Chapter 1973

Chapter 1973Chapter 1973 Distance
Meanwhile, at Southeast Astoria, Ian and Susan had arrived at the branch company of Hayes
Corporation. The riot there had escalated to an even serious level.
“Mr. Hayes, you’re finally here! We have been waiting for you to help us rectify this mess.” The branch
company’s person in charge almost cried at the sight of Ian and Susan.
Ian found out that the Hayes Corporation branch at Southeast Astoria was facing the predicament
whereby the place was previously under the Tilans’ reign, and they had been known to participate in
illicit businesses such as casinos, nightclubs, and smuggling activities.
To summarize, all their operations were illegal. For example, it was not that Hayes Corporation could
not operate casinos. However, the Tilans would enable the underground organizations here to cheat
the patrons and allow loan sharks to lend money to the gamblers at an exorbitant interest rate.
They were doing everything that Hayes Corporation would never do.
A Hayes Corporation casino would let the luck of the patrons decide their fate.
As a result, their policy had affected the interests of some of the stakeholders involved, which were
locals whose influence was entrenched in the region for many years, and they would not let their wrath
go unaccounted for.
Ian dared not squander another second and headed into the meeting room right away after listening to
the brief report.
Susan could only head to the office, clutching the luggage that they brought along.
“Ms. Limmer, you must be famished. Would you like me to bring you around for food?”An assistant at the general manager’s office noticed the weary look on Susan’s face and offered to take
her around for some food.
Susan hesitated for a moment.
Ian, who had headed to the meeting room, would surely have no time to spare for lunch. Hence, she
was the only one who could make sure that he did not skip a meal.
As such, Susan decided to go along with the assistant.
“Ms. Limmer, are you Mr. Hayes’ secretary? Are you going to stay here with him this time?”
novelbinThe young female assistant asked carefully after eyeing Susan for a moment.
The engagement between the Limmers and the Jadesons was quite a dazzling event, and it had
managed to garner quite a bit of attention back then. However, it had been three years since. Susan
knew that she had inevitably aged since the event three years ago.
Besides, she had attended the event in full glamor back then, and she was bare-faced now. Hence, it
was natural that the young assistant did not seem to recognize her.
However, Susan did not care to explain further and simply nodded. “Yes, I’m here to accompany him.”
The young assistant then continued, “You must have accompanied Mr. Hayes for a long time then. We
are really glad, actually. To be frank, our general manager has been racking his brain trying to figure
out who he should appoint as Mr. Hayes’ secretary when Mr. Hayes has expressed the intention to
come here.”
“Is that so?”“Yes. Everyone was thrilled to sign up, of course. However, they had their concerns as well. After all,
we did not know what kind of a superior Mr. Hayes would be. We heard that he was quite ruthless back
in Yartran,” the young assistant lamented and let out a sigh.
Susan did not comment on it.
She was not actually there as Ian’s secretary. She had attained the title of a senior accountant. All
these years, she had been a director of the Finance Department at Atlantius.
Hence, she was there to audit the accounts of the Finance Department of the branch company.
In the end, Susan decided against explaining everything to the young assistant that she had just met.
She followed the young assistant to the restaurant and packed some food back to the office.
The meeting finally came to an end at about nine o’clock at night.
Susan had fallen asleep in the office as she had been too tired from the long day.
“You’re finally done with the meeting? Are you hungry? The food has gone cold, I’m afraid.” Susan
opened her eyes when she heard some noise. She sprung up from her seat right away after noticing
that it was Ian.
The man waved his hand and signaled for her to stay right where she was.
“Why didn’t you head back to the hotel for a rest? Didn’t I ask Melvin to pass on the message?”
Ian felt his heart wrench at the sight of the weary woman before him.
However, some part of him already knew that Susan would not head back even if he had explicitly told
her to do so.Susan rose from her seat and poured him a glass of warm water. Then, she warmed the food in the
microwave.
The food had long gone cold.
Fortunately, when the two of them were working back in Yartran, Ian had changed his picky eating
habits. Now, he would at least take a bite or two, provided that the food was not too deplorable.
Susan stayed by his side.
“You didn’t eat, too?” Ian asked.
“I fell asleep and forgot to eat. Anyway, hurry up and eat. We can go back to take a rest before coming
back tomorrow,” she said casually as she started to dig in.
Ian did not give it much thought and ate together with her.
Soon, they finished the food. Just then, Melvin Ginn, the person in charge of the Southeast Astoria
branch, entered the room. He was waiting for Ian’s further instruction after they were done with the
meeting.
Susan furrowed her brows.
Why is he hounding Ian? How did he get appointed to head the branch here? Didn’t Uncle Solomon run
a background check on his capability before assigning him here?
“Mr. Hayes, what should our next step be tomorrow?” Melvin asked.
“You may invite the police over here first. I will talk to them first thing in the morning,” Ian stated.
Melvin was overjoyed upon hearing that.