Emily paused for a moment, then picked up her phone and made a 'shush' gesture to Sandy before making a call.
The call connected.
"Is it a good time? I have something very important to discuss with you."
It seemed Devin Cromwell was looking for a private spot to talk as he hung up the call.
Soon after, he called back.
"What's the important matter?"
"It's like this today. I overheard Mr. Gibson on a call. It seems the person approving your project might be in trouble, possibly under investigation. Are you aware of this?"
Devin Cromwell was visibly shaken, his hands barely steady as he gripped the phone, "I had no idea. What happened?"
"Mr. Gibson isn't quite sure of the details either. He overheard it during a dinner conversation. It hasn't been openly discussed yet. I thought of informing you as soon as I heard it, th
As Emily hesitated to speak, the words stuck in her throat. After a moment, she finally said, "I went to see Ronald Richardson the other day, and Murray was there. Turns out, they've been close friends since childhood."She paused, choosing not to share Murray's offensive remarks from that day with Sandy, and instead said more gently, "I feel like Murray might be getting tired of me.""Well, that's a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to him. You don't need him, and I don't want to see you bending over backward to please a man," Sandy firmly stated. She always believed in independence, even if it meant a tougher path to vengeance.Emily sighed, "We've been trying to find a lead in the Gibson family for years, and now that we're finally close, it feels too unsatisfactory to just walk away empty-handed.""What makes you think he's tired of you?"Sandy, inexperienced in romantic rel
Moon Bay, the heart of the Gibson family, nestled on a hillside overlooking the sea, was a serene haven, for it was the sole property of the Gibson estate.Typically, only the family patriarch resided there.The Gibsons, while esteemed, were not a populous branch.Ellis Gibson, the eldest, married into banking royalty, tying the knot with Madge McCarthy. Together, they had a son and a daughter.Magee Gibson, Ellis's firstborn, was two years older than Murray and the esteemed first grandchild of the third generation.His sister, Erica Gibson, a high school student, was a bright presence in their lives.Murray's father, Bruce Gibson, was the second son. He and his wife, Georgia Adelaide, were blessed with only Murray.The youngest Gibson, married to the Oakking heiress Veromca Isaac, enjoyed an arranged marriage but was fortunate, welcoming
Standing beside the patriarch, Magee responded with a smile, pouring a cup of tea for the old man. "Dad is discussing the bank loan and will be here soon."Turning to Murray, he added, "Dad mentioned that Murray's been busy with his new dock project, Fiduinvest. He needs funds, and seeking help from grandfather is also a way to contribute to the Gibson family."The patriarch's eyes narrowed slightly as he resumed puffing on his cigar.The investment in Fiduinvest was Murray's personal decision, not involving any company funds. Even if Murray had proposed using the company for this investment, the patriarch would likely have opposed it. The past collaboration with Devin Cromwell under Lambert Gibson's leadership had been lackluster; there was no need to waste more resources on a fading venture.However, Murray's acquisition of Dock 9 through Cromwell was unexpected for the patriarch.
Emily and her friends chose a quaint restaurant nestled in a small alley in the city center's bustling commercial street. Compact in size, it barely accommodated five tables and was a favorite among many regulars. Without a reservation, securing a spot was nearly impossible.Emily had called two days in advance, carefully selecting their favorite dishes for the occasion.It had been half a year since their last gathering, and the trio had much to catch up on. Engrossed in conversation and frequently toasting, they inadvertently drank more than intended.When Murray's call came through, Emily glanced at her phone, her eyes already slightly unfocused.Holding her phone unsteadily, she fumbled with the screen several times before answering, her words slurred, "Hello, who's this?"Murray, frowning, asked, "Where are you?"Recognizing his voice, Emily swayed to he
"You hit someone and won't get out of the car, just hiding inside like a turtle retracting into its shell? What's this about?""Think driving a luxury car makes you so special, huh? Hit someone and just ignore it?""If you don't get out, we're coming in."Suddenly, as if emerging from thin air, seven or eight people, relatives of the injured, surrounded the car, hurling insults incessantly.Such organized and disciplined street blockading signaled they were dealing with a professional scam team.Murray massaged his temples, his hand slamming the horn forcefully, momentarily silencing the outside clamor.His brows furrowed darkly, "How much do you want? Name your price."The few outside exchanged glances, inwardly rejoicing for finding an easy mark."First, get out and see the condition of the person. Don't accuse us of extortion later." The middle-aged woman negotiating by the car smiled amicably.Murray didn't even spar
