Albert Sawyer imposed an excessive workload on Eleanor Winslow, far surpassing what a mere intern should handle. It was clear he didn’t like her and wanted to settle personal scores.
The merger case between Mayfield Tech involved two major conglomerates, with the acquired party having multiple subsidiaries. The work tasks assigned to Eleanor Winslow were not difficult for her, but as she wasn’t a part of the project team initially, she needed to spend considerable time familiarizing herself with the materials.
The beginning of everything is hard, but Eleanor took it in stride.
Adrian Grant usually ate delivered private dishes in the penthouse president’s office. Today, he unexpectedly led a few executives into the cafeteria, causing quite a stir.
The people from the law firm including Albert Sawyer were seated at the entrance of the cafeteria, and upon raising his eyes, he met Adrian Grant’s gaze.
"President Grant, President Thompson, President Sterling..." Albert Sawyer immediately stood up to greet the clients.
Adrian Grant remained silent, his gaze swept over the lawyer team members, slightly frowning.
Charles Rhodes followed behind Adrian Grant and asked, "Lawyer Sawyer, it seems like there are more than just a few people in your team?"
"Ah? Everyone in our team is here. Your cafeteria is too delicious, everyone is eager to eat!"
Charles Rhodes reminded, "Your team has a girl with the surname ’Winslow’, who handed files to President Grant during the morning meeting."
Albert Sawyer hadn’t expected the other party to inquire about such trivial matters. Internally cursing Eleanor as troublesome, he smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Are you referring to Eleanor? She still has some urgent tasks at hand and plans to finish those first. As you know, our law firm’s pace is quite fast."
Charles Rhodes’s brow twitched, thinking how his wife never went hungry even in the culinary wilderness of the U.K., but at their own company, she couldn’t have lunch, it’s simply absurd!
"Lawyer Sawyer, work is important, but health is more important; one must eat, and the timeline for the project team is quite generous, right?"
The Grant Group executives glanced at each other, expressing puzzlement.
Why was Special Assistant Rhodes so concerned about whether the junior employee on the opposing side had lunch?
Could it be... instructed by President Grant?
Albert Sawyer was sweating profusely: "Yes, yes, yes! Your company indeed hasn’t pressured us, but we law firm personnel have always maintained high self-expectations."
Charles Rhodes glanced at Adrian Grant’s expression, with the boss’s demeanor showing no discernible emotion, yet the slightly pursed corners of his mouth betrayed his inner feeling:
Albert Sawyer keenly sensed the subtle attitude of the client management toward Eleanor.
The next day, Albert deliberately sent Eleanor to deliver documents to the Legal Department Director, to increase her presence.
The Legal Department Director, astute as he was, mindful of President Grant and Special Assistant Rhodes’s strange behavior, signed the documents Eleanor presented and said, "Lawyer Winslow, this document isn’t problematic, but it requires President Grant’s review; could you please deliver it to the president’s office?"
Eleanor thought to refuse, opened her mouth, but a few seconds later ultimately agreed to the client’s request.
—She was afraid of being complained about by the client!
It was several minutes after Eleanor walked out of the Legal Director’s office when he suddenly recalled he hadn’t told that pretty young girl where the president’s office was?
The Legal Director had to call Charles Rhodes, explaining the situation.
"Oh, it’s fine, I see her," Charles just witnessed the president’s office elevator doors open, Eleanor stepping out holding the documents.
The Legal Director hung up, belatedly realizing:
Wait, that’s not right!
He hadn’t even mentioned where the president’s office was, how did that young woman find it?
The only place Eleanor was familiar with in the Grant Group building was the president’s office.
"Madam!" Charles hurried to welcome her.
Eleanor looked around quickly, relieved that no one else was present: "Special Assistant Rhodes, please address me by my job title in a work setting. You can call me Eleanor or Winslow."
As long as it’s not ’Madam’, anything else would do.
Charles dared not to address her incorrectly, saying, "Lawyer Winslow, you didn’t go for lunch? Was it that the cafeteria was unappetizing, or did you not want... to meet President Grant?"
"Simply overloaded with work, I wanted to finish early—this document needs Adrian Grant’s review, I’d appreciate it if Special Assistant Rhodes could pass it on."
Charles didn’t take it.
Special Assistant Rhodes, with an earnest demeanor, said: "Madam—no—Lawyer Winslow, external documents like these need to be personally handed over by third-party personnel, in case President Grant has any queries, he can directly communicate with you."
Eleanor suspiciously stared at him for a few seconds, contemplating that Charles wouldn’t lie about work, and reluctantly proceeded to the president’s office to deliver herself.
Charles knocked first, leading Eleanor through the door.
"President Grant, Madam brought the documents,"
He just called her ’Lawyer Winslow,’ didn’t he?
Seeing Eleanor glaring discontentedly at Charles, Adrian Grant was momentarily stunned. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novel•fire.net
Adrian was baffled as to what documents needed to be delivered by Eleanor, asking, "Divorce papers?"
"...No." Eleanor felt this was a significant oversight, "I forgot the divorce papers, I’ll try to remember next time."
Charles quietly exited and closed the president’s office door.
"I’m delivering documents from our lawyer team," Eleanor said formally, handing them over to Adrian Grant, "President Grant, please review."
Adrian Grant, legs crossed, leaned back in the leather chair with a composed demeanor, observing Eleanor.
This man always had deep thoughts, difficult to fathom, with demeanor and expressions of a person in a high position.
Eleanor pondered for a moment, and then relayed a summary of the document content, fulfilling her duty as a party on the opposing side.
There was a pronounced student-like demeanor in her work report, akin to a top student making a PPT presentation at the classroom podium, quite innocent, yet the report was smooth and concise, indicating her familiarity with the document content.
Adrian Grant gazed deeply at the woman across the desk for a long while before gesturing.
Eleanor cautiously eyed him, standing unmoved at the other side of the desk.
"President Grant, if you have any questions, I’ll endeavor to answer; if it’s beyond my ability, I’ll consult with my superior. If there are no other issues, I’ll leave the document here and get going."
She didn’t want to stay here even a second longer!
Adrian Grant, with a hint of a smile: "Are you afraid of me?"