In the next two days, Javier had the chance to see various pieces of production equipment and assembly lines with Graham’s help. He even had the opportunity to look at the production line of the Audi facility plant next door.Graham used to be a factory manager, so even though he was not good at interpersonal relationships, many of the workers that he used to lead were good at it. Many of them were doing well.Although it was unlikely for him to get a promotion, it certainly wouldn’t be a problem for him just to visit and look around.That day, when Graham was showing Javier around during his free time, he bumped into the leader of his company.His heart skipped a beat because they were not at the production line of their own factory, and the leader knew him.He was flustered. The most beautiful and youngest Vice GM in the group, Quinna Aurum, suddenly said, "Why are you here!?"She could not hide the shock on her delicate face.Graham said awkwardly, "Miss Aurum, I—"Before Gr
Javier clearly knew what Quinna was talking about. He answered in a solemn tone, "If you really want to know, buy me dinner tonight. I'll tell you if you take me out to dinner."Quinna had completely given up. She had never met anyone as brazen as Javier. She did not know how to deal with a rogue like him.She stopped asking. After putting out the cigarette, she got up and went to open the door of the guest lounge to send him off.As she was walking past Javier, she accidentally tripped over a chair. She lost her balance and fell forward.She was about to hit the floor when Javier quickly got up and grabbed her from behind.Quinna felt extremely embarrassed and was paralyzed with shame.She had had a few relationships over the years, but she would never let any man touch her body because she was so beautiful. She did not know if those men truly liked her or just liked her face and body.Who would have thought that Javier would have his hands on her? It happened in such a magical
Graham began mulling after Javier left. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Javier and Quinna must have known each other. It was not as simple as they seemed on the outside. If they had met before outside, why did they have to talk in the office? There was obviously something they did not want outsiders eavesdropping on them.Regardless, Graham thought that it was a good thing. Javier knowing Quinna only affirmed his decision of trusting Javier was correct. As he contemplated, he thought that he could provide his wife the treatment needed to fully heal her when he got promoted as the head of the factory, and his salary would increase in the future.It was then his wife called him. “Dear, someone came and sent us 30 thousand dollars, saying that Mr. Kersey sent him for it and that it’s for my surgery. I didn’t dare accept the money, but the man left after leaving the money and wishing me a smooth recovery.“Who’s…Mr. Kersey?”Graham was moved. Who else could Mr. Kers
Javier met Trevor at the hotel they had agreed on after work at night. While they had dinner, Trevor reported the recent work status and told Javier, “The man wants to talk to you face to face tonight. I’m guessing that there's an 80% chance of success, or else he wouldn’t have asked to meet.”Javier nodded and agreed easily. After all, he was the actual boss. He would have to show up to make decisions.After dinner, Javier had wanted to visit a gift shop to buy some health supplements or care package for Trevor’s ex-chairman. It did not matter what the gift was, it was the gesture.Trevor rejected, however. “He doesn’t accept gifts. He wouldn’t even agree to have a meal together tonight when I invited him.”No wonder. Javier had been complaining inwardly that Trevor was too pedantic and tactless that he did not know to ask the man out to a meal for the negotiation. It now seemed that he had misplaced the blame on Trevor. It was the old man who was too upright.It was not a bad th
Simon was happy. He had been under the impression that Javier was here to make money, but it was obviously not the case now. No profit maker would speak like that. Only people who wholeheartedly wanted to manufacture good cars talked like this.Hence, he was currently overjoyed despite being bombarded and berated just now.Simon headed inside the complex, pulling Javier along and ignoring Trevor. The latter was flummoxed, not expecting the superior he had had to act cautiously and reverently around to be lambasted by Javier. More importantly, Javier became the good guy even then. Yet, an obedient guy like him was ignored. It exasperated him.Nevertheless, Javier's words made blood rush within him and energized him so much that he felt proud of being a Chinean car manufacturer. It felt like the car was already made.Watching Javier’s retreating back, Trevor felt that working for such a fantastic boss was motivating. It was like he had boundless energy that he did not mind even if he
Quinna wore a pair of suit pants and a blouse when she came out of the room. The only thing on her that did not change was the black-framed glasses that reflected a feminine charm.“Dad, we’ll go talk in the study.”Quinna took Javier to the study after informing Simon, and the server, Trevor, was finally qualified to sit down. What a way of becoming a guest.Quinna closed the door of the study once they got in and frantically opened the window.“Look at how anxious you are. I’d have thought you’d jump off the building if there wasn't an anti-theft window outside.”That made Quinna glare at Javier directly. She even robbed him, asking him for cigarettes.“My dad doesn’t allow me to smoke. Since you’re here tonight, I’ll just say that you’re the one who smoked. You’ve got to be my scapegoat.”Javier was rendered speechless. His cigarettes were robbed, and he had to become a scapegoat.After the two of them lit up a cigarette each, Quinna enjoyed her puffs of smoke, looking like
