“Hmph.” Luna snorted unhappily.
Obviously, things got complicated after Frank came, when it was supposed to be a matter of signing and stamping some papers!
Gina forced a smile just then. “Then you should go, Helen. I’ve never been to Morhen, so I’d like to take a stroll around.”
“Hmm…?”
Frank could see the look on Gina’s face.
She was trying to hide something, and it seemed that she must have her own reasons for coming to Morhen with Helen.
It was not surprising that she kept a low profile, not straying out of line when it was not usually her style.
“Okay. Be careful, Mom.” Helen told her and took her briefcase before leaving the hotel with Frank, Luna, and Cato.
As soon as they were gone, Gina dialed a number she did not save in her contacts—and it was not a local number either, but an international one.
Once it was picked up, Gina stammered, “I-I’ve arrived at Morhen as we agreed! Where are you? Where’s Cindy? How is she?!”
“Aunt Gina! Help me!” Cindy Zonda could be heard bawling from the other end.
Soon, a man’s voice with a Talnamese accent spoke. “Abandoned factory zone, South Morhen outskirts. Did you bring the money? You can take her back once you pay up.”
“Yes, yes… Just, everybody stay calm, alright?” Gina pleaded tearfully.
“Heh. We won’t do anything to her as long as you do what we tell you to.”
And with that, the man hung up.
“Hello? Hello?!” Gina shouted repeatedly even as her fingers clenched around the phone, but her only response was dull machine beeping.
“Helen… I-I’m so sorry! Cindy’s my brother’s only daughter. I can’t let anything happen to her…”
Tears rolled down Gina’s cheek even as she took out a check from her pocket, which had two billion dollars written on it.
–
Meanwhile, Frank was not bothered with what Gina was up to—she could do whatever she wanted to, as long as it did not hurt Helen.
Driving his Maserati, he followed Cato’s black Mercedes to a moderately sized building.
While it was no symbol of wealth since it was a rented office space, one would still have to admit that Cato at least looked the part.
There were plenty of subcontractors moving around, and most of the men’s faces lit up when they saw Helen, some even whistling flirtatiously.
“Yo, when did we get such a smokin’ hot secretary?”
“Cut it out!”
Cato grinned as he snapped at them. “This is Ms. Lane from Riverton, and she’s here to iron out a business deal. I’ll fire you if you upset her and she bolts.”
The subcontractors laughed and left.
Helen was not particularly upset despite their rowdiness.
She was a CEO, but she started from the bottom and had more than enough experience with employees teasing her.
And truth be told, she preferred honest interactions with her employees, instead of hanging out with fat, greasy bigwigs.
“This looks good.” Helen nodded, relieved as she watched the subcontractors work in perfect tandem around the office.
