Ch. 134: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 134

Chapter 134Norah glanced sideways at her notes.

In the notebook, she’d jotted down “white T-shirt.”

It was accurate.

That was Kevin's simplest, most casual outfit.

Scarlet, full of energy and curiosity, looked at Norah with surprise. Why would Norah write that down? Maybe it was an old note she hadn't had the chance to cross out yet.

"Ms. White?" Scarlet called gently, noticing Norah's distracted look.

Norah snapped back to reality, smiled slightly, and said, “Cross it out. That was an old note.”

“Okay,” Scarlet said with a nod.

It made sense—what CEO like Mr. Edwards would have “wearing a white T-shirt” as a habit?

Despite being fresh out of college, Scarlet was quick to learn and adapt. Norah thought she was a great fit for Kevin's team. With Scarlet stepping in, maybe Kevin would finally let her go. Norah sat at her desk, lost in thought.

Scarlet caught Norah’s gaze and asked, “Ms. White, are you feeling okay?”

Norah offered a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. Keep busy.”

Footsteps approached from down the hall.

“Secretary White, prep for the high-level meeting in thirty minutes,” Kian announced.

“Understood.”

Norah stood, catching Kevin’s gaze. His eyes were as dark and unfathomable as a night sea, cold and intense.

Norah introduced, “Mr. Edwards, this is the new secretary, Scarlet Clement.”

“Good day, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Kian,” Scarlet said, her voice bright but steady.

Kevin’s expression remained icy, his stare not even landing on Scarlet. His tone, heavy with warning, cut through the air, “Norah, you’re responsible for training her. You know what I won’t tolerate—don’t mess this up.”

With that, Kevin walked away.

Norah knew it was a caution: handle Scarlet properly or face consequences.

Scarlet, keenly perceptive, assured Norah once Kevin was out of sight, “Don’t worry, Ms. White. I’ll work hard and won’t let you down.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

Norah turned her focus to preparing for the meeting.

In Kevin's office, Kian briefed him. “The Jenkins family overseas has submitted a bid for collaboration. They’re holding an auction in three days.”

“Gingras sent an invitation for tonight,” he added.

A faint smile tugged at Kevin’s lips. “They did, huh? It wouldn’t be polite to skip out, would it?”

Kian nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Thirty minutes later, in the Edwards’ conference room, Kevin sat at the head of the table. Executives lined both sides, Kian on Norah’s left. Scarlet stood behind Norah, attentive.

From the moment Kevin began speaking, Scarlet took meticulous notes, even brewing a cup of fresh Longjing tea and setting it just within Kevin’s reach.

“Mr. Edwards, choosing a new partner for this product launch might create tension with our long-term collaborators,” one executive voiced his concern.

Another added, “Agreed. While we can make bold moves, suddenly changing partners without warning could backfire.”

“Do you really think I owe anyone an explanation?” Kevin’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he scanned the room, a thin smile not reaching his eyes.

“Mr. Edwards, we didn’t mean it that way,” someone mumbled.

Scarlet, without hesitation, interjected, “Hello, everyone. I’m Scarlet Clement, and it’s a pleasure to be here. If I may, Mr. Edwards called this meeting out of respect for your input, but the final decision is his. If you’re all here because you trust his leadership, why question his strategy now? Loyalty isn’t selective.”

Kevin’s eyes narrowed with interest.

The room fell silent. The executives shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Scarlet with a mix of surprise and unease. Who was this new secretary to speak so boldly?

Seeing their reactions, Scarlet continued confidently, “Mr. Edwards leads with the company’s best interests in mind. If we trust him, then questioning his choices is contradictory, isn’t it?”

One executive blurted defensively, “Of course we’re loyal to Mr. Edwards! We were just voicing our concerns.”

Kevin’s gaze moved to Scarlet, a hint of approval in his eyes. “Sit down, Scarlet,” he said calmly.

“Oh.” She quickly took her seat.

Norah, watching Kevin’s expression, was taken aback. He usually had no patience for impulsive behavior, but this time, he seemed unfazed. Was there more going on with these senior leaders than met the eye?

The tension in the room grew, especially around Mr. Cruz, whose expression turned dark. Kevin nodded at him and spoke coolly, “Mr. Cruz, if you have any more thoughts, feel free to share.”

Seeing the overwhelming support for Kevin, Cruz forced a smile. “No, Mr. Edwards. I share everyone’s confidence in you. I was just concerned about potential fallout.”

“Mr. Cruz, enlighten me—what kind of fallout could threaten the Edwards family?” Kevin’s voice was sharp, and his eyes glistened with a cold edge.

The executive felt the weight of the question but managed to laugh nervously. “I meant that some partners might form alliances against us if we change course suddenly.”

Kevin’s silence made the room tense. Finally, he spoke, his voice dropping, “If any issues arise, I’ll handle them. But the Edwards family won’t tolerate freeloaders, especially not double-dealers. Make sure your accounts are in order.”

The ambiguous warning set the room on edge. Cruz’s face was visibly strained.

Back in his office, Cruz made a tense phone call. “Fine, I’ll cooperate with you, but you need to agree to my previous condition,” he said, eyes fierce with determination.

Kevin returned to his office, where Norah waited. She stepped closer, but before she could speak, he grabbed her, tilting her chin up firmly.