Chapter 177
After Nora arranged Michael's schedule for tomorrow and finished calling all the relevant departments to coordinate, she took the documents and left the office.
After distributing the documents to each department, Nora entered Kurt's office, "Mr. Lowe."
Kurt was leisurely making a phone call with his legs crossed, looking sleazy—clearly bragging to his little mistress.
Saying something about definitely transferring her to work by his side, with a monthly salary of tens of thousands of dollars.
Seeing Nora arrive, Kurt hung up with a smile, thinking the deal was done, "What did Mr. Smith say?"
"Mr. Lowe, I'm very sorry." Nora looked troubled, "Mr. Smith said he can agree to all your other conditions, but having a hotel department server become the Vice President's secretary—that's not appropriate."
Nora sighed, "And that Clarence—he doesn't meet the background check standards."
Having lost face, Kurt's expression clearly showed displeasure, "I'm just transferring two people who work well for me, and Mr. Smith won't agree?"
Kurt understood—Michael was testing his boundaries.
When experts clash, every move is deadly.
Kurt thought Michael was testing him. After all, he had agreed to such a major thing as merging two departments, but wouldn't agree to just two people.
"Tell Mr. Smith that I really recognize these two people's work abilities, and I've already promised them both. If Mr. Smith doesn't agree, I'll lose face." Kurt frowned, telling Nora to relay the message.
"Mr. Lowe..." Nora hesitated, then nodded and left.
Back in the office, Nora said nothing. She watched the time, waited ten minutes, then went out again.
In the office, David was going over a project with Michael.
His eyes followed Nora as she entered, then as she left.
"What are you looking at?" Michael tapped David's head with a document.
"Mr. Smith, is Nora reliable? Look at her coming in and going out, going out and coming in—I'm worried she agreed to do something for you but can't manage it and is getting anxious. Should I go help her?" David's protective instincts kicked in first, worried Nora might cry from stress.
Michael leaned back in his chair with a dark expression, "Handle what I assigned you tonight."
"Mr. Smith, these are all small fries—how hard can it be to deal with them?" David looked smug.
"Alright, just wait for Kurt's resignation letter." Michael was very confident.
David was stunned. Nora had gone crazy, and now Mr. Smith too?
Why did he trust Nora so much?
Leaving the office in confusion, David worried that in the end Nora wouldn't accomplish anything and would disappoint Michael.
Nora went out for ten minutes. When she came back, her expression wasn't great—like she'd been slightly frightened.
Hiding in the office, Nora took a deep breath and gave Michael an OK gesture.
Michael frowned, "Come here."
Nora's palms were sweating from nervousness as she quickly walked over, "Mr. Smith."
"Did he bully you?" Michael's expression was terrible, frighteningly dark.
Nora shook her head.
Kurt wouldn't dare bully her now—he'd just disgusted her, that's all.
"Then why are you so scared?" Michael grabbed Nora's hand, seeing the nail marks in her palm, and tapped her palm, "Did you learn your lesson?"
The air froze for a moment. Nora was stunned, then her face flushed bright red.
Only kindergarten teachers tap naughty children's palms.
It was such a simple gesture, but when Michael did it, why was it so seductive?
Nora looked away, her heart beating a bit fast.
This Michael was too handsome—she couldn't look directly at him.
"I'm not scared." Nora had her own persistence and pride. She wasn't afraid—Kurt had just disgusted her.
"Right, you're not scared." Michael nodded.
Michael's computer chimed.
He held Nora's wrist with one hand and opened his email with the other.
It was a message from Gia. [Mr. Smith! Kurt suddenly submitted a resignation letter, clearly angry. What should I do? I've already rejected it twice, but he sent it again, insisting I forward it to you.]
Michael leaned back in his chair, the corner of his mouth lifting, "So impatient."
Should he praise Kurt for his efficiency?
Reaching out to pull Nora into his lap, Michael pointed at Kurt's resignation letter, his voice lazy, "Nora, are you my lucky charm?"
Nora's body went completely stiff, nervously pressed against Michael, sitting on pins and needles.
This position was too intimate.
She was practically straddling Michael.
"In the adult world, every day is full of scheming and deception. I'm so tired." Michael held Nora with one arm, leaning on her shoulder.
Nora had wanted to stand up, but when Michael said he was tired, she obediently let him lean on her.
"I'll help you."
Nora's voice was very gentle—so gentle that even though it had no force, it made Michael's heart feel heavy.
No one had ever given him this kind of sense of security.
Since childhood, he'd been alone, carrying heavy burdens, moving forward.
Suddenly someone appeared, walking hand in hand with him.
This feeling could be addictive.
"Why are you helping me? The agreement, cooperation, superior-subordinate relationship? Or as husband and wife?" Michael teased Nora.
Nora stared blankly at Michael. In what capacity should she help him? "Cooperation?"
Michael frowned and snorted, clearly displeased.
Nora didn't dare say anything more.
Actually, she was very happy inside, because she had value to Michael.
And she was slowly finding her own value.
Ever since the truth about the switched daughters came out, everyone had negated everything about her past.
She used to be high and mighty like a brilliant pearl, but afterward she became so miserable, humble as dust, trampled in the mud.
"Is Samuel going to Jasper's tonight?" Michael felt a bit reluctant.
"Yes, Jasper has the day off tomorrow." Nora was a bit happy, worried Samuel would disturb Michael.
After all, Samuel was Walter's son. It was still inconvenient for him to always stay at Michael's house.
If Michael and Walter had a falling out, the situation would be even more awkward.
At the kindergarten entrance.
Jasper had arrived early to pick up Samuel. Just as he reached the kindergarten entrance, he saw that familiar black luxury car.
"Boss, I'm already off work." Jasper was somewhat helpless.
"What, is replying to my messages illegal?" Clea took off her sunglasses, demanding an answer.
Jasper cleared his throat, "No, I didn't see it."
"Oh, I thought replying to my messages would get you a prison sentence." Clea said sarcastically.
"Boss, I'm off work." Jasper reminded Clea again—he was off work, this was his private time.
"What a coincidence, I'm off work too." Clea said happily, entering shameless mode.
"Samuel! Which one is Samuel? I'm his father!"
Just as Clea got out of the car, she saw someone causing trouble at the kindergarten entrance—a man shouting Samuel's name, saying he was Samuel's father.
Clearly, he was there to make trouble.