Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Michael’s appointment as the speaker of the Senate was only announced by the Navarre County Council Office in the morning. By evening, before work ended, almost everyone knew about it.
Maddox was no exception. He soon learned about the news the same day.
Aurelia received a call on her phone. “Aurelia, did you forget sormething today?”
When Aurelia saw Maddox’s name on the screen, a faint smile of satisfaction appeared at the corner of her mouth.
She deliberately allowed it to ring several times before finally answering the phone. “I haven’t forgotten about it, but I don’t have time to send someone over today. Let’s talk about it the day after tomorrow. That is if you’re certain you won’t change your mind.”
“Aurelia, you are testing my patience.”
Maddox smiled bitterly on the other end of the phone. How could he not guess Aurelia’s intention? She did not send anyone. to his office on purpose as she wanted to know his stand and what he had decided.
If Maddox was still willing to lend Aurelia the money for her investments after Michael’s appointment as the speaker of the Senate, Maddox would be making clear whose side he was on. Aurelia would then answer his phone like now.
However, if Maddox failed to call Aurelia, then Aurelia would pretend that he never called her earlier. She also would not send anyone to his company. Nor would she call him to ask him about borrowing money from him.
If this was the case, then he would have no chance to be friends with Aurelia in the future.
In all honesty, Maddox did think twice about his decision after learning about Michael’s appointment. Otherwise, he would not be calling Aurelia at that time.
During that time, Maddox had been pondering whether he should take the gamble. He had been playing safe and acting cautiously all these years, which has led him to where he was today. If he made a wrong move, all his past efforts would have gone down the drain.
Aurelia had left a profound impression on him. Her shrewdness and decisiveness made an indelible mark on him. He thought, “If a woman possessed such determination, should 1, as a man, be any less than her?”
Even if Maddox did not weigh in on Michael’s position, he would still take a gamble with the deal because of the enigmatic Aurelia.
Two days ago, when Maddox told Aurelia that he would lend her money for her investment, she had hinted over the phone that Michael’s position at work might change. At that time, Maddox did not take her comments seriously.
Now when he recalled their conversation, he realized that Aurelia already had a plan in mind
Aurelia’s voice sounded calm and unhurried on the phone. There was no trace of uneasiness or anxiousness about her father’s rise and fall at work, Maddox was starting to believe that this was all part of Michael’s strategy in his political career.
As Michael’s only daughter, Aurelia would have known about his appointment before the announcement was made.
Maddox could not help but associate Aurelia’s decisiveness and wit with her father. Michael must be way more shrewd and intelligent to teach her daughter so well.
Maddox figured out that his plan would succeed if he could align himself with both Aurelia and Michael.
“If that’s what you think, then so be it. Maddox, you’re a very courageous man. I thought I won’t receive any call from you today.”
Maddox was pleased that Aurelia had been so honest with him. Immediately, he shared with Aurelia what he thought.
Chapter 41
“Aurelia, I also didn’t expect to call you. I made this call at the very last minute. I’ll be honest with you. I’m not calling you because of Michael’s new position. I’m making this gamble because I believe you’re not an ordinary woman.
Surprised, Aurelia let out a laugh. “Looks like you trust me a lot, Maddox. Well, then, I can’t let you down. I will borrow 8 million dollars out of the 10 million. As for the remaining 2 million dollars, I’ll treat it as your share in the investment.”
“Aurelia, are you serious about this?”
Maddox’s eyes suddenly lit up as his voice became louder. Aurelia was amused at Maddox’s trust in her. He seemed certain that her investment would make a profit.
“Of course. Get the money ready. Someone will look for you two days later.”
Michael handed over his current duties quickly. The next afternoon, he turned up at Navarre Senate and took office.
Needless to say, the two teams were eyeing the position of the chief deputy sheriff, which was now left vacant by him.
The Francois family, especially Marcellus was stunned to learn of Michael’s appointment as the speaker of the Senate.
Marcellus was still holding on to the incriminating information about Michael. Before he could release the information, Michael was already transferred to the Senate’s Office.
Marcellus wondered if Yves was involved in Michael’s new appointment.
However, Yves should know that the information Marcellus had could get Michael into trouble. With this knowledge, Yves could not possibly have helped Michael to get promoted to Navarre Senate.
For those in politics, the speaker of the Senate was essentially a role for retirees. However, it would spell trouble for a businessman like Marcellus if the speaker of the Senate was a former father–in–law who did not like him. Michael could easily make things difficult for Marcellus. The latter felt uneasy at the thought of that.
Marcellus felt that something was amiss when he could not get Wilson, Yves’s cousin, on the phone. Marcellus had dialed Wilson’s number many times, but the line was either busy or his call would be directed to an automatic voicemail.
Marcellus, who had always been an acute and sharp man in the business world, soon felt a sense of impending danger.
It seemed that the entire Francois family had been taken for a ride.
Marcellus began to regret his divorce from Aurelia. He now felt that he had divorced her too quickly.
Things would have been different if they were still married. He would not be in such a precarious situation.
Marcellus was worried that Yves might have other plans. Worse, Yves might have aligned himself with Michael. If that was the case, Marcellus would be in deep trouble.
Marcellus was deep in thought for a long time. Quianna called him several times, but he did not answer any of her calls.
He wondered if Aurelia had already told Michael and Melanie about their divorce. If she had not informed her parents, Marcellus might stand a chance of changing the situation.
However, if Aurelia had already told them about their divorce, both the Francois family and the Swanson family would become bitter enemies.
Marcellus thought it was better to sound Aurelia out.