Chapter 319: Chapter 319

Chapter 319:

“How many projects has the Ferguson Group stolen from us?” a shareholder said furiously. “They’re our arch rivals. Do you really think they’d share anything with us?”

His words cast a heavy silence over the entire conference room.

Lydia spoke up, “I believe there’s a chance to mend our relationship with the Ferguson Group. They’re only edging out Apex Group for projects because Zola now leads Apex Group, and some instability has given them an opening to capitalize on. I’ve heard that the Ferguson Group will soon name a new general manager. From what I’ve gathered about Julio, he’s short on skilled people. This new manager will be someone he trusts, but they might not be all that capable. Given the former stature of Apex Group, this manager wouldn’t dare cross us.”

She implied that using their power to intimidate could be effective, painting the new manager as a minor player, hardly worth concern.

Her words somewhat reassured the shareholders, sparking a detailed discussion on how to negotiate with the Ferguson Group to share the Walsh Group’s project.

At the head of the table, Bryan listened with a faint, amused smile.

“Then it’s settled. In three days, once the Ferguson Group’s new general manager assumes their role, we will reach out to discuss the project,” Brandon said.

As the meeting ended, Bryan was the first to stand up and leave.

Raymond hurried after him, whispering, “Miss Curtis is back. Julio personally picked her up at the airport and arranged a villa for her to stay in. Bailee and Milford have moved in there too…”

Stay updated with galnσν𝑒𝓵𝓼.cøm “Got it,” Bryan replied, pausing by the window.

As he gazed out over the sprawling city, a sense of fullness began to seep into his once-empty heart.

The heart of summer had Onaland sweltering through slightly stifling nights.

Fresh off her plane, Eileen found sleep elusive due to jet lag and chose to pore over the Walsh Group’s project instead.

Julio had laid the groundwork with initial contacts, and with the Ferguson Group stealing the spotlight, the Walsh Group was leaning heavily toward forging a partnership with them—a decision nearly sealed.

Yet, Eileen remained cautious.

Downstairs, Bailee and Milford were still up, tending to the baby.

Their intermittent exclamations floated upstairs, prompting Eileen to rise and shut the door of the study. Back at her desk, a smile played on her lips.

Little two-month-old Gabriela, not yet versed in the art of speech or understanding words, seemed to be a source of amusement for Bailee and the others.

In three days, Eileen was slated to join the Ferguson Group, and Ruby had agreed to look after Gabriela at home for her.

Rylie, having purchased the villa next door, planned to assist with the baby during the day.

Josue was away on business and expected to return once his commitments were fulfilled.

Eileen’s life had settled back into its routine, and it was finally the day she would start her new job at Ferguson Group.

Her shoulder-length black hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, and she wore minimal makeup, though her lipstick was a bold, dark shade, echoing her new role as the general manager with an air of authority and command.

As she stepped into the company building, employees were lined up on both sides, greeting her in unison.

“Good morning, Ms. Curtis!”

Eileen acknowledged them with a brief nod and was quickly surrounded by a group of people who followed her eagerly as she made her way to the elevator.

One of them handed her a stack of documents. “Ms. Curtis, Mr. Ferguson mentioned that you have the authority to choose your own secretary. You can promote someone from within the secretarial pool or bring someone new.”

Eileen, skeptical of the internal candidates, decided to hire someone new without hesitation.

“There’s no need for anyone to come here for an interview. I’ll find them myself,” she said.

She wasn’t capable of discerning who might be a well-disguised spy, so the best approach was for her to take the initiative and find someone.

As she entered the elevator, she turned to the group that had followed her.

“I need the department heads in the conference room in ten minutes. We’ll be reviewing the progress of the project with the Walsh Group. The rest of you, please return to your duties.”

The elevator’s white light cast down, accentuating her sharp, intelligent features.

Clad in her sleek business suit, she radiated sophistication, making it nearly impossible for anyone to get close to or understand her.

The elevator climbed slowly, coming to a halt at the top floor where a tall silhouette awaited outside.

As she turned, Eileen was met with the sight of a bouquet of lilies, their sweet scent permeating the air.

“Welcome back,” Benjamin said, offering her the flowers with a smile.

Eileen accepted the bouquet. Around her, the top floor staff assembled, their greetings warm, much like those she had received on the lower floors.

“Good morning, Ms. Curtis!”

Those working on the top floor were Julio’s people, and their welcome was genuinely heartfelt.

“I’m excited to work with all of you. I hope you’ll support me moving forward,” Eileen responded, her smile mirroring Benjamin’s as she reached out to shake his hand. “Benjamin, let’s accomplish great things together.”

“First, let’s get down to work. Mr. Ferguson mentioned organizing a welcome banquet for you, but since we’re swamped, it’ll have to wait until we’re nearly through with the Walsh Group’s project,” Benjamin said, gently dispersing the gathering people as he escorted Eileen to her new office.

It wasn’t more than ten minutes later when the receptionist’s call came through, “Ms. Curtis, Ms. Murray from Apex Group is here to see you.”

“I’m swamped; I don’t have time to see her,” Eileen replied briskly, declining the meeting.

