Ivy scrolled through the test, and her initial smirk evaporated with each correct answerFrederick aced it without a single mistake marring his perfect score. Olivia felt a cold dread creep in. Measured against Frederick's effortless display, her own Mothian skills suddenly felt woefully inadequate.Frederick scratched his head and asked casually. "How'd I do, Ms. Mallin?"His words pulled Ivy out of her shock.Frederick's relaxed and nonchalant posture fueled a flicker of annoyance. This man had waltzed through an exam designed to trip up even seasoned applicants, and now he lounged there with an air of breezing by.Internally, Ivy conceded a begrudging respect for his Mothian skills. Yet, her company wasn't searching for a master linguist. Gritting her teeth, she forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Your Mothian is… satisfactory. Let's move on to assessing your business acumen."Frederick's brow furrowed in surprise. He'd rushed in, drawn by the advertisement
A lightbulb went off in Frederick's head. "Ah, I see! You're not just asking me to look for an appreciation of the models, but a critique of the fashion itself!"Ivy's arched eyebrow shot up in disbelief. Was he thinking of critiquing the models' appearance? In his wildest dreams!"Cut to the chase, let's hear your thoughts on the fashion."The models exchanged a look of silent exasperation. Used to admiring glances and compliments, they shifted uncomfortably under Frederick's extended scrutiny.After a tense pause, Frederick finally asked with a smile, "May I ask who designed these garments?"Ivy was momentarily thrown off guard and gritted out, "Our in-house designer, of course. These are pre-launch samples, under consideration for mass production."Frederick shook his head helplessly and said, "The designer behind these models needs a serious course correction. If these go into production as-is, they'll be a financial loss to the company. Cut your losses and find a new design
Frederick's words struck a chord with everyone in the room.Even Olivia, who was fashionably clueless, recognized the validity of his point. The clothes were undeniably Dawnward-centric. The models themselves couldn't help but steal surprised glances at Frederick, impressed by the keen eye of this unassuming man.A sliver of doubt wormed its way into Ivy's steely resolve. Perhaps there was more to Frederick than his initial appearance suggested.After all, he'd demonstrably conquered the unexpected fashion assessment she'd thrown his way. To dismiss him now would be illogical.Ivy said with a grudging sigh, "You passed the interview. Welcome aboard. You may start tomorrow."A spark of hope ignited in Frederick's eyes. It was a new beginning for me. However, Ivy wasn't ready to let him off scot-free. While the fashion project remained on hold, she'd assign him a regular role, allowing him to polish his social etiquette.There was also the matter of a certain water cup incident
"Even you, Ms. Mallin, probably didn't have the ability to earn a living back in high school," Frederick said.Ivy frowned at his remark, but she had to concede that Olivia's work experience did demonstrate a hardworking and resilient young woman. Initially, Ivy had worried that someone as young as Olivia might struggle under pressure, but it seemed she was worth a second look.Frederick continued smoothly, "A hardworking young woman like her deserves a chance, wouldn't you say? Moreover, her qualifications fit the bill, and I'll personally mentor her once she's on board. If she makes any mistakes, you can deduct my salary instead."Olivia's eyes widened at Frederick's unexpected support.Why was this stranger advocating so strongly for her?Ivy seemed perplexed as well. "Is she your girlfriend?"Olivia flushed crimson and shook her head vigorously.Frederick also shook his head like a rattle. "I have a wife, and she's beautiful. She's a CEO!"Ivy arched an eyebrow as she found
Exiting the company building, Olivia hurried to catch up with Frederick.Her face was slightly flushed. "Mr. York, thank you so very much for your help today."Frederick replied with a playful joke, "Don't mention it. If you really want to show your gratitude, just buy me dinner after your first paycheck."Olivia was briefly taken aback, then the realization hit her. Landing this job was entirely due to Frederick's intervention and treating him to a meal seemed like the least she could do.Still, she hesitated, imagining the cost of a decent dinner—likely 200 or 300 dollars.In a near whisper, she inquired, "Could we have the kebab at the place downstairs from my apartment?"Her voice was barely audible. Frederick had done so much for her, and all she could offer was a kebab. Would he think she was stingy?Frederick was surprised; he'd never encountered such a frugal person. But his dinner invitation had been a jest, so he chuckled and said, "Absolutely, I love kebabs."Heari
