Free Web NovelChapter 23: New Assistant
Following Anthony’s departure, Christian wiped off the blood at the corners of his lips. He took Wendy’s hand and left the office as well, walking past Michael in the process.
When they passed by Michael, Wendy tilted her head to glance at his face. Just as expected, Michael’s face was sullen, and his gaze was filled with hatred.
Wendy often encountered this side of Michael. In the past, he would look at her with the exact same expression every time he came home drunk. As their eyes met, Wendy subconsciously lowered her head. She felt like someone who had done something wrong and was afraid to make eye contact with Michael.
Once they had left the office, Wendy flung Christian’s hand away.
Christian, surprisingly, did not continue to force her to play along. After the elevator doors opened, he allowed her to step in first.
They went one floor down and returned to the vice-president’s office. Christian sat down on his chair. He gazed at Wendy and said, "Since you’re my assistant, you’re in charge of cleaning the wounds on my face."
"I haven’t officially signed a contract, so I’m not your assistant yet," replied Wendy as she blinked, feeling reluctant.
"My father has already interfered in this affair. Do you think that it matters whether you’ve officially signed a contract yet?"
Christian was right. Anthony had already learned about this matter and he had not taken Michael’s side earlier. This also meant to say that Anthony had implicitly acknowledged Christian’s request. freeweɓnøvel.com
"Christian, what exactly are you capable of?" said Wendy as she gazed at the man sitting before her. Even though she was afraid of his Cunningness, she forced herself to appear calm and self-assured as she continued, "You’ve been abroad all this time, but you had enough power here to keep Michael in the dark about my pregnancy. Within a short week, you entered MC Enterprise and gaineda stable footing in this company. Even Anthony Lucas is biased toward you." freewebnoveℓ.com
"You can slowly find out for yourself once you become my assistant," replied Christian as another smile graced his lips.
Christian seemed to have no reservations around Wendy. However, since she had been able to deduce the amount of influence that he wielded, then there was no need for Christian to deny it either. Moreover, Michael was bound to discover Christian’s hidden network within Lake City sooner or later. On top of that, Christian’s investigations had revealed that even if Wendy wanted to betray him and help Michael, his half-brother first had to be willing to trust her.
Hence, Christian was not afraid that Wendy Would even be able to betray him in the near future.
"Wendy, you have a pretty face, and your figure is not too bad either.." Christian looked Wendy up and down without feeling the need to conceal the look of admiration in his eyes. He said, "You’re also quite smart. Why did Michael still choose Yvonne over you?"
When Wendy remained silent, Christian realized that he had hit a sore spot. This was not all Christian planned to say. He continued, "The only thing that Yvonne is good at is knowing how to please men. As for you, this is the very aspect that you lack in. Men like delicate women who know how to behave coquettishly, especially someone like Michael who has always been privileged. But it’s a good thing that you’re not on good terms with Michael. This gives me a chance."
Wendy did not wish to continue hearing what Christian had to say. And the so-called ’chance that he was talking about-Wendy assumed that he was referring to the opportunity for him to make use of her to get back at Michael.
Blinking, Wendy said, "Do you want to go to the hospital to get your wounds checked or do you want me to deal with them?"
"I don’t need the hospital. You can deal with them," said Christian with interest. "You’re my assistant after all."
Even though Christian’s wounds were not deep, he had lost quite a bit of blood. But it was too troublesome to go to the hospital, and Christian wanted Wendy to treat his wounds for him anyway.
Wendy did not know what exactly Christian wanted. Without further comments, she asked, "Where is the first-aid kit?"
"I just entered MC Enterprise, I really don’t know where the first-aid kit is kept," replied Christian as he looked around his office.
After instructing him to wait for her return, Wendy turned around and left the vice-president’s office.
There was a medical team at MC Enterprise dedicated to responding to emergencies.
Wendy walked down the familiar path to their office and requested for a first-aid kit under Christian’s name.
When Christian saw Wendy return to his office with a first-aid kit in her hands, he smiled and said, "I thought you left me behind and ran away."
Wendy was not in the mood to joke around with Christian. She opened the first-aid kit and replied, "I’m not a professional medical responder. If there is anything that you’re unhappy with, I can send you to the hospital."
"Wendy, you’re personally treating my wounds. How can I possibly feel unhappy about anything?" asked Christian.
Wendy ignored Christian’s flirtatious tone and dug out the antiseptic cream from the kit. Blood had stopped flowing from Christian’s wounds. When Wendy cleaned the wound on his forehead, her hands stopped.
The cut was deeper than expected. Regardless of his scheming, Christian had only incurred this cut because he wanted to save her from Michael’s wrath. In a small voice, Wendy whispered, "Thank you."
When Christian heard that, he raised his eyebrows and asked in a deliberate manner, "What did you say?"
"I said, thank you," replied Wendy. Even though she did not like Christian as a person, it was still important that she knew how to be grateful at the right moment. She continued, "If you didn’t push me away, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt."
"I thought that the only thing you could feel toward me is hatred. After all, my goal is clear I’m just using you," replied Christian with a smile. "Wendy, the truth is that you can seriously consider what I told you when we first met."
Wendy vaguely knew what Christian was referring to. But she decided to play dumb and change the conversation topic. She said, "I’m done treating your wounds."
Christian also decided to stop pressuring her. He smiled breezily.
...
Due to Michael’s objection, Wendy did not go ahead with filling the forms in the HR department. However, Christian issued her internal letter of appointment within the company. Wendy’s role as personal assistant to the vice-president was finally official.
