Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Michael had been in his office, getting a little too comfortable flirting with his secretary, when his subordinates suddenly barged in, looking grim.

They reported, "Mr. Rhodes, the Weller family is playing dirty! They're openly marketing against us, calling our products garbage that not even dogs would buy. And that scumbag Harvey even hired a professional team to run tests on our products and posted the results online!

"Now, the entire internet is trashing us, saying our products are nothing but a cash grab with zero real value. Our Pharmaceutical Division's reputation has completely tanked, and we're being dragged through the mud online!"

Shoving the secretary aside, he did not even have time to zip up before he exploded, "What the hell happened? How did things turn to shit this fast? Get me the latest market reports-now!"

Grabbing the report, he skimmed through it with an increasingly dark expression. By the time he reached the last page, veins bulged on his forehead. With a loud bang, he slammed the report onto the floor.

"This doesn't make sense! It shouldn't be like this! We had everything in our favor -how the hell did it all go sideways?"

Desperate for answers, he rushed to his computer and pulled up the online discussions about Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division.

Someone commented, [What the hell are these products? Straight-up trash. Total rip-offs!]

More joined in the discussion. [They charge ridiculous prices for something that barely works. You'd have to be brain-dead to buy this crap!]

[Stevens Corporation's new products are actually decent, and they're way more affordable. From now on, I'm sticking with them-Rhodes Corporation has officially fallen off!]

[They really think we're suckers, huh? Screw this! Time to boycott Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division for good!]

Michael scrolled down, his hands trembling as he read comment after comment, each one more brutal than the last.

He shouted, "These broke losers! Just because they can't afford our products, they want to complain about the price? Screw them! don't even want their money-a bunch of worthless nobodies!"

Realizing he was about to lose it, he finally slammed the laptop shut, unable to read another word.

"Mr. Rhodes, what do we do? At this rate, forget matching last week's twenty million in sales-we might not even hit ten million!"

The executives in the room looked like they were on the verge of tears, all eyes on Michael, waiting for his decision.

Michael's expression twisted in rage. "The Weller family, huh? Since Harvey wants to play dirty, I'll show him how to play nasty! Come with me! We're heading straight to the Weller Group's warehouse-I'm burning their entire stock to the ground! Let's see who comes out on top, Harvey!"

The executives exchanged uneasy glances. They had not expected Michael to go completely off the rails, but they were desperate too.

After a brief moment of hesitation, they all met each other's gazes, seeing the same ruthless determination reflected back.

Meanwhile, Andrew casually strolled into the Rhodes Corporation building right on schedule. Just then, a message from Tiana arrived.

[Mr. Lloyd, Mrs. Rhodes is completely out of ideas. Could you please come over and offer some advice?]

Tiana had even sent her personal assistant Jerry, to personally relay the message, practically pleading for Andrew's help. Yet, Andrewnoveldrama

remained completely unbothered.

Leaning back on the couch in Lauren's office, he casually popped a grape into his mouth, speaking lazily between bites.

"Sorry, Jerry, but I'm busy. Let Mrs. Rhodes know I've got plans today. In fact, I have a golf game lined up with Mr. Chapman in a bit."

Jerry's expression darkened instantly.

Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division was on the verge of collapsing, yet this guy still had the time to play golf.