Chapter 3 Fair Weather Friends

• After hanging up the phone, Jackson closed his laptop and strode toward the floor-to-ceiling window. His tall frame gave him the perfect vantage point to watch the slight figure of Juliette as she left the Prestige Group building.
• The weather in Kloburgh had turned cold, yet she was lightly dressed, her fragile form almost shivering against the chill.
• Jackson's eyes darkened, an unreadable intensity gathering in them like thick ink, impossible to clear away. He stood there for a long while, watching her slowly disappear around the corner, only then did he turn his gaze elsewhere.
• Juliette had briefly considered waiting outside the Prestige Group building, hoping for a chance encounter with Jackson. But she knew that rushing things would only be futile.
• Rubbing her temples, Juliette mused over her options. Prestige Group sat at the heart of Kloburgh's bustling central business district, a prime location. Raising a billion dollars all at once was nearly impossible, but if she could break it into smaller sums from different banks, maybe there was a chance.
• Looks like Plan A and Plan B would have to proceed together.
• For three straight days, Juliette visited bank after bank, attempting to secure a loan under Tillman Group's name. Each effort was met with the same rejection. The excuses varied, but the message was clear—no one had faith in the Tillmans anymore. To the financial world, they were now a sinking ship, one to be avoided at all costs.
• Juliette sneezed, rubbing her nose. She had caught a cold and felt feverish, her body aching from exhaustion. She was chilled to the bone, her head heavy as lead.
• After hesitating for a moment, Juliette glanced down at the business card in her hand. With a deep breath, she dialed the number.
• Louis Lane, an old friend of her father's, had once been shown kindness by the Tillman family. He should be willing to help her with a loan, considering what her father had done for him.
• The phone rang several times. Just when Juliette thought he wouldn't answer, the call connected. A languid, deep voice from a middle-aged man came through the line. “Hello?”
• Juliette straightened up, despite her raspy voice from the cold, she managed a melodic tone. “Mr. Lane, it's Juliette...”
• Louis’ tone didn't shift, as if he wasn't the least bit surprised. “Juliette? It's been a long time. What can I do for you?”
• A faint smile tugged at Juliette's lips. It was impossible that Louis hadn't heard about the scandal surrounding the Tillman family. He was pretending not to know.
• Nevertheless, she decided to skip the small talk and get straight to the point. “Mr. Lane, I need your help. The company's in trouble. We're in urgent need of a loan. Considering the past relationship between you and my father, could you lend us a hand?”
• Silence greeted her on the other end, stretching longer than expected, making Juliette's heart tighten with anxiety. And then, as she had feared, Louis' voice took on an official tone. “Juliette, it's not that I don't want to help. But, to be honest, I'm not in a position to do so. You might think I'm doing well a while back, but the truth is, it was all just for show. Nowadays, it's the younger generation running things. I don't have the influence I used to.”
• A bitter chuckle echoed in Juliette's mind as she remembered a recent dinner with Louis. Not long ago, he had promised her father that he'd be there if the family ever needed support.
• Back then, he was all bravado, acting as though his influence was boundless. Now his words revealed the truth—he was a fair-weather friend.
• Juliette felt no need to express her disappointment. In a time where she was surrounded by obstacles, creating another enemy would be reckless. She let out a quiet sigh, keeping her tone light. “I see. I understand, Mr. Lane. Thank you anyway.”