Ten minutes later, a nanny's car pulled up outside the villa. Emily, excited, hopped off the swing and hurried towards the gate. Reaching the ornamental rockery at the entrance, she was greeted by two familiar figures — Sandy and Donna. Emily rushed forward, embracing them enthusiastically, "How come you're here?" Sandy and Donna exchanged glances, replying in unison, "Didn't you invite us?" Sandy handed her phone to Emily. Perusing the chat history, she saw that Sandy and Donna had sent over thirty voice messages in their group chat after she left last night. Emily randomly played one, hearing their drunken wails and rants. The gist was a tirade against the wealthy for separating them, mixed with curses and nonsensical rambles. The latest message from this morning was from Sandy, asking if Emily was alright after leaving abruptly. Emily had replied, inviting them to dinner at her place, even sending a location pin and asking them to come earl
Cornelius unlocked his tablet, tapped a few times, and brought up the guest list. "Matthew from KJL Bank, Oswald from Hogbridge, and Zechariah from the Rhein Group…"At the mention of Ford Zechariah's name, Murray paused. There were no recent business dealings between Bucapital and the Zechariah family.Murray frowned, "Ford Zechariah?""I'm sorry, boss. It was an oversight on my part."Murray gave him a sharp look, then flicked half of his cigarette into the trash. "You weren't being careless. You were being too clever for your own good."Cornelius felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He knew well that the boss despised those who couldn't distinguish between personal and professional matters. They were discussing business here, and he had foolishly brought up personal sentiments—specifically, his boss's.Cornelius hung his head, holding
Georgia Adelaide was suddenly brought into the conversation amidst this gathering of influential ladies, and she was cautious not to say anything amiss. With a nervous smile, she replied, "As for our Murray, with the guidance of the old man, he's sure to find a suitable girl."The topic of Murray's marriage led a familiar lady to chime in, "Isn't your Murray already betrothed to a girl from the Zechariah family?"Decades ago, the Gibson and Zechariah families had a close business partnership, and their families interacted frequently. Back then, Murray, like a shadow, followed Stacey Zechariah everywhere, listening only to her. This sparked a jest among the adults that only a Zechariah girl could handle Murray. They were destined for each other and might as well fix their marriage as children.This jest somehow became a rumor that the two families had arranged a child's wedding.As the business partne
In the coffee shop, Murray pushed aside his sugar-added coffee, a gesture Stacey noticed as her hand paused, spoon in mid-air. "What's wrong?""I never add sugar to my coffee," Murray said with a smile."Before..." Stacey started, then stopped, realizing the significance. What used to be was in the past; now it was a different story."Why did you ask me to come here?" Stacey dropped the spoon into the cup, a droplet of dark brown liquid splashing onto the white saucer, starkly visible.Murray looked puzzled. "Wasn't it you who invited me?"Stacey, half amused and half irritated, pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and pushed it toward Murray.A message inviting her for a meeting, signed by Murray, flashed on the screen.Murray frowned; he had received a similar message from the same number. He dialed the number from Stacey's phone, which was quickly answered. "How is it going? Did Murray show up? Talk it out. After so many
"Is it well peeled?" Holding up the neatly peeled apple, Emily smiled with her eyes curving into crescents. "Look, I didn't break the peel even once."Elton opened his mouth but suddenly found himself at a loss for words. An invisible wall stood between them, unseen yet palpably separating them."Mr. Cromwell, may I come in?" Sandy stood at the door with her laptop, her arrival seemingly a rescue for Elton."Come in."Emily stood up. "If you need to discuss work, I won't intrude."Elton politely insisted it was okay for her to stay, but Emily mentioned that now that she, too, worked at the company, it was proper to follow protocol.Elton didn't press her to stay any longer.Before leaving, Sandy gave Emily a knowing wink, and Emily nodded in understanding.Once outside the hospital, Emily searched on her phone for the nearest mall. She planned to do some shopping. Ronald had called her, pleading for her to attend his mother's b
Entering the office, the supervisor perused Emily's file, her brows knitting into a tight knot. This resume was the most outlandish she had ever seen since joining the company. However, the more outlandish it was, the clearer it became that this girl was no ordinary employee.She gestured for Emily to sit, her tone softening slightly, "Your team members have formally accused you of malicious competition."As Emily predicted, those two must have claimed that she had hidden other members' reports to favor her own.Emily remained expressionless. "Was it Lydia or Karen?"The supervisor was taken aback by her directness. "Both of them have made allegations.""Oh," Emily nodded, meeting the supervisor's gaze calmly, "I assume you investigate such claims."The teacher's eyebrows lifted in surprise; the young lady didn't seem like a novice in the workplace. "Indeed, at Bucapital, a major company, we don't target any employee based solely on an accus
