Chapter 84: Not Too Happy
「Half an hour later.」
Vivian Lowell went downstairs and headed back to her company.
The receptionist was happy to see Vivian return. She handed over a report and said, "Boss, this is a list of people who contacted our company this morning."
"I’ve already screened them, and these are the more promising companies. Oh, and a woman came by this morning. She said she used to work with you!"
"You weren’t in at the time, though, so I told her to come back this afternoon!"
Vivian Lowell took the documents and glanced through them.
She noticed that most of the people who had taken the initiative to visit or call her company were from businesses that had previously worked with the Lowell Group.
Vivian had met them before at the banquet held to officially welcome Shelly Lowell into the family. At the time, she had discreetly given her business card to those she was on good terms with.
They were smart people. They naturally understood what Vivian meant.
Now that the Lowell Family was in dire straits, these companies were worried their own businesses would be affected. Naturally, they were no longer willing to work with the Lowell Group.
Meanwhile, Vivian was offering to maintain the same quality while cutting her prices by 20%, an offer they found very tempting.
"You did a great job."
Vivian couldn’t help but praise the young receptionist. "I hear you’ve been learning from Vance Wyatt in your free time? Looks like you’ve picked up a few things!"
"Vance is very capable. You’ll do well learning from him!"
The young receptionist’s cheeks flushed, and she said shyly, "Oh, so you already knew, Boss! Special Assistant Wyatt... he really is amazing!"
As she spoke, her eyes practically sparkled.
Vance Wyatt was in his twenties, about the same age as Julian Faulkner. Although he was a work-obsessed guy who could be a bit oblivious, he was handsome, meticulous, and always well-groomed.
A talented and distinguished man like him was naturally going to attract attention.
"Mm, learn everything you can from him. Keep it up."
Vivian offered a word of encouragement.
’As for *how* they’d learn, and *what* they’d end up learning... well, that’s up to Vance and the young receptionist!’
Back in her office, Vivian called a friend.
The person on the other end updated her on the current situation at the Lowell Group.
"Several investors have sent representatives. They say they know exactly what’s going on with Sharon Galahad embezzling company funds, and they want to pull their investments."
"They also want to sell off their existing shares in the Lowell Group. They said they’re willing to give Robert Lowell the right of first refusal if he wants to buy them back."
"If Robert doesn’t buy, they’ll sell them on the open market. And even though Robert holds a fifty percent stake, if someone else snaps up all those shares at once..."
"...Robert’s influence in the Lowell Group will be nothing like it was before."
"So, the Lowell Group is now beset by troubles from within and without. By the way, I also heard about that swan design of yours... weren’t there still two pieces left to finish?"
"The submission deadline is in just a few days. Robert Lowell is getting anxious. He originally wanted to hire me to finish the designs, but I’d already resigned with my team."
"The few designers who are left aren’t skilled enough to replicate your style. Now Robert’s only option is to post a high-paying job online and hope he can find a talented designer."
"Vivian, that’s the situation at the Lowell Group in a nutshell!"
After listening, Vivian jotted down a few key points on a piece of paper, then said into the phone, "Leo, thank you for digging up all this information for me. It’s all very useful!"
"Hmm... Why don’t you come in a bit early this afternoon? I’ll get your onboarding paperwork started. Things are pretty busy at the company right now. With the Lowell Group in trouble, a lot of their old partners are coming to me."
Vivian couldn’t help but sigh.
’She was so busy right now.’
Over at the hospital, Caleb Quinn had taken a few days off and wasn’t back at Aethelburg University yet. Eleanor Rhodes’s injuries weren’t serious, but she would probably need another two days of rest.
Vivian was too busy to take care of Eleanor herself and was even considering hiring two nurses to look after her in shifts for a few days.
Then there was Vance Wyatt.
After the vicious dog’s owner confessed the truth, he had been gathering information to post a video of her statement online.
That way, the online attacks against Vivian and Eleanor would finally stop.
And then there was Chloe Grant.
