Chapter 044 I'm Not Leaving, And Neither Can You!

Langston's office was divided into three sections.

The reception area was on the right side as one entered, furnished with a corner sofa set and a table suitable for preparing gourmet coffee. The working area was in the center, and his rest area was further inside.

Before Adelina entered, Gail handed her a box of coffee.

"Do you know how to prepare gourmet tea?" Gail asked tentatively.

Adelina nodded. "I learned a bit about tea art in school, I understand the basics."

Actually, this also had to do with another of her father's businesses.

Few people knew that Eddy, aside from owning a company that specialized in manufacturing everyday household items called Comfort Daily Chemicals, had also started a tea factory in Adelina's name.

Because it was in her name, his recent financial troubles hadn't affected the tea factory.

It just wasn't really making money at the moment.

Since Adelina hadn't graduated from college yet, she rarely managed the factory in person.

Her father's hires had been taking care of it so far, only periodically reporting the revenue status to her.

"That's good to hear! Then, I won't need to cram any last-minute lessons with you," Gail said with relief, patting her shoulder and signaling that she could go in.

Pushing open the door, Adelina immediately met Langston's eyes before drifting to the big-haired beauty sitting to his right.

The woman was dressed in a black bodycon skirt with a vintage denim cropped vest, her skin a healthy tan, looking both bold and wild.

She must be the Watson family's heiress, Katherine, whom Ileana had her eye on for the Moore family.

Besides Katherine, there was an elder around fifty years old and Langston's right-hand woman, Vanessa.

"Mr. Moore," Adelina greeted Langston first, then placed the tea she'd brought on the guest table.

Langston tapped the table and asked her, "Do you know how to use this?"

Adelina nodded.

"Then, brew a pot for Mr. Watson and Miss Watson," he said.

Adelina obediently proceeded, feeling for the switch on the table, and began setting up the first step of making tea.

Katherine watched her the whole time before turning to ask Langston, "Langston, is she your new assistant?"

Langston's gaze stayed on Adelina, "No, she's the Chief Strategist for the Harano City project and will be joining me on the business trip."

The Chairman of Watson Enterprises, Abner, exclaimed after hearing this, "So young and already the Chief Strategist for a project, Miss Howard must be exceptional."

Katherine observed Adelina a while longer, then said to her father, "Dad, may I join Langston on the business trip?"

Abner was slightly surprised. "Do you really want to go? But the development there hasn't started, there's a huge area with no signal, practically the boondocks! It's tough even for men. How about for women?"

Katherine cooed, "But Miss Howard is a woman! If she can go, why can't I?"

Abner still had his concerns as he glanced at Adelina and asked, "Has Miss Howard been there before?"

Adelina nodded in response. "Yes, I've been. It's really not the best place for Miss Watson to go. It's deep in the mountains without any cell service, it can be quite dangerous."

Upon hearing this, Abner grew even more worried and was about to persuade his daughter to give up the idea when Langston chimed in from the side, "This time we'll have extra manpower and supplies on the trip, so Mr. Watson can rest assured. Since Watson is looking to collaborate with us on this project, it makes sense for Miss Watson, representing Watson Enterprises, to go on the survey."

Katherine, suddenly supported by Langston, was overjoyed. "Dad! See! Even Langston agrees, can you really say no now?"

At this point, Abner truly had no grounds to refuse his daughter's request and could only ask Langston, "Then, I'll have to trouble you to take good care of her! She's been pampered all her life, and I'm just worried she might cause you trouble."

Langston smiled. "She won't."

During their conversation, Adelina had already prepared the tea.

With practiced movements, she served everyone, and as she was about to set down the teapot, Langston placed an empty cup in front of her.

"Pour one for yourself too. You have the right to enjoy the fruits of your labor."

Adelina paused, considering the need to respect his gesture, and obediently filled her own cup.

Abner took a sip first, his eyes lighting up in surprise. "Langston, where is this tea from? It's quite good!"

Langston, perhaps deliberately, glanced at Adelina as he answered, "It's Liu Bao tea, a local specialty given to me by the owner of a barbecue joint. I figured Mr. Watson is a tea lover and must have tasted all kinds of premium teas. So, I brought this out for Mr. Watson to appraise today, to see what grade of tea it is."

Adelina felt shocked when she heard the mention of the barbecue joint.

Combining this with the Liu Bao tea, she had a strong suspicion that he must have met Uncle Miller!

In that instant, she felt as if Langston had laid her entire foundation bare.

It was as if he knew everything about her.

Her gaze fell on the tea box on the table, she might not remember the various packaging her tea factory had used, but the name of the factory itself wouldn't change.

Yan and Tea Industry—a name her father had personally chosen.

She hadn't paid much attention before, but now she saw it clear as day. She had actually brewed tea from her own family's tea factory.

This made her even more certain that the barbecue joint Langston mentioned was none other than Uncle Miller's place.

She started to panic again, but Abner, after savoring for a while, sincerely praised, "Great tea! This is at least top notch, a superb tea indeed! Langston, do you have more? I'll buy it off you!"

Langston quietly took a sip from his teacup, his gaze once again drifting toward Adelina.

"No, I'm not very familiar with that boss. I've even forgotten which store it was from."

Clearly, Langston was reluctant to share his tea source.

Therefore, Vanessa, who was his assistant and remembered, chose not to speak up.

Inside, Adelina was fuming.

If Watson's big boss liked her tea and was willing to buy it at a high price, it would naturally be a huge opportunity for her and the tea company.

With that thought, her hand tightened involuntarily.

Close to the end of the workday, Abner invited Langston to have dinner with him and his daughter, but Langston politely declined.

"I need to prepare some last minute things tonight, as I have an early start tomorrow. Once I'm back from the field trip, I promise to host a dinner for Mr. Watson and Miss Watson."

Katherine, smiling, said, "Langston, it's too formal to call me Miss Watson, please call me Katherine!"

Langston only offered a smile in response.

As Abner was about to leave, Adelina took the initiative to see him off.

In the elevator area, she finally could not hold back and said, "Mr. Watson, if you're interested in the Liu Bao tea, I know it was a gift from the boss of a barbecue joint. The boss's last name is Miller, and the place is called 'Ji's Bullfrog Hotpot.'"

She couldn't directly disclose that she was the Corporate Legal Representative for the tea company, fearing her current situation might negatively affect the company's image.

Langston, who just happened to come by, overheard Adelina's conversation with Abner and immediately frowned.

Adelina quickly gave the barbecue joint's address before pressing the elevator button for Watson and his daughter.

After watching them leave, she turned around only to find Langston standing behind her, who then spoke in a stern voice, "Work overtime tonight, and come to my office when you're done! I'm not leaving, and neither are you!"