Before Dous could respond, Vernon jumped in, saying, "Oh, Clement, look at thepany you''re keeping! If this gets back to Mr. Yardley, you won''t be able to survive anywhere in Gray City. You know the consequences." Clement was dumbfounded. He even started to wonder if Felix was just dropping names. After all, Dorian''s status was on apletely different level.


    Dous went even further by turning to Clement and saying, "Either you p him twice, or you''re cklisted at Concord Bank after tonight. Your choice."


    He had been looking for an excuse to put this arrogant brat in his ce. How dare someone try to get a loan while bypassing him, the lending director? Felix had just handed him the perfect opportunity. "Whew! Dr. Zeller, I''m so sorry that I''mte!"


    Just as Clement was about to throw them both out, heavy breathing came from the doorway. A man appeared, bent over and red-faced, clearly having run quite a distance.


    Before Felix could speak, Dous and Vernon turned. And they nearly dropped their sses in shock. "Mr. Yardley?"


    "Mr. Yardley!"


    Dous rushed over eagerly. "Mr. Yardley, are you alright? Should I call an ambnce?"


    It was rming to see the normally dignified Dorian in such a state.


    Dorian waved him off while catching his breath. He looked puzzled. "What are you doing here?"


    Felix walked over. "Hah! So, you''re the branch manager. Your staff here was just trying to get someone to p me."


    What?


    Dorian''s face darkened, and he pped Dous hard across the face. "How dare you disrespect Dr. Zeller? Get out! Report to HR tomorrow-you''re fired."


    Dous touched his cheek, stunned at how quickly things had turned. Not only had Felix actually brought Dorian, but Dorian even clearly respected him.


    But how was this possible? In all of Gray City, fewer than ten people had the status to dine with Dorian. No one would believe a young guy like Felix could be among them.


    Meanwhile, Vernon was trembling hard. If Clement had connections to the Concord Bank manager, hispany could return to its former glory in no time or maybe even surpass it easily. How could Vernon dare retaliate by then?


    "Mr. Yardley... you''re firing me?" Dous'' face darkened when he came to his senses, Dorian ignored him.


    but


    With a wave of his hand, Dorian''s secretary immediately escorted Dous and Vernon out.


    As the door closed, Dous turned to Dorian''s secretary, Amanda Pershton. "Ms. Pershton, don''t try to smooth things over with that ''he''s just angry'' or ''it''s temporary'' nonsense. I''m not buying it!"


    He had not climbed this far and almost became the vice manager without his own connections. He would not swallow this insult.


    Amanda''s expression turned strange before she leaned in to whisper, "Angry? You''d better listen to Mr. Yardley. That man is one of Concord Bank''s Diamond Card holders. Even our national branch managers have to show him respect. Your connections mean nothing!" Dous'' eyes widened, and his teeth chattered. He really felt like crying. After all, he knew exactly what a Diamond Card holder meant.


    The next moment, he grabbed Vernon''s throat in a rage. "Damn you! This is all your fault! I''ll kill you!"


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