Chapter 24 I Will Kill You Later
The next morning, both Irene and Jordan went to the company with a bruise on their faces. They looked at each other and broke out in laughter. The atmosphere in the office was much better than before. Jordan took Irene to the nearest restaurant for lunch. It was a place that focused on Cantonese cuisine. Irene muttered to herself, "Jordan doesn't like Cantonese cuisine, does he? What's wrong with him today?"
Before the two sat down, a voice rang out, "I was searching everywhere for you!"
Irene took a look and saw Randy, along with his two men, were staring at her and Jordan. Although Jordan had just arrived in San Fetillo, he had already known San Fetillo very well and recognized Randy at a glance. He sneered and said, "You missed the second half of that saying. And yet here we are!"
"Teach this kid a lesson first!" Randy ordered his two bodyguards.
The two men rushed over. They thought it would be an easy fight, yet surprisingly, they were vanquished by Jordan in a few rounds.
Jordan dropped the two bodyguards on the floor and lunged at Randy. Randy panicked and said, "Do you know who I am? My father is Keaton, head of City Construction. I will ruin you if you dare to touch me!" The only response he got was a rain of fists. Randy was beaten black and blue. The waiter called the police, and they arrived soon.
They were taken to the police station together. Jordan had been calm the whole time. But Randy was used to being a pompous a*s and remained the same attitude in the police station. "Basta'd, wait for me to get out of here. I will kill you!"
John told Edric right away about the fight between Jordan and Randy and their visit to the police station. "Jordan's Executive Assistant had visited the Smith family earlier in the morning. Why did they get into a fight at noon? Doesn't he want to win the bid anymore?"
Edric was stunned. "It can't be that simple. Keep an eye on it!"
Keaton rushed to the police station when he heard his son was beaten. He was astonished when he saw Jordan was the one who hit his son.
Jordan changed his attitude immediately after Keaton came. He apologized in a low voice and suggested compensation. Randy was over the moon when he saw Jordan acting like a coward.
Keaton was furious when he saw the bruises on his son's face. He determined that Jordan would never win the construction bid. But this thing was not over yet. He needed to get some money out of it. Not only would Jordan pay them a large sum of money, but he would also go back with nothing.
He hatched a plot to take revenge. That night, Jordan's Executive Assistant came to apologize sincerely and asked someone to move a few boxes in.
After David left, Keaton and his wife opened the boxes. The boxes were filled with money that amounted to millions of dollars.
It seemed that Jordan had done good research. He even knew that Keaton liked cash.
However, Jordan would certainly get nothing back. Keaton was determined that he wouldn't help Jordan with the construction bid at all. He happily moved the money into the storage room. However, he didn't realize that he would face a great disaster.
Irene didn't know that Randy was Keaton's son until they were in the police station. She felt terrible when seeing Jordan apologizing humbly.
Jordan had always been arrogant and domineering in front of her. When had he ever bowed his head to others like this? She knew very well that he was only doing this because of the construction bid. Irene felt guilty when thinking that she was the reason Jordan had to act so deferentially.
David and Jordan gathered together and discussed business as usual after they returned to the company. She never cared about what they talked about, but she couldn't help but eavesdrop today.
It turned out that Jordan asked David to send five million to Randy as compensation for his injury. Irene was shocked. Five million was an astronomical number in her mind. She felt even worse, knowing that she cost Jordan such a large sum of money.
She wasn't eager to get off work and go home either. She was ready to put herself in front of Jordan in case he wanted to vent his anger on her.
Strangely, however, Jordan didn't seem to be upset at all and didn't keep her in the office either. Seeing Irene slowly packing up her things, he asked her curiously, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Irene had no choice but to gather her things and go home. She saw an Audi parked downstairs when she got home. The car door suddenly opened as she approached.
Steven got out of the car. "Irene."
"What are you doing here?" Irene's face turned cold.
"What's wrong with your mouth?" Steven's face sank when he saw the bruise on the corner of Irene's mouth. "Who hit you?"
"Who hit me? Keaton's son." Irene sneered.
"He was the one who hit you? So Jordan was beating him up today because of you?"
"Yes!"
Steven initially came here to talk to Irene about the construction bid. He knew well about Edric's plan and his ability to handle the project. It was no doubt that Edric would win the bid. However, things were different when Jordan got involved. The Reed Family was also powerful. Mostly importantly, Irene was working for Jordan. If he could benefit them, why wouldn't he help his daughter? Much to surprise, he saw the bruise on Irene's lips. He knew that Jordan and Randy had a fight and were taken to the police station at noon.
At that time, Steven was still wondering why Jordan would offend Keaton at this juncture. But now, when he saw Irene's bruised lips, he was certain that Randy bullied Irene, and Jordan was taking revenge for her, which made Steven raving mad.
"Irene, I will settle the score with Keaton."
Irene darted a cold look at him. "Mr. Cook, my business has nothing to do with you. You'd better not waste time and go back to accompany your wife and daughter!"
"Irene, I'm here to tell you something about Jordan." In front of Irene, Steven didn't seem like the exalted Secretary at all.
