Chapter 31 The Unforgettable Man
"Really?" Evelyn raised her right hand and touched her cheek, feeling hot like a small heater. In an instant, she shyly turned her face away.
"I may have had a little too much to drink, feeling a bit dizzy," she said.
"Aren't you heading to the wine cellar? Your face turned red even before drinking the wine," William persistently asked, trying to find out what was bothering her.
He was smart and competent in his work, but when it came to personal matters, he was clueless and didn't realize Evelyn had missed a man.
"Why are you so talkative?" Evelyn rolled her eyes coquettishly and walked away.
William wore an expression of grievance. He had no idea what he did to upset Evelyn, so he could only follow behind her with concern.
The two arrived at the wine cellar, where nearly a thousand bottles of wine were stored. Landon had prepared them for Evelyn because he knew she enjoyed a glass or two in her spare time.
Each of these wines was valuable, and many were auction items. Some were even unavailable to Charlie, yet Evelyn had dozens of bottles. If she sold these wines, she could buy two independent villas in Mugden.
Evelyn leisurely browsed the wine racks and spotted a bottle of La Romanee-Conti. She tiptoed and tried to reach for it, but it was just out of her reach.
At that moment, William walked up behind her. He was tall, so he effortlessly retrieved the bottle for her.
Standing so close, William could clearly smell the sweet, milky scent of Evelyn's hair. His heart raced, and his face blushed faintly in the haze.
"Here you go, Ms. Taylor."
"Tsk tsk, having a 6.1-foot tall secretary is great. I can get the wine without needing a ladder."
But the height of the man Evelyn liked was still 6.2 feet, like Edward. The difference of 0.1 feet made all the difference in perception.
She thought, 'Damn it! I shouldn't think about that man. The thought of him is more addictive than drinking.'
"Ms. Taylor, let me help you open it. It's not very convenient for you with just one hand..."
Evelyn didn't say anything. She directly smashed her casted arm against the table corner and broke it, revealing her forearm.
"It's too troublesome. I've been wanting to remove it for a long time."
William froze.
"In the battlefield, fractures and dislocations were nothing. I've witnessed people lose their legs from bombs. A soldier who was joking with me in the morning came back in the afternoon with over a dozen bullet holes, half of his face gone."
Evelyn narrated the cruelty of war with a calm expression as if she had experienced life and death.
William was astonished, unable to fathom how Evelyn, who had been well taken care of, had managed to survive all these years.
The wine had awakened the restlessness within the Taylor Secret Bureau.
Ulysses: [London was busy with company matters, and I can understand that. But you, Simon, as a person working in the Department of Justice, how can you be so indifferent?]
Ulysses: [Edward had someone secretly decrypt our plans, did you know?]
Ulysses: [Thankfully, I reacted in time and encrypted the files with S-level security. If he wants to challenge me, he can try in his next life.]
Evelyn was shocked, her expression changing abruptly.
Simon: [Oh no! What is he suspecting?]
Simon: [Wait, you need to be more polite in your attitude towards me!]
Ulysses: [Hmph, I won't. You were only born a few minutes before me.]
Ulysses: [If it were me that was born first, would you be polite to me?]
Simon: [Even if I were born one second before you, I am still your brother!]
Ulysses: [I don't want to talk to you!]
Simon: [Hmph! You want to get beaten up again, don't you?]
Ulysses: [Are you looking for a fight? Even if you had two hands, Simon, you wouldn't be able to beat me.]
Evelyn: [Alright! Are you two done being childish?]
When Evelyn spoke up, both Ulysses and Simon immediately became quiet.
Evelyn: [Edward is investigating us, and he seems to be suspicious of Simon's identity. He would have realized that you are not Landon after you defended me twice.]
Evelyn's eyes darkened as she swirled the blood-red wine in her cup.
Evelyn: [Since that's the case, there's no need for you to continue hiding. He wants answers, and I will give him an answer!]
Soon, the weekend arrived.
Under public pressure, the Adams Group finally decided to hold a press conference at a certain five-star hotel. Many reporters were present at the scene.
The Adams Group was only a local second-rate conglomerate and didn't have much influence. However, due to Nicole's previous announcement about her engagement to Edward, the Adams family suddenly entered the public eye and gained unprecedented attention.
At this moment, a discreet Maybach was parked by the roadside on the opposite side of the hotel entrance.
Edward coldly watched the live feed of the press conference on his iPad.
"Mr. Wellington, Mr. Patrick has been warning you these past few days not to disregard the Adams Group.
Bart said worriedly, "You've been opposing Mr. Patrick all along. Will it affect your father-son relationship? I'm afraid Mrs. Wellington will take this opportunity to badmouth you to Mr. Patrick."
"Whatever she says doesn't matter. I won't intervene to help the Adams Group."
Edward's expression remained composed, almost indifferent. "Regarding the father-son dynamic, it's non-existent, so there's no cause for concern," he stated coolly.
Bart sighed quietly to himself.
Despite Edward's glamorous facade, the reality was far from it. He had always been akin to a solitary island within the Wellington family, his inner turmoil hidden from those around him.
The press conference commenced shortly after.
Amidst the scrutinizing gazes of the audience, Dick, adorned in a sharp suit, ascended the stage, exuding an air of importance. His chin held high, a look of feigned significance etched on his face, as though he had endured great suffering.
"As we are all aware, Eilie Furniture, a subsidiary of the Adams Group, boasts thirty-two stores in Mugden and over four hundred outlets nationwide, maintaining a stellar reputation within the industry.
"The recent negative publicity is a product of baseless conjecture aimed at besmirching the corporate image of the Adams Group!"
Bart glanced at the screen, muttering under his breath. "Mr. Adams has no sense of shame. Despite the glaring quality issues plaguing his products, he continues to parade self-righteously!"
Edward remained silent, his brow furrowing even deeper. "However, the initial reports of serious quality issues with Eilie Furniture surfaced from the hotels affiliated with the KnightSpear Group. The KnightSpear Group has a well-established reputation in the country, having refrained from spreading rumors or tarnishing other brands' images to gain a competitive edge for decades.”
"So, it's safe to say that the problems with Eilie Furniture might not simply be a result of unwarranted accusations, correct?" a reporter posed a challenging question.
Dick's demeanor shifted instantly to anger. "Eilie Furniture has been a reputable establishment for over a decade, and this is the first instance of such a controversy. I, too, share the distress and disappointment."
"Does Mr. Adams then acknowledge the presence of quality issues? Is it a factual admission of selling substandard products?"
"And if my memory serves me right, there was a significant complaint incident at the onset of last year as well. I'm sure everyone here recalls it."
The reporter's final statement reignited a collective memory among the audience.
Dick, visibly agitated, clenched his fists in frustration.
Meanwhile, in the dimly lit underground parking lot, Evelyn sat in her sleek sports car, watching the live broadcast on her phone. A faint curl of contempt played on her lips.
Little did anyone suspect that she had orchestrated this cunning journalist.
"For the past two years, during his tenure as president, Dick has been siphoning funds and acting with impunity. The company has faced recurrent challenges, and the family fortune is on the brink of depletion."
William let out a scornful chuckle. "I never imagined he would possess such audacity, boldly fabricating lies at a press conference. Does Dick believe he is untouchable?"
"He must believe he holds all the cards, hence his brazen display of confidence."
Evelyn slyly narrowed her eyes, plucking a piece of chocolate from William's suit pocket, unwrapping it, and delicately placing a fragment in her mouth.
"Let's bide our time. With a little more pressure, he will reveal his final hand, and that's when our opportunity will present itself."
