Chapter 60

Walking out of the restaurant, Isabel Clysle glanced at Alex Galvez, who was grinning at his phone like a fool.

"Alex, do you like that girl?" Isabel asked.

"Yeah, I do."

"Well, if you like her, then put in the effort. Treat her well. That's how you win a girl's heart, got it?"

"Yes, I know. Why don't you help me!" Alex exclaimed.

Isabel was speechless.

"Alex, pursuing a girl is something you have to do yourself!"

"Isabel! Hannah! Alex!" It was Blake Vales.

"Oh! Blake, what brings you here?" Hannah asked curiously.

"Just passing by. Let me give you a ride home," Blake offered.

Hannah saw through his intentions immediately. His eyes were glued to Isabel the whole time.

"It's okay. Paul had the chauffeur drive us here. We've got a car. You should stay and have a date with Isabel instead," Hannah said with a knowing smile.

"Mom!" Isabel shot a glance at Hannah.

"Isabel, take your time coming home. We'll head off now," Hannah said, pulling Alex away hastily.

Isabel stood frozen. When had her usually straightforward mother become so cunning?

"Isabel, are you upset to see me?" Blake asked, stepping closer.

"No, but you've been talking way too much lately," Isabel replied, feeling a headache coming on.

"Well, you don't talk much, and I talk a lot. That balances us out, don't you think?" he said with a cheeky smile.

Isabel rolled her eyes at him.

"By the way, how did Alex's blind date go?" Blake asked, clearly looking for an excuse to continue chatting.

"That girl was great. They're a good match. Whether it works out, though, who knows?"

"We're a good match, too."

Isabel looked at him, utterly speechless, thinking, "How did he even make that connection?"

Looking at her exasperated expression, Blake grinned and said, "Tomorrow, I'm officially returning to Yates Corporation. Why don't you come home with me for dinner tomorrow night?"

"What? Go to your house?" Isabel was taken aback.

"Yep. My family wants to meet you. After all, you're my fiancée."

"I'm not going!" Isabel refused without hesitation. She had zero interest in meeting Blake's family.

"You have to."

"Are you forcing me?"

Taking her hands in his, Blake said softly, "Sweetheart, I'm not forcing you. But, let's face it. It's not something you can avoid forever. I believe they will like you. And don't forget, you saved my life. So you have to be responsible for me. If you won't come, then send me back to that run-down shack and let me stay there!"

Isabel was at a loss for words. She had never met anyone as unreasonable as him.

"You can't bear to, can you? Since you care so much, why not do me this little favor?" Blake added with a mischievous wink.

Isabel sighed in defeat. How did I end up tangled with this guy? she thought.

The next day, Blake Yates officially returned to Yates Corporation. Dressed in a custom-tailored suit, his sharp features were as cold as ever, and he walked in with an air of authority. A few assistants trailed behind him, adding to his commanding presence. The entire company was in shock. Rumor had it that Blake Yates, who had disappeared for two years, was back! And looking as handsome as ever. When he was in the office before, countless people at the company admired him.

Suddenly, a janitor carrying a bucket accidentally slipped and fell right in front of Blake. Everyone held their breath. Blake had a reputation for being ruthless. People admired him, but they also feared him. Once, an employee spilled coffee on him and was fired on the spot. He showed no mercy. He was notoriously strict. After his injury, some secretly gloated, thinking it was karma. Now, everyone assumed the janitor was doomed.

A manager nearby barked, "Where's the maintenance team? How could they let this happen!"

The maintenance supervisor rushed over, panic written all over his face. He feared for his job, knowing Blake's strict style. He would not tolerate even the smallest mistake. But before he could speak, Blake knelt down and helped the janitor to her feet.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" he asked gently.

"I'm fine! I'm so sorry, Mr. Blake. It wasn't on purpose!" the janitor stammered, bowing repeatedly.

"It's alright. Just be careful next time. Don't hurt yourself," he said with a reassuring smile. Turning to the supervisor, he added, "Get this cleaned up. Someone else might slip."

"Yes, Mr. Blake. Right away!" The supervisor wiped the sweat from his brow. What a close call! For a moment, he was certain he would lose his job. Everyone was stunned. Was this the same Mr. Blake as before? They thought. He looked a lot different and seemed…human.

Blake then stepped into his long-lost office. It was just as he had left it, though now he was the vice president, not the CEO.

"Welcome back, Mr. Blake," said Richard, his assistant.

Blake glanced at Richard. "Thank you for staying with my father for the past two years."

"It was my pleasure, Mr. Blake."

"Let me guess, he sent you here to spy on me, right?"

"Yes, Mr. Yates asked me to keep a close eye on you."

Blake sneered. It seemed that his father still did not trust him, always needing control over everything. Little did the old man know that Richard had been loyal to Blake all along.

"Well, if he wants results, I'll show him. This vice president role is just a test. He wants to see if I've still got it after two years away," Blake said, his voice steady. After all, it had been two years. People were bound to question whether his abilities were still as sharp as before.

"Give me an overview of the company's situation over the last two years."

Richard began his report. "In your absence, the company hasn't made significant progress. Timothy has been eyeing the CEO position but hasn't succeeded despite his efforts. However, he's built a network of loyalties in key departments like finance, sales, and procurement."

"Don't worry. That fool Timothy has never been a threat. Schedule a quick meeting with all the heads of departments," Blake instructed.

"Yes, Mr. Blake."

After the meeting, Blake stayed busy well into the afternoon. There was a lot to get familiar with now that he was back at the company. Still, he hadn't forgotten that tonight, he needed to take Isabel home. The Yates family had specifically asked to meet his fiancée.

"Pull over for a moment," Blake told Richard as they were driving to the University of Ardenfall.

"Mr. Blake, what do you need?" Richard asked.

"I'm buying some flowers."

"I can buy them for you, Mr. Blake. You can wait in the car."

"No, I'll pick them out myself."

Richard pulled over, and Blake stepped out, heading into a nearby florist. A few moments later, he emerged with a bouquet, a happy smile spreading across his face. Richard was stunned. Although he had worked for Thomas Yates in the past, he knew Blake very well. He had always been cold, calculating, and utterly ruthless. Now, he was completely different.