Free Web NovelChapter 330: Chapter 328: Unless, You Like Him
Hayes Hughes’s words made Mia Grant’s cheeks flush, and she quietly put the tools back.
"Thank you, little squirrel. To show my gratitude, what would you like to eat later? I’ll go get it ready."
The little squirrel squatted by his feet, handed him a tent stake, and said casually, "I want to eat instant noodles."
It wasn’t the healthiest choice, but the good thing was, Hayes Hughes wasn’t one to spoil the fun.
He listened and nodded. "Can we add some vegetables and beef rolls? Any other toppings you’d like?"
"I want fish cakes."
"Alright," he agreed with a smile.
Once the tent was set up, Mia Grant rolled inside. Hayes Hughes squatted at the entrance, and seeing how happy she was playing in there, he didn’t disturb her. He just quietly placed a pillow and a blanket inside for her.
He watched her for a moment longer, then got up to cook the noodles, a faint smile on his lips as he left.
Mia Grant was having the time of her life playing alone in the tent.
She didn’t even notice the first time her phone rang.
Not until the caller tried again, a second and then a third time.
She glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Carla Sinclair.
A little surprised, she swiped to answer the call.
"Are you in Jynsia?"
"I’m out and about. What’s up?"
She didn’t mention she was near Portia. ’I guess I really don’t want our stargazing tonight to be interrupted.’
"Actually, there is something I need to discuss with you. Is now a good time?"
"Yeah, it is. Go ahead."
"Father said you have some plans for the Grant Family?"
"Oh." Mia Grant neither confirmed nor denied it.
"It concerns the Grant Family, after all, so there was no hiding it from Silas Grant. He had to give the green light. He ran into Father at the summit the day before yesterday, and they talked it over."
"Does he... object?" Mia Grant sat up, suddenly tense.
’Honestly, I don’t have any grand ambitions for the Grant Family.’
’It’s just an act of revenge.’
’Whether I succeed or not isn’t that important.’
’As long as it deals them a heavy blow, that’s enough.’
She just never expected Silas Grant to get involved.
’I always thought Silas Grant would be on my side.’
But hearing what Carla Sinclair said, she suddenly remembered—Silas Grant was a Grant, too. They were his biological parents.
It was only natural that he couldn’t bring himself to act against them.
"If he doesn’t agree, then let’s just forget it. I don’t want it that badly anyway."
"He doesn’t object. His concern is that the senior management at the Grant Corporation is quite loyal to Mr. and Mrs. Grant. Once this is all over, a lot of positions in the company will open up. Of course, that’s not the main issue. The important thing is that your studies are your priority right now. You can’t possibly divert your energy to the company at this point."
"So he’s saying I need someone to act as a proxy and manage the company for me?" Mia Grant understood. "And he recommended... himself?"
"He didn’t recommend anyone. But he did say he wouldn’t be a good fit."
Hearing this, Mia Grant gave it some serious thought and realized it was true.
’He’s part of the Grant Family, so it would be impossible to avoid conflicts of interest.’
Mia wanted to ask Carla Sinclair if she could do it, but on second thought, she realized Carla already had her hands full with the Sinclair Family.
’All the reliable people I know seem to be busy.’
After a moment of thought, Mia Grant asked, "What about Julian Vaughn? Do you think he’d be a good choice?"
"I don’t think he’s the best fit, but he could help share some of the load."
"If you bring him on, you’d better find someone else to balance him out."
The implication was that Julian Vaughn wasn’t reliable enough on his own. He’d need support.
Mia Grant was stumped.
"Do you have any good recommendations? It could be someone you know."
Mia Grant had a great deal of trust in her sister.
Carla Sinclair was initially hesitant to make a recommendation. She was worried that if she suggested the wrong person, it would cause trouble for Mia Grant and damage their relationship.
However, the problem was there, and she felt a responsibility to help Mia solve it.
After some thought, a figure popped into her mind.
"There is one person who’d be perfect."
"Who?"
"Someone we both know—Simon Adler."
"..."
"Him..." Mia Grant faltered. "Is there no one else more suitable?"
"What’s wrong? Is he not an option?" Carla Sinclair had, of course, chosen Simon Adler after considering several factors.
First, Simon Adler knew Mia Grant, was familiar with Carla herself, and worked under Silas Grant.
Second, Simon Adler’s professional competence was undeniable. With him, Mia could manage everything perfectly, even without Julian Vaughn.
His work ethic and character were, relatively speaking, both very reliable.
The last time she saw Simon Adler and Mia Grant together, she had even misunderstood their relationship.
’But even if they aren’t a couple, they must be good friends.’
"He’s... capable, I guess? The main thing is, I don’t think he’d ever agree to come."
"Don’t worry about that. I’ll ask him."
Carla Sinclair was swift and decisive. Before Mia Grant could even reply, she hung up.
Mia Grant sighed. She didn’t dwell on it too much, because she was sure Simon Adler would refuse.
Ever since that day, she had assumed Simon Adler would most likely never appear in her life again.
The last time they spoke, he had told her that Silas Grant was a very proud man.
But wasn’t he just the same?
’After a rejection like that, unless he’s lost his mind, he wouldn’t throw away his pride and keep pursuing me.’
But as it turned out, Simon Adler must have had a screw loose...
"What did you say?!"
"He agreed???"
Mia Grant pulled the phone away from her ear and glanced at the time.
Only ten minutes had passed since her call with Carla Sinclair.
Hayes Hughes had just gotten back from buying the fish cakes she wanted. The water for the noodles wasn’t even boiling yet, and Simon Adler had already agreed?
Mia Grant was starting to doubt if Carla Sinclair had even contacted Simon Adler at all.
"Are you sure there wasn’t a misunderstanding? He just agreed that readily?"
"Readily?" Carla Sinclair didn’t seem to think so.
Mia Grant was speechless.
"What did he say?"
"He just said he could do it."
"Without any hesitation?"
"He hesitated for a few seconds, I suppose."
"..."
Mia Grant fell silent.
"Don’t worry, Silas Grant will be easy to deal with on this. He’ll probably be more at ease if we send Simon Adler."
"After all, we can’t find anyone more suitable than Simon Adler."
"But... isn’t this a bit unfair to him? He probably has better career prospects at the Hughes Corp."
"Where he can best advance his career is his own decision to make. Don’t overthink it."
"He’s not a three-year-old you can lure over with a piece of candy."
"..."
’That’s true, but still...’
Mia Grant pressed her lips together, a million things on her mind but no idea how to voice them.
"Did something unpleasant happen between you two?" Carla Sinclair asked perceptively.
"It wasn’t a big deal for me, but it probably wasn’t very pleasant for him."
"I rejected him before he could confess."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Carla Sinclair said, "I thought it was something serious. If you rejected him, you can just go on being friends."
"I’m fine with that. I just don’t think he’d see it that way."
"He’s a man in his late twenties," Carla Sinclair soothed. "He won’t be that petty."
"Relax. If you don’t want to be friends, then just treat him as an employee. It’s not like you aren’t paying him a salary."
"If you want to feel more secure about it, just give him a larger share of the profits, within reason and without threatening your own position. It’s not a big deal, so don’t overthink it."
"Unless... you like him."
