Chapter 169

"Mr. Henderson, I sympathize with your situation, but rules are rules. I can't make an exception for you. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to our other clients," Isaiah said. However, his eyes glinted slyly as he glanced at Harold's anxious expression. A faint smile then appeared on his lips. "But since we've been friends for so many years, I can point you in the right direction." Harold's eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, "Please tell me all about it." "It's like this." Isaiah pulled a contract out of his desk drawer. "Union Bank may not be able to approve your loan, but someone else is willing to lend you 200 million dollars." Harold froze. "Someone is willing to lend me money? Who?" "Mr. Caldwell is willing to lend it to you. All you have to do is sign this contract, and 200 million dollars will be yours. What's more, it will paid out today," Isaiah elaborated. "What are the conditions?" Harold asked warily. He didn't believe for a second that someone like Boris Caldwell, who had no real connections to him, would lend him such a large sum out of the goodness of his heart. Isaiah explained, "The conditions are simple. All you have to do is sell the Henderson residence to Mr. Caldwell. Of course, the 200 million dollars is a loan. The money from selling the villa would be calculated separately." After saying that, Isaiah continued to persuade him. "Mr. Caldwell is interested in buying the Henderson residence. If you pass up this opportunity, you won't get another one." However, Harold's expression turned cold. "Mr. Rowse, you should know when the Henderson residence was built, right?" The Henderson residence had been built since his great-grandfather's time. The villa had survived wars and been renovated multiple times. It stood as a testament to their family's legacy. It was the most important symbol of the Henderson family—something beyond monetary value. Even during the most difficult of times, Harold's father had never once considered selling the Henderson residence. Isaiah smiled. "Of course, I do. Mr. Caldwell is interested in the villa because of its historical significance. He wants to renovate it and turn it into an entertainment venue. Do you think Mr. Caldwell is short on luxurious properties? He's offering a fair deal. Don't be ungrateful!" Harold clenched his fists, barely containing his anger. He asked through gritted teeth, "Mr. Rowse, it seems like you're very eager to push this deal through." "I'm only trying to help you!" Isaiah laughed heartily. "Of course, I'm not doing it for free. Mr. Caldwell has promised that if I close this transaction, he'll open an account at our branch and guarantee over a billion dollars in annual transactions. "Since I'm benefiting from this, naturally, I'll share some of the rewards with you." Bank managers had to draw in substantial funds to prove their performance, and if Isaiah could land Boris as a major client, his chances of promotion next year would increase significantly. "How shameless!" Harold couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing Isaiah's smug expression. "You deliberately denied Henderson Group's loan request to force me into selling my family home to Mr. Caldwell for your own benefit!" Now, he finally understood. All the talk about Henderson Group being a high-risk client was just an excuse. Isaiah's goal was to leave him with no other option but to agree to Boris' demands. Unfortunately, Isaiah had miscalculated this time. The Henderson residence was their ancestral home—Harold would never sell it, even if it meant his death! Isaiah continued to persuade Harold with relentless persistence. "Mr. Henderson, there's no need to get so worked up. "Sure, I'm making some profit from this deal, but I haven't treated you unfairly. It's just a house! Once you get through this crisis, there are plenty of prime locations in Dowonair for you to choose from. "Why cling to that old, nearly dilapidated villa? You're someone destined for great things. People like you shouldn't be bogged down by small details. That villa is just a material possession—only money is truly valuable! "Think about it. If you agree to Mr. Caldwell's terms, any future loans your company needs from us will be much easier to obtain. It's a win-win situation."