Chapter 71: Their Relationship
Vivian Lowell read the online discussions, a small smile playing on her lips.
This was exactly the result she’d been aiming for.
’But it isn’t enough.’
The tax evasion issue could be resolved simply by paying the back taxes—it wasn’t a huge problem. As for Sharon Galahad embezzling company funds, while Robert Lowell would certainly be furious when he found out, they were a married couple.
If Sharon Galahad went to prison, Robert Lowell would suffer too. He would definitely find a way to bail her out.
’I need to find another way.’
Vivian Lowell tilted her head. First, she replied to the messages from her "partners," expressing her willingness to work with them.
She would charge only half of her previous design fee, but on one condition: they had to sever all business ties with the Lowell Family.
Of course, even if they weren’t willing to agree to the latter, Vivian was still happy to collaborate. After all, the pie in this industry was only so big.
The more she took, the less the Lowell Family would get.
The only problem was, her company wasn’t big enough yet.
’I need to find a way to hire more people.’
With that in mind, Vivian Lowell sent a message to a friend from her old days at the Lowell Group.
"I’m sure you saw the trending news. I actually left the Lowell Group a while ago. I just didn’t go public with it for a few reasons. I’ve started my own company now."
"From now on, I’m going to be competing directly with the Lowell Group. You know what I’m capable of. Is the Lowell Group really a match for me?"
"I think now is the perfect time for you to bring the rest of the team and join me. And of course, the compensation won’t be any worse than at the Lowell Group. I’ll give you double your old salary and a higher commission. What do you say?"
Vivian used to have her own team at the company.
She was the chief designer, after all. She couldn’t possibly handle all the projects the Lowell Group took on by herself. After meetings, she would set the design direction.
Her subordinates would complete the work, which she would then revise and finalize.
Her old team was still at the Lowell Group. Vivian hadn’t explained the situation to them before because of the incident with the swan design.
She had planned to wait until Shelly Lowell and Mason Grant’s engagement party to expose the Lowell Family’s despicable true colors. But now, everything had been accelerated. Since she had decided to go against the Lowell Family...
...it was best to poach her old team.
Not long after she sent the message, she received a reply.
"Vivian, I’ll follow you. But for the rest of the team, I need to ask them what they think, okay?"
Vivian was pleased with the answer and replied, "Great. My company is right downstairs from the Faulkner Group building."
"Talk it over with them. You can start tomorrow. If the Lowell Group tries to stop you from leaving, I’ll cover any contract termination fees. Don’t worry."
"Okay, Vivian."
Having dealt with her company’s affairs, Vivian Lowell breathed a sigh of relief.
She leaned back, spun her chair around to face the floor-to-ceiling window, and gazed at the view outside.
The traffic flowed below, a picture of prosperity.
A few moments later, there was a knock on her office door. Assuming it was business, Vivian sat back down properly at her desk and said, "Come in."
A moment later, Julian Faulkner walked in.
He was frowning, his mood clearly still sour. He stopped in front of Vivian and asked, "Why didn’t you tell me about something this big?"
’Huh?’
Vivian was puzzled. "I told Vance Wyatt, didn’t I? He’s the one who helped me contact the media. Did he not tell you?"
Vivian had assumed that, given Vance Wyatt’s personality, he would have told Julian Faulkner about it immediately.
’But he didn’t!’
"He didn’t."
Julian Faulkner’s expression grew colder. "Is it handled now? Do you need my help?"
"No, no!"
Afraid of troubling Julian, Vivian stood up and gave him a slight bow. "Speaking of which, Vance Wyatt was only willing to help because of you!"
"His connections are all tied to the Faulkner Group. So him helping me is the same as you helping me. President Faulkner, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself any further!"
"Thank you, though! I’ll treat you to dinner to show my thanks, how about that?"
Julian Faulkner watched her, his gaze profound.
There were things he wanted to say but didn’t.
’Vance Wyatt helping and *me* helping are two completely different things. Why doesn’t she get it?’
Julian felt a surge of irritation, his mind flashing back to what Vivian had told the receptionist when he’d dropped off her clothes at noon.
That their relationship was completely platonic.
Ever since signing the agreement, Vivian had been meticulously maintaining her distance from him, never once crossing the line.
This was, ironically, exactly what he had wanted in the beginning.
But now, for some reason, it just... annoyed him.
Vivian stood there, feeling a little apprehensive.
’She had a feeling that, despite her "sincere" gratitude, Julian still didn’t seem very pleased.’
’What is with him!’
’Did I not handle that well enough?’
Utterly baffled, Vivian saw Julian spacing out and asked, "President Faulkner, is something wrong?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Julian composed his expression and said coolly, "It’s nothing. Just don’t cause any trouble for the company or the Faulkner Family."
"It’s getting late. Get ready. Meet me downstairs in half an hour. We’re going to the banquet together tonight."
"Okay." Vivian nodded politely.
’That figures.’
’As long as she didn’t cause trouble for the Faulkner Group and the Faulkner Family, everything was fine. All he cared about was the company and his family, not her.’
Vivian let out a quiet sigh of relief. ’This was how things were supposed to be.’
"Goodbye, President Faulkner."
Vivian said this to Julian’s retreating back. Then she turned and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window again, watching the traffic flow along the street outside.
’Aethelburg really is a bustling city.’
’Huh?’
’Why are there so many reporters at the entrance to the Faulkner Group building all of a sudden!?’
’Oh no... they can’t be here for me, can they!?’