Michael Harper, Marcus Kane, and the others nearly fainted.
No lighter?
With so many lighters around, he didn't know how to buy one?
He actually rejected Victoria Lang, the top goddess in Riverforge's wealthy circle, right in public!
Victoria Lang was stunned. She put the cigarette she had already placed in her mouth back into the pack.
Then she rose from her seat and walked closer to Jeff.
Victoria Lang was tall. Even in high heels, she was almost eye level with him.
She looked him up and down and found him quite handsome, which pleased her.
Victoria Lang looked down at him and asked, "Name?"
Jeff asked, puzzled, "What name?"
Victoria Lang said, "Your name."
Jeff replied, "Are you hard of hearing? Didn't Michael just said that my name is Jeff?"
"You scoundrel! Don't be rude to Ms. Lang!" Michael shouted angrily at Jeff.
Victoria Lang waved her hand dismissively. "Jeff, since you share the same surname as the new president of our Horizon Group, I'd like to give you a way out."
Everyone was shocked, especially the Harpers. Their focus was not on the last sentence, but on the previous one.
The new president of Horizon Group also had the surname Sterling!
"Now I finally know the new CEO of Horizon's surname." Old Madam Harper felt much better.
How could a nobody like Jeff compare to a 70 million dollar contract?
Robert quickly stepped forward. "Ms. Lang, may I ask what President Sterling's full name is?"
Victoria Lang smiled. "President Sterling prefers to keep a low profile for now. I'm sorry, I can't tell you yet."
In fact, Victoria Lang didn't know the full name either. She only knew the surname was Sterling and that the person was quite young.
Jeff guessed that Victoria Lang definitely didn't know he was the chairman of Horizon Group. Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked him to light her cigarette just now.
Jeff asked with a smile, "Ms. Lang, how exactly do you plan to give me a way out?"
Victoria Lang said, "As long as you kneel down and kowtow to Old Madam Harper, Brandon, and your wife to apologize, I am willing to mediate."
"Afterward, I will hire you as my personal bodyguard with an annual salary of 200,000 dollars."
These words immediately livened up the atmosphere.
"Ms. Lang is actually protecting that kid Jeff! Why?!"
"As long as he kowtows and admits his mistake, he won't be blacklisted and can even become the personal bodyguard of a beauty like Ms. Lang. This bastard will definitely agree!"
Seeing the ambiguous look in Victoria Lang's eyes as she gazed at Jeff, Emily felt a pang of jealousy for some reason.
Emily grabbed Old Madam Harper's arm, looking aggrieved. "Grandma, Ms. Lang is going against you."
Brandon also whispered, "Yes, we can't give Jeff a way out. Isn't Ms. Lang on good terms with us? Why help him instead?"
Brandon couldn't understand why Jeff, a son-in-law with no background, had received at least a million dollars in benefits from the Harper family over the years.
Old Madam Harper patted the two grandchildren's hands and whispered,
"Kids, learn from this. Ms. Lang is the real master. We can't go against her."
"How did she become vice president of Horizon Group at such a young age?"
"How can she navigate relationships with every wealthy person so effortlessly?"
"It's because she never easily offends anyone, and she can make any man infatuated with her and grateful to her."
"Emily, you must strive to become a woman like Victoria Lang."
Emily looked at Victoria Lang, biting her lip, her eyes filled with jealousy.
The Harpers all sighed. Since Victoria Lang had pleaded for Jeff, they couldn't bring themselves to destroy him completely.
But, to everyone's surprise!
"I refuse."
Jeff spoke slowly.
Jeff actually refused the immense favor Victoria Lang offered him!
No one understood why Jeff did this!
It was nothing more than kowtowing to the Harpers to apologize. As a live-in son-in-law, Jeff's actions wouldn't be seen as shameful.
Moreover, he would get to work closely with a great beauty like Victoria Lang, and the annual salary wasn't low.
Even a fool knew which choice to make!
But Jeff actually refused?
Victoria Lang couldn't believe it. "What did you say?"
Jeff looked at her. "I said, I refuse."
Victoria Lang's pretty face flushed with anger. "Say that again!"
Jeff gently pinched Victoria Lang's ear with his right hand and shouted into it, "Are you deaf? I said I refuse!"
"Ah!"
Victoria Lang panicked and retreated repeatedly, her ear tickling from Jeff's vibrations.
"How dare you lay a hand on Ms. Lang!"
Michael shouted loudly, but he only shouted and didn't dare step forward.
Jeff shrugged. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lang. I noticed you are indeed a little hard of hearing, so I spoke close to your ear in case you couldn't hear me."
"Fine, fine, Jeff, you've got guts!"
Victoria Lang never expected this son-in-law would be so disrespectful to her.
Since that was the case, Victoria Lang no longer needed to protect him!
Victoria Lang looked at Old Madam Harper and said respectfully,
"Grandma Harper, I, Victoria Lang, Vice President of Horizon Group, am willing to support the Harper family and cut off all of Jeff's avenues of survival in Riverforge!"