Chapter 147
Chapter 147
"Why didn't you tell me about such a big thing? Logically, you should have told me such a huge piece of news as the Emerson girl getting married."
Charlotte kept silent, and Anne did not explain further.
Rick understood instantly. There was a reason for this, but it was inconvenient to say. He did not ask more and changed the topic. "Alright, at least now we're back here together. It will make an old empty-nester like me less lonely."
"Rick, how are you an old empty- nester?" Anne teased, not giving him any face at all.
"I'm going to be thirty years old soon, little sister."
"Lottie, my brother said that he'll be thirty soon."
Anne's words made Charlotte feel rather flabbergasted. She was so embarrassed that she didn't know what to say.
However, Rick smiled and said, "Just because you can't nag me into getting into a relationship doesn't mean you can drag Lottie into this."
"Rick, what I meant was..." "What you meant isn't important. I mean, don't worry about it."
Anne still had something to say, but was stopped by Rick's gaze.
Only then did Anne come to her senses. Rick was giving Charlotte an out. He did not want to force her into a situation where there was no way out.
Anne licked her lips. "My brother is such a nice person. Look at Shane. He works so fast. At least, he managed to get Lottie to marry him."
The mansion was very beautiful.
There was a small garden. In a solarium, there were exotic flowers and plants. The living room on the first floor was so large that it could accommodate a party of at least 20 people. The kitchen decoration used an open style, with simple but luxurious lines.
Rick brought everyone to the third floor to put away their luggage.
"To the left side of the second floor are the gym and swimming pool. On the right is an artificial hot spring," he introduced.
"Rick, you're really living the life!"
"I have a secretary." NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
Anne was speechless.
Charlotte couldn't help but laugh out loud. Upon hearing this, Rick turned around and gave her a meaningful look. Immediately, she stopped smiling.
Rick gave off a very positive and sunny impression. He was even more gentle and refined than Christopher. But for some reason, Charlotte was especially afraid of him. If he were to look at her, she would immediately adjust her behavior.
Each room was similar to the other. Charlotte randomly picked one and put away hers and Sheryl's.
The wardrobe was quite big. It could fit two months' worth of clothes for the both of them.
When Charlotte went downstairs, Rick was carrying Sheryl to look at the fish in the living room.
She walked over to Rick and asked, "Rick, are your arms tired?"
Rick turned around with a smile. "It's okay. You can go shopping with Anne. Leave the child to me."
Charlotte wanted to thank him, but she was afraid that he would say that she was being too unfamiliar with him.
Rick saw through her thoughts and changed the subject. "I'll take you out for a fun day tomorrow. How about you come to the office with me the day after tomorrow?"
"Me?"
"Would that be alright?"
"Of course, but why do you want me to go to your office?"
"There has been an international policy reform recently, which has caused activity using international hot money. Additionally, there have been many new managers in the world trade, so the global economy is in constant turmoil. My way of thinking is that you should shadow my deputy to learn about the recent situation. Once you return home, you can be my Asia Pacific Region CEO."
It took a whole minute for Charlotte to understand the meaning of these words.
In the case of international upheaval, Rick wanted to develop his domestic businesses, and he wanted her to take charge of the company's...
But, why did he choose her?
"There are so many professional CEOs out there. Rick, even if you really want me to help you out, you don't have to give me such a good position." For a moment, Charlotte didn't know whether to agree or reject directly.
She did not want to miss a chance to improve herself, but this position was much too high.
"I'm just testing the waters in the domestic market. I will be setting the general direction for the company to go in. By then, you just need to help me deal with the details and negotiations. I know, you're good at negotiating."
"How... how did you know?"
"One of the clients you bagged for NC Company was one of my subsidiaries. Although I sold it half a year ago, its CEO is my friend. He mentioned you to me."
Charlotte couldn't help but laugh. "And here I thought you had been helping me behind the scenes."
"The NC Company person you married, who is he? Is it Shane or Christopher?"
