Chapter 141: Mind Ga
Ms. Thomas took her to the eighth floor, where the CEO’s office and the offices of other upper executives were located.
The Montrose Corporation building was only ten floors high. It was a relatively new structure, built by Arthur Montrose when he beca CEO, marking a new era for the corporation.
Everything about the building was sleek and modern, high-tech without feeling cold or uninviting. As she took it all in, Jessica Kwan found herself thinking that she could easily imagine working in a place like this.
She snapped out of her daydream.
Why would I even want to work here?
When they arrived on the eighth floor, Ms. Thomas asked her to wait in the reception area while she went to inform Mr. Arthur of her arrival.
Jessica noticed sothing interesting. The employees referred to their CEO as Mr. Arthur, not Mr. Montrose. Mr. Montrose, to them, clearly ant Maurice Montrose.
To avoid confusion, they used first nas for both Arthur and Julian. So employees even addressed Arthur as Master Arthur, a show of loyalty more than formality.
Jessica scoffed internally. Titles ant very little to her. She called her own editor by his first na, and he had never objected.
To her, respect was earned, not given or forced.
She would see whether this Mr. Arthur was worthy of hers.
In less than five minutes, Ms. Thomas returned and ushered her inside.
Beyond the eighth-floor reception area, the office space felt open and free. It wasn’t cramped or stifling. Most of the rooms were separated by transparent glass walls that could be blurred at any ti by remote control.
Jessica took it all in. Everyone she saw was either working diligently or eating lunch. So were doing both.
A strange feeling crept up on her.
She had felt it earlier, when she first saw the building. She had expected the Montrose Corporation headquarters to be a towering skyscraper, built purely to show off the company’s wealth.
But this building was different.
At only ten floors, it could never be considered a skyscraper. Not even close. So five-star hotels were taller than this.
Then there was the interior. The materials were clearly expensive, yet nothing scread excess. Instead, the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming.
She studied the employees’ faces. So looked stressed, sure, but not the kind of stress she was used to seeing in Ryan Blackwood’s office or at Chief Stille’s. That stress had always been sharp, fearful.
Here, no one walked with fear in their eyes.
They looked content. Even happy.
How was that possible, when the CEO was supposedly one of the most ruthless and coldest n in all of Altheon?
"Sir, this is Ms. Jessica Kwan."
Ms. Thomas’s voice snapped Jessica out of her thoughts.
She stepped forward and entered a glass-walled room.
Jessica had seen Arthur Montrose before, during press conferences. She had never spoken to him directly. That task had always been handled by her senior.
Arthur rose from his seat, wiping his mouth. On the table before him sat his half-eaten lunch.
"Please, co in. Have a seat," Arthur said warmly. "I’m sorry, I’m in the middle of lunch. Have you had yours yet? Would you like sothing? You can order anything."
Jessica found herself unable to answer right away. She was too busy staring at him.
At an incredibly good-looking face.
"Ms. Kwan?" Arthur prompted gently.
For what felt like the nth ti that day, Jessica snapped out of her daze.
She swallowed and forced herself to focus.
"Erm," she cleared her throat. "I’m fine. I’ve already had lunch. Please, finish yours. I can wait until you’re done, Mr. Arthur."
She froze.
I just called him Mr. Arthur!
What the hell? Now I can’t take it back!
Arthur let out a soft laugh. "No need to call
Mr. Arthur. You’re not my employee. Just Arthur is fine."
He gestured to the chair again. "Please, Ms. Kwan. Have a seat."
He waited until she sat down before taking his own seat.
Ms. Thomas quietly retreated and closed the door behind her.
"Do you mind if I continue with my lunch?" Arthur asked.
Jessica shook her head. "No, of course not. Please continue... Arthur."
She exhaled slowly.
Thank God. I found my rhythm again.
Arthur resud eating his lunch.
It gave Jessica the chance to observe him properly.
He looked relaxed. Not agitated. And his eyes... they held no hostility toward her.
Doesn’t he hate
for writing the article?
Arthur finally finished his lunch. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and turned his attention fully to Jessica.
"I’m really sorry about that," he said. "I knew the ti of our appointnt, but I was still eating. No excuse. Poor ti managent on my part." Arthur apologized sincerely.
"No, don’t worry about it, Arthur," Jessica replied quickly. "I’m the one who ca in early. You’re actually right on ti." She paused, then added honestly, "You still have a few minutes before the actual appointnt ti."
She had to give him credit for that.
Arthur nodded, looking satisfied.
"Now that we’ve cleared that up," he leaned back in his chair, "you’re welco to ask your questions, Ms. Kwan."
Jessica froze.
She blinked several tis.
"My... my questions?" she stamred. "It... it was you who called
and made the appointnt. I thought... I thought you wanted to ask
sothing."
She genuinely didn’t understand.
"Yes, I did call you and asked for a eting," Arthur said calmly. "Because I thought you wanted to know the truth about Mt. Helene. And who would be better to ask than one of the people directly involved in the incident? Am I right?"
Ah. There it is.
I was right. He does want to control the narrative.
"So, you’ve read my article?" Jessica began.
Arthur nodded. "Yes, I have."
"And you don’t agree with it?" Jessica pressed.
"Not entirely, no," Arthur replied.
"Why?" Jessica leaned forward slightly. "Is it because the article paints you as the villain?"
She asked it boldly, directly.
This was her ground now.
She felt confident she could catch Arthur off guard.
Arthur smiled. "Before I answer and we go any further, shouldn’t you be recording this conversation or sothing?"
"What?" Jessica was dumbfounded again.
Oh my God.
I can’t believe I started without recording.
Jessica quickly took out her recording device and pressed the record button.
"Shall I answer your last question," Arthur tilted his head slightly, "or would you like to start from the beginning?"
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