Chapter 6 New Owner of The Company

[You are very handsome, Master.]

I lifted the corner of my lips as Newt complimented me. I was standing in front of a large mirror in my walk-in closet. I never thought I would have a separate room to store my clothes and accessories. 

Shirts, suits, shoes, watches, and ties, all famous brands and expensive. All these things have been in this house from the first time.

"I've always been good-looking, Newt." I'm not lying. Even Sofia is crazy about my looks.

After making sure my appearance was perfect, I went downstairs for breakfast. There are several types of dishes on the dining table. I frowned. Who's going to eat all this food? Are rich people always like this? How wasteful.

"Hello, my name is Fredy, Mr. Durand. I am the chef who will be cooking for you."

I smiled awkwardly. This life is new to me. I even cooked for myself all the time because Sofia didn't want to cook. But now it's different; a chef is cooking for me.

I didn't want Fredy to see my embarrassment. I cleared my throat and straightened my tie. "Thank you, Fredy." That was all I could say. I wasn't used to behaving like a rich man.

Fredy smiled and came towards me. He put down a plate of raw fish.

"I heard you like Japanese food best. I made fugu sashimi for your breakfast on purpose."

I frowned when I heard Fredy mention fugu fish. I knew it was poisonous.

Fredy chuckled. "You can rest assured. I have a special licence to process fugu fish. So this sashimi is safe and non-toxic. The food has also gone through a screening process before being served to you, sir."

[All the people who work here are qualified and trustworthy, Master].

Newt's words further reassured me that everything would be fine. I ate without hesitation. "This is really good, Fredy. Everything is just right." I wasn't lying with my praise. This was the most delicious sashimi I had ever had. I unconsciously finished the plate in front of me. "It's not fishy at all. I like it."

Fredy smiled at my compliment. "Thank you, sir."

After breakfast, I went to the office. Vasco was waiting outside with the car door open. What intrigued me was the woman standing next to Vasco. I had seen her before, but I don't remember where. 

[She is Olivia Anderson, Mr. Anderson's daughter. She will be helping you learn about Quinion Corp. She has served as the company's Operations Director.]

Newt's words answered my curiosity. I paused for a moment in front of the girl, frowning, remembering something.

"My name is Olivia Anderson, sir. I will be your personal assistant."

I just nodded and then got into the car. Olivia got in and sat down beside me. I remembered her, she was the woman who helped me get into the shoe store.

"This is the company profile." Olivia showed me the iPad she had just taken out of her bag. My eyes are immediately drawn to the screen, which shows a diagram of the positions in Quinion Corp. "Since you fired the Finance Director and Operations Manager yesterday, both positions are now vacant. You must appoint a new director and manager immediately. I have suggested some of these people for you to consider."

Olivia showed me some profiles of the people she had suggested for the position of Finance Director. I studied them carefully, but I didn't know who to choose.

"Is there anyone you suggest most of all?" I ask Olivia, because I'm sure she understands the matter best. I can't just appoint because it's a company matter.

"I suggest you appoint Mr. Andrew Clinton as Finance Director and Mr. James Lloyd as Operations Manager."

I nodded, agreeing with Olivia's suggestion. For now, Olivia is the only one I can trust in the company. 

"I have also appointed Mr. Bernard Benson to replace me. I will have to resign as Operations Director to become your personal assistant.".

"Why would you want to be my personal assistant and resign your position as Operations Director?" I thought the position of operations director was more prestigious than that of personal assistant.

"Of course, because the salary offered to me is more, sir. And I really love money."

That, of course, was the reason. Money. I smiled slightly. All women are the same, they love money. Even willing to throw away the person who loves her just for money.

When I arrived at the company, a red carpet was laid out along the road I'm about to walk down. Several reporters are waiting for me, microphones in hand.

[Relax, master. There's no need to be nervous. You should be used to all this by now.]

"Do I look nervous, Newt?" I asked, although I was aware that I was catching my breath repeatedly to keep my body from shaking.

[You look very tense, Master.]

I still tried to calm myself. After a few breaths, I decided to go down. As I descended, someone greeted me with a helping hand. I have forgotten his name, but I remember his face. He was one of the directors of the company, whose profile Olivia had shown me.

"Welcome, Mr. Durand. Nice to meet you."

"Thank you." I smiled and released our handshake. Afterwards, a few reporters approached and asked questions.

"You don't have to answer them, sir," Olivia whispered. I obeyed her and continued to walk down the red carpet. The people standing on either side of the carpet turned 90 degrees as I passed.

My face looks flat, even though I'm cheering inside. That's what it's like to be rich. Even everyone bows when you pass. I used to be like them, but now I feel the opposite.

Some people tried to engage me in conversation. I knew they were people trying to curry favour with me.

"This month, this company's sales went up by 15 percent. That's because the marketing department did a good job."

I smiled and looked at the man who was speaking. I was sure he was the marketing director, the way he kept bragging about the department.

"You'll just have to drop me off here. I'll take Mr. Durand to his office," Olivia said as we stood in front of the lift. They immediately fell silent and looked at each other.

"Please come in, sir." Olivia invited me into the lift as the doors opened. I got in, followed by her.

It was just the two of us. The scent of her perfume is still the same as it was then. I kept staring at the mirror in front of me, where I saw Olivia's reflection. Her face is rigid, the hallmark of someone with a strict nature. I'm sure she's an independent woman who never relies on men.

[You can't keep looking at her like that. You'll fall in love with her.]

Newt, damn it. He really put me off with his words. Luckily, I was the only one who could hear him. I cleared my throat and looked away. I don't want Olivia to know I'm watching her.

I don't want to fall in love again. After Sofia's betrayal, I can't trust women so easily. Sofia, who looks so gentle and loves me so much, has actually betrayed me.

The door opened, a sign that we had reached the ground floor. "Let me show you to your room, sir."

As Olivia had instructed, I immediately called the two candidates to replace Horace and Ian. I hope they do a good job.

"This is the list of investors in the company, and this is the list of shareholders." After they left, Olivia showed me another file with rows of names. "You should build up a good relationship with them."

Olivia told me everything there was to know about Quinion Corp. She really taught me well. Even though her demeanour was cold, she was so meticulous in telling me everything.

The day passed slowly. I kept looking at the watch on my wrist, waiting for the dungeon door to open. Learning about the company was boring. Maybe it's because I'm not used to working with my brain. But I still learned everything Olivia taught me.

[Master, the Smoky Hollow Gate will open in five minutes.]

Newt's voice in my head made me excited again. My head, which was dizzy from learning so many new things, was instantly refreshed, as if I had just woken up.

"Olivia!"

Olivia, who was explaining the company's strategy, stopped talking. She turned to me, frowning, waiting for my next words. I had to find a reason for Olivia to leave me for a few minutes.

"Make some coffee and don't come back until I say so!"

The frown on Olivia's forehead tightened. She looked confused.

"I saw you yawning earlier, so I thought you didn't get enough sleep. Make some coffee and rest for a while. Come here when I call you!"

"But, sir -"

"Go away! That is an order!"

Olivia took a long breath. She couldn't refuse if it was an order. After she left, I waited impatiently for the gates to open. I had to hunt again to make a lot of money.

[3]

[2]

[1]

The gates of Smoky Hollow opened, and I stepped into the white hole that appeared before me. 

"Oh no...!" I landed in an unfortunate place. On a very high peak. I looked down, and I couldn't see the ground at all. I tried to move forward, but the ground I stepped on fell away. "How did I get here, Newt?"

[No one knows where you land, Master.]

I tried to keep my balance, sure that if I fell, my body would be crushed instantly, for this place was at a height I had never imagined.