There was a brief pause before the receptionist continued, “Ms. Murray understands today is a busy day for you, but she insists she has something important to discuss with you and is willing to wait.”

“Then let her wait,” Eileen replied, promptly ending the call.

Without a secretary, Eileen found herself bogged down by numerous small tasks during her meetings.

Her return to the corporate world after some time away left her feeling somewhat anxious.

During a brief ten-minute break, she drank a cup of coffee, which helped her regain a sense of calm and order.

As the workday drew to a close, the receptionist brought her up to speed: Zola had waited until noon, taken a break for lunch, and then returned to wait. Her expression had turned sour until she had finally left.

Before she left, Zola had gotten the receptionist’s number, hoping to set up a meeting with the general manager of the Ferguson Group over the phone.

Eileen knew Zola too well. Zola’s pride wouldn’t allow her to wait around day after day.

She had only expected Zola to last till midday, but Zola had stayed the whole day, likely a sign of the immense pressure from Apex Group.

Eileen was exhausted after the day’s work. Her top priority was to hire a secretary to delegate some minor tasks.

When she got home and saw Gabriela sleeping peacefully in her baby carriage, her weariness melted.

The two-month-old had yawned, and aside from her eyebrows, which she had inherited from Bryan, she looked mostly like Eileen.

Ruby, ever so strict, insisted that Eileen wash her hands before touching the baby.

By the time Eileen finished washing her hands and returned, Milford and Bailee were already gathered around the baby carriage.

They had arrived home before her, Milford having completed his homework and Bailee having finished her work tasks.

“Go relax, Eileen. I’ll look after the baby,” Milford said.

“Milford’s right. You’ve had a tiring day at the office. We’ve got this,” Bailee chimed in, her voice supportive.

They moved the baby carriage slightly away from Eileen, somewhat protective, as if they worried she might try to claim the baby back.

Eileen chuckled softly, her expression gentle as she watched the little one sleep peacefully.

She wasn’t producing much milk, and the baby, now accustomed to formula, showed no interest in breastfeeding.

Nevertheless, the baby still slept beside her at night, giving her ample time to bond. She would see the baby before she went to bed and after she woke up every day.

The sight of the baby’s innocent eyes always warmed her heart.

“How was work today, Eileen?” Bailee asked, settling herself beside Milford.

“It’s alright,” Eileen responded with a nod. “In my position, not many dare to cross me, except for Julio!”

“That’s great to hear. Don’t worry about the education center; I’ve got it covered,” Bailee replied with a hint of pride. “We faced a few challenges recently, but I handled them just as you would have!”

She had effectively kept the educational institution running smoothly, even while visiting West Land during the holidays and managing tasks remotely.

“I knew you could handle it. My position at Ferguson Group isn’t very stable at the moment, so we’re counting on you to support the family,” Eileen said with a smile.

A smile lit up Bailee’s face, mixed with a touch of shyness.

After a pause, Eileen continued, “By the way, I need a favor from you.”

Her presence at Ferguson Group today wouldn’t have gone unnoticed; many would recognize her, and the Ferguson family was sure to keep tabs on the new general manager, scrutinizing her closely.

Thus, it was impractical for her to hire a secretary personally.

Eileen said, “Could you visit the talent market and find a secretary for me? Make no mention of it being for the Ferguson Group. Just offer the top salary they expect!”

“Absolutely, leave it to me. I’ll find someone sharp,” Bailee assured her with confidence.

“Just pick one person. As long as they are capable, the choice is yours. I’ll provide you with an employment contract for them to sign before you bring them to me,” Eileen added.

Eileen needed to sidestep any premature encounters before employing someone, to keep the Ferguson family from detecting her maneuvers and potentially bribing the candidate.

Eileen was well-acquainted with corporate underhandedness, while Bailee, still inexperienced, trusted Eileen.

Pausing for a moment, Eileen shifted the conversation. “Let’s set aside work for now. How’s everything going between you and Huey?”

“He said he’d talk to his mother about our relationship and set up a meeting,” Bailee replied with a smile, her eyes drifting toward the dining room. She lowered her voice before continuing, “But Mom has her doubts. If Huey’s family is on board, you might need to help me win her over.”

“Don’t worry. Mom will respect your decision. She might not like it since she thinks Huey’s a bit immature, but she’ll come around,” Eileen reassured Bailee. She knew Ruby well.

Soon, the baby woke up, brightening the mood in the room.

Eileen found herself momentarily sidelined as everyone else took turns holding the baby.

At that moment, Benjamin sent her a message.

They planned to meet Leland for lunch the next day to present the project plan. If everything went according to plan, they would only have the signing left to schedule.

The lunch with Leland the following day went without a hitch, and Leland was quite impressed with Eileen’s proposal.

After tweaking a few minor details, they agreed to sign in three days.

With this issue resolved, the plans for Eileen’s welcome banquet as the new general manager of Ferguson Group were confirmed for later in the evening.

As word of the banquet spread, so did news of the upcoming contract signing between Walsh Group and Ferguson Group.

Zola kept trying to set up a meeting with the Ferguson Group but received no reply.

Unable to do anything, Brandon and Lydia managed to secure an invitation to the Ferguson Group’s banquet and decided to attend with Zola.

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