Grace struggled to accept her dramatic fall from her high horse.She had been dreaming of reclaiming her former prestige, but she lacked the talent to do so alone. She knew her only hope was to rely on her beautiful and capable cousin, Priscilla.Grace had waited two months for an opportunity, and then the company's plan to launch a fashion business emerged. Recognizing a golden opportunity, she had Priscilla design two outfits to gauge the market's potential.Grace had been eagerly anticipating the fashion line's launch, hoping Priscilla's success would also elevate her standing. However, today's events had been a catastrophe, all thanks to a new interviewee.Shirley merely offered a disdainful smile before turning to leave.Priscilla was frozen in place as she was feeling utterly dejected. She had toiled away late into the night for a week, pouring her heart into the designs and employing all the high-end fashion principles she had learned at university. Now, why were they
Frederick returned to Hilltop Mansion and saw that Jacob and Tyger were able to move around.While Jacob's eyes and Tyger's teeth would be permanent reminders of the fight, their other injuries would heal up with some rest. As Frederick entered Hilltop Mansion, Scarlett greeted him with her usual brand of teasing. "Fresh off the honeymoon and already visiting the attic, huh? What brings you back so soon? Did your wife chase you out, or are you seeking a little extramarital thrill?"Scarlett approached Frederick with feline grace, her luscious red lips exhaling a fragrant breath into his ear.The intoxicating scent made Frederick's throat tighten. It truly was like the breath of an orchid!He quickly stepped back, putting distance between himself and Scarlett. He was a married man now, and being tempted by Scarlett was a dangerous game."I'm just here to get some clothes."Scarlett shot him a pointed look. "What? You're not coming back? Just going to leave me here?"Frederick c
A troubled expression formed on Frederick's face as he stammered, "The company is currently being managed by my, uh, sweetheart. She doesn't know it's mine yet, and I don't want her to find out just yet. I'm afraid it might upset her."Sylvester found Frederick's explanation quite amusing. It seemed things were progressing well between them, and Frederick appeared to be somewhat under his wife's thumb, which Sylvester considered a good thing.If Anya could keep him in line, Frederick wouldn't turn out like Ambrose, who had been wild and unruly since childhood.Sylvester replied with a cheerful tone, "Alright, give me the name and number for the bank account, and I'll have Anya transfer the money."Frederick quickly asked Scarlett for her bank account details, which she promptly provided. Sylvester heard a woman's voice in the background. It was so alluring that he assumed she must be quite beautiful. Since Frederick was requesting two million dollars to be sent to her, Sylvester
Mary's case was the most severe, while Ivan's symptoms were the mildest, and Frederick could roughly deduce the sequence of transmissions among them. It was clear that Mary infected Nigel, who then passed it to Kimberly, then finally passed it to Ivan. Frederick also saw that Ivan was actually a decent person who unfortunately ended up being betrayed and infected. However, Nigel was primarily worried that Ivan might start trusting Frederick, as he wanted Ivan to believe in his capabilities to carry out his plan.Originally, he intended for Mary to insult Frederick for being poor and unskilled, but she ended up attacking him for having an unpleasant odor, which backfired when Frederick exposed her for contracting syphilis. Now, Nigel had no choice but to take matters into his own hands, he then said to Frederick, "Hehe, Frederick. We all know Ivy is a director, what exactly do you do to be worthy of her?"Nigel assumed that Frederick was just a low-level salesperson, something
Hearing Frederick's words, Kimberly jumped with joy and stopped crying. While wiping her tears, she pointed at Mary, laughing and said, "You're covered in syphilis, yet you're making fun of me.""Slut, I wonder how many people you've slept with!" After being pointed and insulted, Mary was furious and she was ready to fight Kimberly. "You bitch! I am going to teach you a lesson!" At this moment, Nigel felt terrible. If Mary was diseased, he'd be the first victim. He grabbed Mary and shouted, "Bitch, let me teach you a lesson first. Now I know why you always wanted the lights off! I thought you were shy, but you just didn't want me to find out."In a fit of anger, Nigel slapped Mary hard across the face. Just as Mary was about to explain, she was interrupted by another slap. Holding her face, she yelled angrily, "Nigel, how dare you hit me?! Do you want me to expose all your little schemes and tricks?"Nigel froze in horror; if Mary exposed him, it would have been disastrous.
