Chapter 525 Seeing Martin
Feeling a chill, the figure swiftly turned away. He ducked his head and hurried off in the opposite direction.
Patricia froze as the figure materialized before her, struck dumb.
Why did the figure resemble Martin so closely? Though thinner and hunched over, there was an undeniable likeness. Had he been secretly observing her from afar all this time? And if it truly was Martin, why wouldn't he reveal himself and acknowledge her presence? Why the sudden retreat upon being noticed?
A jumble of questions tangled in her mind like twisted threads, refusing to unravel.
As the silhouette drifted farther away, she yearned to chase after it, but her legs were as leaden as if weighed down by concrete, immobile. She wanted to call out, to stop the stranger, but her mouth moved in vain for what seemed like forever, unable to utter a single sound. Overwhelmed by regret and self-loathing for not seizing the moment, she felt an urge to cry.
When the figure was about to vanish from sight, Patricia finally shattered the mental barrier and shouted, "Martin, is that you?"
The figure hesitated, then quickened their pace. Patricia's legs suddenly regained strength, and she dashed forward in pursuit. Alas, the figure had vanished without a trace.
Staring into the empty copse, she shouted in frustration, "Martin, is that you? Did you miss me so much that you've come back to see me? If it's you, just answer me! If you're back, why not show yourself? Martin, come out... I miss you so much... I really miss you... Martin..."
Her cries tore through the silence of the deserted woods. Even the birds perched in the trees scattered in fright. However, the fleeing figure did not reappear.
Drained of strength, Patricia crouched, her hands clutching her head, fingernails digging into her scalp.
She missed Martin so desperately. Why wouldn't he come to her, even in her dreams?
The figure emerged again in the distance, beyond Patricia's sight. He continued to watch her, daring not to draw too near. A deep ache filled him when she collapsed in anguish. He leaned against a tree, his hands clenched tightly into fists.
The faint sound of footsteps faintly rustled in the distance. Patricia's tear-stained gaze caught the gleam of a pair of polished shoes. Her eyes lit up as she stood and looked up, only for her smile to fade.
"Mrs. Watson," Alan said, "I heard someone calling out for Martin, so I came over to check. Why did you suddenly call for him? Did you… see him?"
Patricia nodded, then shook her head, then nodded again, confusing even herself as to whether she had actually seen him or if it was merely a figment of her imagination.
Alan puzzled over her contradictory signals. "Mrs. Watson, did you see him or not?"
Patricia's shoulders slumped as she turned and walked toward her home, murmuring, "It was probably just my imagination. Or maybe I mistook someone else for him. Martin is dead; how could he be here? I must be hallucinating out of longing."
Alan caught every word. Compelled by intuition, he turned and scanned the area, but there was nothing to see.
After returning from the grove, Patricia remained downcast, taking a few hours to recover her composure.
That evening, they didn't rush off to seek out Andrew Roberts; instead, they took time to analyze the situation. Riley, aware of the sensitive business information involved, conscientiously excused himself from the discussion.
Alan began, "Andrew Roberts's vacation here is confidential. Neither Cosmos Electronics Corp. nor his family are aware of it, which is why we need to make him think our encounter is coincidental. Also, he's oblivious to the bet you made with Max and the fact that you're currently the acting CEO of the Langley Group. This ignorance is our leverage, a chance to—"
"If it's a secret, how did you find out?" Patricia said.
"While it's meant to be confidential…" Alan said, scrambling to think of an excuse, "it's possible to uncover information if one is determined to do so. I had people monitoring his actions for a while. Once he booked his flight, I was able to track his whereabouts."
"I don't think feigning a coincidental encounter will work," Patricia said. "Tomorrow, let's introduce ourselves with clear credentials and state our purpose. Sneaking around is not only a waste of time, but if he realizes our identity before we disclose it, he'll think we've been planning this for ages. This could lead to misunderstandings."
Alan looked at her in amazement. It was hard for him to believe that, in such a short period, she could articulate such thoughts. "Alright, let's do it your way. Tomorrow, we'll meet with him and be upfront about our intentions."
Together, they prepared a wealth of materials intended for Andrew Roberts. However, when it came time for the official negotiation, the materials could have been more useful.
Andrew Roberts was visibly displeased. "Business should be conducted at the office. I'm on vacation now. We can talk about this when I get back."
"Mr. Roberts, I know it's inappropriate for us to come here unannounced," Alan said, "and we're sorry for interrupting your vacation, but the Langley Group is currently facing a serious crisis. We fear there won't be enough time to wait for your return, so we made the trip."
"Let me be honest with you," Andrew said bluntly, to save time. "My collaboration with the Langley Group was because of Martin. I trusted his capabilities, which is why I was at ease handing over such critical technology. Now that he's passed away, I don't even know who's in charge of the Langley Group. With the way technology progresses rapidly, I can't afford to wait."
Pointing to Patricia, Alan said, "This is our acting CEO, Mrs. Watson, Mr. Langley's widow. Please put your trust in her and Mr. Langley's judgment and give us another chance."
Andrew was a man in his fifties with silvery hair at his temples, yet his gaze remained sharp. He scrutinized Patricia from head to toe.
"Sorry but expecting me to entrust the future of Cosmos Electronics Corp. to a woman with zero experience is risky," he said. "If I remember correctly, she comes from a medical background. Medicine to Business? How can you expect me to be confident in that?"
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