Chapter 287
Chapter 287
Bill sported a grin that could only be described as cheeky, but deep down, he heaved a sigh. It seemed that even the big boss wasn't immune to the age-old adage: every hero has his weakness, in this case, a lady's influence. The man who never once bothered with the intricacies of the Fortuna Group's operations, who steadfastly refused to let outsiders meddle in business affairs, was now, for the first time, breaking tradition by agreeing to sell their premium coffee beans to the Lewis family-all because his sister-in-law had uttered just a few words.
Was this really about lending a helping hand to the Delaney family under the guise of another motive?
Solving this issue would significantly aid their progress in mathematical modeling. However, since the boss had already handed over the cash to his sister-in-law, Bill was certain the problem would be cracked open!
With that thought, he glanced at the documents in his hands, finding them densely packed with text.
Bill didn't have a clue about these things, but it seemed official enough. His sister-in-law was quite the professional, wasn't she? Mulling over this, his gaze shifted to Everard. "Boss, what's the answer?"
Everard, still engrossed in his Bible, responded without looking up. "The answer's in your hands."
Bill was puzzled.
He scrutinized the papers once more, barely stifling a laugh. "Come on, boss. You're pulling my leg. How could this possibly be the answer?" Everard merely glanced at him, remaining silent.
Bill protested, "Boss, that's not fair. You can't just take the money and not contribute! A problem that has stumped university professors, solved by a high school student? You're kidding!"
Everard continued his silence.
Bill resigned himself to taking action. "Alright, then. I'll snap a photo and send it to the mathematicians back at the office. But let's get one thing straight, boss-if it's wrong, you owe me the right answer."
Everard remained unresponsive.
After sending off the photos, Bill turned back to Everard, trying to wheedle him. "Boss, when you left, you promised to come back and take over the business when you had the time. You're pretty free now, so why not help me out for a few days?"
Everard simply stated, "I'm busy."
Bill, incredulous, pressed on. "Busy with what? You've got plenty of time on your hands!"
Hearing this, Everard's expression grew stern. He furrowed his brows, replying slowly, "My vacation's almost over."
That single statement shut Bill up. While he wished for the boss to manage the group, the tasks awaiting Mr. Watkins were far too trivial compared to what he was truly capable of.
Noticing Everard deep in thought, Bill asked solemnly, "Boss, what's on your mind?"
He knew a man of Everard's caliber only pondered significant matters.
To his surprise, Everard sighed. "I'm considering how to take the kids with me. Or perhaps, should I work from Greenmeadow?" Bill was baffled.
The kids were destined for Ontoky City in half a year.
But the thought of not seeing them for six months was unbearable. With their carefree nature, would they even remember him?
Everard found himself in a quandary.
Unaware of Everard's turmoil, Cordelia had just arrived at the school gates when she spotted a tall figure lurking nearby, heavily disguised with a cap and mask.
But she recognized him instantly it was Bland.
Bland?
Then it hit her. Little Parrot had returned from her art exam in Ontoky City, but wasn't Bland supposed to be on set? Why was he here? And since Little Parrot was staying at her place, was he here to accompany her to school?
As she pondered, Bland approached her, whispering, "Lia."
Cordelia nodded, puzzled. "What's up?"
Bland coughed. "Nothing much. Just...uh, dropped off Little Parrot for school. Just wanted to let you know. I'll be off then."
Cordelia was left speechless.
After Bland left, she made her way into school.
Relative to their peers, high school students were quite innocent. Despite the buzz surrounding the Delaney family's celebration in Greenmeadow, and their parents advising them to maintain good relations with Cordelia, the reasons remained unspoken.
So, interactions with Cordelia were normal, albeit slightly more enthusiastic than usual. Walking through the halls, she was greeted by several classmates.
Upon entering her classroom, she noticed a crowd gathered around her desk-or more accurately, around Little Parrot.
Little Parrot, fresh from her return
from Ontoky City, was the center of
attention, her face alight with
excitement. Since Leila Jordan's arrest, she had ditched the heavy makeup, revealing her natural
beauty, which made her even more attractive than before.
Cordelia approached slowly, and Merry spotted her immediately, rushing over with a hug. "Lia, I've missed you so much!"
Cordelia, slightly overwhelmed by the embrace, was met with Merry's excitement. "How did the art exam go?"
Beaming, Merry replied, "Passed! Now, just waiting for the high school exams in June. Hehe~"
Before Cordelia could respond, a shrill voice cut through the air. "Merry, you're toast! Your boyfriend's cheating on you!"
Turning, they saw a girl from their class, phone in hand, announcing, "He's got a girlfriend!"
Cordelia turned to Merry, finding her avoiding eye contact, stammering, "What...what are you talking about?"Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.
The girl, a fervent follower of the
I
celebrity world, blurted out in a rush, "I'm not making this up, for real. Your guy and his girlfriend are living together! And they got snapped! High-quality pics, and though the girl's face isn't shown, the dude is unmistakably your man! Oh my gosh, he even admitted it!! Said his girlfriend is too young to go public right now!"
Cordelia: ?
Merry's face turned beet red in an instant.
She covered her face and slumped into her seat, "So they went public, big deal!"
But the girl wasn't ready to let it go, "Aren't you heartbroken? Aren't you upset?! That's your first love, your celebrity crush, your idol, your big brother figure, your hubby!"
Merry:
Before Merry could respond, Juliana suddenly chimed in, "It's just a celebrity announcing his relationship. What's it got to do with her?"
Ever since Cordelia's boyfriend's
identity became public knowledge, Juliana had been throwing shade non-stop. She scoffed, "It's not like someone snagging a good boyfriend means everyone around her gets a slice of heaven. With her looks, even if Bland wasn't seeing someone, he wouldn't give her a second glance."
Almost on cue, Bland appeared at the doorway, saying, "Excuse me for interrupting, I'm looking for Merry."
He smiled, "You left your book in my car."
Merry: ??????
Cordelia: ??????
Everyone: ??????????