Chapter 294 An Angel in the House
At Watson Group, for the umpteenth time, Nicholas inquired with the receptionist.
"The Miss An you're asking about hasn't visited in the last few days," reported the receptionist.
Nicholas's grip on the phone tightened, and the veins on his hand, pale as alabaster, subtly bulged. He hung up abruptly.
The receptionist shivered. It was rare to receive even a single call from the boss in an entire year, but lately, Nicholas was calling thrice daily with punctuality that rivaled meal times.
A complex emotion flickered through Nicholas's icy gaze as he ended the call.
His actions had completely derailed Caroline's tour, and unable to make it abroad, she had also recently lost her job at the preschool.
Due to his influence, Caroline wouldn't be able to find a better job domestically either. She was practically struggling to get by and yet, how could she still refuse to come to him?
Could it be that his measures were not forceful enough?
Assistant Sharpe Richard knocked and entered the room.
Marlow Kurtz was Nicholas's personal lifestyle assistant, primarily responsible for Nicholas's security and attending to the inconveniences in his daily life, while Sharpe Richard primarily managed tasks related to Nicholas's company.
Sharpe Richard and Marlow Kurtz were Nicholas's trusted lieutenants, his right and left hands.
"Cancel tonight's video conference," Nicholas said, looking over his schedule for the past few days.
Sharpe Richard was slightly taken aback. The boss was a workaholic who always prioritized work, no matter what.
Nicholas was not one to explain himself to his subordinates. He crossed off several appointments in the schedule and then handed the iPad back to Sharpe Richard.
After Sharpe Richard stepped out, he bumped into Marlow Kurtz and muttered to him.
"The video conference tonight was pretty important, but the boss says cancel it—what's he up to?"
"Going home for dinner," Marlow Kurtz said with an air of it's-no-big-deal.
Sharpe Richard’s eyes widened, wondering, ‘Was going home for dinner more important than a meeting? Was there an angel waiting for him at home?’
"Don't you think the boss has been acting strange lately?" Sharpe Richard frowned.
"What's strange about it?" Marlow Kurtz asked, puzzled.
"I can't put my finger on it, but it's odd," Sharpe Richard claimed.
Marlow Kurtz replied, "The boss wants to go home and have dinner with his daughter."
As soon as work was over, Nicholas left the company.
At the Watson family's mansion, Aragorn Watson was brewing tea while watching the financial news. He saw a follow-up report on the Lancaster Group's laboratory fire. The Lancaster Group had to cancel the release of their new chip due to the fire, significantly impacting the business.
Their stock had been falling for two weeks straight, causing much distress among shareholders, with some even throwing rotten eggs at the Lancaster Group's facilities.
Recently, Phoenix Innovations Co. released a new type of smart navigation system that could replace guide dogs, helping visually impaired people with daily tasks.
Once the system was installed on smartphones, people with vision impairments could navigate the streets just like anyone else. As they approached a crosswalk, their phone would alert them of red lights, instructing them to stop, and it could swiftly detect and warn about obstacles in their path.
After the system was launched, the stock of Phoenix Innovations Co. skyrocketed for five consecutive days. Even local government agencies took notice of this previously obscure tech firm.
Phoenix Innovations Co. filed for an exclusive patent and received substantial support from the authorities in City B.
Hundreds of visually impaired individuals had already begun using the system for free. Following a trial period to ensure there were no issues, plans were underway to release the system nationwide.
Phoenix Innovations Co. quickly became a company of great interest to everyone.
The media clamored for interviews with the owner of Phoenix Innovations Co., but the owner remained elusive and stayed behind the scenes, letting the managers handle the attention.
Everyone speculated about the owner's identity. Some said it was a bright young entrepreneur from City B's top university, while others guessed it was a wealthy expatriate who had returned to aid national development. Rumors were rife.
Usually, Nicholas returned home late, but today, to everyone's surprise, he came back early.
Gummidge Peggoty and Daisy were delighted.
In the morning, as Nicholas left for work, Josie had asked him to come home early for dinner, but none took it seriously— however, Nicholas truly did come home early for Josie.
Inside, Daisy felt a pang of jealousy.
She had been eager to foster a closer relationship with Nicholas, wishing she could be with him every day, but Nicholas barely spared her a second glance.
When Nicholas was abroad recuperating from an illness, she stayed home with Josie. Everyone assumed she was Nicholas's fiancé, and she had even accepted this status in the eyes of others.
But as soon as Nicholas returned, he made it clear she shouldn't harbor any illusions.
Out of desperation, she reminded him that Josie couldn't be without a mother.
Born into wealth and privilege, Daisy suffered indignities for Nicholas's sake, living with the Watson family without formal recognition, all the while focusing her efforts on Josie. Still, her dedication failed to thaw Nicholas's heart.
Yet, a few simple words from Josie had managed to soften him.
How could Daisy not feel resentful?
"Daddy!" Josie beamed as she ran to greet her father.
She hadn't expected him to come home early just to join her for dinner.
It turned out Emma was right after all. She knew she had to follow Emma's advice and report to her father.
Emma had said if her father backed her up, her mother would start treating her better. She longed for her mother's kindness.
Furthermore, her father might even ask Roberts to continue giving her violin lessons.
At dinner, Josie was quiet. Aragorn Watson took a sip of soup and asked Nicholas, "What do you think about the situation between Phoenix Innovations Co. and Lancaster Group?"
Nicholas replied, "It's a tech showdown."
Anyone smart could see that with Lancaster Group's lab fire and Phoenix Innovations Co. releasing a new system at this crucial time, it was a challenge to displace Lancaster Group's standing in the tech world.
Many were still siding with Lancaster Group, given its deep roots and substantial funding. In contrast, Phoenix Innovations Co., a newer company, seemed a bit hasty in rolling out its new system. Furthermore, the owner of Phoenix Innovations Co. had not made any public appearances, which added to the skepticism surrounding the company.
Aragorn Watson, though retired from the business scene, kept an eye on industry developments.
His greatest pride in life was having raised an exceptional son. But that son was nearly ruined by that vile woman, Caroline!
The ordeal was a thorn in Aragorn Watson's side—if it weren't for Caroline, his son would not be disabled and would surely be even more outstanding.
The thought always angered Aragorn Watson.
"I heard Caroline has married and had children, Nicholas. We, the Watson family, must not interfere with other people's marriages," Aragorn Watson sternly reminded.
Nicholas merely pursed his lips, his gaze softening as he looked toward Josie, seemingly ignoring his father's words.
"Are you sleeping with Dad tonight?" he asked Josie gently.
Her eyes glistened, and Josie nodded, "Mhm."
Daisy's eyes widened with shock, "Nicholas, you shouldn't. Josie can be restless at night; it might affect your rest."
Nicholas shot a cold glance her way.
That look sent a shiver through Daisy.
She didn't want the father and daughter to grow close. Nicholas should only be close to the child she would give birth to.
But now, something was going awry.
When did it all start?
Yes, it seemed that Caroline's appearance had stirred something in Nicholas, a past affection he held for her.
Daisy clenched her hand beneath the table. She absolutely wouldn't allow Nicholas to become too fond of Josie!
After dinner, Daisy sought out the maid and, after a round of questioning, learned that it was Josie who had asked to sleep with her father, a request to which Nicholas had agreed.
Was Josie trying to defy the heavens? How dare she approach Nicholas without consulting her!
Daisy wished she could grab Josie right then and there and give her a stern scolding.
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