Chapter 323: Quentin Blackwood: Then Thank Me Properly with Your Mouth
Just outside the restroom, Elijah Hawthorne leaned against the wall, a small smirk playing on his lips.
He hadn’t expected this Ivy Sherwood to be a complete fool. She even knew to record someone as a threat.
The voices inside weren’t loud, but Elijah Hawthorne had sharp hearing and happened to catch a snippet of their conversation.
’Does this mean I know another one of Ivy Sherwood’s secrets?’
Meanwhile, Caleb Blackwood had finished giving his statement and was released, fuming.
He felt the urgent need to use the restroom, so he asked for directions and headed over.
However, as soon as he arrived, he saw Elijah Hawthorne leaning against the wall, smoking.
He tried to walk past, but Elijah Hawthorne stretched out an arm to block him.
"What do you think you’re doing?" he demanded, his tone hostile.
"Can’t you see I’m smoking here? Get lost."
"I’m just trying to use the restroom. I’m not in your way, am I?" Caleb Blackwood said, staring at the strange man.
Elijah Hawthorne took a long drag from his cigarette. "When I’m smoking, I don’t like anyone within a ten-meter radius."
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Caleb Blackwood grew even more furious.
Elijah Hawthorne spoke nonchalantly. "Before you decide to curse me out or make threats, I suggest you do a little research on who I am. Otherwise..."
Elijah Hawthorne left the "otherwise" hanging, but Caleb Blackwood could already feel the murderous intent radiating from him.
The color drained from his face. He glanced down at his phone; his secretary still hadn’t sent him the information.
He impatiently sent a message. "If you don’t find it in the next three minutes, don’t bother coming in tomorrow."
The secretary, trembling, immediately sent over the information they’d already found.
The moment he saw the name "Elijah Hawthorne," Caleb Blackwood’s pupils contracted.
"Mr. Hawthorne, I had no idea you were in Lustre, I..."
"Get lost."
"Yes, of course." Caleb Blackwood tucked his tail between his legs and scurried away.
From inside, Ivy Sherwood heard a commotion. She put away her phone, shot a look at the pale-faced Anna Nash, and walked straight out of the restroom.
But when Ivy Sherwood came out, there was no one outside the restroom. In fact, the entire area was empty.
’So what was that sound I just heard?’
...
It was nearly dusk by the time Ivy Sherwood left the police station.
Her flight was at 8 PM, which meant she had to hurry to the airport now, or she wouldn’t make it in time.
Elijah Hawthorne had left the police station at the same time she did. The fact that he could shoot someone and still walk out so freely was a testament to his status and power.
Even inside the station, the officers had been nothing but polite and accommodating to him.
"Where are you off to, Miss Sherwood? Aren’t you going to treat me to a meal?" Elijah Hawthorne called out, seeing that she was about to leave without so much as a word.
Ivy Sherwood replied, "I’m sorry, Mr. Hawthorne, but I have something urgent to attend to."
"I did save your life, you know. Is this any way to treat your savior?" Elijah Hawthorne said, narrowing his eyes at her.
"A truly good person wouldn’t keep bringing it up. I won’t forget what you did, and I’ll repay the favor if I get the chance. I have to go!"
With that, Ivy Sherwood hailed a taxi and, ignoring Elijah Hawthorne, got in and drove away.
Elijah Hawthorne watched her retreating figure, a strange smile playing on his lips. ’Lustre is getting interesting,’ he thought. ’No wonder Quentin Blackwood is so reluctant to leave. I’ve even managed to stay here this long.’
’If only she were a little more beautiful.’
As soon as Ivy Sherwood was in the taxi, she called Quentin Blackwood.
Quentin Blackwood was just about to head to a dinner organized by the shareholders of the Sheridan Group.
"Are you done giving your statement?"
"Yes, I just got out of the police station. I’ll still need to cooperate with their investigation. The man who tried to kill me must be Gideon Gordon. The Blackwood Family will definitely protect Anna Nash, but there’s no way Gideon Gordon can escape."