Kimberly heard her laughter, and body odor had always been a sensitive issue for her; a wound she'd tried to cover up over the years. For Frederick to bring it up in front of everyone felt like rubbing salt into an open wound. Yet what hurt even more was Mary's laughter; as a fellow woman, it felt like salt to the wound, then roasting it. Kimberly was furious, pointed at Mary and said, "What are you laughing at? Do you want me to come over there and shut you up?"Mary felt wronged, she had only let out a reflexive laugh, but now Kimberly's anger was directed at her. "Did I laugh at you? What proof do you have that I laughed at you?""You're the one with body odor, yet you're taking it out on others. You're such an unreasonable woman!"Kimberly grew even angrier after hearing Mary's retort. "You're the one with body odor, your whole family has it!" "Look at what you're wearing, it's like you just threw on two pillowcases. You're a shameless woman, just trying to show off t
When everyone heard Ivy's words, they laughed even more. Her words effectively confirmed that Frederick did indeed have an unpleasant odor. It wasn't entirely her fault as Kimberly's words had been a bit of a trap. "Haha, if you smell, just take a shower and don't embarrass yourself here.""With all that cheap stuff on, no wonder he has a smell."Hearing this, Frederick simply gave a slight smile and then asked Mary and Kimberly, "Are two really that fragrant?"Mary and Kimberly lifted their heads proudly after hearing Frederick's words. "Why don't you ask everyone here, ask them if we smell good or not?""Exactly, go ahead and ask."Both of them considered themselves beautiful, and of course, they would smell pleasant. The men around them quickly chimed in, especially those eager to admire Mary, who was dressed in a way that gave them a bit of eye candy. "Of course, they smell good. How could these two beautiful ladies not smell good?""Hehe, Frederick with his cheap, th
In a hidden corner, Nigel said to Mary, "Damn it, that bumpkin Frederick keeps stealing my spotlight. I am worried that our plan won't go well later.""You should help me humiliate him properly, and Ivan's girlfriend will back you up."Mary pursed her lips and said to Nigel, "Every time something comes up, you just ask me to handle it. My bag hasn't been bought yet, and you've lost 300 thousand dollars"Although Nigel was annoyed by Mary hitting a sore spot, he kept his tone calm and replied, "Help me humiliate Frederick and talk him down in front of Ivan. After that, leave the rest to me. Once it's done, I'll get you more than one bag, I could get you ten bags and it wouldn't be a problem. I don't care about that small amount of money. You saw that Porsche just now, right? I wouldn't mind burning it if I had to." Hearing this, Mary was delighted and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, babe." She hadn't realized that Nigel was so wealthy and even had a Porsche. Up until th
Knowing Martin as someone who knew a lot about wood, everyone immediately looked as though they were ready for a good show. They were convinced that the Saint George statue couldn’t possibly be made of anything valuable.Martin let out a strange exclamation. "What the hell!"Kimberly, thinking that Martin was angry, quickly said, "Mr. Lawson, tell us what’s so disastrous about this wood. Are you saying it’s just a piece of junk?"Contrary to expectations, Martin replied angrily, "I’m saying that whoever preserved this Saint George statue was a jerk. This is genuine sandalwood, and yet it’s completely neglected, covered in dust."Most of the group had no idea what sandalwood was worth, but judging by the name alone, it sounded impressive.Kimberly asked curiously, "Mr. Lawson, are you saying this is really antique wood?"Martin examined the statue carefully, scrutinizing every detail. "Judging by the texture, this carving must have been made at least 150 years ago."Everyone was
"The Saint George statue was indeed a fitting choice for a karaoke." Nigel chuckled, turning to Ivy.“Why didn’t you just go on Amazon and buy a new one for a few dozen bucks? This one is obviously second-hand. Or was it picked up from some junk stall?”Frederick heard Nigel’s mockery and nodded in agreement, a faint smile on his lips. “You’re not wrong. This statue actually was picked up from a street stall.”“At the Treasure Hall in the antique trade market, no less. And yes, it’s an antique.”The truth was, the statue was from the Victorian era. Even the owner of Treasure Hall, Dominic, had recognized its age but dismissed it as worthless, tossing it onto a stall outside.Frederick had picked it up casually, thinking it would come in handy one day, and now it was the perfect gift for Ivan.Hearing this, Nigel burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. “An antique? Treasure Hall? You’re really trying to fool us.”Kimberly chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she glance
The group’s attention was fully captured by Frederick’s words, their eyes all on him. Nigel, knowing that Kimberly had informed Ivy at the last minute and that she likely didn’t have a gift, sneered at Frederick."Well, if you’ve got a gift, go ahead and show it.""Considering Ivy and Kimberly’s relationship, the gift should be pretty decent, right?"Everyone was now staring at Frederick with anticipation, curious to see what kind of gift he could produce.Ivy, on the other hand, was completely flustered. She hadn’t handed any gift to Frederick, though she understood he was trying to help her out of a tough spot. But wasn’t this making things even more awkward?Nigel continued to press him, "Where’s the gift? Come on, take it out already.""After all this time, you still can’t take it out. Don’t tell me you don’t even have one."Frederick glanced at Nigel with a calm smile. "Oh? Are you planning to bet 300 grand with me again?"Nigel froze. There was no way he had another 300 t
Ivan was deeply moved, feeling as though all the unpleasantness from their school days had been swept away. A sense of childhood nostalgia, unique to old classmates, welled up within him.The crowd continued to shower Nigel with praise, giving him thumbs up one after another."A gift worth 10 grand is no small amount. Nigel is truly generous.""That’s right. These days, even classmates hesitate to prepare gifts, but Nigel has shown such generosity.."Most of the attendees had come because of their connection with Kimberly. Each had prepared gifts with costs ranging from a few hundred dollars. Compared to Nigel’s grandiose gift worth 10 thousand, their contributions paled in comparison.Hearing the compliments, Nigel waved his hand dismissively, feigning modesty. "It’s nothing, really. After all, Ivan and I are good friends from way back."Then, Nigel’s expression shifted slightly as he added, "Speaking of good friends, I’m sure it’s not just me and Ivan here who share a special b