Chapter 438 Ambitions Certainly Extend Beyond the Smith Group
Randy's eyes softened as he gazed at Sophie. "Sophie, thanks a lot."
His look was so intense and genuine that Sophie felt a bit flustered. She glanced away and said, "It's getting late, you should head back."
Randy nodded. "Alright, get some rest. Good night."
Sophie replied, "Good night."
After watching Randy's car drive off, Sophie turned and went back into the Lee Villa.
Meanwhile, Randy's drive home was interrupted by the ring of his phone. It was his secretary, Theron Caudill. "Mr. Smith, I want to tell you something."
Randy asked, "What's up?"
Theron said, "Last night, I saw our marketing manager having dinner alone with Mr. Thomas. They seemed pretty chummy."
Theron had been at a reunion with his college buddies at a swanky, private restaurant. He hadn't expected to see the marketing manager there.
The manager didn't notice him, and Theron had been debating all day whether to tell Randy. In the end, he decided to spill the beans. If the marketing manager was secretly meeting with Daniel, it could spell trouble.
Randy's grip on the steering wheel tightened, and his voice turned icy, "Got it. Keep this to yourself."
Theron, sensing the gravity in Randy's tone, knew he made the right call. "Don't worry, Mr. Smith, I won't say a word."
Theron had been Randy's secretary for years, and Randy trusted him. "Alright, that's all."
After hanging up, Randy's face darkened.
The marketing manager, Rolf McCall, was related to Lanny McCall, a Smith Group shareholder. Though he got in through connections, Rolf had proven his worth and made significant contributions over the years.
After a moment's thought, Randy called Seb, "Uncle Seb, got a minute? We need to talk."
Seb was reading with Sharon and Demetrius. He stepped out of the study. "What's up?"
Randy said, "Last night, my secretary saw Rolf having dinner alone with Daniel."
There was a long pause before Seb spoke, "Got it. Keep an eye on Rolf, and make sure neither he nor Lanny gets access to any important documents or contracts. I'll look into Daniel."
Randy replied, "Okay."
Seb added, "Don't make any moves until I finish my investigation. We don't want to tip them off."
Randy said, "Understood."
After hanging up, Seb's expression turned cold.
He had suspected that Daniel's return had a hidden agenda, likely targeting not just the Smith Group but also the Silvercrest Group behind it.
After a moment's thought, Seb called Paul. "Look into the Thomas Group's recent projects. I need the info by tomorrow morning."
Seb glanced out the window. The garden was covered in a thin layer of snow.
Tomorrow would be sunny but freezing. The coldest days always came when the snow melted.
The next morning, as soon as Seb got to the office, Paul brought him the info. "Mr. Smith, these are the Thomas Group's recent projects. They don't clash with us, and it looks like they're deliberately steering clear of us."
Seb picked up the documents and flipped through them. After a while, he sneered and casually tossed the papers on the table. "Take a closer look at the companies they're partnering with."
Paul picked up the documents and examined them carefully, finally noticing something unusual. "A lot of these partner companies are subsidiaries of the main partners of the Silvercrest Group!"
In this way, Daniel's target was clearly the Silvercrest Group!
If Seb hadn't asked him to investigate last night, who would have noticed the Thomas Group's collaboration with these companies?
Paul asked, "Mr. Smith... is the Thomas Group trying to go against the Silvercrest Group?"
Seb's expression was cold. "He doesn't have the guts yet. He's probably planning to target the Smith Group first."
Paul said, "What should we do now?"
Seb replied, "First, sabotage these projects, and then investigate the Thomas Group."
Paul immediately understood and nodded. "Okay, I'll get on it right away."
In the following days, Sharon noticed that Seb was much busier. Every day at noon when she went to find him, he was either in a meeting or had just finished one, and he worked late into the night.
Every time Sharon waited until she fell asleep before he came back. The next morning, she would always find herself in bed, but Seb had already gotten up and gone to work.
Sharon tried to subtly ask if there were any problems at the company, but he just shook his head, "No, don't worry, it will be over soon."
This situation continued until the end of the month when something unexpected happened.
On a Friday afternoon, Sharon was discussing the progress of the next experiment with Kirk when two police officers arrived. "Mr. Marshall, you are suspected of embezzling company funds. Please come with us."
Kirk's face turned pale instantly, and he looked utterly incredulous, "No... I didn't. You must have the wrong person."
The police were businesslike, "Whether we have the wrong person or not, you'll find out when you come with us."
Kirk was taken away by the police, and Sharon immediately sought out Paul for information, but he didn't respond. She had to suppress her doubts and continue the afternoon's experiment.
However, Ariana seemed distracted all afternoon. Sharon noticed her unease but pretended not to see it, assigning Ariana some simpler tasks.
Finally, it was time to leave, and Ariana grabbed her bag to leave. Just as she reached the door, Sharon called out to her. "Ariana, are you sure you want to go to the police station?"
All afternoon, Sharon had realized that Ariana wasn't as indifferent to Kirk as she claimed. But she could understand, after all, Kirk had saved Ariana twice. No woman would be completely unaffected.
Ariana's figure stiffened, and after a long while, she lowered her head. "Sharon, I'm just going to check on him... after all, he saved me."
Sharon sighed as she watched her leave, "Go ahead."
Then Ariana didn't look back and quickly left.
Sharon packed up the lab equipment and grabbed her bag to leave.
Recently, Seb had been working late, and Aubrey always took her home first. Back at the villa, while having dinner with Demetrius, he looked at Sharon and asked, "Mom, what has Dad been doing lately? I haven't seen him in a long time."
Seeing the disappointment in Demetrius's eyes, Sharon gave him a chicken leg and said softly, "Your dad has been busy with work lately. It will be over soon."
"Okay." Demetrius nodded obediently and didn't ask further. Because he knew Seb worked hard to provide a good life for him and Sharon, but he wished Seb could spend more time with them. When he grew up, he would earn a lot of money for them.
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