Chapter 504 William and Hayden (105)
The Queen's Avenue dining group had now changed its name to the Queen's Avenue Group. The group's business had also expanded into entertainment, e-commerce, the internet, and real estate, but currently, it had no dealings with the Smith Group. Jeffrey wanted to know why William had told the driver follow the Smith Group's car.
Although he couldn't figure it out, Jeffrey didn't dare to ask about it.
He didn't know what had happened in the past few months, but William, who had never been talkative, had become even more silent and introverted. Apart from work matters, he rarely heard him say more than a few words, even to Finley, who was with him every day.
William had also started working harder.
Although he worked hard, he never acted recklessly. He would personally investigate, analyze, and thoroughly research any investment project before proceeding to the next step.
Over the past two years, the Queen's Avenue Group had been growing and expanding at an unprecedented pace. The Queen's Avenue's assets had multiplied several times compared to two years ago.
In the back seat, William leaned back in his chair, squinting his deep eyes, and stared fixedly at the black business car in front of him. His gaze never left the car for a moment, but his deep eyes revealed no trace of emotion.
For the past month, he had refrained from contacting Hayden, but that didn't mean he had accepted their breakup. When they were in Southern, had she told him she loved him, that she wanted to be the woman he spent his life with, and that he should wait for her.
How could she draw a clear boundary between them now just because of her family's disapproval? How could she stop loving him just because of his social status? Someone else might be able to do it, but not Hayden!
He had to make Hayden tell him the truth this time. No matter what problems they faced, no matter how difficult the situation, he would face it together with her.
Inside the black business car, Hayden sat in the genuine leather seat, casually chatting with Maddox and Mr. Blair, the manager of their subsidiary company, about company business.
She happened to glance in the rearview mirror and noticed a black Mercedes following them. However, Hayden didn't pay much attention to it and thought it was just a coincidence that they were going the same way.
The three of them chatted and laughed for a while. When she looked in the rearview mirror again, the black Mercedes was still following them.
"It seems like that black Mercedes is following us," Maddox said with a faint smile as he noticed where Hayden was looking and glanced in the rearview mirror.
"We're heading to the CBD, so it's possible they’re just going the same way," Mr. Blair, the manager in the passenger seat, said with a smile as he looked at the rearview mirror.
"It’s probably just a coincidence," Hayden smiled lightly and quickly changed the subject, no longer intentionally looking in the rearview mirror.
However, an indescribable and confusing feeling started to surge and roll in her heart.
Could it be William? Could it be a coincidence?
At this moment, she suddenly became extremely conflicted.
She hoped it was William because then she could at least see him, but she would only do it once.
But she also hoped it wasn't William. She was afraid that both of them would lose control.
Lost in her inner turmoil, she didn’t realize that the car had entered River North's CBD from the airport.
The general manager turned to look at Hayden, smiling as he asked, "Should we go to the hotel or the company, Miss Hayden? The hotel is nearby, about a ten-minute drive from the company."
"Let’s go to the company," Hayden replied calmly, her gaze seemingly unconcerned as it swept over the rearview mirror. The black Mercedes continued to follow behind them. A moment later, without any change in her expression, she said, "Mr. Blair, you can call me Sylvia like Maddox does. We’ll be more friendly that way."
"Alright." Mr. Blair nodded with a smile. "Then let's do what Sylvia said and go to the company first."
The driver heard what they said and turned the steering wheel, driving the car toward the Smith Group's subsidiary.
The black Mercedes behind them changed direction as well, following closely behind.
Soon, the black commercial vehicle arrived at the entrance of the Smith Group's subsidiary and stopped. The driver parked the car and went to open the door for Hayden.
After Hayden and the two others got out of the car, the Mercedes behind them also pulled up and stopped about five or six meters away from them.
"Go and see who’s in the Mercedes," Mr. Blair said to the driver. It was hard not to be curious since they had followed them all the way here.
The driver nodded in agreement, but Hayden stopped him. She smiled and said, "No need for that. Let's go up."
The person in the Mercedes must be William. It had to be!
"Yes, there's really no need. Let's go!" Maddox nodded.
He felt that Hayden was off during the journey from the airport to the subsidiary, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.
"Alright, we won’t worry about it. Please, follow me." Mr. Blair nodded, gesturing to them.
Hayden nodded and took the lead, walking toward the building. Maddox glanced at the back seat of the black Mercedes and then followed suit.
In the back seat of the black Mercedes, William narrowed his deep black eyes. All his attention was focused on Hayden.
Today, she looked just like when she had interned at the Southern Global Trust Bank, wearing a professional outfit that was both elegant and not too restrictive. However, the woman who used to love wearing high heels was now wearing a pair of flats.
Hayden was tall and had a good figure and long legs. Even in flats, her tall stature and outstanding demeanor was noticeable.
However, habits and preferences aren’t so easily changed.
He remembered clearly that when they were at Southern, Hayden only had two types of shoes: sneakers or high heels. She had never worn the flat shoes she wore today.
So, she really was pregnant.
As he confirmed this, William's attention fell on Hayden's abdomen.
Her attire was a touch too generous in fit, cleverly concealing the still-flat curve of her belly, betraying no hint of her pregnancy.
By the calendar, she was just over two months along—a period easily kept under wraps with a bit of care.
"William, would you like to step out of the car?" Jeffrey, who had maintained a quiet vigil throughout the journey, finally broke his silence. He turned to William with an inquiring look.
William shook his head, a firm resolve in his voice. "No, I'll stay here."
Puzzled, Jeffrey cast a fleeting glance toward the building's entrance, where Hayden and the rest had vanished from view. He pressed on. "William, you have that 11 o'clock meeting with Spence from Rising Group. It's drawing close."
The Queen's Avenue Group's office building was just a twenty-minute drive away.
"Call the CEO's secretary and Luke and tell them I won't be able to make it back." William stared in the direction of the building's entrance, calmly giving instructions.
Jeffrey hesitated for a moment as he watched him, then nodded and then took out his phone to make the call.
Soon, William's phone vibrated. It was a call from his father, Patrick.
"Finn."
"Aren’t you back already? You were supposed to handle the meeting with the Rising Group." Patrick sounded a bit confused.
"Something came up suddenly. I won't be able to go back today. Luke is in charge of the project; he'll handle it. There shouldn't be any problems with Spence from the Rising Group," William said calmly, his eyes still fixed on the building.
"What’s so important that it couldn’t wait until another day?" Patrick asked as he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in his office.
William had always made him feel at ease, not just at ease; he was many times better than he could have imagined.
So, throughout all these years, Patrick had never blamed William for anything related to the company.
"It has to be today." William's tone brooked no questioning.
"Alright, finish your business and come home early." In the end, Patrick didn’t say anything else; he just lovingly urged him with those words.
"Okay." After he said that, William hung up the phone and instructed Jeffrey, "You should head back first. Assist with the negotiations with the Rising Group."
"Yes, William," Jeffrey replied immediately, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon. He opened the door and got out of the car, then took a taxi back to the Queen's Avenue Corporation.
