Chapter 553

Beckett had played Stanton like a fiddle — right down to the last move. If Stanton knew that the "discounts" he'd so generously given away had all ended up in his own son's pocket, he might just blow a fuse on the spot. Patrick Collins watched Stanton with a smile, waiting for the response. Normally, Stanton wouldn't have agreed to this sort of thing. But after being publicly embarrassed by his own son, he was fuming. Right now, he was ready to teach him a lesson. "Mr. Collins, I gave you a pretty big concession," Stanton said with a smile. "Don't you think I deserve something in return?" "Name it," Patrick replied mildly, his fingers rhythmically tapping the desk. Stanton stayed quiet for a bit before speaking. "Beckett can't stay at Crestview any longer. You'll need to let him go. And let's make sure the word gets out in Pinebrook — no one else hires him either." He wasn't just throwing his son under the bus — he was setting it on fire. Patrick glanced at him. "That's a bit harsh, is