Chapter 323 Prepare a Midnight Snack
Catherine had just settled into the car when Ronin couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“Catherine, what was Erick up to just now?” What made Ronin wonder was when Catherine casually reached out and touched Erick’s hand at the end.
They’d only met a few times, but they seemed really tight, which made him jealous! Catherine decided to brush off Ronin’s question. She knew him too well.
Every so often, Ronin would do something like this. Ignoring him was the way to go. Catherine adjusted her seat and told Ronin, “Give me a heads up when we arrive!”
Seeing that Catherine wanted to take a break, Ronin understood that she didn’t feel like talking. He stayed quiet and let her relax with her eyes closed.
At the Duncans’.
With the latest information in hand, Paxton knocked on the study door. He opened the door and entered the study only after hearing a “coming” from inside.
“Mr. Duncan, I have a message from the Winfreds!”
In the dimly lit study, Branden was completely immersed in a crucial online meeting while seated at his desk.
“Let’s take a ten-minute break.”
Branden’s cold voice came through the microphone, and they all quickly logged off, not wanting to be slow. After muting the microphone, Branden turned to look at Paxton.
The room was dark, but Branden’s face was clear in the computer screen’s glow. That stunning face was the object of envy for many.
When Paxton noticed Branden glancing his way, he quickly got the message and gave a brief report.
“Mr. Duncan, Erick has been returned to the Winfreds. Miss Swann and Ronin were the ones who took him back, but currently, there’s no news of them signing any agreement with Xavier.”
Paxton couldn’t help but furrow his brow as he continued, “It doesn’t look like Miss Swann and Ronin are actual Hacker Alliance members, Mr. Duncan. It seems more like they were hired by the Hacker Alliance to bring Erick back to the Winfreds.”
Otherwise, why’d they finish the job but not sign any contract? That would be giving away their leverage. If the Winfreds were to change their minds, what would the Hacker Alliance use as bargaining chips?
The Hacker Alliance is a super secretive group with exceptional members, each having unique skills. Saying Catherine and Ronin were part of the Hacker Alliance might have been a bit much, but they could have been hired or had some connection with them.
But these were just Paxton’s opinions. The final verdict would be up to Branden. “Keep an eye on Catherine and make sure she’s safe!” Branden ordered. Paxton didn’t hesitate. “Got it, Mr. Duncan. We’re all set!”
Though he responded fast, Paxton didn’t think Catherine needed protection. He was well aware of Catherine’s abilities, and even two of him might not stand a chance against her.
The world saw the “cursed daughter” of the Swanns as useless, but little did they know she was a real pro! Seeing Branden stand up suddenly, Paxton followed suit immediately.
“Mr. Duncan, where are you off to?”
Branden gave him a quick look and whispered, “Now’s the right time to get some late-night snacks for her!” Paxton was momentarily surprised, and his eyes widened.
Did Mr. Duncan realize what he had just said?
Late at night, at the Winfreds’.
The lights were still on inside the Winfreds’ study at that moment. The old butler stood respectfully to the side, bowing his head slightly as he reported to Xavier.
“Mr. Winfred, Mr. Erick is all good now. He’s in that little west-side building, and we’ve got someone taking care of him.”
When they mentioned “taking care of,” they meant having someone watch him to ensure Erick didn’t run off.
Once the butler wrapped up, Jeremy, standing beside him, couldn’t hold back and said, “Hey, are you losing your marbles? That guy, what sort of ‘ young master’ is he? He’s just a useless, homeless bum! If it weren’t for Dad-”
Before Jeremy could finish his sentence, Xavier coldly interrupted, ” Jeremy, shut your mouth!”
Xavier scolded loudly, and Jeremy felt some fear, “Dad, it’s just us here, even if I say it, so what? That bastard won’t know!” he said. Xavier glared at Jeremy, frustrated.
He couldn’t understand why he had a son who was nothing like him. Jeremy wasn’t just lacking in guile. He often rushed into things with little thought.
Before Xavier could speak, Jeremy suggested again, “Dad, since we’ve found Erick, why don’t we just take him to the hospital for a test?”
Xavier shot Jeremy an annoyed look and said, “Do you know what Erick went through in the black market?”
“Are you feeling sorry for him?” Jeremy asked with great displeasure in his eyes. Frustrated by Jeremy’s stubbornness, Xavier coughed violently.
The butler immediately poured him some coffee, comforting Xavier while trying to explain things to Jeremy.
“Young master, there’s a misunderstanding. Your father isn’t feeling sorry for Eric. What he’s getting at is that Erick’s thriving in the black market and serving as a right-hand man to a local boss highlights his capabilities. He meant not to rush things too much to avoid jeopardizing the entire plan.”
Even though Jeremy knew his father wasn’t sympathizing with Eric, he still couldn’t accept it. “Dad, he’s just a henchman. We can assign more bodyguards to deal with him!”
Xavier didn’t want to argue with Jeremy. After all, a person’s potential was limitless, and it was impossible to predict how much they could unleash in a crisis.
He always aimed for business stability, requiring thorough planning before moving forward. The black market was filled with all sorts of people, and Erick’s survival and usefulness there indicated his abilities.
To be cautious was better in case of any unexpected situations.
“Drop this for now, Jeremy. Focus on overseeing the company. The contract for the South Apridon project with the Hacker Alliance isn’t finalized.”
Jeremy proudly interjected, “Dad, you won’t believe it. Two green Hacker Alliance members turned up today, looking like fresh high school grads. I doubt they can handle our project. Why not explore other options and make some money?”
Xavier shared Jeremy’s concerns about the two guys not mentioning the contract. Still, he felt something was amiss.
“Don’t underestimate them. While the Hacker Alliance might struggle with this project, we can’t afford to alienate them. They’ll sign the contract eventually. It’s just a matter of time.”
Jeremy kept his reservations quiet, thinking his father was growing overly cautious due to age. Even if the Hacker Alliance signed, Jeremy had no intention of cooperating.
He could readily find other buyers, make a profit, and let them uncover their internal discord. Wouldn’t that be a case of “when two dogs fight for a bone, the third one runs away with it”? In business, one needs to be bold!
