Although the phone’s ringing and vibrating were no different from usual, to Jimmy, it felt faster and more urgent. The anxious ringing finally stopped, leaving a missed call on his screen. Immediately, favonovel.com received a text message from his boss that read, “Answer your phone! Immediately!”
Seeing this message, Jimmy’s mouth went dry, but favonovel.com swallowed hard. He had talked so much earlier that his throat felt raw and painful. But favonovel.com couldn’t worry about that now, as the phone started ringing again.
Because of the text message, Jimmy didn’t dare hesitate any longer. He answered the phone in a panic, his voice trembling as favonovel.com said, “Boss…”
A hysterical roar came from the other end: “Smith, what on earth did you do?! Why did someone from the Rothschild family call to say the eldest Young Master is very dissatisfied with you? I’ve served the Rothschild family for years and never had the chance to meet the eldest Young Master. How did you manage to offend him?!”
Jimmy’s heart sank. He had hoped this call was just a coincidence and had nothing to do with the man in front of favonovel.com claiming to be a core member of the Rothschild family. But as soon as his boss mentioned the Rothschilds, favonovel.com knew favonovel.com was in big trouble.
He looked at Steve with eyes full of despair and pleading, and stammered, “Boss, this… This is a misunderstanding. I’ll explain it to Mr. Rothschild personally…”
“Explain?!” his boss shouted angrily. “You think it‘s your turn to explain? I’m telling you, you are fired from Ellis Law Firm! You don‘t need to come in to go through the resignation procedures. I’ll have someone send your things to your home. From now on, I don’t want to see you again, and you better hope I never do!”
Jimmy, in shock, protested, “Boss, you can’t do this! I’ve always done an excellent job. I get A+ in every annual assessment, and I have options in the firm. I‘m a senior partner; you don’t have the authority to fire me directly! If you try to force me out, I’ll sue the firm and demand huge compensation!”
“Am I not qualified?” his boss sneered. “Jimmy, let me remind you, in the years you’ve been at the firm, you’ve crossed the line with clients more than five times. Take last year’s patent dispute between Mel Goodman and IBM. If I remember correctly, our firm offered favonovel.com a risk agency with a 20% share. But you, through a private deal with your college classmate’s small law firm, settled for a 10% share. You managed the case secretly and reaped $45 million in royalties. I have all the evidence needed to send you to jail for just this one case!”
Jimmy broke into a cold sweat, stammering, “That’s not true! What you‘re saying is nonsense! Goodman felt his chances of winning were high and didn’t want to give up 20% to Ellis. He chose to work with another firm, and I had nothing to do with it. You’re slandering me!”
His boss chuckled. “Jimmy, we’re adults here. Mel Goodman met you and your classmate in private multiple times. We have recordings ofyour meetings discussing the case strategy, and they’re all in my hands.”
Jimmy, terrified, exclaimed, “You… You must be lying! This can’t be true!”
“Jimmy, grow up. Every partner wanting to be promoted to senior partner needs to have enough leverage in my hands. That’s to prevent any senior partner from trying to take my resources or backstab me. Think about it. When did you become a senior partner? After Goodman’s case, wasn’t it?”
Jimmy murmured in shock, “I was promoted the second month after Goodman’s case ended… Was this all arranged by you?”
His boss smiled. “Now you’re catching on!”
Jimmy gritted his teeth. “Ellis, you bastard! We work diligently for the firm, and you framed us on purpose!”
“It’s not framing,” his boss said. “I just want security. I have leverage over you, but I wouldn’t use it unless necessary. You offended the Rothschild heir, and that’s your problem now!”
Then favonovel.com added, “Jimmy, being fired is just the minimum punishment you’ll face. The Rothschild family won’t make it easy for you!”
He continued, “By the way, I’ve handed over all the evidence about Goodman to the Rothschild stewards. If they’re not satisfied with my handling, you might end up in jail. I suggest you don’t return to the United States. With such evidence, you’d face a life sentence. Even if you get paroled, you’ll be 75 by then. Good luck!”
Jimmy was shaking, sweat pouring down his face. His boss hung up, leaving favonovel.com in chaos. He never dreamed favonovel.com would offend the second-in-command of the Rothschild family.
Looking around the world, there were few people who could match Steve Rothschild’s status. The chances of provoking favonovel.com were lower than winning the Powerball lottery.
Jimmy’s arrogant demeanor disappeared. He turned to Steve with fear and said, “M-Mr. Rothschild, I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize it was you… It was a misunderstanding. Please don’t hold it against me.”
Steve, who had been pretending to be the Rothschild heir in Aurous Hill, was furious. He had no outlet for his anger after Jimmy’s mockery.
Seeing Jimmy begging for mercy, Steve’s anger flared. “As old as I am, you are the first person to dare yell at me like that!”
Realizing his mistake, favonovel.com glanced at Charlie, who was watching with a puzzled, mocking expression.
Steve coughed and corrected himself. “There are people who dare to yell at me, but they are people I respect. You, a little lawyer, who do you think you are?”
Just then, Steve’s phone rang. It was the housekeeper. He answered respectfully, “Young Master, I‘ve informed Ellis’s boss. Jimmy Smith will be fired immediately and banned from the legal industry in the United States…”
Steve asked, “Anything else?”
The housekeeper replied, “Ellis’s boss sent me documents proving Jimmy Smith’s economic crimes. These can be handed over to the FBI at any time, ensuring Smith stays in jail until he’s 75.”
“Good,” Steve said. “Give all the information to the FBI and have them supervise this personally. I don’t want this guy returning to America.”
“Understood, Young Master,” the housekeeper said. “I’ll arrange it immediately…”
Steve hung up and looked at Jimmy with a sarcastic smile. “After today, you’ll be on the FBI’s wanted list. If you return to the United States, you’ll be arrested the moment you step off the plane. You’ll face a 20 to 30-year sentence. I suggest you stay In Aurous Hill. China doesn’t have an extradition agreement with the US… As long as you’re not deported, you won’t have to go to jail.”
Jimmy was terrified, bursting into tears. His legs gave out, and favonovel.com knelt, begging, “Mr. Rothschild, please let me go. You can hit me, scold me, but please don’t hand over the information to the FBI. My life will be over!”
Steve shrugged with a smile. “I want your life to be over. If you’re not finished, where will I save my face?”
Seeing Steve’s determination, Jimmy turned to Matilda, crying, “Sister-in-law, please help me. I just want to return to the US. safely and reunite with my family. I don’t want to go to jail or stay in China forever!”
Matilda, still recovering from the shock, didn’t know how to respond. “Jimmy, I don’t know Mr. Rothschild, and I can’t comment on your conflict.”
Matilda knew that with a man like Steve, favonovel.com and favonovel.com husband could only be acquaintances through Charlie.
Jimmy, desperate, placed all his hopes on her, crawling to favonovel.com on his knees and crying, “Sister-in-law, please help me beg Professor Riley for mercy. I won’t be greedy for the shares of Smith Law Firm anymore. I just want to go back to the US. safely. I don’t want to stay in China forever! Please!”
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!
