“Mr. Cooper, you…” He reluctantly smiled. “You must be kidding me.”
Wesley opened the car door and got out. Sandra didn’t know what he was up to and naturally followed him out.
“Mr. Clark, if I remember correctly, my Panamera was modified by this factory, right?”
Ethan nodded.
Wesley used to love cars before he became a vegetable. He liked to buy luxury cars and customize them himself. The Cooper family had a factory specializing in car production, so they had been helping him with the modifications.
So, every car Wesley had was modified in this factory.
“Now, understand?” Wesley sneered. “I had a car accident yesterday!”
It sent a chill down Ethan’s spine. His face turned pale.
“Mr. Cooper…” Of course, he knew about this. And he was also aware that it was normal for the Cooper family to have internal conflicts. He had once fought alongside Wesley’s grandfather, Terence Cooper. He couldn’t take sides. So, he had always remained neutral.
“My car has always been modified by you, but I had the accident because there was something wrong with the car. Humph…”
Wesley’s eyes were deep and sharp. “Shouldn’t I deal with you?”
Under immense pressure, Ethan broke into a cold sweat. “Mr. Cooper, your car hasn’t been maintained for several years.”
Wesley retorted, “So, is that the reason the car went out of control?”
After a pause, he continued, “Can you convince yourself?”
Ethan wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Mr. Cooper, please give me some time. I will investigate the modifications made to the car at that time and provide you with a satisfactory answer.”
Wesley waved his hand. “No need. I remember all the details of that car at the time.”
Joey immediately stepped forward, took out the documents from the car, and handed them to Ethan.
Wesley continued speaking. “Back then, your son had just graduated and urgently needed a car to build his reputation…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood.
Ethan didn’t expect to be directly blamed like this. He felt both anxious and angry, his blood boiling in his chest and a throbbing headache.
“Mr. Cooper…” He sighed heavily. “What do you want me to do?”
Wesley got straight to the point. “It’s simple. Think carefully about who your real boss is.”
Ethan was astonished. His boss was the Cooper Group. But was it Hailey, Debra, or now Victor and Wesley? He suddenly realized that, for all these years, he had been wavering. He had become the type of person he used to despise the most-a fence-sitter.
Wesley looked at his watch. “You have five minutes left.”
Ethan snapped out of his daze. Wesley’s meaning was simple. If Ethan continued to be a fence-sitter, his son would go to jail because of that car. If he sincerely joined Wesley, this matter could be forgotten. However, Hailey and Debra’s power was not to be underestimated. Could Wesley, who had been a vegetable for many years, really turn the tide?
“Mr. Cooper.” Hearing Wesley’s countdown, Ethan panicked. Finally, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind. “Mr. Cooper, you are my boss. That has never changed.”
Wesley didn’t seem pleased. Instead, he pressed Ethan further. “Talk is cheap.”
Ethan took a deep breath and pointed toward the office building. “Sir Cooper entrusted me with this factory and gave me the authority to handle the seals and account books.” He stepped aside and led Wesley and Sandra into the office building.
Soon, they entered Ethan’s office. Ethan opened the safe and brought out the seals and other items. “Mr. Cooper, I will have these remade according to your instructions.”
Wesley glanced at Joey. Joey immediately took the items and arranged for someone to handle the handover.
Ethan asked tentatively, “Mr. Cooper, that car… my son…” Wesley remained calm. “That car has been examined and determined to have been intentionally tampered with.”
After a pause, he stood up and concluded with determination, “Your son is skilled. He can work for me.”
Ethan was grateful. Sandra, however, felt a bit helpless. Wesley had just threatened Ethan with the car, and now he was using his son as leverage. Wesley was so cunning.
Since they had obtained the factory, they were about to go to work. Sandra couldn’t help but chuckle in the car. “I wonder if Debra would be furious to know that her daughter unintentionally helped you take control of this lucrative factory.”
Wesley was also in a good mood. “Hailey is preparing to give you the money officially.”
Sandra was a little surprised.
But then she realized that it was a natural result. “We should thank Angela for helping us so much.” It was just a simple competition between women. But Debra and Hailey were involved and now had to pay the price.
Because of Angela’s foolish actions, Wesley got the factory, and Sandra got the money. Angela was not their enemy! She was their lucky star!
Half past nine in the morning. Wesley’s car stopped in front of the Cooper Group. This couple was punctual for work. Although Wesley was the president, he had no power beyond the design department. Sandra was just the deputy director of the technical department. Debra had arrived early and had already informed every department. Everything was under her control.
So, she could still maintain a smile and personally welcome them to work. However, when they appeared at the door, Debra’s people returned and reported the situation to her. Learning that Ethan, who had always been unapproachable, had joined Wesley, Debra was furious. Even her pretty face was distorted with rage.
“Mrs. Debra Cooper.” Sandra greeted her joyfully. “What a coincidence.”
Debra clenched her teeth in anger. They worked in the same company, didn’t they? This greeting was clearly intended to provoke her!
She wouldn’t let them have their way. Fortunately, the technical department was under her control. Sandra, a country bumpkin, was just a rookie. She would probably be ridiculed and lose her dignity after just one morning!
Just thinking about these things made Debra feel a little better. She chuckled to herself.
“Now that you’re here at the company, you need to work hard,” she said with a smile. “I know you’ve just gotten married and your departments are close to each other, but I hope you can maintain some distance.”
She was a skilled actress. To others, it would seem like she was sincerely looking out for them. The Cooper Group had always been strongly against office romances, as they believed such relationships could lower work efficiency.
