Chapter 69: A Good Opportunity to Approach Her

Irving’s POV:

I noticed Hayley seemed downcast, and I thought this might be a good opportunity to approach her. I asked, “So, any plans for the weekend?”

She glanced at me and replied, “No, not really.”

I suggested, “I heard a new equestrian club opened up on the west side of town. How about we go horseback riding together?”

Hayley shook her head, rejecting the idea. “Nah. Not a fan of horse riding.”

“Okay, how about catching a movie? There’s a comedy that just came out, and it’s getting good reviews.”

Hayley looked a bit surprised at my offer.

“Irving, you…” Before she could finish, I quickly interrupted her, “Don’t get me wrong; I’m just worried you might feel bored over the weekend. Plus, it’s what George suggested—we should keep you company.”

“No, thanks. I can manage on my own.”

Her refusal was clear, and it dawned on me that I might have been too eager. I was rushing things. “Alright, if you have thoughts of anywhere you’d like to go, just let me know, and I’ll take you.”

Hayley nodded slightly. I felt a slight sense of relief.

As I drove her home, we ran into Benjamin at the foot of the stairs. He was coming down just as we reached the top. Hayley greeted him first.

Benjamin shot me a long, unreadable look before turning to Hayley and saying, “Grandpa is looking for you just now. If you have time, you should see him in the study.”

Hayley thanked him and said, “Got it. I’ll head there now.”

With that, she headed upstairs to the study.

As soon as she left, Benjamin turned to me, his Alpha aura radiating a warning. “Don’t have any ideas about Hayley. She’s not someone you can mess with.”

I shrugged off his warning with a smirk and challenged, “What’s that supposed to mean, Ben? I’m just following George’s advice to look out for her. How does that translate into me messing with her?”

Then I coldly sneered and added, “I know you’ve been focused on pack affairs ever since you became Alpha, but you should pay attention to company matters. I heard we’re developing new projects that require significant investment. You might want to keep an eye on things to avoid any mishaps.”

Benjamin frowned and reprimanded me, “Just heed my warning; don’t cross the line!”

I understood his warning wasn’t just about business but about Hayley.

Feigning ignorance, I said, “Don’t worry, Ben! I know what I’m doing. I will not interfere with company matters and will be mindful of everything else.”

“You better be.” With that, he left.

Hayley’s POV:

I knocked on the door.

“Come in!”

After getting permission, I pushed the door open and stepped into the study. “Grandpa Southwell, you want to talk with me?”

George waved at me with a cheerful smile, “Come here, Hayz.”

I obediently walked over. He handed me a document and said, “This is for an important project meeting. You’re coming with me tomorrow.”

I was taken aback. “You want me to come along? But I don’t know anything about this!”

George chuckled kindly and said, “It’s fine. Just think of it as a chance to keep this old man company.”

Tomorrow would be the weekend, so I didn’t have to go to school. I agreed to join him the next day. Early in the morning, I went with George to the Southwell Group.

The Southwell Group was one of the leading multinational companies in North Annestone, involved in a wide array of sectors—from oil and gas to real estate development and the entertainment industry, handling various investment projects.

It was my first time visiting the Southwell Tower. Following George, we took the elevator and went all the way to the top-floor conference room. As soon as we entered, everyone stood up and greeted, “Chairman…”

George waved them to sit down. He said, “Just relax and carry on with the meeting.”

Benjamin approached George after they had taken their seats.

“Grandpa, what brings you here?”

“I just swing by to check things out. Don’t mind me; I’m just here to observe.”

With that, Benjamin returned to his seat and continued the meeting.

“Our new project for the next quarter is the Mornant crude oil project…” I listened to them discuss business matters and was completely uninterested. So, I pulled out my phone to play a game instead.

“The preliminary work for the Mornant project is ready, and we’re in further communication with the government, but we’re facing a serious issue right now.”

Benjamin furrowed his brow, gestured the project manager to continue.

The project manager added, “There aren’t any major issues, but the translator we previously hired can no longer assist us. We need a new translator as soon as possible, or our negotiations will be in trouble.”

“It’s common knowledge that Mornant is a less common language, and there aren’t many translators who can handle it. Where are we supposed to find a suitable one now?”

That was indeed a problem.

Benjamin instructed, “Make every effort to find a translator who speaks Mornant. No matter the cost, we need to secure someone quickly to keep the project on track.”

“Yes, Mr. Benjamin.”

After the meeting, Benjamin handed George the latest financial report in his office. But instead of going through that, George turned to me. “Hayz, come over and help me review this document.”

I paused my game and walked over.

George directly handed me the file. I hesitated to accept it. After all, a company’s financial report wasn’t something just anyone could read.

“Take a look. Once you’re done, let me know what you think.”

Since George had said so, I reluctantly took it and began to review it seriously.

I had to admit, Benjamin’s management skills were top-notch. Just from the financial report, I could tell that the Southwell Group’s profits this quarter were stable.

Just when I thought everything was fine, I suddenly noticed something.