseph thought that favor would carry Frotconn forever, but now it looked like Collosus Group might be cutting them loose.

“Dad, what’s the deal here?” Xavier was just as baffled about Collosus Group’s motives. “What’s up with that Charles guy?”

Mentioning Charles brought a scowl to Xavier’s face, mixed with a hint of fear and distaste.

always nudging him to rub elbows with the

on one

Brookville, Charles was practically royalty, and Xavier had once dreamed of cashing in on his family’s weak connection to the Hoffman family to

and scowled. “I’ve told you a million times, Charles is a tougher nut

just how standoffish Charles is.” He recalled their last awkward encounter. “Remember the Shaw family’s grandpa’s birthday bash? You tried to bu up to him, and he acted like we were invisible.” Xavier clenched

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him, I wouldn’t give that kid the time of day!” He paused, then said, ” Go dig up some dirt. Find out why Charles is cutting back on our orders, and look at the department store deal–if we can’t