Of course, it didn’t mean employees were forbidden from dating each other. However, if two people from the same office or nearby offices began a romantic relationship, one of them would have to be transferred. This policy often led employees to bottle up their feelings, even if they liked someone, out of fear of a transfer.
Sandra smiled politely. “That’s a pity. If Mr. Victor Cooper had come in today, you wouldn’t be able to work in the president’s office.”
Debra was also one of the presidents of the company, managing several high-profit departments. Her position in the Cooper Group was critical, but even she couldn’t ignore the company’s rules. As Sandra had pointed out, if Victor returned to work, she would have to move out of her office.
What troubled Debra even more was how quickly Victor had recovered and how he was already planning to come back to work. But she really liked her current office, and there were secrets hidden inside.
Just then, Debra’s secretary, Brittany Hayes, approached. “Mrs. Debra Cooper, Mr. Cooper and Mrs. Cooper can go report now.”
Debra, still angry at the thought of Victor, found an outlet for her frustration. “How many times do I have to say it? Stop being so servile at the company. Are you servants of the Cooper family?”
Brittany quickly apologized, and Debra, feeling a bit calmer, took a deep breath.
She forced a smile and said to Wesley and Sandra, “Alright, you can go report now. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me.”
Debra was always “busy” but still made time to look after the “newbies,” so she naturally gained everyone’s praise.
Sandra nodded sincerely. “I will definitely come find you.”
The smile froze on Debra’s lips. She didn’t expect Sandra to be so straightforward. Throughout the morning, Sandra had approached her countless times. And every time, it had been for trivial matters-like where to find the charging equipment or how to use the card at the water dispenser.
Debra, in charge of half of the Cooper Group, had to personally handle such minor issues. It was almost driving her crazy.
“You can go ask my secretary,” she said, growing impatient.
Sandra looked innocent. “But you said if I have any questions, I can come to you. Your secretary won’t help me without your permission.”
Debra regretted saying that. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. “Okay, I’ll instruct her to find someone to assist you.”
Sandra didn’t reply, but it was almost lunchtime.
“Okay, but should I still come to you if I have any more questions?”
Debra was speechless. She wanted to say no, but she had promised earlier that morning at the entrance of the Cooper Group, and she needed to keep her word. She didn’t want to be laughed at.
She rubbed her temples. “If others can’t solve it, you can come to me.”
“You’ll have a hard time this afternoon,” Wesley remarked.
Sandra casually placed a piece of steak in her mouth. “I’ll handle whatever comes my way.”
“Aren’t you worried that Debra might frame you on purpose and make you leave?” Wesley asked, though he already knew she had the skills to handle it. Still, his expression remained indifferent. It was hard to tell whether he wanted Sandra to stay or go.
Luckily, Sandra had a strong mindset and excellent resilience.
“Do you think Debra would give up on the Cooper family just because I’m afraid?” she asked, shrugging.
Wesley was silent. Of course, the answer was no.
Sandra smiled. “Then why should I be in a bad mood?”
Wesley, feeling a little more at ease, looked forward to the afternoon.
Two hours later, Sandra arrived at the tech department, only to be stopped by an intern.
“Mrs. Cooper, could you help me with this program?” The intern looked young and honest, but Sandra wasn’t easily fooled.
She patted the intern’s shoulder with a knowing look. “It’s okay if you can’t solve it now. You’ll realize that… there are still many things you won’t be able to handle.”
She smiled professionally.
The intern blinked, clearly confused. “Then, could you help me take a look now?”
“No,” Sandra refused without hesitation. “Because I can’t deal with it either.”
The intern was speechless.
Naturally, she couldn’t press further without exposing herself. But before Sandra could walk away, another person stopped her.
Sandra glanced at the person across from her. It was Owen Pope, the director of the technical department.
Owen was known as the most talented hacker in Geniston. He had previously single-handedly battled a foreign hacker alliance, defeating eighty to ninety people in the process. His undefeated streak in that battle earned him widespread recognition.
Afterward, he was recruited by the Cooper Group and became the director of the technical department. He was a night owl who preferred staying at home. Though not particularly striking, Owen’s most notable feature was his straight nose.
Sandra felt a sense of relief that he was easy to recognize, as it meant she didn’t need to memorize his name.
“Mr. Pope, do you need something from me?” Sandra asked, pretending to be clueless in front of Owen.
Owen, in his late twenties and about the same age as Wesley, stared into Sandra’s expressive eyes, hesitating for a moment. But then, he made up his mind.
He pulled out a USB drive and handed it to Sandra.
“Although it’s your first day here, you should start working. This USB contains some simple system assemblies. Take a look.”
Sandra accepted the USB drive and gave it a slight shake. “I’ll get to work right away.”
Owen felt a twinge of reluctance, but he had to follow orders. While he couldn’t outright reveal anything, he could offer a subtle hint.
“Well, it’s not urgent. You can… hold off on using the USB drive for now.”
Sandra wasn’t one to be easily swayed by others.
“It’s my first day, and I can’t afford to be lazy,” she replied firmly.
She walked to her desk happily and inserted the USB drive into the computer. When she saw the code on the screen, a smirk appeared on her lips. They were trying to frame her? A bunch of fools!
In the distance, someone from the technical department approached Owen. “Mr. Pope, should we take action?”
Owen closed his eyes. He had wanted to give this lovely girl a chance. But Sandra was so eager that he hadn’t even had time to prepare. “Let’s get started.”
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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