Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 581 Even The Best-Laid Plans Often Go Awry (Part One)

Brian lapsed into silence when he heard that Daniel had escaped from the jail.

He asked quietly, "When did it happen?"

"Last night."

"Didn't I specifically order you to be vigilant with him?"

The calmness in Brian's voice was ominous.

"We did, but he was not alone. They executed a careful plan, and the people who helped him escape were very thorough. According to the information we've got, he had escaped with the help of other addicts in the drug addiction treatment center." "Okay, I see."

Brian said brusquely. He had figured out what had happened. He realized that Black Widow was behind Daniel's escape. Since most of the drug addicts in A City got their supply from Black Widow, they were all under her thumb. They had sacrificed their dignity and self- esteem for drugs. Black Widow controlled these drug dependents like a puppet. They would do anything for her no matter what, and jailbreaking Daniel was an easy task.

"Did you inform Eric about this?" Brian asked. "Yes, I did," replied the person on the other end, "but he was delayed by some other affairs and didn't have the time to look into Daniel's escape."

"What?" Brian frowned. "What delayed him?"

"The business groups who were interested in cooperating with Dragon Empire's cosmetics production lines canceled their project proposals all of a sudden."

Brian's jaw clenched and a hint of coldness flashed through his eyes before becoming placid. He answered flatly, "I know it now."

After he hung up the phone, Molly, who was listening quietly to his conversation, asked him worriedly, "What happened?"

"It's nothing serious." Brian returned without emotion.

Seeing that Brian had no intention of telling her about the call, Molly didn't push him for answers. They continued eating their breakfast, then Brian's phone rang again.

With a frown, Brian took the call and put the phone near his ear. Tony's voice came from the other end, "Mr. Brian Long, there's some trouble with the entertainment center."

Brian listened attentively, his face becoming hard. "I'll be right there," he said in a cold voice and cut off the line. Turning to Molly, he blinked his eyes slightly before saying, "Molly, I'm sorry I can't take you out today. Something has come up at the entertainment center. I need to go and deal with it."

"Is it serious?" Molly frowned concernedly.

"I'll have to see." Brian stood up abruptly. "If you feel bored at home, you can go to the shops nearby or kill time in the casino."

"Okay." Molly bit her lip uneasily as she watched Brian leave the room. She stared at the closed door and wondered what those calls were about.

Brian drove towards the entertainment center at full speed. When he reached there, he found the construction workers standing by idly at the site. He got out of the car and strode inside. The area where the explosions took place was already sealed and reporters were milling around, sniffing for news. Amid annoying chatters and intense atmosphere, Brian crossed over the blockades. He saw Tony who quickly went up to meet him.

"Mr. Brian Long," said Tony in an ominous tone, "someone had deliberately sabotaged the buildings. Small bombs were buried here beforehand. All the buildings on the north side were blown up and the southwest side was also damaged by the explosion." Brian stopped in mid stride at Tony's words. He could already see the sites where the explosion had taken place. Turning to Tony, he rasped, "Has someone suspicious appeared here?"

"I've already checked the surveillance videos, but there was nothing suspicious." Tony's face was grim. Before he called Brian, he had already figured out some disturbing things. He said seriously, "I think some insiders have betrayed us."

"You're absolutely right," Brian replied with tight lips, sweeping his gaze around. "Go and check the damage." After he finished speaking, he got his phone out and dialed a number. As soon as the call was picked up, he said coldly, "Control Dragon Empire's stock prices around the globe and stop them from decline more than three percent."

There was silence on the other end as Harrow assimilated Brian's orders. Finally he asked quietly, "What happened, Mr. Brian Long?"

Brian briefly explained the morning's events to him. Harrow's brow knitted in concentration, "I've just got the news that something has also happened to Dragon Empire in A City." After a short pause, he added, "Even the City Hall was astonished at how these two matters happened so simultaneously." Brian's lips curled up into a cold smile. With narrowed eyes, he fixed his sharp gaze at the debris in front of him before turning to Tony, "Tell me the number of the casualties."

"The building on the north side had all been completed so there were no workers there when the explosion happened. Seventeen workers were inside the southwest building, they were all injured but there were no casualties." Tony replied calmly. "We already sent the injured to the hospital for treatment."

There was a blood-curdling expression on Brian's eyes that made Tony shiver. After a while, he commanded coldly, "Send me the latest assessment before noon."

Tony stole a quick glance at Brian before he nodded and left.

The workers were getting restless and some were already panicking. Although there were no casualties, the workers were all overwhelmed by the horror of the explosion. They were all afraid that there would be more explosions in the site and they might become casualties soon.

"Excuse me, was the entertainment center involved in a terrorist attack?"

"The Dragon Empire Group has been planning this world-scale entertainment center in QY Island for a long time, and it has attracted a lot of attention from all over the globe. Was the bombing caused by Dragon Empire's rivalries in the business world or was it due to personal grudges?"

"It will soon be the parliament meeting every five years in Dragon Island. Will this matter influence the Long family's status in Dragon Island?"

"Excuse me..."

"Can you please answer?"

When the Project Director of the entertainment center appeared, he was almost swallowed by the crowds of reporters who kept throwing questions at him. After more than twenty years, the relationship between the Dragon Empire Group and the Dragon Island was an open secret to the world. The parliament meeting which was set to happen this year was predicted to be a handover ceremony of its leader. The current accident seemed disadvantageous to the candidate for its governor.

"The matter is currently under investigation and we are in no position to give accurate reply to the public for now," The Project Director replied diplomatically. "However, we can assure you that the parliament meeting will not be influenced by such an event." After delivering his statement, his secretary and assistants helped him walk through the crowd. They ignored the microphones pointed at them and stepped into the entertainment center. The director was informed that Brian was already there, and he quickly walked up to him. Brian was standing with his back against him and his hands in his pockets. The rigid set of his back gave the director a sinking feeling in his heart.

"Mr. Brian Long," the director greeted respectfully.

Brian acknowledged the director with a short tilt of his head before saying brusquely, "Contact the equipment supplier and replace the equipment destroyed as soon as possible, then make an assessment of loss and send it to me." Brian turned around fully and fixed his cold gaze at the director. "You know how to do these things, don't you?"

The director swallowed hard and replied, "Of course, Mr. Brian Long. Don't worry, I will handle it."

Brian nodded in reply. Staring at his poker face, the director felt his heart beat rapidly and his throat constricted in anxiety. 00000