When Michael learned about this, he was so furious that he swept all the documents off his desk and onto the floor.
Mr. York, who had entered his office to report something to him, witnessed this scene. Without a word, he squatted down and gathered the documents scattered across the floor. After sorting through them, he placed them on Michael’s desk once again.
"Mr. Lucas, you have a meeting with Mr. Lee later to finalize the details of the contract. According to the schedule, you must sign the contract today," said Mr. York, "Shall I prepare the contract for you now?"
Michael shut his eyes as he pinched the area between his eyebrows. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Reschedule the meeting for another day. I’m not in the mood right now."
"This..." Mr. York felt slightly surprised because Michael rarely allowed personal matters to interfere with his work.
All these years, Michael had been very aware of the fact that Christian was observing every move he made with eagle-sharp eyes. He needed to gain full ownership of MC Enterprise so that he could block Christian’s development within the country after his return from abroad.
Michael worked tirelessly and within a few short years, he had transformed MC Enterprise into a commercial giant within Lake City.
Yet, Christian still became the vice-president of MC Enterprise upon his return. On top of that, Michael had lost control over Wendy’s place in the company as well. In the past, Michael still treasured his relationship with his father and hence avoided resorting to ruthless actions. Now, however, it seemed like he had to come up with another plan right away.
"We have a new agenda to accomplish urgently," said Michael coldly. "Within two months and no longer than that, I have to become the chairman of the board of MC Enterprise!"
Mr. York understood the meaning behind Michael’s words. He said, "Understood. I will see to it immediately."
Mr. York turned around with the intention of leaving. However, after he took two steps, he decided to brazenly say, "Mr. Lucas, I think that if you don’t want Wendy to serve as the vice president’s personal assistant, perhaps you can talk to her personally and ask her to come back to work for you instead."
With those words, Mr. York lost the courage to continue lingering and left immediately.
...
It was 11 P.M. that night. An intoxicated Michael found himself inadvertently driving into a familiar neighborhood. This was where Wendy lived. It was an accommodation meant for their married life. However, over the past three years of marriage, Michael rarely came back here.
Today, Michael found himself unexpectedly thinking about what Mr. York’s had said to him. In the past, Michael would never accept any suggestions from other people unless they were work-related. But the moment he recalled the image of Wendy and Christian walking into his office hand-in-hand, Michael felt hot rage in his chest.
He sat in the car for a long time, lighting one cigarette after another. The lit cigarette tip flickered as he held the stick between his fingertips. It looked exceptionally bright and lonely in the darkness of the night.
Leaning his head against the window, Michael shut his eyes and threw away the cigarette he was holding. Finally, he opened the car door and stepped his long, slender legs outside.
Wendy had just fallen asleep when she heard, in her grogginess, someone opens the door. That sound was very familiar to her. It was Michael.
This sound was not familiar to her because Michael often returned, but because Wendy had spent most of her time in the past waiting for him to come home.
Hence, Wendy greatly treasured the few times that he did. Now, however, the sound of the door opening made Wendy feel rather frantic. She did not know when she had stopped looking forward to seeing Michael all the time.
Perhaps it was because of the baby she was carrying-she was afraid that her baby might be harmed. or perhaps it was because she finally understood that Michael would never fall in love no matter what, and she had thoroughly given up on him.
Wendy did not know how to confront Michael, who had returned home so abruptly. After thinking about it, she decided to shut her eyes and feign sleep. If Michael saw her asleep, perhaps he would take the initiative to leave.
Michael entered the apartment and felt around for the light switch on the wall before the place was finally illuminated. He was not familiar with this apartment at all. Wendy always left the light on for him in the past. Michael changed into his bedroom slippers and headed to the bedroom.
The moment he switched on the light in the bedroom, he saw Wendy lying on the bed in her pajamas. He approached Wendy and reached out to give her a nudge.
The pungent smell of alcohol assaulted Wendy’s nose. This was a familiar smell in her past encounters with Michael in this apartment as well. Not knowing what Michael was doing back home at this time, Wendy felt anxious. She turned over and continued to keep her eyes shut.
Michael could not help but laugh bitterly. He himself did not know why he had returned to this apartment as well. He thought, could it be that I really wanted to ask Wendy to come back and work for me instead?
Turning around, he decided to leave.
Michael had just taken two steps when he remembered that Wendy’s blanket was tossed aside. He halted. After a moment of hesitation, Michael turned around as if possessed, wanting to cover her body with the blanket.
Right after turning around, he found himself staring straight into Wendy’s wide-open eyes.
Wendy had very clearly heard his departing footsteps before she flipped over again so that she could peek at Michael.
She never expected that she would instead end up locking eyes with Michael. This coincidence shocked Wendy so much that she immediately turned back to the other side.
When Michael saw what she was doing, he snorted. He walked over to the bed and grabbed Wendy’s arm, forcing her to flip around again so that she could face him. He asked, "Wendy Stewart, are you pretending to be asleep?"
Wendy swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Even though she was guilty of it, she still stubbornly insisted, "No, I wasn’t... You woke me up."
"I woke you up?" Michael snorted again. He continued, "My footsteps weren’t heavy at all. If that was enough to disturb you, you should have woken up long ago."
"I ..." Wendy knew that Michael would not believe her explanation. Bracing herself, she said, "Yeah, I was pretending to be asleep. So what?"
Wendy silently affirmed to herself that since she was no longer trying to make this relationship work, she did not have to fear Michael any longer.
That thought allowed Wendy to gain more courage. The way that she looked at him was also much firmer than in the past.
