“Sophia, I suddenly feel like I’m possessed by something. I need your rescue.”
“I don’t have time to save you. I’m heading to the company.”
“Then I’ll come to your office.”
Sophia sighed, “Seriously, don’t you need to work?”
“I don’t have the mood for work anymore. If I can’t find my dream guy, I think I’ll die.”
“You’re insane!” Sophia hung up the phone.
After Leo dropped Sophia off at her company, he changed direction and headed for Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company. He wanted to see how things were progressing.
The demand for domestic cosmetics was high on Sophia’s side. The production line needed to be up and running in the shortest time possible.
Just as Sophia settled into her office, Karen appeared.
Today, Karen had severe dark circles and was carrying two big bags under her eyes – clearly the result of a sleepless night.
Seeing Karen with her phone, Sophia frowned, “You weren’t scrolling through TikTok all night, were you?”
Karen nodded, “Darling, yes, I’m deep into it now and can’t break free. You’ve got to help me.”
Karen then dramatically flopped onto the guest sofa in Sophia’s office, acting as if she was facing life and death, destined to be doomed.
Pouring her a cup of coffee, Sophia remarked, “With that state, I can’t save you.”
Karen snatched the phone from the coffee table and played the video again.
Unable to stand it any longer, Sophia grabbed the phone.
“Sophia, please, I can’t bear not hearing my dream guy play the piano.”
Sophia’s gaze once again fell on the silhouette on the screen, and involuntarily, Leo’s image floated into her mind.
It really looked so much like him!
Seeing Sophia staring at the phone lost in thought, Karen quickly snatched the phone back and nervously said, “Don’t you dare have designs on my dream guy. You’re married now, you know?”
“Silly, don’t you think that figure in the video resembles someone?” Sophia tentatively said.
“Exactly! It’s so much like my dream guy – no, my dream guy!” Sleep-deprived Karen’s words were a bit scrambled, and she hastily took a sip of coffee.
Rolling her eyes, Sophia clarified, “What I mean is, don’t you think the person in the video looks like Leo?”
“What? Are you kidding? How could my dream guy be that loser, that he looks like Leo!” Karen reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on, yowling.
“I’m just saying…”
“Saying isn’t right. Saying is wrong!”
Talking to someone who’d lost their sanity was truly difficult. Sophia had to snatch the phone back again and paused the video, pointing at the screen, “Look for yourself. The clothes this person is wearing, aren’t they the same as what Leo wore yesterday?”
Although Karen had watched the video countless times, she hadn’t paid attention to the clothes.
After Sophia pointed it out, she realized her dream guy’s outfit indeed matched what Leo wore yesterday.
But that didn’t mean her dream guy was Leo – if that were true, her dream would be shattered, something she couldn’t accept.
It must be just a coincidence!
Karen firmly shook her head, “It’s just a coincidence, definitely not Leo. Can Leo even play the piano?”
Sophia pondered and shook her head, “I’ve never seen him play the piano.”
“Exactly, even if Leo could play the piano, do you think he could play as beautifully as my dream guy? The melody my dream guy plays is the most beautiful music in the world, lingering in the air for days.” Karen drifted into fantasy.
“Alright, enough. Drink your coffee and get lost. I still have work to do.”
Sophia had no doubt that if Karen stayed here, she wouldn’t get anything done today.
On the other side, Leo had driven into the gates of Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company.
After parking his car in the lot, he just stepped out when Curtis appeared before him.
“Curtis, what’s up?” Leo asked.
Curtis looked at Leo, feeling a bit embarrassed and hesitant.
“Whatever it is, you can tell me. Is Alvin giving you trouble?” Leo inquired again.
Shaking his head, Curtis said, “It’s not about Mr. Simpson. Mr. Bloomer, you cured my leg and gave me a job here. You’re my savior. I shouldn’t be making requests, but some of my buddies aren’t doing well. I want to help them, so…”
“Your buddies? What’s going on? Tell me more.” Leo was now intrigued.
Leo had personally witnessed Curtis’s skills at the bank. If his buddies were even remotely like him, they’d be valuable assets.
They were valuable, and valuable people should be recruited.
“They’re soldiers who retired from the army together with me. People like us, with low education, have a hard time finding jobs. Some work in hotels, some are car mechanics…”
“Mr. Bloomer, do you need extra hands in the factory? If you do, could you give them a chance? Don’t worry, they can handle any pressure.”
Five people retired from the army along with Curtis. They were the closest during their military service, the best of brothers.
While each of them was skilled in the army, after retiring, their talents were of no use in a society that demanded formal education. So, they ended up doing odd jobs to make ends meet.
Leo pondered for a moment and asked, “How many of them are there?”
“There are five. Their skills are just as good as mine,” Curtis replied.
Leo suddenly changed the topic, asking, “How many of the current security personnel do you think will stay?”
“It’s hard to say for now. Training isn’t over yet. Though they weren’t great before, they’ve been working really hard lately,” Curtis spoke frankly.
Leo nodded, “Tell your five buddies to come over. I’ll have Alvin interview them and assign tasks according to their strengths.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bloomer.”
Curtis was genuinely grateful. He felt he had encountered a benefactor. His current salary was on par with those city office workers in fancy buildings, enough to support his sister’s education and his family’s expenses.
Now this benefactor had helped him sort out his buddies’ situations. Curtis didn’t know how to repay him.
Next, led by Alvin, Leo toured the new production line that was being assembled and witnessed the ongoing renovations. It was evident that before long, a brand-new, advanced cosmetics production facility would rise from the ashes.
“Alvin, how’s the staffing situation now?” Leo inquired.
Alvin replied truthfully, “We’re still missing an accountant, a cashier, and personnel to manage the equipment.”