"How did you know that it was one of them? Maybe it has nothing to do with NC Company." Charlotte lowered her head unconsciously.
"My guess is Shane."
"You..."
Rick smiled.
When he had still been a teenager, Rick had started handling the Jane Corporation's business matters. He had gotten used to using one's expressions and body language to determine their thoughts.
He could see through all the masks of cunning oold businessmen, much less this woman in front of him who could not hide her emotions.
"If it weren't one of them, you wouldn't have left the company after the divorce. If it was Christopher, you wouldn't have been scared to tell me. If you're worried about whether you should tell me, then the first reason would be because you're afraid I would compare myself to him. The second reason would be that you're afraid that I'll directly retaliate against his company. In conclusion, Shane Fuller is the most probable person," Rick announced his reasoning.
"That's why Anne and I keep saying that you're scary," Charlotte mumbled softly.
"My brother's being amazing is great for me as his sister."
"I'm under a lot of pressure," Rick joked.
"I'll try to restrain myself as much as possible."
Charlotte was stunned for a moment. She took the child from his arms and said, "I'll take Sheryl to look around."
"Okay." Rick watched her leave.
Only after escaping from Rick's line of sight did Charlotte let out a sigh of relief.
"Help him manage the company..." Charlotte thought.
She hadn't taken any financial classes. She would probably bankrupt a small sales department, let alone manage a company.
She didn't want to help him out of excitement and end up bungling everything up.
She decided to wait and see.
The next day.
Rick brought everyone to the theme park.
People dressed in doll- like clothes walked along the ancient roads.
Sheryl was sitting astride Rick's shoulders and waving her little hands about.
Charlotte followed by her side. She was afraid that the little girl would fall off from excitement. However, Rick kept smiling, looking as if he was in a good mood.
Anne deliberately pulled Braden with her and walked very slowly.
"How am I going to explain this to Shane..." Braden was very depressed.
"He was the one who abandoned Lottie. So what if my brother becomes her rebound?" Anne snorted discontentedly.
"Your brother is such an excellent person. Why should he be a rebound?"
"You just don't understand. He's liked Lottie since a long, long time ago. Longer than me, even." It was rare for Anne to speak in such a serious tone.
Her eyes fell on the two figures in front of her.
She still remembered that day when she had happily told Rick that she finally found a best friend.
When he heard the name Charlotte Emerson, the look on Rick's face was one of shock and surprise mixed with a little joy.
She would never forget that moment when her brother leaned over and said, "Don't try to snatch my woman away from me."
It was only at that time that her brother finally acted like a bratty boy.
Braden pursed his lips disapprovingly.
No matter how long someone had liked Charlotte, hadn't Shane already gotten there first?
While he was thinking about it, his phone rang.
He answered it and said, "Hello?"
"In the future, we'll still be friends." Christopher's cold voice sounded from the other end.
"What?" Braden was confused.
"I have no hostility against you. Stay abroad and don't come back for the time being."
Beep, beep, beep—
Braden was stunned. He immediately called the other shareholders back home. No one answered his call.
He gnashed his teeth and said, "Is Christopher having me on? Why is he joking about this!"
"What's wrong?" Anne held his hand. "Don't panic. Calm down and think about it."
"Okay." Braden took a deep breath and smiled at her. "I need to make a few phone calls."
Anne nodded.
She had originally wanted to distance herself from her brother and Charlotte anyway.
After the phone calls were made.
Braden was dumbfounded.
He had only been gone for two days.
To think that the Emerson Corporation had gone so far as to buy NC Company's stock. It seemed like they were determined to ruin them. If Shane didn't have enough stock in reserve, then it was very likely that the Emerson Corporation would become the biggest shareholder of NC Company.
As for Christopher, he had left after a big fight with Shane yesterday.
Why had they fought?
Braden asked countless people, but no one knew.
Only a cleaner said that, when she entered Shane's office, it was a mess inside.