Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 41: Zane Lennox, Long Time No See (Part 1)
Downstairs from the Lennox Group’s building, Georgia Thorne called the manager in charge.
It rang for a long time before someone finally picked up.
"Miss Thorne, I already told you I would consider it. You—"
"Manager Garrison, I’m already at your building. I hope you can spare just ten minutes for me!"
Georgia Thorne said anxiously.
The man on the other end hesitated for a moment before agreeing and telling her to wait in a downstairs meeting room.
Georgia Thorne felt a little nervous. She took deep breaths while she waited for him.
A young man came down, and Georgia Thorne assumed he was Manager Garrison.
She hurriedly stood up. "Manager Garrison..."
"I’m not Manager Garrison. I’m his secretary," the man said in a business-like tone. "Just give me the contract. Our manager will look at it."
"But didn’t Manager Garrison say he was coming down himself?"
Georgia Thorne hesitated. ’If I can’t speak with him in person, the chances of closing this deal are practically zero.’
’For all I know, this contract will be in the trash before I even walk out of the building.’
"Miss Thorne, Manager Garrison said you only get one chance. The choice is yours."
"..."
Georgia Thorne handed the contract to the secretary, repeatedly urging him to make sure Manager Garrison personally looked it over.
She walked out, feeling dejected.
She ran a hand through her long hair, her mood souring. ’It seems hopeless.’
What Georgia Thorne didn’t know was that as soon as she left the meeting room, a pair of eyes had locked onto her.
The man’s aggressive gaze didn’t leave her until she had walked out of the building.
"Bring me the contract he’s holding."
"Yes, President Lennox!"
The assistant hurried over to the male secretary who had just met with Georgia Thorne.
Alarmed, the male secretary immediately handed over the document.
His gaze followed the assistant, finally landing on their president.
’Thank goodness,’ he thought, relieved. ’It’s a good thing I didn’t listen to Manager Garrison and throw the contract away.’
Zane Lennox opened the contract and glanced at the title. "Our employee insurance policy is up for renewal?"
"That’s right. Manager Garrison is currently considering switching providers."
"Tell him to add this company to his considerations."
"Yes, sir."
Zane Lennox’s gaze deepened as he stared at the contract, which bore Georgia Thorne’s neat handwriting.
’Whitlock Insurance?’
’She’s working in insurance?’
’I haven’t seen her in two years, and she’s become even more beautiful.’
’That business attire gives her an even more feminine allure.’
The assistant glanced at the company name on the contract. ’Never heard of it,’ he thought. ’It must be a small firm.’
’Why would it catch the president’s attention? It must be because of the woman who delivered it.’
Just as the assistant was pondering this, Zane Lennox gave an order.
"Look into her recent social calendar. What client meetings has she had?"
"Yes, sir."
Manager Garrison was relaxing in his office. His secretary had just reported that President Lennox had sent someone to take the contract from Whitlock Company. The next moment, Zane Lennox’s secretary, Paul Vincent, called to summon him upstairs.
Paul Vincent had been by Zane Lennox’s side ever since the day he joined the group.
He was utterly loyal, Zane Lennox’s most trusted man. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Manager Garrison was both flattered and unnerved. Being summoned by Paul Vincent felt like being summoned by the president himself.
"Secretary Jennings, what can I do for you?"
Paul Vincent placed a document in front of Manager Garrison. It was the very one Georgia Thorne had delivered.
"The president wants you to include this company in your considerations."
"Understood!" Manager Garrison quickly picked it up and saw that it was, indeed, the one from Georgia Thorne’s company.
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. ’A company singled out by the president himself... Nine times out of ten, this means the deal is theirs.’ fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"Alright, that’s all. You can go back now."
Manager Garrison muttered his assent and turned to leave, but Paul Vincent stopped him. "Don’t notify the company just yet."
"Okay!"
’Whatever Secretary Jennings says must be what the president means,’ he thought.
Manager Garrison nodded repeatedly and exited the office.
