Chapter 5: Poaching Talent

“This Noah guy is even more capable than Glonetix Design Company’s boss,” Leon Everhart calculated in his mind. He quickly came up with a plan: he would poach Noah and his team.

When they returned to the company that day, Leon Everhart and the two executives headed upstairs first. Seraphina Arden parked the car, grabbed her bag, and deliberately lagged behind, far from them.

Seraphina Arden was hungry. Whenever she got hungry, she felt miserable, so she intentionally stayed back to sneak a quick bite.

Back in her office, Seraphina Arden rummaged through her desk drawers for food. Finally, she found a cookie. She popped it into her mouth just as she looked up and saw Leon Everhart standing in her doorway, watching her.

Caught off guard, Seraphina Arden shoved the entire cookie into her mouth and stared at Leon Everhart like a deer caught in headlights.

Leon Everhart, both amused and annoyed by her lack of decorum, scolded her lightly, “Once you finish that, organize today’s meeting notes and send them to me. Also, come to my office when you’re done.”

As soon as he left, Seraphina Arden hurriedly chewed the cookie. It was so dry that she began coughing uncontrollably. Grabbing her water cup, she rushed outside to fill it. After several gulps, she finally felt better.

Inside, she cursed Leon Everhart a thousand times in her mind. “Even the heavens don’t strike down people eating! Leon Everhart, you’re heartless!”

But of course, she only dared to curse him inwardly. After all, he was her boss, the one filling her paycheck.

When Seraphina Arden walked into Leon Everhart’s office, he was engrossed in his computer and didn’t even look up. “Give me Noah’s phone number,” he said.

Seraphina Arden blinked. “I don’t have his number.”

Leon Everhart didn’t move. “Go find it.”

Grumbling internally, Seraphina Arden left the office.

“Seraphina,” Leon suddenly called after her, “are you cursing me?”

Seraphina Arden froze, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. “Mr. Everhart, what are you talking about? I wouldn’t dare.”

Leon Everhart smirked coldly. “Get out. And find me that number quickly. Oh, and don’t let Glonetix Design Company’s boss find out.”

Hearing that, Seraphina Arden instantly understood her boss’s intention.

She wasn’t sure if she had deleted Noah’s number, so she had claimed not to have it. In reality, she could easily get it from the design department downstairs. But since Leon had explicitly instructed discretion, it was clear he was up to something sneaky.

Seraphina Arden checked her phone. Luckily, she hadn’t deleted it. She stepped outside and dialed Noah.

Noah had just saved Seraphina Arden’s number, which he had initially planned to delete. When he saw her calling, he picked up with a hint of surprise.

“Hey, uh, Noah,” Seraphina Arden started awkwardly. “Do you have a moment? I need to discuss something... personal.”

Noah chuckled. “Sure, what’s up?”

“Are you alone? Can you find a private spot to talk?”

Noah glanced at his colleagues, then walked outside. “Alright, I’m alone now. Talk to me, gorgeous.”

Seraphina Arden cleared her throat. “My boss asked me to get your phone number but told me not to alert your boss. Would you mind if I passed it along to him?”

This was an opportunity falling straight from the sky. Noah immediately sensed it might be his lucky break. “Of course! No problem.”

Seraphina Arden wrote Noah’s number on a piece of paper and brought it to Leon Everhart. “Mr. Everhart, here’s Noah’s phone number.”

Leon Everhart didn’t even glance at the paper. Instead, he asked, “How did he react?”

“Thrilled,” Seraphina Arden replied. “No hesitation at all.”

Leon Everhart smiled. “Check my schedule for the next few days. Find an evening when I’m free and arrange a meeting with him.”

“Got it, Mr. Everhart,” Seraphina Arden replied.

As she left his office, Leon Everhart watched her retreating figure with satisfaction. “This Seraphina Arden,” he mused, “young but sharp. She reads people so well—one word from me, and she understands my intent. Having her as my assistant really makes everything easier.”

Seraphina Arden returned to her desk to organize the day’s notes. By the time she finished and sent them to Leon Everhart, the sky outside had turned dark.

She knocked on his office door. “Mr. Everhart, will we need to work overtime tonight?”

“No,” Leon Everhart replied without looking up. “I’ll drive myself home.”

Hearing this, Seraphina Arden’s face lit up. She quickly shut the office door and bolted toward the stairs with her bag in hand.

Leon Everhart wasn’t planning on staying late either. He followed her at a leisurely pace toward the elevator.

He asked casually, “Seraphina, want to ride down with me?”

After a moment’s thought, Seraphina Arden nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Everhart.”

The two rode the elevator in silence. Seraphina Arden’s phone buzzed constantly with messages, but she ignored them.

In the parking garage, Leon Everhart walked straight to his Bentley while Seraphina Arden cheerfully ran to her Toyota Corolla.

No overtime meant her parents were already lining up for dinner. Tonight, the whole family would enjoy seafood hot pot together.

Sitting in his Bentley, Leon Everhart glanced at Seraphina Arden as she drove past him. Her face, framed by her earphones, was brimming with joy.

It had been ages since Leon Everhart had genuinely laughed. Watching the chubby girl’s radiant smile, he thought for the first time that Seraphina Arden’s plumpness was kind of... endearing.

If Seraphina Arden knew Leon Everhart found her cute, she might have grabbed a brick to knock some sense into herself.

Later that evening, Leon Everhart returned to his family’s estate. To his surprise, both his parents and younger brother Liam were home.

Leon’s father, looking healthy, casually asked, “Leon, did the lakefront property deal get approved yet?”

“Not yet. I’ll follow up after New Year’s,” Leon replied.

Their mother served dinner as Liam spoke up. “Hey, Leon, I’m thinking of investing in a film company. What do you think?”

Leon smiled. “If Dad’s on board, go for it. Let me know if you need extra funding—I’m in.”

Liam beamed. “That’s all I needed to hear. Dad wants me to give it a shot on my own.”

Their mother, a dedicated philanthropist and vegetarian, didn’t dine with them, as was her habit.

The Everhart family had more money than they knew what to do with. Leon’s mother loved charity work and spent most of the year attending high-society fundraising events. Leon and Liam didn’t fully understand her passion, but as long as she was happy, they supported her.

Before dinner ended, Leon’s father brought up, “The Isabellas’ daughter—didn’t she major in piano? She studied geography abroad and just returned. Make an effort to connect with her during Christmas.”

Leon chuckled and nodded. “Sure, I’ll handle it.”