Vivian had scheduled a dinner with Ethan Grant for that evening to discuss Mason Grant and Shelly Lowell. It would be perfect if she could sabotage their potential match.
’Surely Ethan Grant wouldn’t waste this god-given opportunity, would he?’
’If the marriage alliance fell through, he might have a chance to make his move and take control of the Grant Family’s businesses.’
On the other end of the line, Leo must have heard the weariness in Vivian’s voice because she quickly offered some comfort. "Hey, it’s okay, Vivian. As for the company stuff, once I’m officially on board, you can just leave it all to me."
"You know what I’m capable of, right? I might not be on your level when it comes to truly inspired, creative designs, but I can handle all the standard work just fine!"
"Mhm!"
Vivian smiled. "Once we get through this crazy period, I’ll treat you to dinner. Any restaurant in Aethelburg, your pick!"
Leo laughed too, accusing Vivian of making empty promises.
"Ah, the evils of capitalism! I never thought you’d learn how to dangle a carrot like that, Vivian!"
"No, no, I’m serious! My sincere heart is right here on display. You’ll see it when you come over this afternoon!"
Vivian quickly hung up the phone.
Her mood was much lighter than it had been before.
Leo was a very lively woman, a few years older than Vivian. When Vivian had first joined the Lowell Group, she had actually studied under Leo for a while.
But Vivian’s talent had proven so exceptional that her work quickly gained recognition from all quarters.
Eventually, Sharon Galahad and Robert Lowell appointed Vivian as the chief designer. Leo held no resentment over this and had always been a diligent and supportive presence as Vivian’s career blossomed.
Now that the Lowell Group was in trouble, Leo had come to join Vivian.
’Leo has always been good to me.’
As Vivian was thinking this, she was about to pick up the documents to organize the company’s upcoming workflow when she noticed a shadow at the door.
Hm?
’That shadow looks familiar.’
Vivian froze for a second when she realized it was Julian Faulkner.
"Julian?"
Vivian called out.
She had the feeling that the person at the door stiffened, as if he hadn’t planned on coming in and was surprised to be noticed.
"Yeah, it’s me."
Julian walked in. "I wanted to talk to you about this morning," he said to Vivian. "Public opinion online has already shifted."
"The veterinary clinic should be in the clear now. They can resume normal operations."
"Okay."
Vivian nodded and gave Julian a sweet smile. "Thank you for your help with that. But... you know, you could have just come right in. You didn’t have to stand at the door!"
"..."
Julian didn’t say anything.
He looked at Vivian, and for a moment, his eyes held a complicated expression.
Hm?
’Vivian didn’t quite understand.’
’Wasn’t I just lost in thought, organizing these documents?’
’What was wrong with him coming in?’
As she was wondering, Julian spoke up slowly. "I knocked when I got here. But you were on the phone and didn’t seem to hear."
"So I decided to wait outside. I... I heard what you were saying. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop."
Vivian couldn’t help but sputter a few coughs.
’What did Julian mean by that?’
’He heard my phone call?’
’The conversation was perfectly innocent. There wasn’t anything people couldn’t hear, was there?’
’So what was with that strange expression on his face?’
Vivian was utterly baffled.
But Julian clearly had no intention of continuing the topic. He turned and said, "I’ve said what I came to say. I’ll get going and let you get back to work."
"..."
Watching the office door swing shut, Vivian was still completely baffled.
’Julian didn’t seem to be in a very good mood!’
’But why?’
「Outside the door.」
As Julian walked away, he pressed his lips into a thin line.
The words Vivian had just spoken replayed in his mind, along with the radiant smile that had bloomed on her face right after.
"No, no, I’m serious! My sincere heart is right here on display. You’ll see it when you come over this afternoon!"
’My sincere heart is right here on display. You’ll see it when you come this afternoon.’
’Who was coming?’
’She seemed so happy, smiling so brightly. This morning, he’d spent a long time comforting her, and all he’d gotten was a forced smile.’
Julian was not pleased.
’It seemed,’ he thought, ’that the person on the other end of that call was more important to Vivian than he was.’