Irene's expression softened when she heard him mentioning Jordan. She and Steven went to a teahouse nearby.
Steven didn't need to speak like an official in front of his daughter. He told Irene straightforwardly that he could help Jordan's company with the bidding process.
Irene never wanted to have anything to do with Steven. But now she was pleased to see that Steven took the initiative to help Jordan. She warmed up a little bit. "We're not counting on your help. We won't complain even if we lost, as long as you can make sure the bidding process is fair."
Steven told Irene more details about the bidding process that they should pay attention to before they walked out of the teahouse together. He turned back and held Irene's hand before getting into the car. "Irene, I hope you can move back and live with us."
Irene's face changed at the mention of "us". She shook off Steven's hand. "Mr. Cook, see you around!"
Edric was confident to win the bid, but Margaret was not so optimistic. It was a large project and she had to get it at any cost. To be safe, she had a meeting with Deborah.
Naturally, Deborah promised eagerly when they talked about the bidding. "I heard about this from Steven. Edric is more than qualified to handle this. Even if he was not, Steven would do his best for the sake of Lily and Edric."
Deborah was someone who could be trifled with. She and her daughter were kicking themselves since their plot against Irene at the nightclub that night was interrupted by Edric.
Edric's attachment to Irene was so obvious. Since Deborah couldn't control Edric, she had to work on Margaret. Everything she said was a reminder that Margaret had to make sure Edric marry her daughter if she wanted them to help.
Margaret was not a fool. She smiled and said, "Edric was going to work on the engagement party. But he has been occupied by this construction bidding recently. We will hold the engagement ceremony as soon as this is over."
"Really? Then which date do you have in mind?" Deborah reminded.
"It'll be the 25th of next month! By then, the construction bidding business should be over!"
"Okay, then we're all set for the 25th of next month," Deborah agreed. They discussed more about the details of the party before saying goodbye.
Edric didn't go home until 10 pm. Margaret immediately told him about the engagement when she saw him coming back. "I have talked to Madam Cook today about the engagement. We scheduled the ceremony on the 25th of next month."
Edric remained silent. Margaret said, "Edric, Lily is kind and docile. You should marry her at least for how she has suffered for you. What's more, she is Steven's daughter. Nothing bad can come from this marriage."
Edric still didn't say anything. Margaret had been used to her son's silence. Edric had been talking to her less and less ever since she forced him to kick the jinx out of their family.
Sometimes he didn't say a word for a whole day. "Son, I've told Lily that you'll accompany her to choose an engagement dress and ring tomorrow. You should change your schedule at work."
"Mom, do you take a fancy to Lily because of her kindness or because she is Steven's daughter?" Edric suddenly asked.
"It's surely because of her kindness," Margaret answered.
"That's good. You picked her yourself this time. I hope you can treat her well and don't let the same thing happen again." Edric turned around and went upstairs.
Looking at her son's receding figure, Margaret opened her mouth but didn't utter a sound. Why did her son say such a thing? What did he mean that she picked Lily herself? Didn't he fall in love with Lily? Otherwise, why did he impregnate her?
Edric went upstairs and closed the door. Exhausted, he lay in bed. For some inexplicable reasons, he drove to Irene's apartment again tonight after work and just happened to see Steven and Irene walking out of the teahouse.
Why would Irene and Steven go to a teahouse together?
Steven knew about what happened between him and Irene. Now he was about to get engaged to Steven's daughter. Why would Steven go to see his ex-wife? What the hell was going on?
While thinking, he saw that Steven rubbed Irene's head and held her hand. Irene was quite resistant to him. She shook off Steven's hand and left without looking back.
Steven stood in the same spot until Irene walked out of his sight. Then he got in the car and left.
Edric was confused by what he saw today. He lay on the bed tossing and turning and couldn't fall asleep until early in the morning.
He overslept and didn't wake up until he heard the knock on the door. Margaret shouted outside, "Edric, Lily is here."
"What is Lily doing here?" Edric rubbed his eyes and sat up. Then he remembered what his mother said last night. Lily came to take him to pick a dress and an engagement ring.
Dragging his feet, he washed up and went downstairs. Lily didn't look anxious at all. She kept chatting with Margaret with a smile on her face. Looking at the harmonious scene, Edric sighed to himself and strode downstairs.
"Edric!" Lily turned to him with a smile. "Did you sleep well?"
"Let's go." Edric took the lead and walked to the door. Lily said goodbye to Margaret politely and trotted to catch up with Edric.
Edric went to the dress store with Lily first. Lily went in to try on the dresses. A car came over when he stepped outside to smoke out of boredom. Kinsey and Irene got off the car and entered the dress store. The TV station was going to host a dinner party tomorrow. Kinsey had to wear a gown, so she dragged Irene here to be her sounding board. "Irene, is this dress good?"
Kinsey pointed at a strapless dress and asked Irene. Irene shook her head. Kinsey's petite figure would look better in a dress with a higher waistline. So she pointed to a shorter dress and asked her to try it on. Lily put on a dress in the fitting room and walked out cheerfully, planning to ask Edric for his opinion. To her surprise, she bumped right into Kinsey and Irene.