Chapter 7 In A Hole

Charlee quickly interrupted him.

"I'm taking over the Sullivan Group," she said.

Silence enveloped the car.

Her lips curled into a mocking grin. "Is that beyond your means? If so, remain silent."

She wasn't in the mood for flirtations.

The remnants of their previous night's encounter only added to her discomfort now.

While she was used to indulging herself, she refused to lose her sense of self under pressure.

"You have nothing to offer that I desire. Moreover, enacting my own revenge is far sweeter," she asserted.

Observing her rigid expression, he slowly lifted his finger from the screen of his phone.

Purchasing a corporation worth less than 10 billion dollars was hardly a challenge for him; his team had once completed such an acquisition in 18 hours.

Relaxing his frown, he stared on Charlee's lips, swallowing visibly.

Her energy and passion reminded him of a vibrant, blossoming flower.

He had always understood that she was not dependent.

Indeed, reclaiming what was rightfully hers on her own was what would truly satisfy her.

He recognized that he didn't need to revolutionize her situation immediately.

For the duration of their hour-long journey, Charlee remained tense, vigilant to her surroundings.

He stayed quiet, not venturing any closer to her.

Gentle music eventually soothed her weariness. Upon waking, she discovered her head resting on his lap while he talked on the phone in a soft tone.

Startled, she sat up quickly and glanced outside, alarmed.

The sight of the "Green Biopharmaceuticals" sign calmed her, and the evening sun reminded her of the length of her nap.

All kinds of emotions, including embarrassment, awkwardness, and annoyance, surged within her. She turned to question him on why he hadn't woken her, only to spot a small, noticeable wet patch on his neatly pressed trousers where her head had rested.

She refused to admit it was her drool.

"You drooled," he said bluntly, handing her a tissue with his well-defined fingers as if he could read her mind.

Charlee couldn't keep up the pretense, and she said through clenched teeth, "Take them off; I'll clean them."

He was slightly stunned and then used his slender fingers to hook his belt.

"Alright."

She flung open the car door and fled, forgetting to take the things she had packed from the Sullivan Group.

By the time she realized, the black business car was already gone.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket at the same time.

She looked at the unfamiliar number, having a strange intuition.

As soon as she answered, she heard his slightly amused voice.

"Save my number."

"Return my things."

They spoke almost simultaneously. After a brief silence, his voice came through the phone, sounding quite pleased.

"You were pretty cute when you were little."

"Don't touch my album!" Charlee snapped.

The only thing she couldn't lose was that photo album, carefully preserved by her mom from her childhood, even including some embarrassing ones.

"I have something to do. Let's talk tonight," he said, hanging up before she could respond.

She glared at the darkened phone, grinding her teeth.

She bet the jerk did it on purpose.

Green Biopharmaceuticals's headquarters wasn't large, consisting of two workshops and a three-story office building.

The management team was made up of veterans who had fought alongside her mom, which was why the Sullivan Group didn't value them.

"Charlee, you should have given me a heads-up before taking over," said Nathan Guzman, the current person in charge of the company, who had watched Charlee grow up.

He placed the financial and order reports on the desk. "The money in the account has been transferred out. We're all waiting for new funds to be approved to pay salaries. Right now, everyone at Green Biopharmaceuticals is in a hole."