Chapter 204: President Keating’s Old Acquaintance
"N-No, you don’t have to."
A fine sheen of sweat appeared on Leah Sinclair’s forehead, the corners of her eyes flushed a charming red. Overwhelmed by Asher Keating’s movements, she finally lost control, her breathy moans of "Asher" luring him deeper into his indulgence.
When Leah Sinclair woke up the next day, Asher Keating was still fast asleep. She studied his face in the light filtering through the curtains, then smiled softly and kissed the corner of his lips. He must have been truly exhausted, as he didn’t stir.
She got up quietly to wash up. The Holt siblings had a flight that afternoon and were already packing their bags. Sean Yates was awake, but his jet lag hadn’t worn off yet, so he was just sitting on the living room sofa in a daze.
Hearing the sound of Leah’s door opening, he stiffly turned his neck to say, "Good morning," then just as stiffly turned back. Startled, Leah asked him what was wrong.
"I have a stiff neck."
Gavin Holt glanced over and answered for him.
Sean Yates clutched his neck and groaned. Leah laughed and said she would get him a different pillow that night.
"The Young Master isn’t awake yet? Wow, a miracle," Louise Holt remarked, clicking her tongue as she walked out.
"The Young Master pulled two all-nighters before we left, okay? And he barely rested on the plane," Sean Yates muttered, still holding his neck.
Leah, who was washing vegetables, paused. A bittersweet feeling washed over her. Just as she was about to speak, she received a text from Liam Peyton asking if Asher Keating was free in the next few days. He wanted to meet with Asher to discuss a potential collaboration.
She turned and asked Sean Yates, "Does Asher have any work scheduled for the next few days? Wynn said he wants to meet with him to discuss a collaboration."
"Wynn?"
Sean Yates didn’t know who that was. After he went inside yesterday, he had sat with the Holt siblings, so he hadn’t met Liam Peyton.
"The man who was with us last night. He’s the eldest young master of the Peyton Family from Kingsford," Leah explained.
"The Peyton Family? What kind of collaboration could the Peyton Family want with us?" Sean Yates asked, a little curious.
"I don’t know. He didn’t say. He just asked if Asher has time."
Sean Yates checked the schedule. The Keating Group had an international logistics division with overseas warehouses in both Eldoria and Arcadia. Asher Keating had said he was taking a half-month off, but since they were already in Eldoria, he would definitely want to visit the warehouse here.
"He should be free in the next couple of days, but we’ll have to ask the Young Master for specifics."
"Ask me what?" Asher Keating said, opening his door and walking out.
"Why didn’t you sleep in a little longer?" Leah turned to ask upon hearing his voice.
"I couldn’t get back to sleep."
"Young Master, Leah just mentioned that someone from the Peyton Family wants to meet with you about a collaboration. She was asking if you’re available," Sean Yates explained.
Asher Keating lit a cigarette and sat on the sofa, raising an eyebrow slightly. "The Peyton Family? Liam Peyton from yesterday?"
"Mhm. He didn’t say what the collaboration is about. Why don’t you ask him?" Leah handed her phone to Asher Keating.
Asher took it and looked at the message, then replied to Liam Peyton: "I’m free for the next two days. It depends on when is convenient for you, President Peyton."
Judging by the tone of the reply, Liam Peyton knew it was Asher Keating. He wrote back, "In that case, let’s do two o’clock this afternoon. How about the café next to Leah’s apartment, President Keating?"
"Sounds good."
After setting the time, Asher Keating saw the message Leah had sent to Liam Peyton yesterday. His heart softened. ’This girl actually explained things for me.’
Afterward, he started thinking about what kind of collaboration Liam Peyton wanted to discuss. He knew a thing or two about the Peyton Family of Kingsford.
The situation in Kingsford was much more complex than in Riverfall. Before the Grant Family arrived in Kingsford, there was a saying: "Peyton of the South, Chase of the North." The Peyton Family and the Chase Family were the two most powerful players in Kingsford’s business world at the time.
But the Grant Family had crashed into Kingsford like a meteorite, instantly transforming the north-south divide into a three-way power struggle.
Moreover, the Grant Family had already surpassed the Chase Family, and as for the Peyton Family...
After they finished eating, Sean Yates drove the Holt siblings to the airport, while Leah and Asher Keating waited until it was nearly time before heading to the café next door.
Liam Peyton was a very punctual person. When Leah and Asher arrived ten minutes early, Liam was already there.
Leah greeted him, then went to order coffee before settling at a nearby table to review some documents, leaving the two men undisturbed.
Asher Keating got straight to the point. "President Peyton, what kind of collaboration did you want to discuss with me?"
Liam Peyton looked at him. Asher Keating seemed well-rested; the coldness he’d had when they first met yesterday was gone from his eyes. Liam couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Asher Keating raised an eyebrow. Liam Peyton smiled and said, "Yesterday, Leah mentioned you might be tired. It certainly seems that way."
Asher Keating glanced at Leah, who was engrossed in her work, and the corners of his mouth curved up slightly. "Yes, I have been a bit tired these past couple of days."
Just then, Leah heard her number called and got up to get the coffees. Liam had already ordered his. She handed a cup to Asher, then returned to her table, sipping her own.
"Here’s the situation," Liam Peyton said, pulling his gaze away from Leah and getting down to business. "I know the Keating Group has overseas warehouses in Eldoria. This year, the Peyton Group is also planning to build one here, but we don’t have much experience in this area. So, I wanted to ask if you, President Keating, would be interested in a partnership."
"Building an overseas warehouse isn’t actually that difficult. With the Peyton Family’s resources, it seems you wouldn’t need to partner with anyone," Asher Keating said, tapping his fingers on the arm of the sofa and smiling at Liam Peyton.
Liam Peyton chuckled and leaned back against the sofa. "As you know, President Keating, Kingsford isn’t coastal. The largest northern port is in Newport, but for the past two years, the Peyton Group’s logistics development has been shifting southward."
"Riverfall, on the other hand, is different. It has the country’s largest port, and the Keating Group has been in this business for many years. Compared to you, the Peyton Group is a novice in this area. We’re worried about making costly mistakes. If there’s a shortcut to be had, that would be for the best."
Asher Keating understood his meaning, but he needed to consider it. While an overseas warehouse project wasn’t particularly difficult—it was a mature business for the Keating Group—the same couldn’t necessarily be said for the Peyton Group.
Seeing that Asher Keating remained silent, Liam Peyton continued, "Last year, the Sterling Family from your Riverfall region approached us about an overseas warehouse project, but we turned them down."
Asher Keating’s eyebrow twitched. "The Sterling Family? Morgan Sterling? Their operations in this sector are also very mature. Why did you turn them down, President Peyton?"
"My father felt his motives weren’t pure. Most importantly, my cousin felt that the Keating Group was more capable."
"Your cousin?"
"Yes. Speaking of which, you and my cousin go way back, don’t you, President Keating?"
Seeing Asher Keating’s confused expression, Liam Peyton gave a faint smile. "My cousin, Phoebe Peyton. You probably only know her by another name, President Keating: Phoebe Yates."
It took Asher Keating a moment to remember who she was. He was surprised. "Phoebe Yates? Isn’t her last name Yates?"
Liam Peyton offered a cigarette to Asher Keating. After lighting one for himself, he began to explain, "When Phoebe was a child, she was kidnapped. My aunt and uncle only have one daughter, so to protect her, they sent her abroad and had her use my aunt’s surname. That’s why during the time you were classmates, President Keating, you only knew her as Phoebe Yates."