Chapter 357

Patrick had never been particularly fond of Carmela and Gavin, but Cirroc was a different story. The kid was young and not really

tangled up in the family drama. Patrick figured he would cut him some slack.

He gave Cirroc a once-over and mused, “So, Cirroc, what did you study while you were abroad? Do you have any special

talents? And if you were to work with us, what kind of job do you think you’d fit into?”

Cirroc’s face broke into a grin, and he was about to answer when-

“See, I told you he’d say yes!” Carmela’s excitement outshone her son’s as she cut him off.

She shot Cirroc a proud thumbs-up. “I know my boy. He’s got what it takes to do any job!”

“Why not make him deputy general manager to start?” she continued, her voice swelling with pride. “He can work his way up,

take over from Amber. I’m not playing favorites—I’m thinking about what’s best for the company. Cirroc’s got the chops to be

chairman one day!”

Patrick, who had been all business, could not help but snort at that, his voice dripping with irony.” Alright then, chairman it is.

We'll go with that.”

Carmela froze, her face a picture of shock that slowly turned to a flushed excitement. “You mean. it, Patrick? You’re really going

to make Cirroc chairman? You're not pulling my leg, are you?”

Off to the side, Alexander and Amber caught each other’s eye, barely containing their laughter.

Was Patrick joking?

Absolutely.

Even the brightest graduates from prestigious local colleges had to jump through hoops of interviews to get into Chesire Group.

Once in, they were put through the wringer, their performance scrutinized and promotions doled out by the book.

Just because Cirroc was her son, Carmela thought he could waltz in and demand the deputy general manager spot, bumping

Amber from her manager role, and even fancied himself as the next chairman of the whole shebang?

What a laughing riot!

“Brother-in-law... Patrick, are you pulling my leg?”

Carmela was no dummy. She was catching on, dropping the niceties, and snapped, “You're biting

your New Chesire Group!

“Don’t you see? Amber’s got the company running like clockwork, and she’s a woman. Our Cirroc’s a man! How could he be any

less capable? Making him general manager would be like striking gold for your company!

“And even if he’s not Amber’s equal, he’s got to be better than Alexander, right? If Alexander can be head of security, what's the

big deal about Cirroc stepping in as deputy general manager? Give it to me straight-is he getting the job or not?

“If you say no, don’t expect me to play nice with family ties anymore!”

Alexander could not help but chuckle.

Carmela sure did not see herself as an outsider, brazenly speaking her mind. Did she think she could push around her father—in—

law like back in the day, treating him like he was a pushover?

“Carmela, you said it yourself,” Patrick said, his voice composed, having kept his composure until then. “You don’t want to be

family? Fine by me! From today on, I, Patrick, am cutting ties with your

lot. 1...”

His sentence hung in the air, unfinished.

At the base of a distant hill, a taxi was making its way closer. Before it even pulled up, the cheerful voice of a girl rang out.

“Amber! Mister Kane! Uncle!”

Coral!

She did not even glance at her little aunt Carmela, her uncle Gavin, or her cousin Cirroc. The moment the taxi came to a halt,

she burst out of the door and ran straight to Amber and

Alexander, laughing merrily.

“Hey, Amber, Mister Kane, sorry to keep you waiting. It’s so good to see you again!”