CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4
Christopher almost agreed directly. He had no hesitation or reluctance.
I hooked my arm around his neck, smiling eagerly at him. “You’re willing to give me ten percent?” His eyes were clear. “Giving it to you, not to a stranger.”
At that moment, I had to admit that money was indeed a good way to show loyalty.
I suppressed my emotions from the afternoon, finally finding some relief. As if I wanted to prove something, I asked with a smile, “What if it were Evelyn? Would you give it to her?”
Christopher fell silent for a moment before giving a definite answer. “No.”
“Really?”
“Yes, the only thing I can offer her is that position.” Christopher pulled me into his embrace. His warm and certain voice sounded in my ear.
“I’ll have Donald send the share transfer agreement this afternoon. From now on, you’ll be one of the owners of the Valence Group. Everyone else will be working for you.”
I felt much better. I asked him with a smile, “And what about you?”
He raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Are you working for me?”
“Of course.” Christopher chuckled, ruffling my hair.
He leaned to my ear, his words teasing, “I’m at your service, whether in bed or out.”
I felt shy and glared at him. That was just how Christopher was.
He appeared serious, aloof, and noble, but he would occasionally say something that easily made one blush.
Seeing my mood improve, he checked his watch. “I have to go upstairs for a meeting. It’s a family gathering today. We have to go back to the Valence Manor together tonight and have dinner with Grandpa. I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”
“I know.” I naturally wouldn’t refuse.
After some thought, I made a decision.
“Honey, I have a surprise for you tonight.”
A few days ago, because of the necklace incident, I was unsure whether I should tell him about the pregnancy. Since he could distinguish who was more important to him, between Evelyn and me, I shouldn’t hide it anymore.
“What surprise?” he asked, his curiosity piqued. He was about to ask right then and there.
“I’ll tell you after work. Wait for me!” I tiptoed and planted a kiss on Christopher’s lips before ignoring him.
After he left, I settled down and focused on designing. It wasn’t long before there was another knock on the office door. Without looking up, I said, “Come in.”
“Hope, I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Evelyn’s gentle and pleasant voice came through.
“Yes, you are,” I said honestly. I wouldn’t say I liked being interrupted while I was working on a design.
Evelyn looked a bit embarrassed but persevered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just found out that the position of the head of the design department was originally yours. I unintentionally took the position that should have belonged to you, so I wanted to apologize to you.”
“It’s okay.”
Christopher had already compensated me. It was a hundred percent stake. No matter how long I worked as the head of the design department, I couldn’t earn as much as that money.
Perhaps I appeared too indifferent and relaxed. Evelyn was surprised.
“Are you sure it’s okay? If you’re not happy, tell me. I can switch to another department. Don’t let this issue make you feel unhappy.”
She naturally walked over and sat down on the sofa.
“Hope, if you have any dissatisfaction, just tell me. Don’t keep it in yourself.” Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Evelyn, like a caring older sister, tucked her long hair behind her ear and said softly, “Anyway, Chris said I could choose any position in the company. I haven’t worked for so many years. It’s the same to me whichever department I go to.”
I don’t know if I’m too sensitive or for some other reason. Evelyn’s words made me very unhappy. It seemed as if she was the one closest to Christopher, and the lady of the Valence Group.
“Ms. Royston.” Donald saw the door open, gave it a symbolic knock, then walked in and handed me an agreement. “Two copies. Please take a look. Mr. Valence has already signed it. You need to sign one and keep it.”
Christopher really did as he said.
“Okay.” I opened the agreement, quickly went through it, and signed my name neatly. Then I handed a copy back to Donald, politely saying, “Thank you.”
“Is this the share transfer agreement?” Evelyn seemed to catch a glimpse of the cover of the agreement.
From my perspective, I could not notice that her demure grace was shattered with nails digging into her flesh.
Donald looked over, surprised. “Ms. Evelyn, were you here as well? You guys keep talking and I will go up to work with Mr. Valence.”
Donald did not answer Evelyn’s question at all.
He just sneaked away.
Evelyn looked astonished and puzzled. “Chris gave you shares?”
“Whatever it is, it doesn’t need to be reported to you, does it?”
After the necklace issue I faced with her, I didn’t know how to go along with her. In short, it’s hard to be as peaceful as before.
“Hope, I have a feeling that you are hostile towards me.”
Evelyn stood up reluctantly. “I don’t know if it was the necklace or the job that made you feel bad about me, but please believe me, I didn’t want to take these things from you.”
“I’m not really interested in those things.” She stressed.
Looking at her with her face open and upright, I was confused.
In the evening, I put the pregnancy test report that I had dug out from the cake the previous two days into my bag.
When I got downstairs, I was going to tell Christopher that he would be a father.
‘Chris and I, we’re gonna have a baby.’
Through his reaction, through the little life in my belly, a flood of happiness came to me.
And I can’t help but share this surprise with him.
The elevator downed to the underground parking lot, and I navigated my way to the black Maybach.
Christopher leaned against the car, waiting patiently for me.
I threw myself into his arms, breathing in the nice, cold wood smell that he had only, “Honey! Didn’t wait long?”
“Yes, not too long.”
Instead of hugging me as usual, he pushed me away uncomfortably. “You get in the car first.”
“Wait, I’ll tell you what the surprise was.” I held him back.
“What is it?”
He did not look forward to this matter as he did in the office in the afternoon, and he looked absent- minded.
I frowned, but I didn’t think much of it. I looked into Chris’s blue eyes and said seriously, “Christopher, you will be…”
“Chris, why don’t you get in the car?”
The copilot’s window opened suddenly, and a urging voice interrupted me.
I looked right at Evelyn in the car from my angle.
I looked at Christopher, stunned, wanting an explanation.
Evelyn spoke softly, “Hope, my car was sent for maintenance. Since we’re both going back to the Valence Manor, I took the liberty of hitching a ride with Chris. I’m sure you don’t mind.”