I pondered momentarily before speaking. "I don't advocate for a merger, at least not at the moment.""Why not?" Atlas asked seriously.I shared my thoughts and reasons.He looked at me, nodding approvingly. He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead, exuding a sense of satisfaction."Great minds think alike. You're right. This isn’t the right time for a merger. While Tanum has opened up opportunities, it lacks successful cases to support Hartz Group. And the foundation behind Hartz Group won’t suit an alignment with Tanum. It needs to operate in a low-key way, so merging isn't the right move for now."His words made it clear that Hartz Group did have a foundation backed by Atlas. He must have injected many resources into it and used his connections discreetly."And the future doesn't necessarily require a merger. They can each flourish and complement each other's strengths and weaknesses and connect in a different way, for instance, through cooperation. Hartz Group can maintain i
Atlas looked at my stubborn expression and finally replaced it with a smile, affectionately saying, "You get to decide. I’ll respect your decisions.""Well, it depends on the nature of the matter. If I make a mistake, you should still make things clear to me. I'm not unreasonable, and I don't want you to just indulge me. What if my decision turns out to be wrong?"He teased, "You realize I do indulge you, right?"I gave him a stern look, "I’m being serious, Atlas. Stop fooling around. I'm not blind to your kindness."He immediately dropped the playful expression, adopting a serious tone, but there was still a hint of indulgence in his eyes. "Your opinion is always right. Even if it's wrong, we'll go along with it. We can always start over.""But some things can't be started over," I stubbornly insisted.He smiled and hugged me, saying tenderly, "You're so smart. You’re always thinking about the bigger picture and striving for good. What harm can come from a little mistake?"I ro
Eleanor continued, "Tobshampton Group is no longer what it used to be, and Tanum is certainly not the same Tanum anymore. The current state of Tobshampton Group could tarnish Tanum's high-quality corporate image."I chuckled and said, "They clearly lost someone exceptional after you left. I’m not surprised they declined. It just proves my knack for recognizing talent. Their troubles today were caused by the pits they dug for themselves."Eleanor shook her head. "It's not just about me. The key is their management flaws. The company's situation is rapidly deteriorating and even the boss's wife is getting involved. From what I've gathered, there have been several quality issues recently, and their industry reputation is very poor."I knew Eleanor was downplaying it. Even a pig could figure out what issues the Tobshampton Group had faced after Eleanor left. I had confirmed this when I poached Eleanor. Eleanor had been in the market for many years. Her vision had matured, and when Tob
A solemn expression replaced the smile on his face, and he shook his head gently. "Chloe, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I came because I was afraid you'd be anxious, and I wanted to update you on this matter. During my recent trip to Gerby, time was tight, and I found no trace of her. I had to start from scratch.""I'm sorry for the trouble," I replied with a hint of disappointment."Don't say that. We were all classmates," Theo responded."I went to the four high schools in their city and finally found some information about her. I only learned the basics of her situation. After all, she's been away from school for too long. They also mentioned that there's been no news of Beatrice in recent years." He shook his head and added, "But I can't shake the feeling that the situation is not optimistic."Surprised, I asked, "Why do you say that?"Theo straightened up. "I asked a hotel attendant about their address. The attendant said that those living in that area are mostly wealthy p
I did find it quite unusual."Well, I appreciate your efforts," I said apologetically."This time, it was a matter of time constraints. I was afraid you'd be anxious, thinking I was not getting things done. So, I had to come and see you first." Theo chuckled.I smiled and quickly replied, "That's true. After all, we're old classmates, both here in Foswood. It's strange how we've grown so distant. How would I have found you guys if I hadn't run into Michelle?""Hey, we've actually been keeping an eye on you recently! But..." Theo hesitated."That's normal. The situation between me and Matthew has caused quite a stir in the city," I awkwardly laughed.Not wanting to dwell on the topic of Matthew, I changed the subject. "Beatrice's situation does seem a bit suspicious.""At least we found her address. It's just a matter of time before we get some information. You can rest assured. I'll continue investigating the next time I go," Theo assured me.Perhaps he sensed that I was deeply
"Chloe, I can tell you're sincere. Otherwise, why would we promise to treat you to a meal? You won't look down on us no matter what we eat, even if it's just pickles. That's the Chloe we know."Theo spoke with a hint of excitement."Of course not! Haven't you seen me during the early days of my startup? In today's market, it's all about networking. That's how you get things done. What's there to look down on?" I replied in a relaxed tone. Theo's sincerity had won me over."You're someone who speaks the truth and gets things done. That's precisely what we appreciate about you. In the hearts of our classmates, you've always been like a goddess."I smiled contentedly. "Really?""Yes! It's a pity things turned out this way between you and Matthew. If only it had worked out differently," he said with a touch of regret. "Among our classmates, you two getting together, and this being the result... well!"Theo seemed hesitant, as if afraid to touch on a sensitive topic."In fact, I us
"As long as it's not someone like Michelle," I said, laughing with a hint of distress. "You have no idea! She's been blocking me downstairs daily, and I have no clue what she's up to.""Michelle does give off a vibe to avoid. You better keep your distance. Having her fixate on you can't lead to anything good." With that, Theo stood up. "Chloe, I'll take my leave. Call me when you're back, and I'll arrange everything. Don't worry, they're all proper people.""Are you really leaving?" I reluctantly stood up, feeling a bit unfulfilled.Theo replied, "We'll have a proper chat when you're back. I won't waste your work time."I escorted him to the elevator, and we agreed to meet again when he returned to the capital. It seemed that Theo was indeed a person who got things done, was straightforward, and had depth.After seeing Theo off, I called in Carol to ask about Michelle's visit in the morning.Carol confirmed that she did come to visit the company. She stayed until everyone went
The four of us walked downstairs together towards the backyard, which had a vast expanse of greenery.The backyard had distinct layers, surrounded by numerous tall trees, creating a serene atmosphere with lush greenery. There was even a private shoreline at the back.Despite living in Pleca Park for so long, I hadn't found the time to explore this area. On the left side of a gentle slope were rows of fruit trees, and below was a sizable vegetable garden.This backyard had been designed specifically for my father's tastes. Various types of flowers bloomed around the perimeter in each season, filling the air with their fragrances.It wasn't until I reached the backyard that I realized many of the fresh flowers in the rooms were sourced from our own garden.Ava and Jenny chattered incessantly as we walked toward the backyard, like two butterflies fluttering around us.At that moment, I suddenly thought of my biological father. I wondered where he was right now and if he was safe.I