Chapter 25 Any Way It Works

In the past few days, Eleanor noticed each of the collaborations she followed up on running into one issue after another.

It wasn't just that negotiations near completion abruptly fell through, they also pressed her on thorny issues, pushing her towards a disheartening retreat.

Then, over a phone call, a hint was dropped. "Have you crossed someone recently?"

Eleanor pondered for a moment, recalling the harassment over the phone she endured days prior. The police had resolved it, nabbing the culprit – a cyber hacker.

When asked if she wanted to press charges, she chose not to escalate the situation. She had suspicions that the hacker was just a scapegoat; she didn't know him, and she couldn't believe his claim that if he couldn't have her, he'd ruin her.

Aaron must be aware of it.

But she had no ground to confront him. She'd told Aaron she didn't want him involved in her affairs anymore, and now showing up to question him would be quite the backpedal, wouldn't it?

But today's issue, she suspected it was the Vaughn family's handiwork.

She tasked Nora with some snooping, and sure enough, found ties between the executives of those corporations and the Vaughn family.

Peter Vaughn had died suddenly, of natural causes, yet the Vaughn family seemed set on directing their anger at Eleanor.

Grayson had stationed a few bodyguards near her house, which kept the Vaughn family at bay.

Unable to touch her personally, they sought to trip her up professionally.

After several collaborations fell through, Ulysses called her for a talk. "What's going on?"

"Just some personal vendettas getting in the way."

Ulysses had always looked out for Eleanor, having been her mentor since her internship days. She felt no need to hide the truth from him.

"In that case, I'll reassign the work to others. You can't be a part of these deals anymore; too much hassle, too little gratitude," Ulysses said, patting her on the shoulder.

Though Eleanor was reluctant, she recognized that some feuds couldn't be wiped clean with a few words.

Unless Peter sprung back to life, the Vaughn family's resentment wouldn't fade.

Seeing her disheartened expression, Ulysses offered her a smile. "I'll be moving to logistics at the end of the year, stepping back from the front lines. When the time comes, I'll recommend you for my position."

Eleanor was caught off guard.
In his early thirties and focused on his career, Ulysses had held off on starting a family, his eyes set on the prize: a promotion to a Director's seat. But that dream took a hit when Vincent swooped in out of nowhere, shaking his pride to its core.

It never crossed her mind that she would actually be shifted out of her current role—no wonder Vincent had dropped a hint earlier.

As she thought about Vincent, Eleanor’s phone lit up with a Facebook message from Nora: "Eleanor, where are you? Director Thompson wants to see you."

When he entered Director Thompson's office, he found Vincent hunched over papers, signing away. At the sound of footsteps, Vincent looked up, setting his pen aside. "I've heard about the issue with the Vaughn family's slight against you. I'll bring it up with Aaron; you have nothing to fear."

Eleanor managed a gentle decline. "There's no need to trouble yourself."

"That's no trouble at all. The Deputy Director has reassigned the collaboration to someone else. It's all the same as long as the deal goes through. I'll focus on the other projects."

Vincent's expression softened with sympathy for a brief second. "This must feel like an injustice, victim-blamed for an assault that left you wounded."

Eleanor's complexion paled slightly as the traumatic images from that night flashed through her mind once more.

Vincent, reading her expression discerningly, her gaze laden with unspoken emotion, added, "I've heard about that Peter character even when I was overseas. Lucky for you, he didn't get the chance to do worse—or it would've been life-shattering."

Her face turned ashen. Such words coming from Vincent felt unexpectedly harsh, especially from one woman to another.

Needing to catch her breath, Eleanor segued, "Director Thompson, is there anything else?"

Vincent's demeanor shifted to a warm smile. "Nothing more. Join me for a dinner banquet tonight?"

"Sure," Eleanor responded immediately, eager for an escape.

The door closed behind her, leaving Vincent lazily twirling his pen, his lips curling into a derisive chuckle.

