His cool gaze swept over her face.
It was impassive, yet held a piercing chill.
He walked away, an aura of frost about him, growing more distant with every step. He left her standing alone, staring after him as an indescribable emotion swelled in her chest.
This side of Theodore Grant was not unfamiliar to her.
For so reason, she felt a sense of panic.
Just as Weller Kendall was about to leave, she suddenly called out to him, "Assistant Kendall, please wait a mont."
"Manager Childs, is there sothing I can help you with?"
Weller Kendall turned around, his gaze politely detached.
"Is he..." She hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "...angry?"
"Mr. Grant is fine." Weller Kendall gave a polite nod, his tone flat.
Watching the figures of the master and his subordinate depart,
Natalie Morgan’s heart suddenly clenched.
’Did I offend Theodore Grant?’
’His expression was awful, and the way he looked at ... it was like he wanted to eat alive.’
She was absent-minded for the rest of the day.
After work, the lights in the office gradually dimd.
She sat alone in the office, staring blankly out the window, her mind a ss of chaotic thoughts.
’Theodore Grant’s moods were so unpredictable. When I get ho tonight, will he... erupt in a sudden, inexplicable rage...?’
"Long ti no see."
She froze for a mont and looked up. An incredibly handso face, boyish and pure, ca into view.
’Sean Lane?’
Her eyes flickered. Her smile was a mixture of surprise and distance. "Mr. Lane?"
"I heard you were still alive, but I found it a little hard to believe..." A smile that seed friendly but was utterly fake hung on Sean Lane’s face as he looked Natalie Morgan up and down. "...I didn’t expect you to actually be doing so well."
Natalie Morgan shot him an indifferent glance, the corner of her lip curling into a sneer. "What, are you disappointed to see alive and well?"
"Not at all." Sean Lane waved his hand dismissively. "Disappointed is too strong a word. I just think getting tangled up with Theodore Grant again seems a bit... unwise."
"My business with him is none of your concern, Mr. Lane."
Natalie Morgan’s tone was cold, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation on this topic.
Sean Lane shrugged, unbothered by her attitude. "Alright, then let’s talk about sothing else."
"Is there anything for you and to talk about, Mr. Lane?"
Natalie Morgan’s voice was flat, her rejection laced with a hint of impatience.
"Of course there is." Sean Lane smiled faintly, pulling over a chair. After settling in, he looked directly at Natalie Morgan. "The USB drive I gave you before—you’ve seen what’s on it, haven’t you?"
Natalie Morgan lowered her gaze slightly and was silent for a mont before looking up to et Sean Lane’s eyes.
She didn’t answer.
She just stared at him.
He seed to understand. "I imagine you’ve guessed by now. Your father faking his death back then... it was a similar situation to when you faked your own death. Ultimately, it was all because of Theodore Grant. If you want to be completely free of him, there’s only one way."
Natalie Morgan had no idea what Sean Lane was plotting now.
’A man like him, when he went off the deep end, was no less terrifying than Theodore Grant—perhaps even more so.’
’It was true she hated Theodore Grant.’
’But she had no desire to discuss any so-called "cooperation" with a man like Sean Lane.’
"What are you trying to say?"
"Natalie Morgan, let’s you and I join forces to pull Theodore Grant down from his pedestal. I get what I want, and you get to break free from your chains, live freely with your son, and never have to live in the shadow of fear again. Doesn’t that sound good?"
Sean Lane’s words were laced with temptation.
Natalie Morgan’s brow furrowed slightly.
’What was Sean Lane trying to pull now?’
’Pull Theodore Grant from his pedestal?’
’Did he even have the ability to do that?’
’It wasn’t that she wanted to defend Theodore Grant.’
’His character was questionable, to be sure.’
’But his capabilities, and the foundation he had built in Riverden over the years, were practically unshakable.’
’And Sean Lane thought he could do it?’
’It wasn’t that she underestimated him.’
’But when it ca to ability, the two of them were worlds apart.’
’It was a case of biting off more than he could chew, and that never ended well.’
"With Theodore Grant’s power in Riverden, if you want to pull him from his pedestal, you should know your own limits."
"That’s why we need to form a powerful alliance," Sean Lane said, seeming full of confidence.
He was so smug that it left Natalie Morgan a bit baffled. "How do you plan to take Theodore Grant down?"
"Grant Group’s biggest project right now is the Bluemount project. The entire company’s future is riding on it. If sothing goes wrong with that project, Theodore Grant certainly won’t be able to hold on to his position as President of Grant Group."
Natalie Morgan had heard of this project.
The planning phase alone had taken three years.
Design, construction, and then operations would take another five years.
’A project of this scale would have been made foolproof. How could there be a loophole for soone like Sean Lane to exploit?’
"And you think you have a chance?"
Sean Lane smiled confidently. "Let’s put it this way. The Bluemount project is at a critical stage right now. If soone were to swap out the upcoming design blueprints, the entire project would be scrapped. When that happens, Theodore Grant and his business empire will instantly collapse and disappear from Riverden..."
Natalie Morgan seed to understand.
’Presumably, those blueprints weren’t sothing just anyone could get their hands on.’
’She guessed it was because she could get close to Theodore Grant easily. He wanted to use her relationship with him to silently pull off an audacious switch.’
Natalie Morgan gave a faint, mocking smile. "This is an incredibly high-risk plan. What makes you think I’d help you pull it off without a second thought?"
Sean Lane looked at her, full of confidence.
"Three years ago, everyone in Riverden knew that the Young Madam of the Grant family had committed suicide. For nearly a year, Theodore Grant didn’t even go to Grant Group. He nearly handed the company over on a silver platter. You have to admit, your departure was a massive blow to him..."
"...Everyone knows Theodore Grant fell in love with you. You can use his feelings for you to easily get those blueprints. And even if he finds out, he won’t do anything to you."
"Hah."
’Sean Lane would do anything to achieve his goals, regardless of who got hurt.’
’How could he be so sure Theodore Grant wouldn’t do anything to her?’
"Mr. Lane, you know what kind of man Theodore Grant is better than I do, don’t you? Do you really think he’d let so so-called feelings between a man and a woman ruin a project that’s been in the works for nearly ten years? I think you’re overestimating my importance."
Sean Lane remained utterly confident.
As long as Natalie Morgan agreed, he was already halfway to success.
"Don’t you want your freedom? Natalie Morgan, don’t forget, your father and your brother are still under his control. With a single word from him, the peaceful life they have now could be destroyed in an instant, plunging them into a point of no return. Do you want to see that day co?"
’Of course.’
’She didn’t want to see that.’
’That was her bottom line.’
’But she wasn’t so naive girl who would believe him without question based on a single conversation.’
’How much kinder could he be than Theodore Grant?’
"Mr. Lane, there’s sothing I don’t quite understand."
"Oh?" He gestured for her to continue.
"Are you... close with Felix Finch?" She looked directly into his eyes, trying to find a trace of an answer. "Or is he also involved in this plan to bring Theodore Grant down?"
Sean Lane froze for a second.
Then he smiled.
"I have no comnt on the matter of Felix Finch." He dodged the question. "We have a common enemy. If you’re willing to help , I can give you a billion when it’s done."
"You’re putting such a blatant price on this. Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn around and tell Theodore Grant everything you’ve just said?"
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