"Starting to check up on me now?" Murray teased as he playfully kissed Emily, pausing between each peck.Emily dodged his kisses with a smile, "If you're avoiding answering, you must have had dinner with a woman."Murray pinched her cheek lightly, "Even if there were women at the dinner, they were business partners. Does gender really matter?""Fair enough," Emily said, pushing his shoulders to sit up. "I have a question for you."Seeing her serious expression, Murray couldn't help but smile."Be serious, don't laugh," Emily chided, tapping his shoulder.Murray composed himself, waiting for her question."If, and I'm just saying if, someone made you choose between me and Stacey, who would you pick?"Murray frowned, "What kind of childish question is that?""Just answer me," Emily urged, shaking his arm.Murray squeezed her hand firmly, his voice cold, "I'd choose to eliminate the person forcing me to make that cho
Caught under the intense gaze of such a handsome man, Donna couldn't bring herself to look up, her face flushing like pomegranate seeds.Emily, noticing Humphrey's look, immediately understood his intentions. She swiftly pulled Donna behind her, speaking firmly, "I'm warning you, don't even think about it."With a puzzled expression, Donna thought to herself, 'The boss is interested in me? Is this really happening?'She discreetly poked Emily's waist, internally pleading, 'Please don't stop the boss from showing interest in me.'Emily, misunderstanding Donna's gesture as fear of offending Humphrey, reassuringly patted her shoulder, "Don't worry, I'm here. He won't dare do anything to you."Humphrey raised an eyebrow and leaned forward to get a better look at Donna. As someone experienced in reading women, he was well aware of what they desired and confident in his allure.Humphrey snapped his fingers at Donna, tilting his chin suggestively,
As Elton left with Odelia, he avoided Emily's gaze. However, Emily stopped him with a smile, "You should go to the hospital first."Elton looked up, meeting her smiling face. She spoke with concern, but her eyes lacked their usual sparkling brightness. Suddenly, his steps felt unbearably heavy, as if they were laden with lead."Are you coming or not?" Odelia impatiently tugged at his sleeve.Regaining his composure, Elton sighed, hunched over, and slowly shuffled out."If you want to cry, just let it out," Humphrey, lounging on the sofa, his arm supporting his head, said to Emily with an amused smile.Emily sensed a change in the atmosphere after the two left. Humphrey's demeanor shifted from malicious mockery to a gentle familiarity, unintentionally lowering her guard.Standing for so long, her legs had become numb. Emily moved to sit on the sofa opposite Humphrey, her tone calm, "Why should I cry?"Humphrey, lips curled in a meaning
As he spoke, Humphrey paused briefly, his gaze unabashedly sweeping over Emily."Out of the two, one must stay with me today. As for who stays, you decide."He leaned back into the sofa, seemingly amused by his own game. Resting his chin on the back of his hand, he chuckled lightly.Emily looked at Elton, seeing him clench his teeth, his eyes bloodshot with anger.Clinging to Humphrey's leg, Odelia complained, "I'm your girlfriend; how can you say such things in front of me?""Girlfriend?" Humphrey laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He wrapped an arm around her, his voice soft but his eyes chillingly cold, "I have many pets, but certainly no girlfriend."Odelia turned pale, incredulous, "You see me as your pet?"Humphrey laughed again, "You're not even a pet, to be precise, a toy.""No, that's not true. You've
Emily donned a sleek, all-black ensemble, complete with a baseball cap, and just before stepping out, she clipped a pen to her waist.In the car, her thoughts were in turmoil. She hardly knew Humphrey, but it was clear that he was not someone to be trifled with.Yet, Elton had insisted on keeping the Cromwells in the dark. Contacting the police would blow their cover, so she pondered texting Murray for help but ultimately decided against it, not wanting to drag him into this messy affair.Parking on the Road, she didn't head straight for the back streets. A glance around revealed two traffic officers at the street corner, offering a slight reassurance.She then fished a tiny pepper spray from her pocket, holding it tightly in her palm, before venturing into the dark alley. Fortunately, it was short, and she emerged quickly.Outside, she spotted a tall, lean young man leaning agai
After work, Emily stepped out of the skyscraper, not wanting to return to the villa. She walked slowly along the sidewalk, the city lights just beginning to twinkle. The streets bustled with traffic, and the colorful lights on the overpass lit up like a rainbow arching over the city.The CBD, every inch of it worth its weight in gold, seemed like two different worlds by day and night. The aroma of various street foods wafted from the carts lining the road, stirring up a voracious appetite in passersby."The hustle and bustle of life, it truly soothes the soul," Emily thought, looking up and taking a deep breath. Then, she pulled out her phone and ordered a takeaway for two, hoping to share it with Donna.However, Donna was out at a dinner party.It seemed every time Emily called Donna. Lately, she has been at some social events. Emily couldn't help but wonder what kind of entertainment company Donna