The following took place at Hudson Pharmaceuticals.
“President Hudson, this is the project proposal of the resort.”
“Okay. I will take a look.” Rachel took the proposal handed over by the secretary while taking a sip of the coffee next to her. “Has there been any problems with the fire control of this reconstruction project?”
“None. We have an experienced engineering team.”
“What about the demolition issue in the surrounding area? Is it resolved?”
“It is. It is all wasteland around here. We have offered compensation to the only two self-built houses, and they have signed the contracts. Miss Carter personally overlooked it.”
Rachel nodded reassuringly when she heard that it was Jolly who supervised the confirmation.
“We will proceed as planned, then.”
“Understood.” The secretary nodded. “By the way, President Hudson, Riverdale Medical Association sent an invitation letter yesterday. They are inviting you to be a part of a charity auction they are having this Saturday.”
“Got it. Tell them I will join.”
“Alright.”
After the secretary left, Rachel closed the proposal and set it aside.
Presently, Hudson Pharmaceuticals wasn’t doing all that well financially. Even though Justin had brought many customers to them, there was still no way to alleviate the predicament. The new projects needed funds, and there were various corporate social responsibilities that also needed financing as well.
Thinking of this, Rachel rubbed her temples to massage the headache away.
“What is the matter? Why are you already drained so early in the morning? You still aren’t sober, are you?”
Jolly’s voice instantly brought her out of her reverie.
Seeing her in high spirits, Rachel asked with a smile, “You are already back from getting your certificate?”
“We were the first ones to arrive, and we went in as soon as they opened. It only took less than half an hour. I also bought breakfast on the way back to eat with you.”
With that said, she raised the bag of breakfast in her hand.
Rachel showed no intentions of holding back when she saw that, and she unhesitantly opened the sandwich’s packaging after she took it. She then asked casually, “Where is Leroy?”
“He got a notice to go out of town this afternoon.”
“Such an industry role model.”
“He is a married person, after all. He won’t be able to still be the dream man of thousands of girls. Since he has lost a large part of the market, he can only rely on his abilities now.” Jolly let out a long sigh. “That is life—you win some, you lose some.”
Rachel only smiled and said nothing at that.
“What is the matter with you?” Jolly could tell at a glance that Rachel wasn’t in a good mood. Sprawling on the table, she asked, “Is it about the company?”
“Mhm. Same ol’ problem.”
“The same old problem about where the money went?”
Rachel hummed and nodded.
Shortly after she took over Hudson Pharmaceuticals, she discovered that a staggering amount of three billion had seemingly disappeared into a bottomless pit. If it were to collapse, she might have to give up the entire Hudson Pharmaceuticals to pay off the sum. She would be sucked dry by then.
At present, the company’s financial report that they showed to the public looked as though everything was balanced. The company’s annual profit looked plenty optimistic as well. However, Rachel had stumbled upon a problem the first time she wanted to withdraw a large amount of money from the Finance Department—the company’s bank account didn’t even have the amount it was said to have.
After the financial audit last year, it was revealed that a large amount of money had seemingly disappeared into thin air. The Finance Department couldn’t give a plausible explanation for it, as they only said that it was the president who took it last-minute. Still, no one knew where Jefferey put the money.
“Do you think it was him who transferred the funds?”
Jolly pondered upon hearing that. “Didn’t you tell me that Officer Hawkins found out that the company has an illegal offshore bank account? Do you think the money was transferred there?”
“That is impossible.” Rachel shook her head. “The Investigation Bureau has been keeping an eye on the account. Also, Amber had been in charge of that account all this while. But Jefferey must not have anyone else he trusts following Amber’s death after it was also disclosed on the annual report that there has never been any inflow of funds into the account.”
“We have turned Hudson Pharmaceuticals inside out looking over all the company’s assets since you took over, but we couldn’t find where such a large sum of money went. Don’t you think there is something weird about this?”
“I am only worried that he didn’t manage to complete the transaction.”
“Then where the hell is the money? It is 3 billion we’re talking about.”
After pondering for a long minute, Rachel suggested, “Let’s inspect the company’s capital flow again. We will trace any dodgy transactions.”
This was the only thing they could do now.
“Sure. I am off to the Finance Department to get some information, then.”
“Alright.”
Rachel suddenly remembered something before Jolly left, and so she called out, “Jolly?”
“What is it?”
“You don’t have to go for now. Come somewhere else with me.”
“What?”
“I suddenly thought of a place we haven’t checked yet.”
“Where?”
“The Hudson Family’s manor in West Magnolia.”
“We have, though. Didn’t we check the Hudson Family’s assets for their personal use first thing?”
“There is a place we haven’t checked yet.” Rachel’s gaze was firm, and her hands were clenched tightly by her side. “There is a study in the manor that has a secret room in it.”
Jolly was slightly taken aback when she heard that. “A secret room?”
“Yes, a secret room.”
Rachel had also just recalled the existence of the room.
She and Justin had accidentally barged into the secret room six years ago, which was when they saw a photo of her mother locked up in an array in the room. Only then did she know that her mother was killed by Jefferey.
And so, Rachel and Jolly drove directly to West Magnolia.
The manor had been sealed off as per court order after Jefferey and Amber died. It was initially going to be auctioned, but their deaths had turned the place into a supposedly unlucky abode. Also, the place was too big to interest a normal person.
“Chris, there is a seal here.”
When the two of them drove to the gate of the manor, they noticed that there was a seal on the iron door, which meant that no one had paid a visit here in a long time.
“Let’s climb over the wall,” Rachel suggested.
Jolly glanced at their surroundings and commented, “Why does it feel eerie here?”
“We are under broad daylight. What are you afraid of?”
“I heard that this manor was put up for auction by the court. Even though the starting price has plummeted twice, no one has bid to buy it. Sounds like bad luck to me. Don’t tell me there is something wicked here.”
“I will borrow your luck as the bride today, then. You are soaked in good mojo today.”
“How does that even work?”
“Are you climbing or not? Wait for me here if you aren’t.”
Hearing that, Jolly grimaced and whined, “I do want to go in with you, but my shoes…”
She proceeded to bring up one foot to show her 12-centimeter heels.
“Why did I even bring you out?” Rachel sighed.
“How about I will update you if anything happens? You can contact me anytime.”
“Okay, then. Go ahead and wait for me in the car.”
After saying that, Rachel went to the side door and climbed in.
Seeing this, Jolly couldn’t help thinking that she wasn’t a good friend this time when she recalled the last time she climbed the wall and went to West Magnolia to find Leroy.
Still, as much as she wanted to help, her high heels were too much of a hindrance.
After thinking about it, she had a glint in her eyes and she quickly took out her phone to make a call. “Hello? What are you doing?” she blurted out of excitement.
The deep voice of a man came from the other end of the call. “Just finished a meeting. What’s wrong?”
“Hurry over to West Magnolia. There is a great opportunity here for you to show your charms as a boyfriend. Don’t blame me for not telling you. This may be your one and only chance.”
