"It's just so sudden!"Both women were still trying to process the situation."Take it easy. Go ahead and do your best. You have my support," Henry said with a smile."Cecilia, are you confident?""No, not really!" Cecilia replied, slightly embarrassed. She forced a smile."It's not that I don't know how to manage the company; taking over so suddenly is overwhelming. I don't even know where to start.""Don't worry. Wilfred will assist you for a week," Henry said calmly."Wilfred is capable, but he's—""Don't worry about it. I've warned him; he wouldn't dare touch you. He'll only be there to assist and guide you," Henry said."Besides, I've given him a deadline. If he can't make you a competent general manager within a week, he's done!"With such a setup, Wilfred would surely be diligent in guiding Cecilia to ensure a smooth transition.Seeing how much effort Henry put into ensuring she could handle the position, Cecilia was deeply moved."Thank you so much, Henry. With your
"Indeed!"Henry nodded in acknowledgment, though he would not mention the Hoods' present state to the women."Henry, you're truly amazing and impressive!" Cecilia and Lora gazed at Henry with stars in their eyes.Their starry-eyed looks made Henry a little uncomfortable. He quickly said, "The Hoods are nothing. No need to get so worked up.""You have no idea how terrifying the Hoods are in everyone's eyes."The two women smiled wryly."That's because they haven't seen anything impressive. Anyway, I basically got this company for free. So, feel free to go ahead without worrying about any losses."Also, the company has many talented people; you should make the most of them and work together.""I'll do my best!" Cecilia nodded."I'm sending you something useful," Henry said, sending them a file."What's that?" The two women opened the file and were shocked by the detailed information. It contained all the preferences and issues of the middle and senior management of the company.
"But—" Lora said."Don't dwell on it. They're lucky to get away with such a small amount as compensation. They should be grateful that you didn't pursue it further," Henry said firmly.The two women sighed. They could only accept it, albeit reluctantly."What's the second thing?" Henry asked.Cecilia hesitated, then bit her lip and said, "I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend for a while."Henry was taken aback. That would not work; he was leaving the following day and did not have time for such antics.Seeing Henry's reaction, Cecilia hurriedly said, "I'm out of options. My parents are coming to Eastonia. They're also bringing a suitor they've chosen for me."If I don't have a boyfriend, they'll force me to get engaged to that person."Henry frowned and asked, "Are your parents insisting you marry him?""I don't know why, but they're adamant about it. They're arriving this afternoon, and I'm out of options, so I'm asking for your help," Cecilia said helplessly.She rememb
The train was punctual, and soon, an elderly couple emerged.They appeared to be an ordinary working-class family with a few belongings.Next to them were two young people.One was dressed in branded clothes, hands empty, with an arrogant attitude. He was scanning the surroundings with a proud, self-satisfied look.The other young man seemed somewhat restrained, looking more earnest, with a furrowed brow indicating he might be troubled. He was also carrying some belongings.As soon as the group showed up, Cecilia quickly released her hold on Henry and hurried forward.Henry shook his head in resignation, letting go as soon as the group arrived. It seemed pointless for her to hold his arm earlier. However, it did feel quite nice.Cecilia called out cheerfully, "Dad, Mom!"The elderly couple were delighted to see their daughter and responded warmly.Cecilia then turned to the two young men, especially the one with the haughty demeanor who was staring at Henry with an unrelenting
"What do you mean by that?" Deric sneered."Are you only boasting? You have no real business?"Cecilia angrily retorted, "Young Master Pierson, you're the one boasting here. Henry's abilities are far beyond your imagination.""Show me," Deric said, his anger growing as Cecilia defended Henry.Since they first met, Cecilia had been an extraordinary figure in his eyes. He would not let anyone steal her from him.Seeing the escalating tension, Michael, Cecilia's father, quickly intervened. He said, "Let's not quarrel. We're hungry. Let's find somewhere to eat."Deric decided to bide his time, planning to show Henry the vast difference between them later.Unfazed by the situation, Henry thought it did not matter if Deric was dealt with—the meal would still happen. It might even be less awkward if he waited until after dinner to deal with Deric and then leave quickly.With Michael's intervention, everyone set off together.However, since Henry's car only had five seats and Deric wa
Henry was surprised by Harvey's position in the county's local government. Even though it seemed high to the average person, it meant little to him.Henry thought of the powerful figures in Aurelia City, the influential people under the Golden Liberty, and the Holy Clan's high-ranking members. Even Brad, the governor of South Valley Province and a close associate of Henry's family, was a significant figure, too. Brad was the leader in South Valley Province, and his close ties with Henry made Deric's uncle's role seem insignificant by comparison.Seeing Henry lost in thought, Michael mistook it for shock and said, "Yes, so you must be cautious!"When we get to the restaurant, offer him a few drinks and apologize.""That's not necessary." Henry shook his head."Yeah, don't worry, Dad. Henry will be fine," Cecilia said quickly.She knew Henry's capabilities were impressive. Although she was not sure about his connections, she knew that with his control over the Hood Group and its ec
Amy supported her husband. She did not know Henry well enough to make a judgment but believed Cecilia would be well cared for by someone like Deric. At least Cecilia would not have to struggle as much for the rest of her life.Amy said, "Henry, it's not that I have anything against you. It's just that Young Master Pierson is genuinely exceptional and a good match for Cecilia. You may be a good person, but the difference between you two is quite significant."Henry was a little amused. He pretended to be Cecilia's boyfriend, but her parents looked down on him.He glanced at Cecilia with a smile.Cecilia was anxious and quickly defended Henry. "Says who? Well, I got my current job because of Henry.""Ridiculous! Cecilia, you've never lied to us! Now you're making things up. You think you can fool me so easily?" Michael scolded."It's true!" Cecilia protested."Stop lying. You're working for the Hood Group, right?""Yes.""The Hood Group belongs to the Hoods, and they're very pow
After driving for a while, they finally arrived at the East River Restaurant parking lot in Erstonia District.The East River Restaurant was a top-tier restaurant in Eastonia, renowned for hosting gatherings of the wealthy and influential. Ordinary people often found it nearly impossible to secure a reservation there.Even though Michael and Amy were not used to such places, they could tell it was far superior to the venues they were accustomed to in their county.Amy said, "Henry, this place looks quite fancy. Will the meal be expensive?"Not wanting them to feel uncomfortable, Henry replied casually, "Not really. We'll just have some simple home-cooked dishes. It'll probably cost about 100 dollars per pax.""That's good to hear. You look ordinary, so you mustn't overspend. By the way, your clothes may seem plain, but they fit well and look nicely-coordinated," Amy said after examining Henry closely.Henry chuckled and said, "Just something I picked up casually."Although his c