Chapter 545: Wasting Too Much of His Precious Time
Hayley’s POV: 47% +8 Pearls
The moment Benjamin heard the sound, he turned toward me. As soon as he saw me, the hard, serious look on his face melted into a warm smile. Without wasting a second, he set his tablet aside, rolled down the car window, and asked, “Heading out? Can I have the pleasure of being your driver?”
I was well aware of how busy Benjamin was—more than just your average busy. Managing the Southwell Group while also dealing with the complexities of the Midnight Pack left him with little time for anything, including meals. As an Alpha and a CEO, I understood firsthand how draining that lifestyle could be.
I hated the thought of him wasting too much of his precious time on me. “I’m just stepping out for a quick errand to the nearby grocery store. It’s only a short walk, so you don’t need to bother. Just finish your work and rest when you get home,” I said with a smile to reassure him.
But Benjamin didn’t respond to my attempt to dismiss him. He unbuckled his seatbelt without a word, got out of the car, and opened the door for me. With a polite smile, he insisted, “I’m not tired. You don’t give enough credit to an Alpha’s energy. Plus, you’re always so busy; it’s not often I get to see you. Would you be willing to spend some time with me now, as my fiancée?”
His words made my heart skip a beat, and without thinking, I nodded. I bent down and slid into the car.
At this hour, the store was relatively quiet, but Benjamin and I drew plenty of curious stares. As we passed the pharmacy aisle, I noticed some painkillers from Yarbrough Enterprise, a brand my family always kept in stock when I was younger, on sale. I picked up a bottle and examined it closely. The price and packaging hadn’t changed in all these years—it was still affordable.
Just then, a store employee approached me with a friendly smile. “Miss, that’s actually a free gift. If you buy products from Ortega Pharmaceuticals, you get that bottle for free.”
“A gift?” I asked, pointing to the painkillers.
“Yes, that’s right,” she confirmed with a nod.
“Thank you,” I replied, placing the bottle back on the shelf.
Before leaving, I couldn’t help but glance over at the Ortega Pharmaceuticals products—they were all displayed in the most prominent spots. It was clear that this strategy was designed to push customers into buying unnecessary Ortega products. The thought of their deceitful tactics, showing no regard for the safety of ordinary werewolves, filled me with anger.
With Benjamin still beside me, I forced myself to calm down, trying to hide my frustration. I didn’t want him to notice. But, of course, he did. He watched me closely, and after a few steps, he casually commented on Yarbrough Enterprise. “The Ortegas have made a lot of progress in the pharmaceutical industry in recent years. Most of their competitors haven’t been so lucky. For Yarbrough Enterprise to have held on this long is pretty impressive.”
“That doesn’t sound like a compliment,” I said, picking up a soft towel and tossing it into the shopping cart.
Benjamin sighed and smiled, unbothered. “Yarbrough Enterprise isn’t great at management, so it’s no surprise that others took advantage of them. The market tends to favor the new, after all.”
His words hit me harder than I expected. I stopped and looked up at him, saying with determination, “I think it’s the other way around. You find new things alongside the old, and it gives you a sense of belonging. Just like with products—new ones are never as comfortable as the ones we’re used to. Don’t you agree?”
Benjamin narrowed his eyes at me, pausing in silence for a moment. After a while, he grinned and asked, with a hint of curiosity, “Are you talking about people, or are you talking about medicine?”
It didn’t take me long to realize what he meant. He must have caught on to my dislike of the Ortegas. I quickly looked away, trying to act nonchalant as I continued walking, replying casually, “Both. You said it yourself—Yarbrough Enterprise just suffered from poor management. Their products are fine. It’s a company with good intentions, and in my opinion, they shouldn’t be beaten by those who are just out to manipulate others,” I added.
Benjamin laughed, following behind me. “I agree. Let’s hope someone kindhearted can save Yarbrough Enterprise from its troubles.”
“There will be,” I silently vowed, determined to bring justice to the situation…
At the checkout, I was about to pay when, predictably, my phone rang. I stepped aside to take the call. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Benjamin already handing his card to the cashier and paying for the items before stepping aside to wait for the bags to be packed.
After finishing the call, I refocused. “Professor Cain, is there something you needed?” I asked, recognizing the name on the caller ID.
“Hayley, tell me honestly—did you really solve that difficult math problem on your own?”
Professor Cain’s voice was serious, and there was an urgency in his tone that suggested something was wrong.