Chapter 41
That afternoon, while Eleanor was at Hennietta’s place, she received a message from her secretary, Eliza, informing her about a business trip to Wilden. She wasn’t surprised. This trip had happened in her previous life, too.
As Eleanor spoke with Celeste, she opened her wardrobe to pack her suitcase, only to notice that Sebastian’s clothes had been untouched. Did he leave without bringing any luggage?
“The weather is changing. Please remind Sebastian to wear an extra layer,” she said.
Celeste replied warmly, “I will, Ms. Sandberg. You should take care of yourself too.”
After hanging up, Celeste turned to glance at the backseat. She had intended to report everything Eleanor had said, but Sebastian’s expression remained indifferent. It was as if he had no interest in the conversation at all. Upon seeing this, Celeste kept quiet and turned back around.
The next day, Eleanor and Eliza boarded a flight to Walden. On the plane, Eleanor instructed, “Eliza, once we land, the first thing you need to do is hire four bodyguards for me!”
“Ms. Eleanor,” Eliza responded, thought for a moment before adding, “Hire four of them?!”
Eliza blinked. “Four? We’ve only ever hired two for business trips before. It’s not as if Walden is a city with high crime rates.”
“Haven’t you been watching the news? It’s almost the end of the year. There are all kinds of drifters looking for trouble. Better to be safe than sorry.”
Eliza didn’t quite understand but nodded anyway. “Okay.”
Eleanor rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the clouds outside the window. Of course, she needed bodyguards. In her previous life, having them was the only reason she escaped unharmed. Otherwise, she would have been attacked by a group of thugs while eating at the night market.
Exhilarated, Eliza rocked back and forth in her seat. “If we seal this deal, you’ll be promoted to Deputy CEO by the end of the year, Ms. Eleanor!”
Eleanor smirked. “I’ll take that as a positive sign. If I do get promoted, I’ll not only give you a big bonus but also grant you paid time off until the festival is over.”
Eliza’s eyes sparkled like diamonds. “Really, Ms. Eleanor? Then, I’ll work myself to the bone for you!”
Eleanor chuckled. “Don’t celebrate just yet. Securing the contract with Zeiten won’t be easy.”
In Jermish, Zeiten meant “eca.” And true to its name, the company’s innovations were groundbreaking. One of their superconducting materials, for instance, had applications ranging from MRI machines in the medical field to maglev trains, controlled nuclear fusion, and superconducting wind turbines.
Sandberg Group had been working with Zeiten for over a decade, and this trip was to negotiate a five-year contract renewal.
When the plane landed in Walden, Eleanor and Eliza headed straight to Zeiten’s headquarters. Eleanor approached the receptionist and said, “Hello, we’re from Sandberg Group in Forstone City. We have a meeting scheduled with Mr. Duncan today.”
“Of course, please wait a moment.” The receptionist made a call to the executive office. Shortly after, she hung up and walked around the counter. “Mr. Duncan said he’ll be down right away. Please have a seat in the lounge while you wait.”
Eleanor and Eliza sat on the couch in the lounge. As Eleanor organized the contract in her hands, she suddenly heard Eliza gasp, “Wow! Handsome guy alert!”
Eliza had just graduated from college. She was a bright and lively young woman in her early twenties, so she had a tendency to admire people from time to time. Eleanor didn’t pay her much attention. But then Eliza added, “Well, he kind of looks like Mr. Whitman…”