The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

"You're quite sharp," Brian said with a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes, making him reconsider some of his earlier prejudices about Noelle.

It seemed that some people and situations could not be judged solely by appearances or by looking at a resume. If someone like Charles had taken an interest in Noelle, she must have some extraordinary talents. A man like Charles would never be drawn to someone who was merely average.

Brian continued, "These are indeed significant issues. If we're going to build and expand in this area, there are many factors we need to consider. That's why we're going over today to take a closer look." Brian's car had just exited the highway and was heading toward West City. He stopped at a gas station to refuel.

Noelle took the opportunity to stretch her legs. She walked around the area and took in her surroundings. When she returned, she saw Brian leaning against the car, holding an unlit cigarette. Seeing her approach, Brian put the cigarette away. "What did you notice?"

"The gas station attendants mentioned that this area is usually very quiet with hardly any traffic, except for the occasional car passing through or vehicles coming from the rehab center.

"If this area is to be developed, we need to consider the flow of people. We need to consider whether to put our focus into building a mall, medical facilities, or something else." Brian smirked slightly. "Get in the car. We can discuss it further while driving."

During the drive, they talked quite a bit and found that their thoughts were generally aligned. Brian realized that Noelle was incredibly smart, grasping concepts quickly and thoroughly. When they finally reached their destination, Brian parked the car under a large tree. He said, "The roads here are rough. You might want to come better prepared next time."

Noelle glanced at her high heels and gave a wry smile. "Got it."

She had not expected to be out in such a remote area on her first day. While Ker heels were not very high, a whole day of walking on uneven ground could be quite exhausting.

Brian noticed her predicament. "You should know that we face unexpected situations every day. There's rarely time to prepare. The best we can do is race against time and consider all possibilities.

"After all, opportunities favor the ones who came prepared."

"You're right, Mr. Parker," Noelle responded earnestly, appreciating Brian's practical approach and strong principles.

Brian chuckled. "No need to be so formal. If you're working with me, just call me Brian."

"Oh, I couldn't!" Noelle shook her head instinctively. Brian was her superior, and even though she was Charles's wife, she didn't want any special treatment. In fact, she

wanted to avoid it.

"How about this—I won't call you Brian, but I'll call you my mentor from now on. After all, you've been teaching me since we started out today." Brian paused for a moment, then nodded. "Alright then."

"Thanks. Mr. Parker!" Noelle said with a smile.