The Original Son-in-law

Chapter 3: Project's Termination

Chapter 3

That morning, the next day, Henry finished preparing breakfast for the family as usual, waited for them to finish eating, gathered the dirty dishes, and washed them before sneaking out of the house.

He got to the Eminence Group by a cab. After settling the driver, he began to walk toward the building.

At that same moment of the day, a plush car drove into the compound and parked. Two figures stepped out of the car.

The first was around the age of forty, dressed sharply in his grey suit. The last person was dressed lavishly as if to attract ladies.

These people were Mario Caleb alongside his father, Caleb Maxwell.

Just as Henry was heading toward the building, Mario caught sight of him and, without thinking, he was totally convinced that it was Henry.

In fact, he had become conversant with all of Henry's outfits that he could tell it was him without batting an eye.

“That's the piece of trash from Mr. Graham's family," Mario told his father before quickly shouting. “Hey, dumbass!" His voice rose.

Henry heard the familiar voice, but chose not to stop. He kept walking. However, Mario didn't stop, his voice rising the more.

“Hey, dumbass, I'm talking to you!”

Henry finally stopped and turned with a deep frown plastered on his face.

As Mario and Caleb got to him, he asked. "Tell me, what do you want from me? Why do you keep following me around?”

Caleb chuckled, amused. "Following you?” He repeated. “You think any useful and responsible human will follow a live-in-son-in-law like you? What would be their gain? End up being useless just like you? And why are you even here?”

“To apply for a job?” Henry replied respectfully.

Mario laughed. “Really? You're lying to my Dad that you're here to apply for a job?" He looked at Henry's hand, and he was holding nothing. Not even a single file.

“You think Eminence Group is just any company you waltz in, seeking a job without a formal or professional process, huh? I promise you'd be kicked out."

“Do you have any educational background? Formal training, I mean," Caleb inquired.

Henry knew they were mocking him already, and he was just sick and tired of it. “That has nothing to do with you," he replied curtly.

Hearing that, Mario's face flushed red with rage. “How dare you respond to my Dad that way!......"

Mario was still speaking, but Henry had already taken off his heels, walking away.

"Hey, stop right there!"

Mario's blood boiled; he was about to chase after Henry to show him his place; however, Caleb held his arm, pulling him back.

“Don't! That'll ruin everything. Just leave him. Mrs. Dorcas invited us for dinner today. We'll teach him a lesson there,” Caleb said under gritted teeth and suppressed anger.

Mario's chest heaved, unclutching his fist as he obeyed.

Reluctantly, they started to head in the same direction where Henry had gone.

Meanwhile, Henry entered the building, looking completely composed. He brought out his phone and texted Steve immediately.

[Good morning, Mr. Steve, I'm currently at Eminence Group. Where are you, please?]

Not up to a minute, Steve replied.

Steve: [I'm not around, young master, but don't worry, just use the elevator to the top floor. Dorathy Lewis, the manager, will be there to receive you. Have reached out to her.]

Henry read it and replied okay to himself before entering the elevator. A moment later, he arrived at the top, only to be welcomed by a young yet charming lady.

She was in her late thirties.

Henry gulped, taken off guard by her beauty. However, he put himself together too quickly.

Dorothy Lewis was also taken aback when she caught sight of Henry. She had anticipated someone who was in his late forties or so to be the new chairman; however, what she was seeing was a stark contrast.

Henry was too young.

She swallowed hard.

“Welcome, young master," Dorothy quickly welcomed him. “This way, please."

She led Henry to her office.

With both seated, Henry looked at her and spoke. “I won't be coming to the office regularly, so I want you to personally handle everything, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out to me, okay?"

Dorothy nodded. “Sure, young master!"

Henry also tilted. “Good! Basically, I came here for two things: first, to publicly announce that the new chairman had been elected into office. Secondly….”

He let his words trail as he remembered something. "Do we, the Eminence Group, have anything to do with the Maxwell family?”

“Maxwell Johnson? Yes, young master. We've been partners in several projects, and they're currently seeking a new collaboration with one of their new projects," Dorothy answered.

“Cut the former ones off and don't accept their recent partnership!" Henry demanded abruptly.

Dorothy was dumbfounded. She stared at Henry. Reluctantly, she questioned, "But why?”

"Just do as I say!”

Just at that moment, a soft knock came on the door, and it was one of the staff members who spoke.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you, Mrs. Dorothy, but Mr. Caleb Maxwell and his son are outside, waiting to see you.”

"Tell them to wait for a few minutes.”

"Okay, ma."

Dorothy then turned to face Henry.

Henry continued. “My emergence should be announced this morning, while Maxwell Johnson’s project's termination, tonight. Don't do the contrary, or you will lose your job!"

Dorothy just stared. The way and manner in which Henry spoke was as if the entire Maxwell family had offended him, which was very clear. So, who was she to intervene?

Swallowing hard, Dorothy tilted. "Consider it all done!”

"Good!” Satisfied, Henry got up about to leave the office when he suddenly remembered something. He turned back. "And yeah, my identity should be hidden. Use ‘Mr. Potter Jnr.’ as the new chairman's name.”

He had intentionally selected that so that there would be no suspicion or any trace of him.

With that, he turned and left the office.

Meantime, Caleb Maxwell and his son, Mario Caleb, were still waiting for Dorothy Lewis to arrive when a staff member approached them instead.

"I'm sorry, Sir, Mrs. Dorothy said she can't see both of you today; please, come back tomorrow.”

Caleb raised a surprised eyebrow. “Huh? I put a call across to her, and she said we can come see her today because she isn't very busy. What happened?"

The staff member shrugged. “Don't know. Maybe she suddenly got busy.” She hesitated before excusing herself and leaving.

Left alone, Caleb and Mario stood there, staring at each other's faces, completely confused about the sudden change of mind.

"What could be her reason?” Mario mumbled, narrowing his eyes.

Meanwhile, after Henry left Dorothy's office using another route, he decided to go to a store to get himself some nice clothes.

The ones he had were already worn out, so he thought of changing them, at least to look presentable.

As he stepped into the store, a salesperson greeted him with a warm smile. "Welcome Sir, How may we help you today?”