After sending the text message out, Summer waited for Leonardo’s reply, bated breath. She had never felt so anxious sending a message–not even to Jerome. Then she heard colleagues talking in very low voices.
“I’ve got wind that Stone Green has taken a leave to rest at home.”
“What’s been happening to him for the past two days? He used to like to pretend to be a dedicated employee!”
Just when Summer was starting to enjoy the gossip, another voice joined the conversation. Their voices became even softer now, but Summer could still make out a few words. “… Summer… did… yesterday…”
A sudden urge came and Summer could not hold in her sneeze. Were they talking about her?
…
Leonardo sat in the chair, not batting an eyelid as he bowed his head reading a project review in the conference room of Tip Top Entertainment Group. Every member of the top management sat as quiet as a church mouse, holding their breaths. This boss of the boss was a lot more ill-tempered than Carl Jones.
In the eyes of the outsiders, Carl Jones was the boss of Tip Top Entertainment Group. Only the very top of the management knew the man before them was the real owner of the company.
His identity was secretive, and he would only appear when a meeting of major decisions was held.
It had been a while since Leonardo last came to the office. He let Carl Jones run the entire show: daily management and all business meetings and events. Carl Jones was a busy man now.
With Summer starting working in Jarrett Group, he could come to the office to take care of a few things.
A few movie directors and top executives were plotting something vicious, but it was all under control.
After reading the reports, Leonardo neatly placed part of the files on the table and threw the rest to the middle of the conference table. Everyone was shocked.
His eyes swept across the room and said with a stern voice, “Everyone here is a veteran of the company. Let me give you all one last chance; take this shit back and redo everything before you send it back to me.”
That said, Leonardo got to his feet and left, with Carl Jones carrying the neatly arranged files and leaving with him. Back to his room, Leonardo loosened up his tie, flung into the chair behind the table, and gave himself a massage on his temples.
When Carl Jones came in, he placed the files nicely on the table and frowned. “I wonder if those old fags will submit and revise everything as told.”
Leonardo’s expression became grim. “No one else will dare to accept people who Tip Top has fired.”
As arrogant as it might sound, Carl Jones knew that Leonardo did not just make an empty threat. It was true that Leonardo was no Mr. Nice when it came to temperament, but he was just as forgiving and kind. Those old fags had gone overboard this time.
“If nothing else, I’ll let you go.” While speaking, Leonardo opened the drawer under the table and took out a mobile phone. He switched it on. The screen sprung into life and showed an unread message. What surprised him was the message.
“This is Summer. Thanks for the phone. I like it.”
His eyes stopped on the last part, and he smiled.
Carl Jones had not left and been watching him smiling. Curious, he said, “Why are you smiling like a pronghorn? You are scaring me.”
Leonardo was in a good mood. “Scared? Why are you still here?”
Carl Jones went around the table, trying to take a glimpse. But Leonardo seemed to have an extra pair of eyes on his head, he flipped the phone with the screen facing downward on the table.
Fine.
After Carl Jones left, Leonardo started to type his reply to Summer.
“Glad you like it.”
Wait. It did not sound right. Leonardo was supposed to avoid Summer. This reply seemed out of character.
“It was Tim who bought it.”
This one sounded too unnatural. At last, he just replied with an “Mm.”
He put his phone back down and leaned on the chair. He was feeling a strange irritability. Just then, Carl Jones came back in. “Leonardo, this is the file of an intellectual property that we have invested. Take a look when you’re free.”
“Wait a minute.”
“Anything else?”
Leonardo hemmed, his hand softly knocking on the table and face straight. “What do you think if I tell Summer that I am Leonardo?” He paused a second, then continued. “If you laugh, I will make sure your B-list actress doesn’t get any chance to act.”
Although Carl Jones knew it was more of an empty threat, he could not help with his smile collapsing, his face red and grave. “Why not? You’d better tell her now.”
Leonardo knew Carl Jones was digging a hole for him. He took the file in his hand and threw it at Carl Jones. “Get the hell out of here.”
“Bye-ee…” Carl Jones could not hold back his laughter anymore. He felt like he had no more regret in life; he finally saw Leonardo was losing his poise over a woman for the first time. He could not wait to tell Warren Smith about it.
Leonardo pursed his lips, picked up a penholder, aimed at Carl Jones.
Hearing Carl Jones cry in pain, he felt a little better.
But then, he frowned again for he realized that it was not the right time to tell Summer about his real identity. He needed the right time.
…
After waiting for like forever, Summer finally got a reply. It was only one word, but to her, it was a start.
At lunchtime, a few female colleagues invited her to lunch together. “Summer, do you want to join us for lunch?”
No way their gossip bugs could skip Summer’s eyes. Probably they had found out about her stunting of Stone Green. But she did not even know how long she could stay in Jarrett Group. So she nodded. “Why not!”
They were all women, but when Summer smiled, it was enchanting even to the female colleagues. When they came to one of the few restaurants nearby the office, she bumped into Lynn and Vicky.
Her colleagues went over. “Hi, President Jarrett, Miss Jarrett.”
Although Vicky was a project manager, the ones who did all jobs were her subordinates. She had nothing to show for it.
Summer walked over and greeted them so as not to look out of place.