Chapter 269 A Strange Call from Abroad
"I get it," Louis said, though he was still reeling from the shock that Xena was behind it all.
Xena really deserved to rot in hell. Both of Luna's incidents were her doing. And yet, the Sackler family kept covering for her.
This time, she poisoned Luna and even implicated Francesca in it. Now, with Paige's fiery temper, she probably hated Francesca as well.
Louis was at a loss for words. He had wronged Paige before, and she had held a grudge ever since. Now, her anger extended to Francesca too.
The two most important women in his life were at odds, leaving Louis feeling down in the dumps.
Raymond noticed Louis's gloomy face and started tapping his fingers on the table. "If you're not up for it, I can handle the company's stuff..."
Before Raymond could finish, Louis quickly cut him off. "No need, I'm good."
Louis's quick response made it clear to Raymond that he wanted to keep his position.
Raymond shrugged. "Alright, then you pull the overtime. I'm out."
Having signed off on the staffing adjustments, Raymond decided to head home and cook up some dishes, waiting for Paige.
Louis didn't say anything, just watched as Raymond tidied up his office and left. As Raymond walked out, Louis stayed put.
Raymond knocked on the door, "You interested in this office?"
This was the chairman's office that Philip used. Philip hadn't been involved in the group's affairs for a while, leaving the office empty. Since Raymond's return, he had been using it.
Louis snapped out of his thoughts and turned to Raymond. "When Grandpa handed the company to me, I wanted to do a good job."
Raymond hadn't said much, but Louis seemed on edge. Raymond hadn't even mentioned taking over the company, yet Louis and Francesca were already wary of him. It seemed his exceptional skills were the reason.
Raymond said, "If you can do a good job, that's great."
With that, Raymond left.
Louis slowly walked back to his office, each step heavy with a sense of loss.
Francesca's concerns weren't unfounded.
Raymond was indeed highly capable. He had led Hawke Corporation to its peak long ago. But after a leg injury, he had to use a wheelchair and went abroad for treatment. His focus shifted to managing Hawke Corporation's overseas business, leaving Louis to handle things domestically.
Louis, after being kidnapped, spent years in the countryside, missing out on the early training required for an heir. These were things Raymond had been groomed for since he was young.
As a result, Raymond excelled in these areas, while Louis had to start learning after being found. His starting point was far behind Raymond's.
Moreover, Raymond had personal training from Philip and world-class tutors, advantages Louis didn't have.
The Carnegie family wasn't biased, but upon learning that he had spent years in the countryside without a proper foundation, most tutors declined to instruct him.
Louis had to work several times harder than Raymond to get where he was today.
As Raymond left Hawke Corporation, Charles trailed behind him. "Mr. Carnegie, did you see his face when you reassigned his subordinates? He looked so awkward."
Raymond had noticed. "He can't do anything about it."
Charles chuckled, "Mr. Carnegie, aren't you trying to drive him nuts? He seems scared you'll take his position."
Raymond got into the car with a blank expression. "I've given him plenty of time. If he can't seize the opportunity, he can't blame me. I hope he can turn this pressure into motivation and secure his position."
Charles said, "If he spent as much effort on improving his management skills as he does on being wary of you, he wouldn't have to worry about that."
Raymond frowned slightly and shot him a glance, indicating for him to be quiet.
When they got back to Willow Crest Estate, the air-shipped seafood had just arrived. Raymond personally inspected it before putting it in the kitchen. While the kitchen was busy, Raymond called Paige.
Raymond sweetly said on the call, "Honey, we got fresh air-shipped seafood today. I asked the kitchen to prepare it for you. Can you come home early tonight?"
Paige seemed amused by Raymond's tone. "Alright, I'll leave work on time today."
Leaving work early wasn't a big deal for her. As the CEO of the Universe Group, she never neglected her responsibilities even if she wasn't at the office.
While working, Pearl overheard Raymond talking about dinner and couldn't help but swallow.
After hanging up, Paige told Pearl, "We'll wrap up the work by the end of the day. Let's go home early tonight."
Pearl smiled, "I already heard."
Paige remained silent. Although she seemed to be in a good mood, Pearl could tell she hadn't fully recovered. She was merely trying to maintain her spirits and live well.
At the end of the workday, Paige put down her tasks, and her phone rang. Paige smiled as she picked up the phone. It was indeed Raymond, calling to remind her to leave work.
As Paige talked, Pearl had already packed her bag and followed her. On the way home, Paige called Amelia, inviting her to dinner.
When they arrived at Willow Crest Estate, Raymond was already waiting at the door.
Seeing Paige return home directly after work, he felt a sense of relief.
He needed to help Paige adjust her biological clock and ensure she ate well to stay healthy.
"You don't have to wait at the door. I told you I'd come home after work. By the way, I invited Amelia for dinner. She was at the Smith Corporation."
Raymond nodded. As long as Paige was happy, he had no objections.
Dinner was prepared by a chef specializing in seafood. The table was filled with a variety of exquisite dishes, including Paige's favorite bluefin tuna.
The giant king crab, prepared in different ways, was a hit, making everyone focus on eating.
Although these dishes were common on their table, the chef Raymond hired made the food even more delicious and visually appealing than usual with exceptional skills.
Raymond had put a lot of thought into this, so seeing Paige eat more than usual made him happy.
Paige usually wasn't a big eater. For her, meals were more about satisfying hunger and meeting her energy needs.
Even though she was a good cook, there was still a significant gap compared to a professional chef. But since being with Raymond, her meals had become more refined.
After a satisfying dinner, they were about to have some tea when Paige's phone suddenly rang. Seeing an unfamiliar international number, Paige immediately tensed up.
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