’The president went out of his way to single out this company. Could it be because of someone who works there?’
’But who?’
When Georgia Thorne got back to her office, she slumped over her desk in defeat.
A moment later, she patted her cheeks, forcing herself to rally.
’There’s not much hope with the Lennox Group deal, so I’ll just have to focus on landing smaller clients.’
Georgia Thorne hadn’t been feeling well for the past two days, so she hadn’t been able to chase many leads.
By Thursday, she was feeling better, so she scheduled a business dinner with a client.
The client was Elias Young, the general manager of a company much smaller than the Lennox Group.
If she landed this deal, her commission would be a thousand dollars.
Strangely, this client had originally belonged to a colleague, who had "kindly" passed him on to her.
A thousand dollars was nothing to sneeze at.
’If I can’t land a whale like the Lennox Group, I’ll just have to rack up some smaller wins.’
Georgia Thorne wore a black business dress, her hair pulled back neatly into a ponytail.
The general manager was half an hour late.
Georgia Thorne suppressed her annoyance and shook his hand with a smile.
"Manager Young, I’m Georgia Thorne. We’ve spoken a few times."
"Ah, Thorne," Elias Young said as he sat down. "Have you ordered yet?"
So-called business entertainment always involved drinking.
Georgia Thorne had several glasses of wine but showed no signs of intoxication.
Manager Young grew impatient and called the waiter over to bring some hard liquor.
Georgia Thorne’s face was flushed as she drank a few glasses of liquor with Manager Young.
’This Manager Young wants to get me drunk and take advantage of me.’
She wasn’t even drunk yet, but the lecherous old man was already leaning in close.
He reeked of smoke and alcohol, an overwhelming stench that made Georgia Thorne want to vomit.
’I don’t get it. Why is there such a huge difference between men who smoke and drink?’
The more she looked at Elias Young, the more disgusted she became, wishing she could leave that very instant.
’No wonder my colleague was so "kindly" passing this client to me. Now I get it.’
Though disgusted, she kept a smile on her face. "Manager Young, I’m just going to the restroom to touch up my makeup. I’ll be right back!"
"Alright, go on!" Manager Young, sensing his chance, leaned his obese body back in his chair.
The posture exposed all his physical flaws; his beer belly was so large it looked ready to burst through his shirt.
Georgia Thorne gave a tight smile and walked out.
’I have to figure out how to get away from him safely.’
These quid pro quo arrangements, a willing game where each party gets what they need, played out every single day.
The smell of smoke and alcohol clung to Georgia Thorne. When she came out of the restroom, she hesitated, trying to come up with a good excuse to leave.
Suddenly, a hand seized her wrist in a tight grip. She flinched, her body trembling as she looked up at the man who had grabbed her.
Her eyes went wide, pupils trembling. It was Zane Lennox!
Zane Lennox stared at her, his face dark with an anger so intense it was as if she had personally betrayed him.
Zane Lennox had ordered Paul Vincent to investigate Georgia Thorne’s activities over the past two years, and the full report had only arrived today.
For two years, she had been a diligent student with a clean record. She then smoothly transitioned into an internship at Whitlock Company. That was it.
But when Paul Vincent mentioned that Georgia Thorne had a dinner meeting tonight with Elias Young, the general manager of Azurewing Corporation, Zane Lennox could no longer sit still.
Elias Young was a notorious lecher. Was there any woman who negotiated a contract with him that he didn’t end up forcing into his bed?
’Is she genuinely stupid or just playing dumb? Willing to take on someone like him just to make money!’
For the first time ever, he harshly reprimanded his trusted right-hand man, Paul Vincent.
The investigation had been inefficient. How could it take so long to look into one person?
As his boss raged, Paul Vincent remained silent.
He silently wondered about this Georgia Thorne and what place she held in Zane Lennox’s heart.
’She must be incredibly important. Otherwise, he never would have come here in person.’
Standing behind Zane Lennox, Paul Vincent watched as his president gripped the young woman’s wrist so tightly it looked like he was about to snap it.