Quinna did not say more on the matter of 30% of profit sharing. Her soft protest meant that she was not confident because she knew that others would have been more than happy to oblige with the 30% of profit sharing if Javier went to them with his car.It was not little at all as hydrogen-fueled vehicles did not need the market evaluable and professional assessment. It was convenient and thrifty. The biggest strength was that the battery would not have to be changed in six years compared to regular vehicles.Changing the battery would have taken thousands of dollars, and that was the biggest issue with using regular electric vehicles, but that was not required for hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Frankly, its battery storage was a sealed container that was temperature resistant.The biggest possibility was that there would be a leak, but that was fine. Hydrogen would evaporate swiftly, and an electric welder would repair it.This meant that a hydrogen-fueled car owned three popular factor
Saorise had not spoken empty words and had actually arrived. She was recently working on a new movie, and the party she would be collaborating with was within the area. Coincidentally, Javier was there as well, which was why she had flown over.As for whether Saoirse had flown because of her movie discussion or Javier…It was probably an obvious answer. However, there was one thing Javier was very sure of…He could not go all night that day. After around half an hour later, Saoirse, who had just gotten off the plane and was covered in dust, hurried to the hotel Javier was staying at.The moment she entered, Javier carried her in his arms all the way to the large bed.It was around an hour later by the time they were done.At the time, Javier was feeling refreshed and satisfied, both physically and mentally.“Javier, I don’t want you to call me your aunt from now on. I don’t want to sound so old.”With Saoirse’s gentle voice ringing by his ear, Javier asked, “What do you want
As Bernadetta launched a barrage of kicks against the restaurant door, Mrs. Greene summoned 120% of her strength, holding the fort. The older woman had made a living terrorizing others with absurd accusations and downright unreasonable demands, but this time, she had met her match. Bernadetta James put the “man” in the word “woman”—in that she resorted to violence as soon as things escalated. In the end, it took both Mrs. Greene’s apology and a deal to provide Javier and Bernadetta with three days’ meals, all free of charge, to make the young woman stop. Then—“because I actually have a weakness against people sincerely appealing to my better angels,” according to Bernadetta—she amended the peace offer, changing the three days’ free meals to…a week’s worth. Back in the inn, Javier expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Bernadetta for rescuing him. “I can’t thank you enough for standing by my side when I needed it the most, Bern. But I can thank you a bit more if you refrain from using t
Mrs. Greene opened her flap and unlocked the floodgate, the spit during her tirade so profusive that she could water an old lady’s lawn. “It’s him, officers! It’s all him! He did this to his own camera just to remove himself as a suspect, but we know better than that! He’s the guy who stole my goddamn lingerie!”She turned and trained her finger on Javier. “You vile, disgusting, degenerate piece of sh*t! Ptooey!”‘Back at you! I'd rather spend the night with my left hand than with you!’ By this point in the morning, Bernadetta had arrived at work. Her heels clicked onto the floor as she sauntered toward the commotion. As soon as she heard what had transpired, she laughed, looking clearly amused. She trained her perfectly manicured finger on Javier and piled on. “Oh, it was him. I can testify to that! He stole Mrs. Greene’s bra because he is…the Lingerie Phantom Thief! By day, he is Javier Kersey. At night, he is Jo Ker, the Bra Stealer!” Javier threw his arms up in exasperation
Javier shook his head. By the time his vision was back to normal, the dog was gone. It had escaped! “What kind of hell spawned this little sh*t?!” Javier wondered to himself aloud. “Was this really an effect of the world changing? Is this an example of mutation because of the Storm? Or is there something else at play?”Baffled and unsure what to think, Javier returned to the dorm and told the residents to open the door. Inside, he found Florence huddling the frightened kids closely. She was white from fear, and yet in the presence of vulnerable kids, she had assumed the role of the protector without a second thought. “Hush, it’s alright! It was fake. Someone pulled a terrible prank and put on this white sheet and…” Javier made up a fib to explain the haunting away exactly because the truth could land him in a mental institution. No one would believe him—and for good reason too!Javier drove Florence back to the Yuzuian restaurant, where the latter’s electric scooter was. While