...

At the venue for the dinner, Vincent stepped out of the car and told Eleanor, "Tonight's banquet is with the Thompsongtian Group. I was originally planning to handle this partnership myself, but now it's yours. I'll accompany you and give you a boost."

Eleanor was taken aback.

It was that deal—the coveted, lucrative deal she had not pursued because such collaborations were typically reserved for the Director and Deputy Director.
She wasn't keen on taking this project. Apart from the challenge it posed, the head of the Thompson Group's Project Department was a notorious lecher who often used "collaboration" as an excuse to take advantage of female employees. It was no secret that getting handsy during business dinners was his usual modus operandi.

Rumor had it that a woman who refused to play by his 'unspoken rules' got blacklisted in the industry.

"You look a little off," Vincent asked with concern.

"Are you worried what the coworkers might say when they find out?"

Vincent looped her arm in her, flashing a grin. "In a few days, I'll officially become your second sister-in-law; family should stick together, right? If they don't know about us, let them talk."

The team from Thompson arrived a bit late.

The moment the waiter opened the private room door, Manager Firth's eyes fixed on Eleanor. The flash of astonishment and greed didn't escape Vincent's notice.

She rose with a smile to greet him. "Mr. Firth, you must be incredibly busy with important matters."

As Manager Firth and Vincent shook hands, his gaze lingered on Eleanor. "Thompson is so young and accomplished, and who might this be?"

"She's Eleanor from our Project Department, in charge of our current collaboration."

In such a setting, Eleanor had to endure the man's lecherous gaze and reached out her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Manager Huang."

His grip on Eleanor's hand was firmer than social etiquette called for. "Miss Patterson is quite beautiful."

Eleanor, ever composed, deflected with humor. "You can call me Eleanor. My professional skills are even more attractive than my appearance."

Manager Firth's laughter came in a couple of hearty guffaws, but his eyes continued to roam over her as if appraising a product.

Drinking was unavoidable at this type of dinner banquet.

Vincent whispered to Eleanor with a look of distress. "I'm not up for drinking tonight—Eleanor, do you mind drinking a few extra rounds with Mr. Firth for me?"

Eleanor could hold her liquor well and wasn't usually intimidated, but to her surprise, Manager Huang seemed to have a higher tolerance than she did, thwarting her plans for a quick victory.
Her phone rang at that moment, prompting Eleanor to excuse herself to take the call outside.

It was Edward.

Gripping her phone, she answered, "Hello?"

"Would you like to come and watch the tryouts tonight?" Edward asked with his usual gentle and polite demeanor.

Eleanor wasn't in the best of spirits today, with one thing after another weighing on her. Maybe losing herself in the intensity of the competition would help eclipse the gloom Peter had cast.

"Sure, but I'm a bit tied up right now, so I'll be late."

Without hesitation, Edward accommodated her, "No problem. Just send me your location, and I'll come to you."

After Eleanor stepped out to take the call, Manager Firth personally poured Vincent a glass of liquor.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Firth, but I really can't drink tonight."

"Come on, Director Thompson, not having a drink would be terribly insincere, wouldn't it?"

Vincent pushed the glass back with a leisurely response, "Isn't my sincerity clear enough? What more do you want, Mr. Firth?"

The two were sitting close, and with a lowered voice heavy with innuendo, Firth pressed, "It all depends on how much Director Thompson is willing to show."

"You’re mistaken," Vincent said, raising an eyebrow suggestively. "It’s not about how much I’m going to show. You should be looking at Eleanor."

"Oh?" Huang's eyes sparkled with eagerness at the mention of Eleanor, bitten by a mischievous impulse at the thought of her enchanting face. Having been burnt before, he was cautious not to make any hasty moves. "Could Director Thompson be more explicit?"

With a chuckle, Vincent threw him a glance full of implication, "Let’s just say, Eleanor... she's game for anything."