Chapter 309: Don’t get her involved

"Did your girlfriend have a good night’s rest last night?"

Dean’s brows slightly twitched. "Of course she did."

"You spent the night with her too?" Zoren nodded as he faced the elevator, smirking in amusement. "Good for you."

"Thank you, Uncle."

DING!

When the elevator chimed and opened, Zoren didn’t hesitate and stepped inside. Standing alone in the elevator, he glanced at Benjamin.

"Ben, my nephew will not share the lift with me," he said, his gaze meaningfully fixed on Dean. "Nephew, I’m glad to see you this morning. It has surprisingly made me even happier."

Benjamin glanced at his boss as he got inside and couldn’t help but mentally giggle. ’Yes!’

"It wasn’t my intention, but I’m glad I could help," Dean replied with a smile. "If the head is in a good mood, everyone feels at peace. That’s all I want — everyone to be at peace."

Zoren and Dean smiled at each other. However, their smiles didn’t reach their eyes. They maintained their gazes as the elevator door slowly closed. Once the doors met, their smiles quickly faded.

"Sir, that was smooth!" Benjamin remarked approvingly. "You didn’t see it, but I know you hit a nerve!"

Zoren didn’t respond immediately. "Benjamin, did you send me the files on Dean’s new associates?"

"Yes! They should be in your office."

"Good." Zoren drew a deep breath and straightened his back. "Then, watch out for Finn. He’s currently Dean’s biggest support. With the shareholders’ meeting coming up in a few weeks, they’re going to attack again."

Benjamin rubbed his hands together and giggled. "Don’t worry about that, sir. Miss Penelope already sent her best men to protect you."

"Don’t lower your guard," Zoren said calmly but assertively. "Dean and Miss Penelope are still acquaintances."

"Sir, do you still not trust Miss Penelope?"

"I trust her."

"Then why did you say that?"

"Because she doesn’t want to get more involved, and I don’t want her to be more involved in this than she already is." Zoren’s tone was unwavering. "It’s the least I can do for her."

Benjamin nodded and pondered over the situation. Considering the internal affairs of the family and the company, he understood how stressful it would be. Moreover, Penny had already helped a lot. Getting her further involved in the Pierson family affairs when she was simply dragged into a mysterious marriage with Zoren would be too cruel.

"Moreover..." Zoren slowly slid his eyes to Benjamin. "Since when did you start rooting for Miss Penelope? Didn’t you dislike her?"

Benjamin’s thoughts stopped, and his face stiffened. "Sir! You told me not to upset her! Of course, I don’t like her! But at the same time, I need this job! No one else will pay me this well except you!"

"I see." Zoren nodded in understanding, making Benjamin heave a sigh of relief. Benjamin’s relief, however, didn’t last long after his boss’s next remark. "So, I am nothing but a source of money to you?"

Benjamin gasped. "What?! No, sir!"

"My heart just broke," said Zoren in the same plain tone and unchanged expression. "Didn’t you hear it shatter?"

"Boss!" Benjamin wept, not knowing if his boss was serious or joking. His boss’s humor, after all, was strange. No one could ever tell if he was being serious or trying to be funny—he had a terrible way of delivering his jokes!

********

Meanwhile, still standing outside the elevator, Dean’s smile was quickly replaced with a layer of frost the moment the doors closed. A glint flickered across his eyes as he shifted his gaze to the elevator next to the one Zoren had entered.

Without a word, Dean stepped inside with only a few people accompanying him. As they got in, they glanced at the new bodyguards standing guard at the elevator where Zoren had entered. No one said a word until the doors closed.

"Director," one of the middle-aged men behind Dean couldn’t help but speak, "did something good happen to the CEO? He seemed to be in a genuinely good mood today."

"Did he really get the Prime Group on his side?"

"Director, didn’t you say you are acquainted with the CEO of Prime Group?" another inquired. "With Prime Group handling his security... it wouldn’t be surprising if they agreed to support him in other business projects."

"Although Prime Group is a young company, even Pierson Corporation cannot underestimate its networks."

One after another, the men expressed their concerns after seeing Zoren’s mood. It could be a bluff, but they doubted it. Zoren was glowing, after all. Not to mention, Zoren had announced he was married.

From what they heard, his mystery wife came from a good family as well. They also heard that the chairwoman was very fond of Zoren’s wife. If this continued and others started to believe Zoren wasn’t dying, Dean’s support would weaken.

"Good mood?" Dean sneered. "He is indeed in a good mood to provoke me so early in the morning."

The men behind him gazed at his back warily, but also maliciously. "That dying man...!"

"Don’t let him get into your heads. It’s true that Prime Group accepted the CEO’s request. But don’t forget that no matter how extensive Prime Group’s networks are, they are entering this fierce market. My uncle is a perfect business decision," Dean spoke calmly but coldly. "However, I know the CEO of Prime Group. That person is not the type to get involved in overly complicated matters."

Dean paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Don’t mention Prime Group or involve them in this. They’re out of it, and they’ll stay out of it."

The middle-aged men lowered their heads while Dean set his gaze on the doors in front of him. They didn’t dare speak another word, knowing that was Dean’s decision and they should follow his lead. Even though Dean was younger than them, his standing in the family, his sharp mind, and his talents proved he was a worthy candidate to be the head of the family.

’That’s right,’ Dean told himself. ’Penny will not get involved in this... and it should stay that way.’