Chapter 121
The lights atop the Getty Group were still on.
Josephine sat at her desk, staring at data on the computer screen, but her mind was scattered. Cedric had been summoned away from the company lobby.
Though she hadn't heard it herself, she could guess what David would say. She didn't know if David would make things difficult for Cedric. Not that she was particularly worried about him—he was formidable, and besides, David wouldn't bear to punish him.
But David had no such reservations about her.
She shook her head, dispelling those wandering thoughts, forcing herself to concentrate.
It was eleven PM. She was preparing to leave when suddenly, the office door opened. Josephine looked up and froze when she saw Cedric. "You came back?"
"Had some things to handle." Cedric removed his tie, casually draping it over the sofa. "It's so late. Why haven't you left?"
"Still have some data to review."
Cedric approached, glancing at her screen. "You can look at it tomorrow. No need to push yourself so hard."
Josephine pressed her lips together, her gaze involuntarily landing on his face. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but Cedric seemed more exhausted tonight than usual.
"Are you alright?" She couldn't help asking.
Cedric looked up at her. "Worried about me?"
Josephine paused, shifting her gaze away. "You're my boss. It's normal to care, isn't it?"
"True." Cedric walked to the coffee machine, noticing coffee already brewed. "You made this?"
"Yes. Made too much."
Actually, not knowing when he'd return, when making coffee for herself, she'd inexplicably ended up brewing a whole pot.
She'd originally planned to take it home to drink on the way.
Cedric poured a cup and placed it before Josephine. "Have a cup. It'll keep you alert."
Josephine accepted it, noticing he only drank water. "You're not having any?"
"Can't sleep if I drink it at night." Cedric sat in the chair opposite her. "Still worried about tonight's gala?"
"Sort of." Josephine cradled the warm coffee cup. "Things blew up so much. Grandfather's side..."
"I came back perfectly intact, didn't I?"
He indeed appeared unaffected, but Josephine's heart still tightened. No one knew better than she how terrifying the Getty family was, how frightening David could be.
"What did he say?"
Cedric watched her anxious expression, suddenly finding it somewhat amusing. "Want to know?"
"Of course."
"One cup of coffee isn't enough." Cedric leaned back in his chair. "If you're truly worried about me, how about showing it through action?"
Josephine looked puzzled. "How?"
Cedric pulled a thick document from his briefcase, pushing it toward Josephine.
"What's this?"
"Strategic partnership agreement." Cedric reached for his water glass but at the last moment switched to the coffee cup, bringing it to his lips without drinking, the coffee's aroma filling his nostrils. "The company's expanding into a new business. We need to form a core team. I've reviewed several of your previous projects and believe your capabilities are sufficient for this position."
Josephine opened the document. Dense legal clauses and professional terminology gave her a headache.
What surprised her most was that Cedric was actually willing to give her equity shares.
"Are you serious?"
Cedric looked up, speaking flatly. "For a simple working relationship, I could find anyone. But this position is special—it involves the company's core interests. I need someone I trust most."
His words stirred something in Josephine's heart.
Honestly, this kind of trust was hard not to be moved by. But...
She continued reading, growing increasingly astonished. This wasn't an ordinary employment contract or cooperation agreement. The clauses explicitly mentioned: shared project returns, joint risk bearing, deeply bound interests.
"This..." She looked up. "Isn't this too much?"
"I'm a businessman," Cedric said deliberately. "I never trust verbal promises."
He valued written contracts more. Signed, sealed—that's what couldn't escape.
Josephine's hands tightened.
"Sign it." Cedric gently swirled the coffee cup, the liquid inside gently rippling, coffee's aroma permeating the air. "From now on, your interests will be bound with mine. What you want, what Gideon can't give you—I can."
For instance, another chance to pursue her scientific research dreams.
Josephine was somewhat confused. "Why me?"
He had so many outstanding people around him, so many choices available.
"Your performance is why I chose you." Cedric rose with the coffee, pacing to the window, gazing through the glass at the bustling traffic outside, his low voice carrying a hint of coolness. "I don't want to waste time observing someone new."
Gideon had once said Cedric was extremely guarded and never easily trusted others.
And the agreement terms were so generous—so generous they seemed less like terms an employer would offer an employee, and more like... a partnership.
Josephine almost couldn't resist agreeing immediately, but she suppressed the urge with rationality. "I need time to consider."
"Fine." Cedric turned around. "Give me your answer tomorrow."
"So urgent?"
"Some opportunities, once missed, are gone." Cedric turned his head to look at her, his gaze profound. "Josephine, I know right now you just want to divorce Gideon quickly and leave this troublesome place. But have you thought about what you'll rely on after leaving?"
Josephine didn't respond.
"Most of your personal assets are tied up in your marriage with Gideon. How much you'll get after divorce is still unknown." Cedric walked back to the desk, bracing his hands on the surface, leaning down slightly to look at her. "Sign this agreement—I'm giving you security. Even if you have nothing after divorce, at least you'll have this career."
His words precisely struck what Josephine worried about most.
She was indeed worried about what would happen after divorce. These years, her life's focus had been on family. Though her work capabilities remained, she'd been disconnected from society too long.
But she still had reservations.
"I'll give you an answer tomorrow."
Night.
Josephine tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She kept thinking about that agreement. She'd reviewed the clauses many times.
If it weren't Cedric, she would have signed without a second thought. But it was precisely because it was Cedric—his status and concerns were no less than hers.
Actually, her initial thought was to use Cedric to divorce Gideon, then resign and completely leave this place.
But if she signed this contract, at minimum she couldn't leave the Getty Group. Yet with the Getty Group as backing, taking revenge on Gideon, even reclaiming the intellectual property rights she'd given him, would be easier.
Tossing and turning the entire night, only as dawn approached did Josephine finally fall asleep.
The next day at the company, the dark circles under her eyes startled her colleagues.
"What happened to you? Did you not sleep all night because of the online rumors?" Emma approached Josephine, patting her shoulder. "Josephine, if it's about that, let me tell you some good news. You don't need to worry anymore—the matter's been resolved!"