CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: GET OUT! GET OUT RIGHT NOW!

The next morning, Adrian Lockwood returned to his usual deep and inscrutable demeanor.

Facing Chloe Lynch, Adrian was gentle, "I discussed it with Miles last week. He knows you’ve moved in, and he’ll be very happy if you pick him up after school."

Chloe Lynch finally felt a sense of relief.

Yesterday was Monday, but knowing that Adrian and Chloe were going on a date, Beatrice Sutton had picked Miles Lockwood up early.

From today, life will return to normal.

"Once tomorrow’s city bid meeting is over, the company will get busy... Since you’ve moved in, it’s a good time to get familiar with Miles’ routine."

Adrian called Ms. Warren, the servant, over, "From now on, if there’s anything with the kindergarten, contact Chloe directly."

"Yes."

Ms. Warren responded.

Chloe was bubbling with joy inside, "Ms. Warren, I have a habit of having a fried egg with an Americano for breakfast. The egg should be sunny-side, seventy percent cooked. Just add three ice cubes to the Americano."

Adrian frowned.

Chloe’s expression tightened, "Adrian, what’s wrong?"

He didn’t like having outsiders in the house.

Ms. Warren was only responsible for doing the shopping, some gardening, and house cleaning.

All these years, Serena Sinclair cooked breakfast and dinner herself.

After the divorce, Chloe will have to take over dinner and picking up Miles.

But right now, the most important thing is tomorrow’s bidding meeting.

Everything else, we’ll talk to her about slowly.

Adrian shook his head, "It’s nothing."

Recently, the coffee tastes different. Adrian took a sip and asked Ms. Warren, "Changed the beans?"

"President Lockwood, I don’t know."

Ms. Warren shook her head, "Madam was always making the coffee, so I don’t know which beans she used. I just took a random pack to grind. Should I ask her..."

"No need!"

Adrian’s face turned cold, "Try a different bean tomorrow... Also, don’t trouble her with any more household matters."

"Yes."

Ms. Warren responded.

Due to drinking last night, his stomach felt a bit uncomfortable.

Even the breakfast Ms. Warren made wasn’t to his taste.

Chloe helped him with his tie, and Adrian’s expression softened slightly.

The two of them went out together, heading to the company.

Indeed, when everyone in the secretarial department saw Chloe appearing behind Adrian, their expressions changed.

They had seen Chloe’s social media post last night.

The beautiful night scene.

The romantic candlelight dinner.

Most importantly, Adrian Lockwood was at the center of the photo collage.

Chloe’s caption was straightforward: [Finally waiting for you!]

Although it wasn’t a proposal or wedding, to have Adrian divorce Serena Sinclair.

To post such a bold social media update.

Was indeed a testament to her skill.

Everyone who usually gossiped furiously now dared not speak, their faces filled with wariness.

Chloe was secretly delighted.

Then she glanced disdainfully as Ian Young knocked and entered Adrian’s office.

The harshest person in the entire secretarial department towards her was Ian Young.

One moment he asked her to do this.

The next he wanted her to do that.

Those in the know understood he was the special assistant to the president.

Those unaware might mistakenly think he was the president himself.

Now everything is fine.

In the past, he looked down on her. In the future, he’ll have to be as obedient as a pug.

Otherwise, she could fire him any minute!

She had already planned on arrogantly ordering Ian to brew two cups of coffee to bring to her and Adrian.

Chloe looked at her phone, waiting for Ian to finish his report and come out, so she could go in.

In the office, Adrian looked at Ian with a dark expression, "What did you say?"

"This is my resignation letter!"

Ian handed over the resignation letter, "I already sent the resignation request email to you and copied HR as per company procedures. See who you prefer in the secretarial department; if not, I can arrange the handover this month. Is that okay?"

"Why?"

He didn’t even glance at the resignation letter Ian placed on the desk.

Adrian leaned back in his leather chair, looking coldly at Ian, "Ian, do you know what you’re doing?"

The Lockwood Group’s chief executive assistant.

Ian’s position was envied by many.

And he had worked diligently by Adrian’s side for four or five years.

Simply put, with the right opportunity, Ian could go to a branch company and become a manager.

Alternatively, after gaining some more experience, he could become Adrian’s right-hand man, becoming a vice president of The Lockwood Group.

A true core executive.

And with that came a considerable salary and generous company shares.

Inappropriately, the note he had seen on Ian’s phone popped into his mind, where Ian had marked Serena Sinclair as "Ms. Sinclair."

Adrian felt it absurd and asked, "Could it be because of Serena Sinclair?"

Ian was silent for a moment, then calmly acknowledged, "You can interpret it that way."

Adrian suddenly looked up.

Ian explained, "When I first joined The Lockwood Group, I was a design assistant in the project department. Year after year, I was always handling chores without completing any notable project designs or achieving any results."

Frustrated and ready to resign, it was Serena Sinclair who suggested he switch departments.

"Ms. Sinclair said that after working together for a year, she noticed that my interests and skills weren’t in architectural design but better suited for secretarial work. She recommended me to you, and that’s how I ended up by your side."

Adrian remembered.

From the project department to the CEO’s office, from project director to company VP, during that time, he was so busy he barely had his feet on the ground.

He only remembered that suddenly, one day, everything on hand was sorted out.

For professional matters, there was Serena Sinclair.

For day-to-day tasks, there was Ian Young.

He focused solely on completing the transition of The Lockwood Group’s business with professional managers, then becoming The Lockwood Group CEO.

He thought Ian was someone he had personally mentored.

Considered him to be his loyal person.

But Ian considered himself under Serena’s loyalty?

"Ian, are you mistaken?"

Adrian was amused in anger, "If you’re pledging loyalty, you should do it to the right person."

"Serena Sinclair is no longer The Lockwood Group’s CEO’s wife, and now at Hawthorne Corporation, she’s not even a senior architect."

"Even if you want to curry favor, shouldn’t you do it with the right person?"

Ian remained silent, with a calm demeanor that showed his decision was final with no room for change.

Adrian tapped the table, "Indeed, it was Serena Sinclair who first recommended you to me, but make it clear; it was me who truly promoted you from the project department to the CEO’s office!!! Do you think by pledging your loyalty, Serena can offer you a better opportunity? What dream are you living in?!!"

Yes, it was he who had promoted him.

But wasn’t it Ian’s diligent work over the years that got him here today?

Different worldviews don’t have to be forced to align.

People with different paths should not work together.

Ian lowered his head, "I’m sorry, President Lockwood, for letting you down!"

Looking intently at the stubbornly inflexible Ian, Adrian’s inner irritation surfaced yet again.

Serena Sinclair.

Ian Young.

One was his most intimate pillow companion.

One was his most trusted person.

Two people who hadn’t even met him many times over the years beyond phone calls.

Turned out they both betrayed him at the same time?

"Since you’re determined to leave, I won’t stop you!"

"And don’t waste a month’s time handing over, are the people in the secretarial department just sitting around?"

Grabbing the pen, he swiftly signed his name.

Adrian closed the resignation report, tossed it back to Ian, "Get out! Get out right now!"