Chapter 202 Discussing Countermeasures
Ethan glanced at Lauren. She wanted to say no but worried he'd read too much into it. So, she just gave a faint smile, though she was annoyed Kimberly didn't get her.
Ethan was pretty pumped. Lauren had offered to help him out and was getting closer. Maybe now he could finally get her to keep that three-year promise.
The Robinson Conglomerate's new branch opened today. It was a housing design firm, attracting top talent and becoming the leading company in City A.
Quentin wrapped up the opening ceremony with a stern face, ignoring the rich folks and pretty women trying to chat him up. He headed straight to his office.
He'd just gotten a call that Lauren and Mattana were back.
But as soon as they returned, Ethan took them to his villa. Looked like they were planning to stay there for a while.
Quentin smirked. Let Ethan enjoy his moment. If he could get Lauren back, he could also break her and Ethan up.
Lauren and her group arrived at Ethan's villa. After dropping their bags, Lauren walked over to Ethan.
"Ethan, let's head to the company now," Lauren said.
Ethan smiled. "Rest first and shake off the jet lag. The company's thing can wait."
"It's fine. I'm not tired. The company's important. You've put so much into it. I want to help you sort things out quickly," Lauren said seriously.
Ethan was touched. "Alright, then. Let's go."
Lauren nodded, and they hurried to the struggling company.
The place was dead. Employees were playing on their phones, not working at all.
Lauren frowned. "Ethan, didn't you say the company wasn't short on projects? Why's everyone so idle?"
Ethan sighed. "All the designers left except Richard. Even if he works non-stop, one project takes a month. With just one project a month, the employees have nothing to do."
Lauren thought, 'This is a tough spot. Firing them would make things worse. No wonder Ethan's so stressed.'
They walked to Richard's office and knocked. After hearing a response, they went in.
Richard was too busy to look up. "Make it quick."
Ethan smiled wryly. "Richard, can you take a break? Look who I brought."
Richard realized it was Ethan. He looked up, surprised, and saw Lauren standing next to him, even more shocked.
"Richard, how've you been?" Lauren smiled lightly.
Richard put down his pen and stood up. "Lauren, you're back!"
"Yeah, it's been three years. Feels like nothing's changed. It's like stepping back in time," Lauren said, a bit emotional.
Richard had always been her confidant. His encouragement and recognition had been crucial. Without him, she might not have pursued design with Joseph. She owed a lot to Richard, which was why she came back without hesitation.
Richard was genuinely happy to see her. "What do you mean I haven't changed? Time's made me old. I'm just an old man now!" he joked.
Lauren shook her head gently. To her, Richard was still as elegant and refined as ever, like a mentor.
Seeing them chat so happily, Ethan didn't want to interrupt. He stood aside, smiling, and listened.
After a brief chat, Lauren remembered why she was there. "Richard, you've worked so hard. Ethan's company has been through a lot, and you stayed to support him. Your perseverance is truly admirable."
Richard blushed and tried to cover his awkwardness with a smile. "I'm not that great. Mr. White took me in when I had nowhere else to go. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had a proper job."
Lauren nodded. She knew about Richard's situation. They both had been misunderstood and ostracized by the people of City A.
Ethan had told her that Richard was wrongly accused of plagiarism, which ruined his credibility in the housing design industry. With limited options, Ethan chose to trust him and offered him a job. Richard proved himself by working hard and achieving notable success.
"Let's talk about the company's issues. Richard, do you have any ideas on how to fix them?" Lauren asked.
Ethan frowned. Even with Lauren's help, the designer shortage seemed unsolvable.
"Lauren, Richard and I have talked about this. He can't find suitable people for our design studio. Do you have any connections?" Ethan asked.
Lauren shook her head. She'd been in Pariz for the past three years and hadn't had the chance to network. The only people she knew were Joseph and her classmates, but they were far away in Pariz and might not agree to come over.
"I'm sorry, Ethan. I don't think I can help either," Lauren said apologetically. "Is it really impossible to hire anyone, even newcomers?"
Richard shook his head. "Newcomers wouldn't be much help. They don't even understand the basics. Hiring them would do more harm than good."
Lauren nodded. She had thought too simply. This was indeed a tough situation.
