Atticus quickly answered the call. He said hoarsely, "Hmm, Ms. Chloe? What's the matter?"I glanced at Lauren, and she nodded reassuringly, urging me to speak."Um... are you at the company? I'd like to discuss something with you," I said, still lacking confidence."Sure, go to Vanderberg Palace. I'll be there in a while," he responded promptly.I felt dazed because I did not know what Vanderberg Palace was. Lauren saw my confusion and patted my hand, signaling me to end the call."All right, see you later," I replied awkwardly before hanging up. Then I turned to Lauren and said, “I don’t know where Vanderberg Palace is.”Lauren laughed at me mockingly. I felt embarrassed and asked, “Hey! Why are you laughing?!”“Because I know where it is. Hahaha,” Lauren continued to tease me, “I should’ve driven you around more when we had nothing to do. You should have some fun driving around. Geez, you embarrass me sometimes.”Soon after, we arrived in front of a tranquil courtyard. Lauren
Atticus showed no surprise and nodded. “Go ahead.”I explained my purpose and then looked at him, asking, "Can you give me some advice?"Atticus didn't respond directly. Instead, he contemplated momentarily before saying, "I can't help you with this."My mind went blank, and my heart dropped. I realized I might’ve been too hopeful since I wasn’t close to Atticus. It was unrealistic for him to help me for no reason. As I was about to provide a way out for myself, Atticus continued, “However, I can offer a suggestion.”I looked at him in surprise and waited for him to continue."Do you know Pinnacle Group?" he asked.I nodded. Pinnacle Group was the country's leading company and the most renowned real estate brand. They had properties worldwide and were well-known for their quality."Go to them. Their building materials undergo rigorous selection and meet national standards. I noticed the items you used identified as non-compliant are the same ones they use. Wouldn't that be quite
Lauren insisted on driving me back home as I left the Vanderberg Palace. I grabbed a couple of fresh outfits and asked her to take me to the airport.During the ride, I made calls to both Ryan and Grayson. Grayson offered, "I can accompany you, you know. Are you sure you want to go alone?""Your mission is more crucial. Finding evidence is the key to victory. I'll be fine on my own. Trust me," I earnestly advised Grayson.The remorse in Ryan’s voice was clear.I was not worried about the company with Ryan in charge, but he was not good at complicated relationships. His time abroad had dulled his understanding of complex interpersonal dynamics.Teasingly, I said to Lauren, "Your ideas are truly classic. Why do I feel like you're such a smooth operator?"She glanced at me and retorted, "Who's the smooth operator here? You're just too close to the situation. Your brain is leagues ahead of the rest of us. "In my opinion, you've let the company stagnate in the years Matthew ran it
Not only did the shop owner open up about it, even the woman getting her hair done chimed in. It seemed like they were both very familiar with this family.It turned out that Dominic's eccentric behavior had a backstory. He was born into an intellectual family and taught chemistry at a university in the city. He was devoted to his career and got married quite late. He had a child in his middle age, the cherry on top of his already blissful life. Everything seemed perfect, but little did he know that his idyllic dream lasted only five years. At the time, he was at the pinnacle of his career. He was the youngest Ph.D. supervisor, and he even bought a house.This was supposed to be an enviable celebration, but tragedy struck when his beloved son was diagnosed with leukemia the second year after moving into the new house. This news shattered Dominic's dreams. He traveled far and wide to seek treatment for his child, depleting his wealth and ending up with nothing. He couldn't f
Dominic was anxious. "Please leave! Can't you see someone is sick here?""May I check on your wife?" I carefully asked for his permission. "I believe her condition is quite serious."He looked at me with panic, beads of sweat on his forehead."I have some experience," I added quickly. "I might be able to help."After all, I've dealt with situations like this while caring for Ava these past few years.Dominic glanced at me briefly, perhaps sensing my sincerity. He stepped aside and sighed. "She seems to have a fever."I quickly felt the woman's forehead and neck. She was burning hot, beyond a regular fever. "How long has this been going on?""She's been running a fever since last night. She was still lucid this morning, but I...""Dominic, I'm afraid we need to get her to the hospital. This won't do. Do you have a thermometer?" I asked."I-I don't know where it is!" He was usually absorbed in his studies, leaving household matters to his wife.I promptly told Carol, "Quick, ca
Finally, with the documents in my hands, the weight in my heart lifted. I was deeply grateful for Dominic's assistance.From his bag, he handed me additional materials. "These are promotional materials from the CEO of Pinnacle Group, along with information on materials similar to yours. You'll find copies of approval documents, test reports, certificates of compliance, and more."He showed me each item, explaining, "There are also audiovisual materials stamped with Pinnacle Group's seal. I hope this can be of help to you."Seeing these materials, I was truly moved and couldn't find the words to express my gratitude. These documents filled me with confidence.Dominic said, "Ms. Chloe, I hope you'll uphold your principles in every project contract—honesty, integrity, and a commitment to quality.""Dominic, you can trust me. What you said is exactly my motto." I assured him solemnly.He checked his watch and told me, "Time is tight, and you've already helped me a lot. Go on!"I qui
Upon my return to the capital, my first stop was the hospital to meet Dominic. I wanted to share the good news of my victory, and he hadn't expected our reunion to happen so soon.As I anticipated, Dominic's life had turned chaotic due to his wife's hospitalization. I wanted to help him manage things at home.To put his mind at ease, I told him that my office was undergoing renovations, and I wouldn't be working for the week. Finally, he relaxed and allowed me to assist him.Following my suggestion, he agreed to hire a caregiver for them, and I had Fred help find a reliable one.During the week, I seized the opportunity to delve deeply into Pinnacle Group's affairs and discuss various material-related issues with Dominic. This gave me a clearer understanding of why Dominic was often considered difficult to deal with.The death of his son strengthened his commitment to his principles. Nothing could sway him from these values. He shut himself off even more and rarely talked to anyon
Grayson's explanation helped me understand the connection between the Pierce Corporation and ATL Empire, clearing up some confusion."So, this means that after Atlas’s parents had their accident, Celine took over ATL Empire.""Yes, because Atlas was only ten years old at that time.”While this clarified things for me, I was still puzzled about why Atlas only took over ATL Empire after many years."This time, Celine's plan is even sneakier," Grayson said. “She wants to use Atlas's coma as a chance to dilute the shares and merge ATL Empire and Pierce Corporation."I became anxious. "But wouldn't Atlas suffer heavy losses? That would mean that all his efforts in the past years would be in vain.”"This is why Celine's actions have shocked the whole conglomerate. Overall, they’re known as ATL Empire, but they always make a distinction between the Pierce Corporation and ATL Empire internally. “They are always at odds with each other. I think there's a reason they call the whole congl