C128 Treat Her Well

The video call between Alicia and me ended quickly as she noticed that i was still in a dinner. "I will call you later when you are done." After that she hanged up. After dinner, i went to my room, the house had already become quiet. My parents had gone to sleep after wishing me a good night.

Just as I was about to sleep, my phone vibrated again. It was another video call from Alicia. I smiled before answering. "I thought we already said goodnight." Alicia smiled awkwardly. " I have questions." "There are some things that i don't understand in this document." I chuckled. "I figured." She lifted the marriage agreement in front of the camera. "I've finished reading it." "So..." "What exactly did Grandpa tell you?"

I slowly explained everything from the beginning. "Your Grandpa said Lucia Goods needs a capable Director." She nodded. "I know." I paused. "He believes you're the only person who can lead the company." She sighed. "I've been avoiding that responsibility." "I know." "He also said he wanted someone you trust to stand beside you."

Alicia looked at me quietly. "So that's where you come in." I nodded. "He offered me a permanent position at Lucia Goods." "What position?" "He actually wanted me to become Vice Director." Alicia's eyes widened. "What?" "You refused?" I smiled. "Of course." She looked confused. "Why?"

I leaned back comfortably. "A Vice Director should be someone with years of experience." "I've only been working for a short time." "If I suddenly become Vice Director, everyone will say I only got there because of you." She slowly nodded. "That's true." "So..." "What did you choose instead?" I smiled. "I'll start from the bottom." Alicia frowned. "The bottom?" "I chose to become your assistant."

She blinked several times. "My assistant?" "No." "I'll be yours." She couldn't help laughing. "You make it sound like I'll be giving you endless work." "I probably deserve it." "Oh really?" She folded her arms playfully. "Then don't complain when I make you carry heavy files." I laughed. "Yes, Director Mooney." She smiled proudly. "That sounds much better."

The room became quiet again. Neither of us spoke for several seconds. Then... Alicia suddenly covered her face. "What?" She slowly peeked through her fingers. "There's something embarrassing." I already knew what she was thinking. "The kiss?" Her face instantly turned red. "You remembered?" "How could I forget?"

She looked down shyly. "You know..." "You were my first kiss." She laughed nervously. "And now..." "We're apparently getting married." I smiled. "Alicia." She looked back at me. "That kiss..." "It wasn't just a kiss." Her breathing slowed. "What do you mean?" I looked directly into her eyes. "That day..." "I realized my heart had already started changing." Silence.

Alicia's cheeks became even redder. She lowered her head. "I..." "Are we really going to get married." I smiled gently. "You know beauty, you can still cancel it." She laughed. "Then my grandpa will send you back to prison." She continued. "And i will cry for you again" I smiled. "Thank you."

I looked at her and asked. "So what do you say. Will you be my wife? She blushed and nodded " i don't have a choice. After talking for a few more minutes about work, the company, and what the future might look like, we finally wished each other goodnight. This time... We both actually went to sleep.

The following morning, I woke up before sunrise. After taking a quick shower and getting dressed, I walked into the dining room. Mom had already prepared breakfast. Dad was reading the morning newspaper. They both looked up when I entered. Mary smiled. "So..." "What did the two of you decide last night?"

I sat down. "We talked about everything." "And?" I smiled softly. "Alicia agreed." Both of them looked surprised. "You mean..." "The marriage will happen." Mary's face immediately lit up. "I knew it!" She happily clapped her hands. Quinton smiled warmly. "If both of you agreed willingly..." "Then your mother and I will support you." I nodded gratefully. "Thank you." Mary suddenly became serious. "Son." "Whatever happens from now on..." "Treat her well." "I will."

After breakfast, I picked up my bag. "I'm going to the office." Quinton frowned. "I thought you were fired." "I only need to collect my belongings." He nodded. "Be careful." "I will." After saying goodbye, I rode my bicycle and left the house. At almost the same time... Alicia also left the Mooney residence. This morning... She wore a simple navy-blue business suit. She looked calm. Yet every few seconds... She unconsciously smiled.

When I arrived at Wood IT Company, I noticed people staring at me. Some whispered. Others pointed. A few simply looked away. I ignored all of them. I knew I was innocent. Their opinions didn't matter anymore. Just then... A silver Maserati slowly stopped beside the entrance. Alicia stepped out. Almost simultaneously... Chris arrived from the opposite direction. He greeted me. "Brother." I nodded. Alicia greeted us.

He scratched his head. "Brother..." I looked at him. "What?" "Have you noticed something strange?" "What?" He pointed at Alicia. "She's been blushing all morning." He lowered his voice dramatically. "It's like she ate an entire jar of honey." I nearly laughed. Chris continued, "So..." "What's going on?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Well..." "It's about..." Before I could continue... Alicia quickly interrupted. "It's because..." She smiled brightly. "I've finally decided to become the Director of Lucia Goods." She clasped her hands together happily. "Today is my last day here." "That's why I'm smiling."

I looked at her in complete surprise. "Cough!" I accidentally choked. Chris quickly patted my back. "Brother!" "Are you alright?" I nodded while coughing. "I'm... fine." Chris looked suspiciously between us. "I feel like both of you are hiding something." Alicia quickly shook her head. "Nothing at all." Chris wasn't convinced. But before he could ask another question, employees began rushing toward the conference hall. "The meeting's about to start!" Everyone hurried inside.

The atmosphere inside Wood IT Company had completely changed. The five-percent market loss had shaken everyone. Employees whispered anxiously. "What if they start firing workers?" "I heard investors are pulling out." "If the company keeps losing money..." "We'll be the first to go." Fear spread throughout every department.

Exactly at nine o'clock... Major shareholders and stakeholders slowly entered the conference room. Ben walked in confidently. Unlike everyone else... He appeared to be in an excellent mood. He secretly glanced around the room. Sarah wasn't there. Neither was Tracy.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face. Perfect. He quietly calculated the numbers. "My shares." "Supporters." "Alicia's nine percent..." "Without Tracy's thirty percent and Sarah's sixteen percent..." "This vote is practically over."

He confidently walked around greeting several shareholders. "Gentlemen." "I hope you'll support stability today." One elderly shareholder nodded. "You have my vote." Another smiled. "We need decisive leadership." Ben thanked them before taking his seat.

Across the room... Samantha frowned. She looked around repeatedly. Where was Tracy? Where was Sarah? Something didn't feel right. The chairman finally stood. "This emergency shareholders' meeting will now begin." Before he could continue... Ben immediately stood up. "I propose we proceed directly to voting for the Interim Director." Several people nodded. Samantha immediately stood. "I object."

Everyone turned toward her. She calmly continued, "How can we vote..." "When forty-six percent of the company's shareholders aren't even present?" Ben frowned. "The meeting has already started." "They're late." Samantha remained calm. "Then we wait." Ben shook his head. "The company doesn't have time." "The sooner we appoint an Interim Director, the better."

Samantha refused to back down. "The company's constitution clearly states major shareholders should be present whenever possible." The argument quickly became heated. Voices grew louder. Finally... Ben lost his patience. He pointed directly at Samantha. "You should also remember something." "In your nine percent..." "Eight percent belongs to my daughter." "So even if you leave..." "Your four percent won't matter." The room suddenly became silent.

At that exact moment... The conference room doors slowly opened. Everyone instinctively turned around. Two familiar figures walked inside. Sarah. And Tracy. Every pair of eyes in the room shifted toward them. Ben's confident smile slowly disappeared. The meeting... Had just taken an unexpected turn.