Free Web NovelChapter 141: Chapter 137: Elliot Sheridan, Is He in the Company?
That night, Lynn Thorne tossed and turned in bed, sighing constantly.
Georgia Thorne couldn’t sleep either. "Sis, don’t worry. We’ll find the money somehow."
"I hope so."
The next morning, Georgia Thorne clutched her aching arm as soon as she arrived at work.
She had been bumped on the bus, and the pain was so sharp it almost brought tears to her eyes.
Rolling up her sleeve, she glanced at the spot. The skin was a bruised mess of purple and blue, a ghastly sight against her fair complexion.
During her lunch break, Nancy Hughes called to ask how her arm was doing. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Georgia clutched her arm and said it was nothing. Seeing that no one was around, she lowered her voice and asked, "Nancy, is Elliot Sheridan at the office?"
"Aren’t you dating our CEO? Why are you asking me!"
’Could they have gotten into a fight?’
Nancy Hughes’s department was quite a distance from Elliot Sheridan’s office.
She had neither the time nor the opportunity to get close to him, so she really couldn’t say whether he was in the office at that moment.
Georgia murmured an "oh" and hung up.
Back at her desk, she reached into her bag and felt for the box. It was still there.
She bit her lip, debating whether she should call Elliot Sheridan.
At noon, an elegant café was filled with the rich aroma of coffee.
Georgia Thorne sat in a corner, looking up at the crisp chime of the door.
She waved at the man who walked in, then forced herself to remain calm.
Owen Sawyer walked over quickly and sat down across from her. "Miss Thorne, hello."
Usually, when Georgia Thorne had business with him, she would just say it over the phone.
He realized this must be something serious; it was only the second time the two of them had met alone like this.
"Secretary Sawyer, this is a gift he gave me. I’d like to ask you to help me return it to him."
Without hesitation, Georgia Thorne took a deep red box out of her bag and placed it on the table.
’Since I already called Owen Sawyer out here, I shouldn’t hesitate any longer.’
"Miss Thorne, what is this?"
Owen Sawyer’s voice rose in surprise when he saw the ruby necklace inside the box.
"I know what I’m about to say is embarrassing, but I have no other choice." Georgia pushed the box toward Owen Sawyer. "I need money. Ask him if he’ll trade this for a check for one hundred thousand."
"Miss Thorne, this..." Owen Sawyer looked up, his gaze shifting from the ruby necklace to Georgia Thorne’s face. "I really don’t have the authority to make that decision."
Owen Sawyer had a rather deep impression of this necklace.
A few years ago, he had accompanied Elliot Sheridan on a business trip, and Elliot had personally bought it at an auction.
It had cost a fortune, and at the time, he had wondered which woman Elliot would give it to. He never would have guessed it would be her.
He even remembered that when the CEO had bought the necklace, the two of them had already broken up.
"Secretary Sawyer, you’re my only hope. I really need that hundred thousand."
Owen Sawyer was in a difficult position. "How about this, Miss Thorne? You take the necklace back. Whatever you need, I’ll lend it to you. You can pay me back whenever you have the money."
"Uh..."
Georgia Thorne stared at the necklace in the box. "Secretary Sawyer, just give the necklace back to him. I don’t want anything!"
Before Owen Sawyer could react, she turned and bolted out of the café.
"Uh..."
Owen Sawyer’s eyes widened in astonishment. ’Did she just leave me holding this hot potato?’
Inside Sheridan Tower, Elliot Sheridan was making his rounds downstairs when he happened to overhear someone on the phone in a corner.
Elliot Sheridan had always had an excellent memory, a photographic one, in fact.
Besides, he had seen Georgia Thorne’s roommate more than once.
Nancy Hughes was on the phone, telling Georgia, "You have to apply the ointment on schedule! If you don’t, you could get osteoporosis when you’re older. You have to be careful!"
Elliot Sheridan’s face darkened as he strode forward.
’So, she went to the hospital last time because her arm was injured?’
’Who hit her!’
His brow furrowed deeply, and he walked straight into his office.
He dialed the intercom to have Owen Sawyer come to his office.
A woman’s voice answered. Without a second thought, Elliot said, "Bring me a cup of coffee."
"Yes, sir!"
A few minutes later, a woman in a black, professional office dress knocked and entered.
She was holding a cup of coffee. "Mr. Sheridan, here is your coffee."
Elliot was looking at a document and didn’t look up. "Where did Secretary Sawyer go?"
"I’m not sure. Secretary Sawyer took a call and left in a hurry," the secretary answered respectfully.
"I see. You may leave."
Elliot picked up the coffee beside him and took a sip.
Then he looked up at the secretarial assistant who was about to turn and leave.
Elliot Sheridan had always had high standards for his secretaries, from their competence to their attire.
The woman before him was dressed appropriately enough in standard office wear, her hair neatly tied up.
"Wait," Elliot said, his brow furrowing as he stared at the woman’s profile.
"Mr. Sheridan, is there anything else?" The secretary was a little flustered, her head bowed and her eyelashes trembling slightly.
