Template placeholder with Chapter 324
Chapter 324:
At seven o’clock in the evening, Amelia entered an upscale downtown restaurant, her heels tapping against the polished floor. Just then, Carlee’s voice rang out, calling, “Amelia, over here p>
Guided by the voice, Amelia spotted Carlee at a window table and walked over with a warm smile.
Carlee knew Amelia had been swamped with the new project and had refrained from reaching out until news broke about the Davis Group being swarmed by frustrated consumers. That prompted Carlee to call her friend immediately.
“Is everything sorted with your company? Do you need any help?” Carlee asked, studying Amelia closely. They hadn’t seen each other for a while, and she noticed something had changed about Amelia.
Catching Carlee’s stare, Amelia touched her cheek, confused. “Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face p>
“You seem… different now,” Carlee said.
“Different how? Did I put on weight?” Amelia asked.
𝗙і𝗻𝘥 𝗻o𝗏e𝗅 𝗣𝘋𝗙𝘴 o𝗻
“No, not your looks — it’s your presence,” Carlee explained, her eyes scanning Amelia.
Amelia had come directly from the office, still dressed in her beige business suit, which gave her a crisp, commanding edge — a shift from her typical grace. As Carlee observed her, she grew excited and blurted out, “Amelia, you’re giving off Wyatt’s energy now p>
Caught off guard mid-sip, Amelia nearly choked on her water, accidentally spitting some onto Carlee’s face.
Seeing Carlee’s reproachful look, Amelia stifled a cough, putting a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. Your remark just shocked me p>
Carlee snatched a napkin, wiping her face with a scowl. “I’m serious. It’s not how you look; it’s your vibe. Check a mirror later if you doubt me. You’ve got Wyatt’s exact presence. People always say couples grow alike over time. I didn’t buy that until now p>
Though Amelia had assured her over the phone that the Davis Group crisis was handled, Carlee had been concerned, knowing the new project was Amelia’s first major undertaking as the CEO.
Seeing her friend’s buoyant mood now, Carlee finally felt relieved.
Besides that, Carlee also needed Amelia’s help. She leaned forward, her tone earnest. “Amelia, you must tell me if there are any tricks to managing a company. If you know any, please teach me. I’ve been losing sleep for days. Look at my dark circles p>
“What happened? Why are you asking me this?” Amelia asked.
“It’s my dad. He’s pushing me to learn how to manage the company,” Carlee groaned.
As the sole Larson heir, with her father aging and worrying about the future of the family business, Carlee was being nudged into learning how to manage the company.
But business wasn’t her strength — she had been reluctant to learn even in school. Her father’s expectations felt like asking a bird to swim. Still, the sight of her father’s graying hair kept her from saying no.
Carlee had been grappling with overwhelming challenges recently.
Listening to Carlee’s struggles, Amelia, with a tone of resignation, said, “I don’t think I am able to help you with this p>
As Carlee’s longtime friend, Amelia knew well that business acumen wasn’t Carlee’s strength.
Yet, as the sole heir of the Larson family, Carlee had no choice but to take over the family business eventually. For a moment, Amelia was at a loss for words to comfort her friend.
Hearing Amelia’s response, Carlee let out a heavy sigh and exclaimed in despair, “I’m doomed p>
Seeing Carlee’s spirit deflate like a punctured tire, Amelia cautiously offered, “If you can’t face running the company, maybe discuss with your father about bringing in a professional manager. As long as p>
“I’m so sorry! It was an accident p>
Before Amelia could finish, a cold sensation washed over her.
A waiter, delivering their meal, had clumsily tipped Amelia’s juice, spilling it all over her.
The orange liquid stood out starkly against her cream-colored suit, and Amelia grimaced at the large stain.
Carlee hurriedly grabbed a napkin to dab at the spill, but despite her efforts, the stain remained.
Amid the waiter’s repeated apologies, Carlee snapped, “See the mess you’ve made p>
“I’m so sorry; I’m new here, I didn’t mean to do it…” the waiter said, head bowed.
As other patrons began to glance over, Amelia gently tugged Carlee back and calmly told the waiter, “It’s alright; you can go p>
Relieved, the waiter hurried off.
Turning to Carlee, Amelia said, “You start eating. I’ll head to the restroom to deal with this p>
“I’ll accompany you p>
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be quick p>
The restaurant had a private restroom tucked at the back of the dining area. Inside, Amelia removed her suit jacket, held the stained section under the faucet, and scrubbed it.
After some time, she paused, pleased to see the stain had faded significantly.
Smiling, she shook the suit jacket to dry it.
After wringing out the excess water, Amelia slipped the jacket back on.
Just then, a sharp sting pierced her neck, and as she crumpled to the floor, about to lose consciousness, her last glimpse was of a shadowy figure reflected in the mirror.