One Night Surprise - Season 3 Episode 31

After being angered by Gale, Courtney returned to the office to work an extra night shift. The next morning, she was still tired when Elijah invited her out for breakfast. At half-past seven in the morning, the breakfast stall was not yet at its rush hour. Still, when the time came, no one sat there leisurely eating their food like Elijah and Courtney.

Taking in her washed-up appearance, Elijah placed a peeled egg on the small plate in front of her. “Why are you so tired? Didn’t sleep well last night?”

“I didn’t sleep.” Courtney gave a dismissive wave of her hand, then yawned. “I slept for a while at five in the morning, but the office environment is too shabby, and the sofa isn’t comfortable. I was already awake before you called me.”

“You have to take your time while starting a business. Don’t overexert yourself from the beginning,” Elijah advised earnestly, having experienced it himself.

However, Courtney didn’t appreciate his comments. “Oh, give me a break. When I was a cleaner at your company five years ago, I saw you work overtime all the time, or rather, I rarely saw you not working overtime. The lights in the boss’s office stayed on all night. At that time, we all thought you might be a robot.”

“Robots need to be recharged too.” Elijah laughed, not minding the mention of the past. “Besides, you’ve seen a living negative example, haven’t you? After all the hard work, the company still suffered a shortage of funds, and we almost went bankrupt. If you didn’t save me in time, I’m afraid I would be sleeping in a subway station in America now.”

“Then, America must be harboring many talents.” Courtney sipped on her soy milk. Despite being in a bad mood, she still had the strength to joke around. “How about we go there and see if we can dig up a few hidden talents?”

“If you’re still capable of cracking jokes, it means that your morale isn’t totally wrecked yet.” Elijah studied her, then gave her a warm smile. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I called you out so early in the morning?”

“Why did you?” Courtney asked lazily, not concealing her perfunctory behavior.

Elijah didn’t mind it, so he carried on lightly, “I think that you should spend more time with Cameron during this period. After all, in a couple of days, she’s going to America with me. It won’t be as easy for you to see her then as it is now.”

“What?” Courtney was shocked. “You’re bringing Cameron to America? Who agreed to this?”

“It wasn’t so much as agreeing. Ultimately, it was her boyfriend who came to me and asked if I could help.”

This surprised Courtney even more. “So you’re saying that Gale contacted you on his own and told you that he decided to let Cameron go to America to receive treatment?”

“Yes.”

His affirmative answer left her speechless. Isn’t this masochism? He didn’t take me seriously when I spoke nicely to him, but after I got all emotional and upset with him, even going so far as to scold him, he finally decided to take the initiative and ask for help. Is he asking for a beating?

“When are you leaving?” Courtney asked grimly after composing herself.

“Before the end of the month,” said Elijah. “So that you and Cameron can have some time to say your farewells.”

“Me? I’m afraid a certain someone doesn’t intend on leaving any time for me to interact with her.” Courtney bit into her egg; her expression was faint.

“Who? Gale?” Elijah gave a playful chuckle. “You’re overthinking it. He plans to go with Cameron.”

“What?” This time, Courtney was truly astounded. Her mouth was opened so wide that an entire egg could fit in it. “Are you serious?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would he come find me personally? His main reason was to ask me if the mental health facility that I arranged for her would allow family members to stay together.”

“He plans to stay with her in the hospital?”

Back when she was at Gale’s house, she personally saw him raging about how mental institutions and rehabilitation centers weren’t fit for living, and that any sane person would come out a psychopath. Yet, he was now willing to endure it all for Cameron.

Elijah was going back to America at the end of the month, so the date for Cameron’s hospitalization was set during that period as well. Although she didn’t properly reconcile with Gale, during the days after she met with Elijah, Courtney still brought bag after bag of things to his house. When she was free, she would go over to help them with the cooking. With Cameron around to smooth things over, Courtney and Gale weren’t that awkward with each other anymore.

During dinner that day, Gale got a phone call, and the usually laid-back man returned with a serious look on his face.

“What happened?” Cameron asked worriedly.

“It’s not a big deal.” Gale glanced at Courtney. “Something happened with Sunhill’s board of directors. They want me to go back and vote.”

“Vote?” Surprised looks appeared on Cameron and Courtney’s faces.

Sunhill Enterprise was a family business, and Alexander was a man of his word. No decision ever necessitated the votes of others. Only a handful of matters would require everyone on the board to vote.

“They want to remove Alex from his position as president.” Gale’s face was contorted. He looked like he was about to speak, then shot Courtney one last glance before leaving in a hurry.

For a family business, the most important deciding factor for who held the leading position of the business was the shareholders meeting. The five largest shareholders would be ranked according to the shares they owned, and the board of directors would vote to make the decision. The same went for the removal of a board member.

At the board meeting at Sunhill Enterprise, Gale was the only one to arrive late, and his was the last remaining vote. It was currently a tie between those who agreed to his removal and those who didn’t. Gale voted for the opposition without hesitation.

When the results were revealed in the conference room, some people were happy while some were upset. After it was over, Alexander announced that the meeting was dismissed and left the office without another word. He didn’t even stay behind to have a word with Gale.

Gale acted fast and grabbed Josh, who was trailing after his boss. “What happened? Why the sudden no-confidence vote?”

Josh sighed. “Previously, the Elmsbury project failed, and it made Old Master Duncan unhappy. The board of directors then added salt to the wound by saying that a professional manager would be better for the company, and they wanted to change the business model of the family business. That’s why they suggested his removal.”

“Where’s Alex going now?”

“I think he’s going to his ancestral home.”

Clutching the documents in his hand, Josh said, “Mr. Langley, I have to drive President Duncan, so I’ll take my leave now.” With that, he turned and hurried away.

In the blink of an eye, the car had stopped in front of the Duncans’ ancestral home. Alexander felt chilly. As soon as he walked into Scott’s study, he increased the temperature of the air-conditioning by several degrees.

“Grandpa, did you agree to the plan for a professional manager?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?” Scott was practicing his calligraphy, so his entire demeanor was tranquil.

“Not at all.” Alexander’s face took on an unpleasant expression. “But, why would you appoint James as the professional manager? What’s the meaning of that? Have you already forgotten what happened three years ago?”

At the mention of the incident three years ago, Scott’s face suddenly paled.

At this moment, the sounds of chasing and playful shrieks came from outside. “Jordan, wait for me! Don’t run so fast!”

Jordan, however, had no voice to respond.