"What’s your name and position?"
"My name is Rona. I’m a secretarial assistant, and I’ve been in this position for five years." Rona had been trained in etiquette, and her reply was polite and poised.
Elliot frowned. "You may leave."
"Yes, sir."
A hint of disappointment crossed Rona’s face. She had thought she might be getting a promotion.
Meanwhile, Owen Sawyer hurried back to the office, still holding the "hot potato."
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he ran into Rona, who said, "Secretary Sawyer, the CEO is looking for you."
"Got it!" Owen Sawyer replied hastily, tightening his grip on the box in his hand.
’Whether I tell him now or later, Elliot Sheridan will find out sooner or later.’
He knocked rhythmically on the door. A voice from inside said, "Enter."
"Mr. Sheridan."
Owen Sawyer was so nervous he was about to break into a sweat. He could almost predict what was going to happen next.
Elliot waited a few minutes, but Owen Sawyer remained silent.
He dropped his pen, leaned back in his executive chair, and crossed his arms.
His dark eyes stared at him sharply. "You’re rarely this hesitant to speak. Go on. What is it that’s left you speechless?"
That cold stare made Owen Sawyer’s scalp tingle.
He had been agonizing over this the whole way here. Finally, he brought the box out from behind his back.
"I met with Miss Thorne at noon. She asked me to return this to you," Owen Sawyer said with resignation. ’Might as well get it over with.’
Elliot Sheridan recognized it. The box contained the necklace he had given her.
In the past two years, he had never once seen Georgia Thorne wear it.
And now, she was returning it to him, untouched.
He narrowed his cold eyes, a frosty glint in them, and opened the box.
The office had excellent lighting. To his left was a massive, south-facing glass window.
Brilliant, dazzling sunlight refracted through the window and onto the ruby, making it glitter spectacularly in its black silk-lined box.
He murmured quietly, "Did she say anything else?"
Owen Sawyer was already surprised enough. ’Elliot Sheridan isn’t angry about this?’
It took him several seconds to process. "Miss Thorne said she’s short on money lately and wanted to trade this for a check for one hundred thousand."
"Wire it directly to her account."
"Right away."
With their personal business concluded, Elliot Sheridan closed the box and set it aside.
Then they moved on to professional matters. Owen Sawyer said, "Mayor Rhodes has requested a meeting with you at seven this evening at Grandview."
"Decline it for me... Wait. Accept it. I want to see what tricks she’s planning to pull this time."
"Yes, sir."
Owen Sawyer was so astonished he could hardly believe the man in front of him was still his boss, Elliot Sheridan.
He recalled the last couple of times he’d had a falling out, or even broken up, with Miss Thorne. Their CEO had flown into a rage, casting a dark cloud over the entire company.
This time, Miss Thorne had even sent back his gift. ’Could it be that they’ve broken up again?!’
Something was clearly not right.
「That afternoon.」
Georgia Thorne was out meeting a client. Just as they reached a critical point in their discussion, the phone on the table vibrated.
It was a text message from her bank, notifying her of a deposit.
Georgia glanced at the number of zeros. It was exactly one hundred thousand—no more, no less.
’So, Elliot Sheridan must have received the necklace.’
Georgia apologized to her client, then stepped out to quickly call Lynn Thorne.
"Sis, I’ve got the other hundred thousand!"
Lynn Thorne had been stressing about the money, even trying to borrow from old school friends, but she’d forgotten their phone numbers.
She sounded quite surprised. "One hundred thousand? Where did you get that much money?"
"Sis, don’t forget what I do for a living!" Georgia laughed, trying to sound casual. "I just closed a big deal. Between the commission and the company bonus, it was exactly a hundred thousand!"
"Really? You’re not lying to me, are you?"
"Hey! What’s there to lie about? Sis, have you scheduled with Attorney Larkin yet?"
"Not yet. I’ll do it right now."
With the money secured, Lynn Thorne called Attorney Larkin, and they arranged to meet that evening.
Georgia checked the time and confirmed she was available.
Georgia Thorne opened Elliot Sheridan’s contact info. After a moment’s thought, she sent him a text message: "Thank you."
He didn’t reply.
After what felt like an eternity, evening arrived. Georgia and Lynn Thorne had arranged to meet at the entrance of the Grandview Restaurant.
The traffic was bad, so Georgia arrived a little late. "Is Attorney Larkin here yet?"
"He is. He’s in the private room."
Attorney Larkin was in his thirties, still dressed in a conservative black suit.
"Miss Thorne, hello."
"Attorney Larkin, hello."
They both sat down, and with little small talk, they began to discuss business.
After they finished their discussion, dinner began.
Georgia started to feel unwell. A dull ache had been building in her lower abdomen on her way over.
She excused herself and went to the restroom, taking her bag with her.
Georgia had gotten her period, and the cramps were starting to hurt.
She washed her hands and patted her pale face until a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
Coming out of the women’s restroom, she saw a man leaning against the wall, a half-smoked cigarette pinched between two fingers, white smoke curling up from its tip.
