“What? What an ungrateful bastard!”
Peace didn’t show any mercy to Frank just because he was Anna’s father, but kept calling him “bastard”.
“I think, Anna, you’ve done your best. After all, you’ve visited him in the hospital so many times. So, just ignore him and concentrate on your life.”
Anna said calmly, “It’s okay; I should leave him alone.”
Shirley and Allie have visited Frank in the hospital frequently recently. Moreover, they are the ones who offered to let Frank stay home. So, they seem to be treating him pretty well, Anna thought.
“What are your plans after that?”
“Hmm?”
Peace asked Anna as she wiped her greasy hands, “I’m asking you about your new job. You said that you had it all figured out before.
So, stop keeping it a secret and just tell me!”
Anna laughed and replied, “Actually, I don’t have to keep it a secret. I didn’t tell you at that time because I hadn’t done the paperwork yet. Well, I just had it all done yesterday.”
“What?”
Anna wiped the grease off her hands with a napkin, then took out a business card from her bag and handed it to Peace. Peace read it out softly, then looked up in surprise and asked, “Anna Gabriel, the Lemon Clothing Company’s general manager? What? Have you started a business?”
Anna explained, “To be honest, my mother founded this company, not me. My father had just started his business when my mother married him. So, my mom gave him all the money he needed at that time. Later, when my mom was pregnant with me, my dad’s company was doing well. So, he merged this company into the Gabriel Group. But, the group never really took care of this small company, and it was suffering. So, I took it over.”
Anna deliberately did not say what happened in the middle. On the other hand, Peace had already figured out what was going on. Olivia had given up her job after being pregnant with Anna. As a result, Lemon was merged into Frank’s group and became an obscure subsidiary. Later, because Frank cheated on her with Shirley, Olivia died while giving birth to her child. Shirley did not even treat her daughter Anna well, not to mention the company.
So, it was not easy for us shall company to survive through so many difficulties for so long.
“When I loll my lather about it, he said yes right away,”
“Of course, he had to say yes, because this company is supposed to be yours. I don’t see any problem with you getting your stuff
Anna laughed and said, “Come on, I don’t even care about the past myself, so don’t you feel angry about it. By the way, I have to ask you something important.”
“What is it?”
“Would you like to work for me at Lemon?”
Peace froze, frowned and asked, “My goodness, are you kidding me? Do you really want me to work for your small company as a designer? Why?”
“Because you’re cheap.”
“Gee! Anna, do you know how much I get paid?” Peace’s eyes immediately widened in surprise.
“Sports
“Oh, I don’t care how much others pay you. I’ll offer you benefits if you come here.”
Anna tugged on Peace’s arm without letting go, as though she was determined to hire her. She then suggested, “How about I buy you tacos for the next five years?”
Peace rolled her eyes and said, “Oh, my goodness! Even if you buy me tacos for the next decade, the money won’t be enough to pay me to design a dress. You’re blackmailing me!”
“That’s because I’m poor! I saw Lemon’s office the other day, and the building is just a small factory building. The management system of the company is awful, and the accountant doesn’t know anything. No designer would work in a company like that! And, they won’t come even if I pay them! So, only you can help me.”
Peace said, “What? Are you telling me that you don’t have any money? Show me your bank balance, Anna. I don’t think I have even a tenth of what you have.”
Anna let go of her hand and said, “Are you going to help me or not? If you won’t do it, i’ll find someone else.”
Peace bristled and replied, “Yes! I will definitely help you, Anna. Even if you don’t pay me or buy me tacos, i’ll still help you. I’m tired of designing high-fashion clothes all the time, and I just want to design a little bit of everyday clothing.”
Anna laughed out loud at that, held up two fingers, and said, “After the company goes public, I’ll give you twenty percent of the shares.”
Hearing that, Peace said with a hint of sarcasm, “Wow! Hope I won’t regret it.”
In fact, Peace didn’t think much of Anna’s request at first. She had her own studio and also did some outsourcing works for other clothing companies. And, she was not actually busy working. So, when her best friend wanted to start a business and she could be helpful, she would not hesitate to help.
Peace followed Anna to Lemon’s office building early the next morning.
They went through two alleyways to get there. Located in the heart of the city, this three-story structure was tucked away among the many other high-rises. Also, it was in a ideal place that was surrounded by the city’s bustling shopping districts.
The one who showed them around was a handsome young man in his early thirties.
Anna said, “Peace, this is Kevin, the person in charge of Lemon before. Kevin, I’d want to introduce you to my friend Peace Brooks, and she will be the chiel designer.”
“Hello, Ms. Brooks.”
“Oh, hello. You can call me Peace.”
After they finished their discussion, Anna asked Kevin to leave. She then took Peace for a walk around the office building. Afterwards, she inquired, “Well, what do you think?”
“Do you want to hear the truth?” Peace asked.
“Of course,” Anna replied.
Peace nonchalantly pointed out everything she thought was inappropriate about the office. “This place looks like it was never renovated since your mother left here last century. It’s not only obsolete but also looks like a dump. You’d better redecorate the place, Anna. Make it a little rougher and edgier.”
“Also, fire all the employees here because none of them seem to be working at all. I just saw people cutting their nails and playing games. Instead of making efforts to train them properly, why don’t we hire a new group of employees? The new employees won’t know what this place used to be like, so they won’t dare to slack off.”
“Okay,” Anna said as she took notes in her notebook while listening to Peace.
Seeing Anna taking notes, Peace asked suspiciously, “Hey, I’m your designer, not your boss! Why should I care so much about your studio?”
Anna immediately laughed, took Peace’s arm, and said intimately, “Look, since you can point out these mistakes, why don’t you tell me more about the place?”
Despite Anna’s approach, Peace still felt like she had been blackmailed by her.
On Friday, the results of Frank’s medical exam came out. After that, the doctor informed Frank that he was free to leave the hospital.
Shirley and Allie acted thoughtfully. They came to the hospital with a group of relatives to visit him and pick him up.
“Frank, you know, my sister has been really worried about you lately!” Shirley’s sister said.
“Yes, and she’s been crying for you.”
“Thank God you’re okay! I haven’t seen Shirley in a long time. Every time I call her, she says she’s in the hospital.” Shirley’s cousin said.
Looking at the people in the hospital room as if they were family, Anna frowned and felt like an outsider. She stood in the doorway for a moment before hesitating and then turning to leave.
“You’re leaving?” A woman asked Anna.
Anna froze. She looked up and saw a woman in a gray dress standing in front of her. It was Selina.
“What are you doing here?” Anna asked.
Selina looked at the bustling ward and said calmly, “I’m here for my medicine. Anna, since you are here, why don’t you go in? Are you afraid because there are so many relatives of hers?”
Anna was still in a daze when Selina took her wrist.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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