Chapter 496

Chapter 496:

The receptionist gave her a polite smile. “I’m sorry, Miss Hudson, but Mr. Howe is not seeing anyone today.”

“What?” Sadie frowned and pressed, “Why not? Did something happen to him?”

The receptionist’s pleasant expression turned stiff. She hesitated for a brief moment, only to shake her head in the end. “I’m really sorry, Miss Hudson, but I’m afraid I can’t help you. I am simply following Mr. Howe’s instructions.”

Unwilling to give up, Sadie asked, “Do you know where he is? Or perhaps, can you help me contact his assistant instead?”

The receptionist pressed her lips into a thin, hard line and shook her head again. “Apologies, Miss Hudson. There is nothing I can do. We are not in a position to make queries on Mr. Howe’s whereabouts. His assistant isn’t here, either.”

Sadie’s heart sank. Alex wasn’t seeing anyone, and even his assistant was absent. This only confirmed her suspicions—something had happened to Alex. But she couldn’t even talk to him; what could she do to help?

Sadie spent the next few seconds pacing in front of the reception desk, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t just give up. She had to find a way to see Alex. Just then, her gaze landed on the lounge area situated on one side of the lobby. It was littered with plush-looking couches and coffee tables to accommodate waiting clients or guests.

Steeling herself, Sadie made a decision.

She strode over to the lounge area and chose a seat by the window. Settling down, she fixed her eyes on the elevator banks. Alex couldn’t possibly hide forever. She would just have to wait until he appeared.

The receptionist watched Sadie, noting the latter’s obvious anxiety beneath her composed demeanor. She couldn’t help but feel a bit sympathetic. She had encountered all sorts of people in her line of work, but Sadie was quite rare—clearly a woman of status, yet well-mannered and down-to-earth. After thinking about it for a while, the receptionist picked up the landline phone and dialed.

“Hello, is this the CEO’s office? …Yes, it’s from the reception on the first floor. There’s a Miss Hudson in the lobby, claiming that she has an appointment with Mr. Howe… Yes, Sadie Hudson. She seems very anxious and keeps asking about Mr. Howe’s situation… Oh. Well, I did as instructed and told her that Mr. Howe isn’t seeing anyone today, but she refused to leave. She is waiting in the lounge area as we speak. It looks like she has something important to discuss with Mr. Howe.”

She stole another glance at Sadie before lowering her voice. “Perhaps you could let Mr. Howe know? I see. I understand. All right, thank you.” The receptionist hung up and sighed to herself. At the end of the day, she was just an employee, and she had no desire to get tangled up in the messy lives of the wealthy elite.

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Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside Alex’s office was tense. He sat behind his huge desk, his brows furrowed while his fingers drummed a staccato beat on his desk. Alex had just finished a rather intense meeting over the phone, where he had to go over crisis management strategies with several company executives. He had barely ended the call when his assistant came in to relay the message from reception.

“Sadie?” Alex’s lips twitched, a mix of emotions crossing his tired face. “What is she doing here?”

“Apparently, Miss Hudson is very worried and kept asking about you,” the assistant replied cautiously. “The receptionist thinks she has something urgent to discuss with you.”

Alex fell silent. After a long while, he heaved a sigh and said, “No. I won’t see her.” His voice was low and firm. “Tell her I’m not here, and don’t say anything else.”

“But…” The assistant hesitated. “Miss Hudson seems unwilling to leave. She is currently waiting in the lobby.”

“Then let her wait.” This time, Alex’s voice carried a hint of frustration. “She’ll eventually leave on her own.”

Alex didn’t want Sadie to worry, much less get her involved in the dispute he was facing. He understood her nature all too well—she was loyal and generous to the people she valued. If she caught wind that the Howe family was in trouble, she would no doubt do everything she could to lend a hand.

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