Glades Horne ordered a serving of the Guangdong-style four-flavor glutinous rice balls for Julia Bluen. He didn't care much for sweets, so he wasn't having any.
"Just one serving?" the waitress asked with a smile.
"Please wait a moment."
The waitress said this and turned to walk inside.
Since Glades didn't want any, Julia didn't press the issue. After knowing him for over twenty years, she was aware of his distaste for sweets.
Shortly after, a serving of the Guangdong-style four-flavor glutinous rice balls was brought over and placed in front of Julia.
Julia took up the spoon and started eating elegantly yet unreservedly.
Glades Horne quietly sat across from her, watching her eat.
Once she was done, he considerately passed her a napkin to wipe her mouth.
After settling the bill and leaving the store, they got back into the car before Julia spoke, "The taste was really good, and the service wasn't bad either. No wonder the chain stores keep opening one after another. You opened nine under your management. Now that it's under mine, I hope to open another nine. Ideally, I want us to become the leader of this industry."
Glades Horne let out a low chuckle and looked at her admiringly, saying with a laugh, "Ambitious. I, your husband, support you in spirit."
Just then, Glades Horne's phone suddenly rang.
He was about to start the car but paused, pulling out his phone when he saw the call was from his secretary.
Pressing the answer button, Secretary Yang's voice came through, "CEO, Mr. Nicholas Coldwell from Cosmos Group's Planning Department requests to see you. He said you would definitely meet with him."
"Alright, let him wait in the VIP room. I'm on my way back," Glades Horne ordered in a deep voice. His romantic rival had taken the initiative to come to him; he had no reason to refuse the meeting.
He nearly molested my darling wife at the hospital this noon, and now he actually dares to show up at my door!
Glades Horne knew Nicholas Coldwell was still in the dark about his marriage to Julia Bluen, thinking he was just Julia's brother-in-law.
That's exactly why messing with him will be even more satisfying.
At this moment, Nicholas Coldwell had just stepped through the doors of the Valence Group's office building.
He had been there a few times but was always turned away, not even allowed to enter the Valence Group's office building. On previous occasions, he was told the CEO was abroad and advised to return later.
He also knew that someone of Glades Horne's esteemed status wasn't a person he could meet so easily.
Every time he was turned away at the company's doors, he felt inwardly humiliated yet dared not show any outward frustration. Although he had managed to win back some clients from the Griffin Family, temporarily stabilizing Cosmos Group's situation, he understood this was only temporary. The moment Glades Horne returned and said the word, Cosmos Group could collapse in a short period.
For Glades Horne, bringing down a company was as easy as flipping his hand.
To the outside world, Glades Horne had a reputation for being unpredictable and enigmatic.
If a company crossed him and he decided to spare it, that company could continue to exist. But if he, in a moment of displeasure, chose not to grant that mercy, then their only option left would be to go back home and turn to farming.
As soon as Nicholas Coldwell found out Glades Horne had returned from abroad, he immediately came to request a meeting. To ensure Cosmos Group can avoid unnecessary blows, the key lies with Glades Horne. I know I wronged Julia Bluen, and Glades is just helping her get revenge, mixing personal grievances with business.
If I can just persuade Glades Horne to relent, Cosmos Group might be saved.
Nicholas Coldwell came with the mindset of giving it a shot, prepared to shamelessly beg Glades Horne to spare Cosmos Group. After all, that's the company I plan to take over in the future; I can't let Glades run it into the ground.
Moreover, Glades Horne's treatment of Julia Bluen, supposedly his sister-in-law, seems unusually close.
Whenever I consider the possibility of something between Glades and Julia, my heart feels heavy.
Only after giving up on Julia Bluen and losing her did I realize her true worth.
Entering Valence Group and seeing the sixty-eight-story office building, envy was unmistakable in Nicholas Coldwell's eyes. This is how business should be done.
"Manager Coldwell, please."
A staff secretary led him to the customer-exclusive elevator, pressed the button for him, and gestured for him to step inside. As he entered the elevator, the secretary added, "Go straight up to the sixty-eighth floor. Secretary Yang, who is with our CEO, will receive you."
"Thank you," Nicholas Coldwell hastily thanked the secretary.
A large corporation is truly different; they have so many secretaries it makes my head spin.
Our Cosmos Group, also a group, has only one secretary in the entire company—Dio Powell's mistress.
Stepping into Valence Group and witnessing its grandeur firsthand, Nicholas Coldwell immediately felt as insignificant as an ant. No wonder my previous attempts to even crack a smile at Glades Horne were met with his glares. Someone like him, a chosen one towering above everyone else, is simply beyond my league. Trying to catch up to Glades Horne would be impossible, even if I could fly.
Those words I told Diana Powell during our honeymoon about surpassing Glades Horne were nothing but a foolish delusion.
Upon reaching the sixty-eighth floor, Secretary Yang greeted him immediately upon his exit from the elevator, saying coldly yet politely, "You must be Manager Coldwell, right? Our CEO isn't here at the moment, but he will be back shortly. Please wait." Then she led Nicholas Coldwell to the VIP room.
Nicholas Coldwell gave Secretary Yang a friendly smile while scanning the surroundings. Every glance filled him with envy. If I could work in an environment , controlling the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people, I'd be content for life.
Secretary Yang ushered him into the VIP room, brewed a cup of tea for him, and then she left, leaving him alone in the spacious room.
As soon as Secretary Yang left, Nicholas Coldwell stood up and carefully touched the VIP room's sofa, coffee table, vase, potted plants, TV, and other furnishings. Even the floor-to-ceiling windows here seem better than anyone else's.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows, he drew the curtains slightly apart. Looking down, he thought, It's so high!