Chapter 85: Chapter 84: When There’s Work, It’s Your Job
Before departure, Elliana Lyle visited her mother’s grave again. The tombstone was new, and the surface was covered with many white chrysanthemums. In her hand was her mother’s favorite perfume lilies.
As she gently placed the bouquet down, she stared at her mother’s tombstone, her mind pondering the day Shane Southwell kidnapped her. She remembered every word Shane said clearly; every expression he made fueled her anger.
Among them was Shane’s surprising reaction, which she only realized now.
Could it be... the car accident that killed her parents in a previous life might have been orchestrated by someone else?
But she only had a slight suspicion and no evidence. It’s likely that Shane had already escaped abroad, but Shane’s father was still in the country.
She already had a plan in mind.
"Norman Bennett, let’s go."
On the way out of the cemetery, she thought about it and still felt she should visit the injured Hannah Collins. She’d been too busy these past few days.
Upon reaching the hospital, she was informed that Hannah had been transferred to North City, so it seemed she’d have to visit North City.
"Little girl, tomorrow morning we’ll take the high-speed train to North City, okay?" Norman Bennett asked.
"Ah? Why?" Elliana Lyle was stunned, thinking that a plane would be much faster; the train would take at least ten hours.
The man reached out and patted her head, "We have enough time; there’s no rush."
Back at the hotel, Elliana Lyle felt increasingly exhausted. This comforting environment seemed to have some attraction, making her want to take a nap.
At ten o’clock in the evening, downstairs at South Joy Hotel, two people were having a face-to-face conversation in a teahouse.
"Norman, you know this is our family’s business, and it really can’t be acquired. I shamelessly came to you, hoping you could... help your uncle." Shawn Lyle spoke tactfully, looking a bit troubled.
"Uncle, indeed, The Bennetts lost quite a bit with Lyle Corporation before, though I didn’t participate. I heard, after all, that you bought a sky-high-priced ice-cracked blue porcelain vase for the company, which was later reportedly accidentally broken by an employee."
Norman Bennett said this nonchalantly as he picked up a teacup, sipping leisurely, seemingly without any ulterior meaning.
These words made Shawn Lyle feel a little exposed as this indeed happened, and that vase was at the Lyle family’s old mansion.
Shawn Lyle wasn’t one to be easily flustered; he put on a rather regretful look and sighed, "Yes, just a bottom-level employee, couldn’t afford compensation, so I had to fire her, alas."
"So this debt is accounted for by the company?" Norman Bennett slightly lifted his eyelids, a sharp gaze emitting a cold light, making one uneasy.
Shawn Lyle felt a sudden sense of oppression, something he hadn’t experienced despite his years in the business world.
"Of course, I’ve been looking for ways to stop the company’s losses."
"Hmm." Norman Bennett responded lightly, his face calm yet seemingly lost in thought.
Shawn Lyle couldn’t guess his thoughts, nor did he know whether he had agreed or not.
...
Ten minutes later.
Leaving the hotel, Shawn Lyle tidied his collar at the door, his face showing a relaxed smile. No matter how he and Elliana plead with her to help find Norman Bennett for investment, only his personal visit secured it.
Finally, Norman Bennett personally invested fifty million privately in Lyle Corporation, resolving his urgent need.
"President, you really didn’t have to go head-on with..." your dad.
Raymond Wood only managed to utter the first half, not daring to finish.
"I have my plans."
...
―――Two days later, North City, high-speed rail station.
As soon as getting off the train, a car came to pick them up. Compared to flying, taking the high-speed train felt much more relaxed for Elliana Lyle.
The car headed straight to the central hospital for her to visit Hannah Collins.
"Little Sprout? You can walk now?" Lying in bed, Hannah Collins looked at her with a faint smile.
Elliana Lyle walked slowly, lightly sat beside Hannah, yet she couldn’t feel happy. Her feelings toward Hannah were of guilt.
Hannah had a good constitution, and her body recovered quickly; she could be discharged today. Norman Bennett left right after returning; now only Hannah and Lana went back with her.
This time they weren’t staying in a hotel but in a peaceful villa on the outskirts, which she’d visited before. She had disliked this place, gazing up at the renewed glass window she’d once smashed.
Now, Hannah sat in the wheelchair, and she slowly pushed it along.
―――South City, Roland Brokerage Co., Ltd.
As night fell, naked except for the sheets, Cari swiftly arose from the bed without disturbing Nathan Dawn beside her. She glanced outside the window and lightly exhaled.
Her body felt sore and tender; she used her feet to grab the pajamas on the floor and walked straight to the bathroom.
Amid the sound of water, she gradually became clear-headed, washing away the traces left by Nathan repeatedly.
What she wanted had never been the love from these men but the resources they carried.
For someone who grew up in a materially deprived family, having money for her family to live happily was her lifelong pursuit.
After graduating from college and joining Roland Company, she had clearly known what she wanted from climbing into the bed of Roland’s founder.
Roland’s founder was Shane Southwell’s grandfather.
Later, Roland’s founder handed the company to Cameron Southwell. Without hesitation, she climbed into Cameron’s bed again. Later, as Cameron wanted to train his son Shane, she naturally climbed into Shane’s bed as well.
She never asked these men for a title, only needed enough benefits.
Now, she could almost be considered the highest-paid assistant at Roland, earning tens of thousands per month in salary plus millions in hidden income.
Since she entered Roland, over six years, she has transferred tens of millions back home, now to five small villas in the county town, including half of the county’s high-rise buildings; her family became the wealthiest in the county.
Taking advantage of her youth to earn more, and retiring back home to find a simple man to marry, as long as he dared to cheat, she’d kick him out. She could spend a lifetime without working or making an effort, living the life she wanted.
At 7 a.m., Nathan Dawn woke up.
The woman had long disappeared, leaving only a faint special scent; it seemed like gardenia yet not.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in!"
Nathan Dawn tiredly rubbed his brow, Cari wearing a white shirt and a black pencil skirt walked in with alluring charm.
This morning, seeing this woman, Nathan Dawn seemed to have a new notion.
"Deputy CEO, I’ve arranged today’s tasks for you to review."
"Hmm."
Nathan Dawn took the document but didn’t look at it, tossing it aside, pulling Cari into his arms.
He lifted the woman’s delicate chin, his thumb tracing over her red lips. He began to genuinely like this woman.
This kind of woman wouldn’t cause trouble, would help him get things done, wouldn’t cling, perfectly embodying the essence: busy for work, otherwise engaging the secretary.
Cari held the quilt in one hand, her enchanting eyes fixed on the man, speaking softly: "Deputy CEO, it’s almost ten, Miss Llyod will return to the company."
Deliberately mentioning Eleanor Lloyd, hoping she’d help share current "torment," Shane Southwell was weak compared to Nathan Dawn.
"No rush~"
With the man’s deep voice, the room became sensually charged.