Chapter 197: Chapter 197

He said a bit enviously, "President Sterling, look at me. I’m just in my early fifties but look like I’m seventy or eighty. Those skincare products and spas outside are no use to me. I see your face mask looks pretty good, mind sparing a few sheets for me?"

Jared Sullivan immediately put away the face masks and locked the drawer.

Lately, there have been quite a few people coming around asking for skincare products, and he’s getting a bit scared.

"No can do, I just have a few left."

"If you run out, you could ask your daughter to make more, right?"

"That’s not possible either. My daughter doesn’t have that much time."

This executive looked at Jared Sullivan with an aggrieved expression, making Jared seem like a heartless man who abandoned his wife and kids.

Jared Sullivan got goosebumps and finally gave him a half-used box of face cream, looking reluctant.

The other party was almost afraid Jared would take it back, and took it away with the speed of a snatch.

When this executive took it home to use, his wife saw him.

His wife looked surprised, "You’re actually putting cream on your face?"

"Yeah, Old Sterling uses it too, and it’s especially effective. If I keep using it, I’ll surely look many years younger like Old Sterling."

His wife rolled her eyes, thinking he’s dreaming too much. If a skincare product had such good effects, who would need facelifts or hyaluronic acid injections?

And it didn’t have any trademarks on it; could it be one of those unlicensed products?

But considering Jared Sullivan gave it, it shouldn’t be too bad, so she didn’t stop her husband from using it.

Soon after, his wife suddenly noticed something different about him.

"Honey, I think you really look a bit different today..."

"Well, your skin seems to look a bit better than before..."

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly where, but it just felt different.

The executive touched his face too, and felt it wasn’t as rough as before.

"I told you the face cream works, but you didn’t believe me. See, I’ve only used it for a few days, and you already say I look different from before!"

No wonder Jared Sullivan doesn’t forget to use face masks even at the office. The results are so good; he’d be willing to use them every day too.

The executive, seeing such great results, instinctively took out the face cream to apply more, only to find it almost empty, no matter how hard he tried to scoop it out.

He got a bit anxious and went straight to find Jared Sullivan.

But this time, Jared Sullivan refused no matter what.

The executive thought it over and realized he couldn’t just keep going back to ask for more after finishing it, could he?

"Old Sterling, if it’s so effective, why doesn’t your daughter start a company to research skincare products?"

Jared Sullivan said his daughter was busy and didn’t have the time.

This executive’s wife asked him the same question, and he said, "She already started a tech company. How could she handle another skincare company?"

His wife said, "If she can’t handle it, we can. Why don’t we go to her and invest in a skincare company? She just needs to provide the formula; we can handle the rest. Wouldn’t that be great..."

The executive thought it was a great idea, making money was secondary; at least he’d have a constant supply of face cream.

So he went to contact Jared Sullivan again.

Paige Sterling wasn’t interested in this, and Jared Sullivan knew it, so he declined on her behalf.

The executive was a bit disappointed.

But soon Jared Sullivan realized the consequences of his refusal were serious.

Those who hadn’t even asked him for face cream before were now coming over in droves every day, each one either selling sob stories or trying to leverage relationships.

"Old Sterling, we’ve been buddies for decades; you gave some to Langdon, you can’t not give me any..."

"Old Sterling, remember back in college when you broke up, and I stayed out all night drinking with you to help you get over it; you can’t possibly deny me a box of face cream now, can you? You can’t be so ungrateful..."

"Old Sterling, we’re friends; you can’t show favoritism, they got some, so I should too..."

"Old Sterling, you know my wife is fifteen years younger than me. Now when we’re out together, people say I’m her dad. She complains I’m old—if you don’t give me some, I can’t even keep my marriage. They say it’s better to demolish a temple than destroy a marriage, have some pity on me..."

Jared Sullivan was harassed daily by this bunch of nuisances and began regretting bragging before.

Jared Sullivan remained cold and unyielding, and eventually, the crowd even resorted to threats.

"Old Sterling, after all these years of friendship, do you really want to do this to us?"

"Old Sterling, you can’t be ; you’ll lose us sooner or later..."

Uninformed visitors to VastReach saw the tense situation and thought the company was in debt and about to close, and was being chased by creditors. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚~𝙣𝙚𝙩

Jared Sullivan had no choice and called Paige Sterling.

Paige sensed something was amiss in his tone and asked, "Dad, what’s wrong?"

Jared Sullivan sighed, "Beau, your dad’s been robbed."

Paige Sterling, "...?"

With so many skilled bodyguards traveling with him and the protective gear she designed, how could Jared Sullivan have been robbed?

"Dad, what happened?"

Jared Sullivan explained the situation, "Now they come to my office every day with their families. I’m too scared to go to the office."

Paige Sterling, "Are they... really that desperate?"

Paige didn’t value these things much, but for others, it was different.

Who isn’t afraid of aging? Who doesn’t want to stay young?

Especially when people your age look radiant and poised, and you’re all wrinkled like tree bark. How can you happily be friends then?

Paige thought for a moment and said to Jared, "Dad, why don’t I start a company to produce skincare products?"

"Can you manage it?" Jared Sullivan was worried his daughter might be overwhelmed.

Look at other girls her age, always shopping and having tea. Yet his daughter was busy all the time.

Paige Sterling said, "Didn’t that executive approach you before, wanting to invest in me? This can be discussed."

Seeing his daughter eager, Jared Sullivan was supportive, "Alright, if you need any help, let me know."

Paige Sterling had just hung up the phone with Jared Sullivan when Summer Xavier came rushing in, covering her face.

Paige led her into the office and asked, "What’s wrong with your face?"

Summer Xavier removed her sunglasses and mask, revealing her face full of bumps.

Summer cried, "The doctor said I ate something I shouldn’t have and had an allergic reaction. What should I do?"

Paige said, "Allergies will subside, don’t worry."

Summer said anxiously, "But I have an event to attend tonight. If I go with this face, I’d be mortified!"

"Come over and let me take a look."

Summer moved her face closer, and Paige used a small device to scan her face.

Summer curiously stared at Paige’s small device, "It does itch a bit; I’m trying hard not to scratch it."

Worried about ruining it and looking even more frightening afterward.

"Paige, what is that device?"