James was unaware that even before his company's operations had truly kicked off, it was already being scrutinized.
He didn't care much for the business itself, as it felt almost like a side project to him. After all, he had acquired it rather inexpensively by simply having a conversation with Winnie Morgan. Things that come cheap don't leave you feeling regretful.
His indifference extended to the company's potential losses; as far as he was concerned, the more it lost, the more he could spend on what he referred to as "sugar daddy money" for the girls.
Currently, there were six hundred million plus a hundred thousand in Avril's account, with a favorability level of 70. Once the returns came through, it would be pure bliss.
He noticed that Avril's favorability seemed to increase more easily on set.
Eager for her to start filming, he asked the director when shooting would begin.
The director replied that it would take about a week to finalize casting, book locations, and buy costumes and props, with shooting expected to start in about a month and a half.
For a project of this scale, that timeline was relatively swift; some productions with budgets in the tens of millions took three to five months just to cast actors.
Still, James was unsatisfied, insisting that the director speed things up; he'd fork over another two hundred million if needed.
This sent the director into a frenzy of excitement.
He felt as if he had received a royal decree and promptly rushed off to ask Manager Morgan for the additional funds.
Winnie, recognizing James's impatience, sighed resignedly as she began to throw money around to gain time.
By 8 AM the next day, James had finally managed to shake off Avril, who had insisted on following him.
The girl had whined and pleaded that if she could join him in "hunting for girls," she could help and wouldn't be a burden.
James didn't buy it for a second.
A girl with such a sharp tongue was bound to cause trouble.
Moreover, while Amanda was okay with him casually dating, bringing a new girl home flauntingly felt disrespectful.
After all, Timmy was part of the equation, and he didn't want that little one picking up bad habits, like stealing snacks from him.
Rushing into the car, Avril chased him all the way to the underground parking lot, wailing, "Sugar Daddy, don't go!"
James clenched his jaw, giving her a sidelong glance. "You're getting too cheeky, aren't you?"
Seeing her deflate, she stepped back to a safer distance.
With wide, yearning eyes, she asked, "When are you coming back?"
"I don't know; maybe in a couple of days," he replied, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her presence.
He was beginning to wear thin on her antics, wanting to unwind with Amanda instead.
"Will we see each other again? Uncle?"
"When we do, I hope you'll be happy. It's alright if your world doesn't include me anymore; just focus on being happy."
"Uncle, how can I live without you..."
James glanced in the rearview mirror, catching sight of the girl chasing the car for a few steps.
He fought the impulse to park and give her a good talking-to.
This girl was just too outrageous.
It was hard to imagine how chaotic life would become if she were to live under the same roof as him.
He couldn't envision Amanda putting up with her antics, either.
After a brief drive, they arrived at Amanda's neighborhood.
Stepping out of the elevator and into her home, Timmy jumped up from the couch upon seeing him, shouting, "Uncle, you're back!"
James chuckled as he knelt down, arms wide open, embracing the little girl as she dashed into his arms. "Have you been a good girl, Timmy?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
Just as he was about to commend her for being so thoughtful, Amanda called out from the kitchen, "Don't listen to her nonsense! Just yesterday, her teacher said she bullied a little chubby boy into tears!"
James raised an eyebrow at Timmy, astonished. He hadn't imagined she could be so fierce. "Why did you hit him?"
"Sun Haoxuan grabbed Chen Kexin's hair. I thought that was wrong, so I grabbed his hair back!"
Timmy explained in her innocent, childlike voice.
It seemed she had been defending her friend.
James felt torn.
He wasn't sure whether to dissuade her from meddling in everyone's affairs or commend her for standing up for her friends.
Sure, she was brave, but being a little girl, she needed to be carefulâgetting involved in the wrong conflict could lead to more trouble down the line.
He felt conflicted between wanting her to fight injustice while also wishing to protect her from getting hurt.
While looking into her bright, innocent eyes, he wandered into the kitchen seeking Amanda's help.
"Hey, sis, how did you handle this?"
Amanda, dressed in a blue and white striped sleep outfit that elegantly covered all the right places, turned to face him.
With shorts that revealed her long, fair legs, she was quite the sight.
She was currently turned away as she worked on frying chicken.
"I told her to know her limits and not to exceed her capabilities. If something goes wrong, it's best to tell a teacher," she explained with a smile.
But she added, "I assume she didn't understand, so I only said the last part."
As a mother, Amanda prioritized her daughter's safety above all else and didn't want her to get hurt.
Regarding bullying, if you could prevent it, great; but if you couldn't, then don't feel pressured, because the blame isn't yours to bear.
James nodded in agreement, appreciating Amanda's perspective.
Most parents likely shared similar views.
Yet, James had a different approach in mind.
The world needed good people, after all.
Turning to Timmy, he encouraged, "You did the right thing, so if you ever face such issues again, feel free to fight back. Your uncle's got your back."
"Yay! I knew Uncle would be on my side!" Timmy squealed with delight, twirling her arms in the air.
"Babe, don't you think that could lead to trouble?" Amanda cautioned, her concern evident.
"Don't worry; just give me some time. I'll arrange for a bodyguard for herâ24/7 protection," James reassured.
Looking into Amanda's eyes, he spoke softly and determinedly.
With a bodyguard, everything could be managed more smoothly.
It was beneficial to ensure that the vulnerable wouldn't be harmed.
As James's circle of people grew larger, he realized that he could no longer handle everything on his own.
He not only needed security for the company but also for Avril, who was quickly becoming quite a troublesome project.
And with Shirley Taylor now standing tall and proud within the industry, there was bound to be a swarm of admirers buzzing around her.
If someone with bold intentions dared to approach her, that could lead to all sorts of problems.
At present, the priority was to secure Amanda's support.
Once he'd gathered ten top-tier bodyguard-style protectors, he wouldn't have to worry about troublesome incidents.
James's gaze toward Amanda was filled with determination.
In the recent days, he had to find a way to win over his easy-going sister.
Noticing the resolute expression in his eyes, Amanda sighed, "You're her guardian; you call the shots."
Hearing her refer to "guardian" made James feel a little odd, but he didn't ponder it too much.
Amanda then asked, "Did you eat breakfast?"
James replied, "I had a few buns but didn't really fill up."
"Perfect! You can have some more. I've made fresh soy milk and toast stuffed with egg and bacon," she said, setting out breakfast.
Sitting in a chair, she crossed her legs casually and invited James to join her at the table with a smile.
Gazing at her lovely legs crossed elegantly, James felt a jolt of temptation.
But with a stirring young girl around, he couldn't indulge in those thoughts.
"Uncle, do you like toast?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"Because Timmy enjoys fried eggs and meat!" The little girl beamed, waiting expectantly for James's response.
"......"
Realizing that the child was doing her best to entice him into the discussion, James couldn't help but smile, knowing that her innocent charm would soften even the toughest barriers.
With a mix of humor and affection, the morning unfolded in sweet familiarity, setting an unexpected warmth in his heart.
Writer Note:
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