Ivy Sherwood explained her assessment to Quentin Blackwood, who listened quietly without interrupting.
Ivy Sherwood could think for herself, even if her plans weren’t always as far-reaching as his own.
At least they had exposed Gideon Gordon this time. As for how Anna Nash would explain her connection to him, that was her problem.
"Thank you for your help this time," Ivy Sherwood said finally.
"Just a verbal thank you?"
"You’re not satisfied with a verbal thank you?"
Quentin’s voice came through the phone. "It’s fine. Next time, you can use that mouth of yours to thank me properly. Show me just how sincere you are."
Ivy’s ears instantly flushed crimson. ’Quentin... he... he’s such a pervert!’
"I’m not talking to you anymore," Ivy Sherwood said, hastily hanging up.
’Given what he just said, if I fly over to see him tonight, is he going to eat me alive?’
Nevertheless, Ivy Sherwood still went to the airport. Time was tight, so she brought nothing with her except for the two boxes she was carrying.
The moment Ivy Sherwood appeared at the airport, Quentin Blackwood was informed.
Even though Quentin Blackwood wasn’t in Lustre, he knew everything that happened there.
Zane Linton delivered the news just as Quentin arrived outside the private dining room at the restaurant.
"Miss Sherwood must be trying to surprise you. Her flight gets in a little after ten. Should I arrange for a car to pick her up from the airport?" Zane Linton asked.
"No need," Quentin Blackwood said, the corners of his lips turning up. "If she wants to surprise me, let’s just pretend we don’t know."
"Understood."
Quentin Blackwood continued, "Elijah Hawthorne has too much free time on his hands lately. Find something to keep him busy and get him out of Lustre."
’That man is too dangerous. What if he becomes a bad influence on Ivy?’
’He loves to stir up trouble. To a certain extent, the man is simply infuriating just to look at.’
"Yes, sir." Zane Linton understood immediately.
"Start spreading the rumors about Anna Nash’s attempted murder," Quentin continued. "Make it impossible for the Blackwood Family to clear her name. Let’s make Caleb Blackwood sweat a little first."
As for the rest of the Blackwood Family, Quentin wasn’t in a hurry to act, but he could start by putting some pressure on Caleb Blackwood.
After all, the Blackwood Family’s real reckoning was yet to come. The best way to torture someone wasn’t to kill them in one blow, but to break their bones while leaving the sinews intact, forcing them to live on in agony.
"I understand." Zane Linton quickly grasped Quentin Blackwood’s intentions and left to carry out his orders.
Quentin Blackwood then got out of the car and, led by a waiter, walked toward the reserved private room.
Inside the private room, nearly all of the Sheridan Group’s major shareholders had arrived—more than ten people in total, including Joy Sheridan.
The Sheridan Group was different from DG. Quentin Blackwood held nearly all of DG’s shares; it was an empire he had built by himself.
The Sheridan Group’s shares, however, were widely dispersed. Old Master Sheridan was merely the largest shareholder, which was why the others were always stirring restlessly.
The fact that Old Master Sheridan had been able to keep these shareholders in line for so many years proved he was no pushover.
Quentin Blackwood was the last to arrive. The moment he entered, everyone rose to their feet in unison.
"President Blackwood, please."
The Sheridan Company was a major corporation, and its shareholders were all influential figures in their own right. But in front of Quentin Blackwood, they were all unfailingly deferential.
As for Joy Sheridan, from the moment Quentin Blackwood walked in, she couldn’t tear her eyes off him.
Quentin was dressed formally tonight in a perfectly tailored black suit that gave him a calm and reserved air, yet it couldn’t completely conceal his commanding, kingly presence.
His face was so handsome it was almost offensive, his fine features utterly flawless. Every time Joy Sheridan saw him, her heart skipped a beat.
The thought of her plan made her flush with excitement. ’Tonight isn’t just a simple dinner party. I have to make Quentin mine. I’ll show him that I can play this game too.’