Chapter 99 Williamâs business and industries span across the globe, but thereâs only one true headquarters the building in front of us.
When I was young, I used to come here often.
There was a time when many staff in this building speculated that I was Williamâs illegitimate daughter. Otherwise, how could the high and mighty boss be so indulgent to a little girl?
It can be said that this place was once a part of my happy childhood.
But was it really so?
Is what I considered beautiful truly beautiful?
Perhaps, long ago, beneath the seemingly bright and shining commercial building, countless dark and rotten evils were hidden. I just didnât know about it.
Moss and I crossed the clean and spacious lobby, heading straight for the elevator.
However, at that moment, the receptionist hurried over and stopped us. âExcuse me, miss, who are you looking for? Do you have an appointment?â
I paused, looking at the receptionist in surprise.
She was a very young woman, very unfamiliar to me. I had never seen her before.
I guessed she must have just started working, maybe not even for a week.
Despite that, I didnât think it was normal for her to stop me.
This wasnât my first time at Williamâs company, and she wasnât the first receptionist here.
Before her, there were at least seven receptionists, and I didnât know any of them. However, none of them had ever stopped me.
The reason was simpleâWilliam had publicly declared in front of all the staff: I could come and go freely in the building, and I could find him anytime, anywhere, and no one was allowed to stop me, Therefore, the first thing each receptionist did before taking office was to familiarize themselves with my photo.
But now, the woman in front of me stopped me, and from her words, I could be sure she didnât recognize me at all.
Did William forget to tell her who I was, or had something changed without me knowing?
For example, Williamâs trust in me...
Was I no longer the little girl who could appear by his side at will?
A chill crept over me, crept over me, and my nose felt a bit sour.
âMiss? Miss?â Seeing that I didnât answer, the receptionist asked me again, âDo you have an appointment?â
âI... I donât.â I shook my head.
âThen Iâm sorry, I canât let you go up. Can you tell me who you want to see? Iâll register it here, and when the other party has time, Iâll contact you-
âShe doesnât need an appointment.â
A familiar voice came from behind me.
I turned around and saw Williamâs assistant walking towards us.
âSorry, Miss Reist, the receptionist is new, and maybe our training was not sufficient, causing her to be rude to you.â
After the assistant finished speaking, he looked at the receptionist. âYouâre fired, take your salary for this month and leave.â
âI...â The receptionist looked panicâstricken. âItâs not like that. Iâve never seen Miss Reist before, and my training didnât include-â
âShut up.â The assistant shouted sternly. âSay one more word, and you wonât even get paid for this month.â
The receptionist instantly dared not say anything, turned around, and left dispiritedly.
I stared at the receptionistâs retreating figure and ultimately said nothing.
The assistant extended his hand and respectfully said, âMiss Reist, Iâll take you to see Mr. William.â
I nodded and followed the assistant with Moss onto the elevator. The elevator stopped on the top floor, and the assistant led us into Williamâs office.
âMiss Reist, Mr. William is in a meeting. Let me go get him. Please wait a moment,â the assistant said, closing the door and leaving.
With only Moss and me left in the office, Moss looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, âI thought you would speak up for that receptionist, and save her job. Standing by and doing nothing doesnât seem like your usual style.â
âI just feel that leaving here sooner might be a good thing for that girl. Later, Iâll have someone contact her and introduce her to a better job,â I sighed. âAfterward, Iâll let her know about it and find her a better job.â
âAre you already sure that William is not a good person?â Moss asked.
âHavenât you thought so long ago? Why bother asking me now? Youâve hinted at me so many times, and it was me... stubborn, unwilling to believe,â I said with a bitter smile.
Moss and I exchanged glances, both seeing the heavy emotions in each otherâs eyes. Just then, the office door was pushed open.
William walked towards me with a broad smile on his face, the familiar kindness evident.
âDiana, itâs been a long time since youâve been here. Did you and Moss come together because the antidote for the Enigma virus has been completely developed?â
he asked.
I stared at Williamâs eyes, which had become older due to age, in silence.
Before, I could always see the gentleness and goodwill that time had deposited in those eyes.
Now, I suddenly realized that gentleness and goodwill were just illusions, and what was truly hidden inside was naked desire and greed.
How could I have not noticed something so obvious before?
âWhy is everyone silent? Did something go wrong with the research again?â William asked.
I shook my head.
âThese days, Iâve been investigating Gummy Skull,â I said softly.
There was a momentary stiffness in Williamâs body, but he quickly covered it up. walked to the sofa and sat down, saying, âYou didnât tell me about this.â
He âYes, I was worried that if I told you, you would stop me. After all, this matter is very dangerous, and you might worry about my safety...â
âOf course, I would certainly stop you,â William said in a deep voice. âYour safety is very important to me.
âBut that was my previous thinking,â I ignored William and continued, âNow, I would feel that you want to stop me just because youâre afraid Iâll really find out something.â
William frowned at me. âDiana, I donât understand what youâre talking about.â
âI found the headquarters of Gummy Skull, near the largest harbor in the Blade Moon Packâs jurisdiction,â I said.
âSo what?â William raised his voice unconsciously. âDo you suspect me? Do you think thereâs a connection between me and Gummy Skull?â
âI also met someone,â I sniffled. âBruce, do you remember him?â
Williamâs face changed suddenly, and he quickly averted his gaze from my face, looking elsewhere.
âHe, heâs supposed to be dead, isnât he?â
âYeah!â I took a deep breath. âHe died! He should have died twelve years ago! Killed by your own hands! But why is he still alive?
And even... even becoming the boss in charge of Gummy Skull? Uncle Reed, donât you think you owe me an explanation?â
William clenched his fists.
After a few seconds, he asked coldly, âWhat explanation should I give you?â
âI donât believe that you wouldnât know about Bruce doing business with Gummy Skull right under your nose-
âThe fact is, I just didnât know!â William interrupted me sharply. His body trembled slightly, and his shoulders heaved a few times.
âI did kill him twelve years ago, and afterward, I ordered my men to throw his body out of the Blade Moon Pack. I donât know what he went through or why he didnât die. As for Gummy Skull, the location at the harbor is managed by my subordinates. Iâm already old, and I donât have the energy to care about every detail! Even if I have oversights and didnât notice an issue with Bruce for a while, does that mean thereâs a problem? Moreover, if I really had a connection with Gummy Skull, why would I bother to make an antidote? Donât forget, I restarted this project! Otherwise, it would have stagnated forever with Pennyâs death!â
houted âYou âYouâre doing all this just because you want to make more money!â I shouted, âYou want to make a fortune with the antidote for Gummy Skull, am I wrong?â