Chapter 20

It seemed Lainey's mention of splitting up had touched a raw nerve.

The following morning, Jonny arrived at the company with Laineyand immediately called the executives together.

"From this moment on, Lainey Gilbert is my secretary. She'll oversee every decision concerning the Usepsall project. Her words carry the same weight as mine. Clear?" Jonny declared.

The executives nodded in unison without hesitation."Understood, Mr. Todd."

After all, everyone knew Lainey was the one Jonny treasured most.

No one would dare slight her.

Once he saw everything settled, Jonny lightly touched the top of Lainey's head. "I've got a meeting to attend, so I'll head out. Someone will take you around the company in the meantime. There's a new restaurant nearby everyone's talking about. I'll bring you there for lunch."

Lainey lowered her gaze with a bashful smile and murmured,"Okay, Jonny."

Jonny had clearly fallen under her charm.

Even if her position came through personal ties,Jonny's influence guaranteed that every executive showed Lainey the highest respect.

Allard Moss, the head of Planning Department,promptly handed her a file. "Lainey, these are the proposed demolition sites for the Usepsall project.Take a look. If everything checks out, I'll pass them along to the shareholders."

Lainey accepted the folder and skimmed through the pages without much thought.

But as she was about to shut it, her eyes froze on two words: "Hope House."

Wasn't that the orphanage where Eleanor had grown up?

Before coming back to the country, Lainey had already done her research.

The idea crossed her mind, and she pointed carelessly. "Add this site too. It's close to Ravenswood River, and riverside housing could be developed there."

Allard traced her gesture and frowned in disapproval.

He knew the location carried almost no commercial worth, and tearing it down would be nothing but trouble.

"Lainey, about this site-"

Before he finished, Lainey cut him off. "Allard, are you forgetting what Jonny said?"

Her voice sounded calm, but there was an edge in it that warned him not to push further. Allard didn't dare argue. He nodded quickly and bent slightly. "Yes, I'll handle it right away."

As he rushed off, Lainey's smile grew wider.

She wondered if Eleanor would appreciate the little "gift" she had prepared. Compete with her? How foolish.

Once the document arrived at Stewart Group, Erick intercepted it without delay.

He hurried it straight to the president's office. "Mr.Stewart, the Todd Group has just released their Usepsall project plan."

Nolan leaned back in his leather chair,barely glancing up at the words. "Put it down."

His fingers drummed a steady rhythm against the desk. "Anything from the Underground Network?"

Erick set the file on the desk where it belonged,but he didn't move away.

"Nothing yet." He hesitated before adding,"Mr. Stewart, one of the proposed sites in Todd Group's plan is the Hope House. Should I-"

Nolan stopped tapping and slowly turned his head toward him.

He reached for the folder and studied it with sharp focus.

Three years earlier, Stewart Group had invested heavily in the Usepsall project, only for Eleanor to snatch it away at the final stage.

Nolan hadn't pulled his money back, choosing instead to use it as a way to measure Eleanor's ability.

But Eleanor was shrewd, rarely leaving any weak points.

Now that Hope House was listed for demolition, he was eager to see how she would handle it.

With that thought, he placed the document back on the desk, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Get in touch with Eleanor. Remind her she still owes me a favor from the last exhibition."