Chapter 330: Gaining Experience at the Company (2)

Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Gaining Experience at the Company (2)

Owen Sterling’s explanation was well-reasoned and logical. But inwardly, he had come to resent Seraphina Sterling. He had already promised Leo Fenton he could marry Seraphina, and now this had happened. After dealing with the old man, he would still have to figure out how to handle Leo Fenton! ’What a mess this all is!’

’Looks like my Second Uncle isn’t completely useless after all,’ she thought. ’At least he’s quick on his feet and has a silver tongue. He completely turned things around with just a few words!’

"I’m sorry, Second Uncle. I misunderstood. I see now you were using the villa as collateral for a loan!" Seraphina Sterling’s apology was delivered with such sincerity and grace that no one could find any fault in it. No matter how many retorts and accusations Owen Sterling had bottled up, he couldn’t utter a single one. She had already admitted her misunderstanding, and as her elder, if he continued to press the matter, he would be the one to look petty and unforgiving.

’This is so frustrating!’ Owen Sterling fumed internally. He had his whole speech prepared. If Seraphina had kept pestering him, he would have had the perfect excuse to teach her a lesson! But she had gone and apologized first. Now, no matter what he had planned to say, he had to swallow his words. ’How can she be so clever at such a young age?’

"However, Second Uncle, what kind of trouble is The Sterling Group facing, exactly? And how large is the funding shortfall that it requires mortgaging the villa we live in? I feel that this decision might have been a bit rash." Owen Sterling hadn’t even had a chance to quell his anger before Seraphina hit him with this. He shot her a dark look.

"This is serious company business. What does a little girl like you understand? Do you know anything about operations? Or management? Don’t think you can question my decisions just because you’re smart and Grandfather dotes on you! Everything I do is for the company. You think I *wanted* to mortgage our home? It was the only option left!"

That last sentence was directed at Walter Sterling, intended more as an explanation. He didn’t want his father to think he was incompetent. ’That Seraphina Sterling is a real troublemaker!’

"The Quinn Family has blocked all of The Sterling Group’s official lending channels. Only the Fentons were willing to budge. I know their demand to use the Sterling Family villa as collateral is completely out of line, but there are no other options! I was forced into it! You’re just a child, you’re too naive to understand the stakes. I won’t hold it against you."

Owen Sterling acted magnanimous, only lightly admonishing Seraphina without raising his voice. His words, however, were dripping with scorn and contempt.

"In the future, you’d be wise not to interfere in company operations! I’m your Second Uncle, so it’s one thing to say such things at home. We’re family; no one’s going to laugh at you. But if you were to say this in public, you would bring complete disgrace upon the Sterling Family! So presumptuous! So arrogant! Pretending to understand things you don’t! Can you imagine what people would say about our family behind our backs?"

"You fool! You imbecile!" Walter Sterling was practically exploding with rage as he brought his pear-wood cane down hard on Owen’s other shin. "Owen Sterling! You’ve been the chairman of The Sterling Group for years now, so how is it you’ve shown no improvement whatsoever? Even Seraphina could see the issue here, and yet you were completely blind to it! And you have the gall to stand there and lecture her so self-righteously! You disappoint me beyond words!"

Owen Sterling froze. ’What is going on?’ His father had berated him over the issue with Leo Fenton, and now he was being berated over the loan, too? A grown man like him, being scolded in front of the entire family! Twice! And both times, it was because of Seraphina Sterling! Owen was deeply resentful, and his expression hardened defiantly.