A resentful wail—interspersed only by sobs that sounded more like someone was being strangled—was echoing in the middle of the night while Javier and Florence could not see even a single soul out there? Animated by the power of “hell, naw!”, Florence dove into Javier’s arms for protection. Her hands were clasped firmly on either side of her head, hoping to block out the ghastly demand in her ears. Her eyes were squeezed so tightly shut that even a crowbar could not pry them open.Javier himself was just as terrified. He would have felt better if he could see the source of the voice rather than just hear a woman sobbing about getting her head back. At least he would know what he was up against! But just hearing it without any visuals at all?! Nooooope!Then, Florence hugged him in a “help-me!” sort of way. She was soft and supple—damn, that sexy figure in combination with her silky-smooth skin sure was welcoming. She was warm, and damn did she smell good! Nothing competed with fea
The dog barked in protest as it pointed its paw at Javier with the intensity of a mob before executing a monarch. The flames in its eyes were so bright that they could incinerate Javier into ashes in milliseconds. In the end, though, all that protest was for naught. Constance tied it up in the parking garage, while Javier watched in glee. Ah, sweet, sweet revenge! The stupid dog had thought it could set him up, had it? That would teach it!The look the Pomeranian shot him almost felt like a threat: ‘Just you f*cking wait, hooman!’‘Wait for what? How much can a stupid b*tch like you do to me?’ Javier scoffed in his mind. Now that the four-legged pest was gone, Javier turned back to Constance and talked about the new orphanage. As it turned out, despite the old woman’s sentiments for the building she had founded, she was a lot less obstinate and unreasonable as she might appear. “I mean, I don’t object to it completely. I know the new place is gonna be better, but…” She faltered a
Florence called half an hour later to tell him where they’d be having dinner. After leaving the inn in Bernadetta’s care, he hurried to the venue. Florence had picked a newly-opened Yuzuian restaurant. Javier had never liked Yuzuian restaurants, but since Florence had invited him, courtesy stopped him from asking the woman to change their meeting venue. He found Florence quickly enough and sat across from her. They placed their orders, and Javier began his performance: He started sighing and doing his best to look forlorn. It intrigued Florence enough to ask what was wrong, and Javier told her about his unfortunate beef with Constance that day.“It’s so unfair, man! Why would I bully a dog for no reason?” he moaned. “I’m sure Aunt Constance misunderstood. You’re a knightly, heroic, kind man! How could someone like you possibly get off on hurting a dog? I’m sure Aunt Constance was just too worried about the dog’s welfare to think things through. She didn’t mean it. I can vouch for
Herschel was dressed quite sharply today. It was the full ensemble—black leather shoes, black slacks, a white collar, and last but not least, the good old oil-slicked hair. The typical look of a high-ranking office worker, just as Javier had requested. Ordering him to get in his car, Javier asked, “You brought all the stuff I told you to?”“Yo, I would never forget the stuff my boss told me to bring. I’ve got all the preparations down pat. You can check ‘em if you don’t trust me,” Herschel replied. He fished an ID and some documents out of his leather bag. “See? All the documentation a journalist in the most important room of a news agency would have.”After a round-check and some instructions, Javier sent Herschel on his way to complete his mission. The man was strangely reluctant, though. “Boss, you told me you decided to work in that inn, right? Does that mean, you know, that you’re gonna call me ‘boss’ while you’re there?”Javier had almost forgotten he had mentioned this. It
Javier’s suspicion turned to Constance Hellman’s white Pomeranian. He turned to the director’s office and met the dog’s eyes. With its paws on the windowsill, it hoisted itself up to look out of the window. Seeing the dog cracking a lopsided grin and baring its fangs—beaming as smugly as a teacher’s pet who had managed to subdue everyone through the power of being the boss’s favorite—made it look both amusing and chilling. It would have been had the dog not caught Javier’s gaze, suddenly dropped the smile, and put on a face that seemed to be saying, ‘I’m just your average dog! Nothing to see here!’And then it feigned—yes, feigned—a yawn as its one last measure to cover up the fact that it had been laughing smugly to itself. ‘What. The. Actual. F*ck?!’ Javier thundered in his mind. ‘B*tch’s a natural actress! What’s it doing here instead of being interviewed on a talk show after becoming viral on TikTok?’In combination with Russell’s report, the incident inside the director’s of
As Javier was befuddled, Constance rushed in from outside and picked up the white Pomeranian gingerly to carefully check its injured leg.“Oh, baby, what’s the matter? Did you hurt your leg?”The white Pomeranian whined in pain and began twitching upon hearing Constance’s concerned question. This upset Constance so much that she admonished him sternly. “Mr. Kersey, I thought that you were a loving person, but I can’t help doubting your motive now.“I’m skeptical about you taking good care of the kids here when you’d even hit a cute dog!”Javier felt extremely offended. When had he hit the dog? He hurriedly explained, “Madam Hellman, I didn’t do anything!”Constance asked angrily, “You didn’t do anything? Why would it suddenly limp now and whine so pathetically? Why did it hurry over to me? Give me a reasonable explanation!”Javier was in distress as well. “How would I know? It was fine when I was carrying it just now, but it wanted to get down on the floor, so I carefully placed