“Grandpa.”
Summer descended the stairs and went over to sit across Charlie.
Charlie broke into a smile the moment he saw her. “It was a last-minute decision to come here. I thought no one would be home.”
Summer returned his smile, not knowing what to say as she felt a little awkward.
“Where is Leonardo?” Charlie asked.
Ava handed Summer a cup of tea, and she held it with both hands. “He has gone to work.”
It hit Charlie that he had gotten confused. “I’m old and getting forgetful now. I thought all of you were as idle as I am.”
“Grandpa, you are still in good shape.” Summer smiled, still unable to work out the purpose of his visit.
“I retired early. Now, even Leonardo’s father is in his fifties and not as hale and hearty as before. You should know that Leonardo and his partner are running some businesses out of the family, don’t you?”
The meaning behind Charlie’s words was clear enough for Summer. Leonardo founded and ran Tip Top Entertainment. He never wanted to have anything to do with the Emersons’ businesses. When Charlie mentioned that Leonardo’s father was not as hale and hearty as before, it was clear enough that he wanted Leonardo back in Emerson Corporation.
Since Charlie had not really spelled it out, Summer just slurred over her words. “There isn’t much that I know.”
Hearing that, Charlie smiled. “Leonardo will have to take over the helm in Emerson Corporation eventually. It’s time to let go of the small business, don’t you think so?”
Tip Top Entertainment was the top dog in the country’s entertainment industry, yet Charlie said it was just a small business? That was entirely logical considering the Emerson family’s long history. Their wealth and resources, which had been accumulated over several generations were not things Leonardo’s Tip Top Entertainment could compete with.
“I don’t really know about Leonardo’s business.”
Summer kept her head down in a humble manner. The purpose of Charlie’s visit today was probably to talk her into persuading Leonardo to take over Emerson Corporation. But why her? Since Charlie was looking for her, it meant that Leonardo was not interested in going back to Emerson Corporation. In that case, she would not promise Charlie anything.
Charlie’s smile faded somewhat when he heard Summer’s reply. He squinted at her, his powerful aura even more evident.
Summer felt a little intimidated, and her muscles stiffened. Nevertheless, she was still tight-lipped. The “standoff” went on for a few moments before Charlie burst out laughing.
“That stinky little rascal has got a good eye for choosing his woman!”
Summer secretly released her clenched fists. Her palms were sweating all over. She was not as calm as she appeared to be; inside, she was really anxious her.
Unlike Alexander, Charlie was a man who had sailed through countless difficulties and challenges. He used to be a shaker and mover in the business world when he was young. Even though he was old and retired now, his aura remained. Maybe it was unique to the Emersons. They possessed wealth and status that everyone could never even dream of. That was probably why their self-confidence and personal auras were much stronger than that of others. It was inborn, not acquired.
“Let me get straight to the point. I want Leonardo to take over Emerson Corporation. I talked to him once when you two came back the last time, but he declined. I’d appreciate it if you could help me persuade him.” Charlie suddenly became earnest. Summer could find no reason to say no.
“I’ll talk to him, but if he did not even listen to you, I’m afraid—”
Charlie was elated. He smiled as he cut her off, “Don’t worry, I have a card up my sleeve.”
Once Charlie knew that Summer would talk to Leonardo about it, he left grinning from ear to ear. The way he went was just as quick and unhesitant as the way he came. It was easy to see that he was an actionist, which was a trait Leonardo must have inherited.
She received a call from Leonardo right after Charlie left.
“Have you had your lunch?”
“I’m about to.” After talking with Grandpa Emerson, it was nearly noon.
“Has Grandpa left?”
“How did you know he visited?” Summer was picking up her chopsticks, ready to tuck in, but she put them down again.
“I can’t see what else he could do besides that!” Leonardo sneered, extremely cocky.
…
Summer did not have much of an appetite and was just nipping at her food. She then put down her chopsticks and waited. Right at noon, Leonardo was back.
“Don’t you need to be in the office?”
“Nothing is more important than you.” Leonardo’s lips curled up as he looked at her with an evil expression. “I still remember what you said in the morning.”
Summer ignored him and walked toward the dining room. As if Ava knew that Leonardo was coming home for lunch, she had prepared five or six dishes.
“Young Master told me he would come back for lunch before he left this morning. I was busy when Grandpa came and I forgot to tell you, Mrs. Emerson,” Ava explained when she saw the puzzled expression on Summer’s face.
Summer looked at Leonardo as he sat down across from her.
“I won’t be going back to the office in the afternoon. Things have mostly been settled in the morning.”
“Wouldn’t Carl think unfavorably of you like this?” Speaking about Carl, she suddenly remembered those screenshots from Jessica the day before.
“What can he even do about it?” Leonardo said with little emotion.
He was right. Carl was a timid mouse in front of Leonardo. Even if he had an opinion of Leonardo, he would not express it.
Summer pursed her lips, thinking for a moment. She then finally asked, “Is Carl… into women?”
“Why?” Leonardo looked up at her, cocking an eyebrow.
“Online rumors say that he and Adams…” She stopped, letting Leonardo fill in the blanks.
Unfortunately, Leonardo was straightforward, and he could not read between the lines.
“What’s wrong with him and Elder Brother?”
Summer said nothing and just took out her mobile phone to let him see the online rumors for himself. But when she logged in to Weibo, the gossip on #Adams’s secret lover# surfaced again.
Leonardo fetched some dishes for her and saw her changing expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Me and Elder Brother are up there again.” Summer frowned, pushing her mobile phone up to him.
Leonardo took it and saw the same photos of Summer and Adams, which had been taken at the airport.