Chapter 114: Would you be my girlfriend?
I've long gotten used to Atlas's sudden ideas, so naturally I didn't take his words seriously.
Near the end of the workday, Henry brought me some bad news - Knox and Xavier were about to be released from the police station.
But that made sense. Knox and Xavier's crimes were economic in nature. Without a conviction, they were just assisting the police with their investigation and couldn't be held for long.
"Dad, are you ready?"
Henry nodded, "Yes, the lawyer is in position. After Knox and Xavier leave the police station, the lawyer will meet with them first to negotiate. If negotiations fail, we'll pursue legal action."
I understood that the Pemberton family owed us a huge amount of money. For Knox and Xavier to do something like this, they must have planned not to pay it back. The negotiations definitely wouldn't go smoothly.
But things can sometimes turn out unexpectedly - what if Knox and Xavier had a change of heart?
But I quickly dismissed this thought. If Knox and Xavier could admit their mistakes, in my past life they wouldn't have swallowed up my family's business and gotten me killed.
I nodded, "Okay, if there's anything you need me to do, Dad, just let me know."
"I will."
Henry patted my shoulder and turned to leave.
Suddenly, I noticed several gray hairs on the back of his head that hadn't been there before.
This discovery startled me, and I instantly realized that even though Henry didn't say anything, the burden he carried was too heavy.
Everything that had happened recently and the pressure from the company must have been keeping him up at night.
Thinking about this, I felt a bit guilty.
It was my fault. If I had worked harder and could have shared Henry's burden sooner, he wouldn't have had to struggle like this. But fortunately, it wasn't too late.
With this thought, instead of leaving work as planned, I sat back down at my computer.
When I looked up again, night had fallen outside the window, and I had several missed calls on my phone, all from Maria.
Just as I was about to call back, Maria called again, "Why aren't you home yet?"
"I'm coming back now."
I was about to get up when I suddenly noticed the neon lights on the city's tallest observation tower flashing continuously.
This tower's neon lights weren't usually on - they basically only lit up during New Year's.
What was going on today?
I walked to the window to look. It actually said: Please join me tomorrow night as I pursue a girl!
The large characters played repeatedly on the high tower top, the colorful words particularly eye-catching.
So high-profile, it must be some rich kid's doing.
I shook my head and didn't think much of it.
After getting home, I chatted with Maria for a while, then washed up and went to bed.
The next day when I got to work, as soon as I walked into the company's first floor, I heard many employees discussing last night's neon lights.
"I bet it's some rich kid chasing a girl."
"That must cost a fortune for one night. Being his girlfriend would be so amazing."
Several female employees chatted enviously.
York, who was gossiping with the group, turned and saw me.
He chased after me excitedly, "Helena, I know you left late yesterday. Did you see those neon lights? So spectacular! Must have cost a lot of money!"
"Five hundred thousand dollars a minute!"
I said this expressionlessly as I pressed the elevator button.
"That much!"
York was so shocked his mouth hung open.
"Wait, how do you know that?"
He asked skeptically.
I laughed coldly, "As sales people, knowing the prices of all outdoor advertising spaces in the city is our most basic job. Don't tell me you don't even know this."
As I finished speaking, the elevator stopped.
I stepped out, with York hot on my heels.
"No, Helena, I know what you're saying, but this observation tower's neon lights aren't part of our daily considerations, so I haven't paid attention to their prices."
"Well, from now on, you can start paying attention. We might need to use it someday!"
With that, I opened my office door, walked in, and closed it in his face.
Today was another busy day. When I finished working late and left my office, I found many colleagues still hadn't left.
"What's going on?"
"Ms. Lockwood, we're all waiting to see that mysterious rich kid's confession."
A female employee walked over with a gossipy smile, "Ms. Lockwood, want to watch with us?"
I shook my head, "I'll pass. I have things to do, I'm leaving first."
Just then, York's voice came from behind, "Helena, are you going on a date with Mr. Lancaster?"
"Stop talking nonsense!"
I laughed and raised my hand to swat at him, but he dodged.
As we were joking around, my phone suddenly rang. I took it out and saw it was Atlas calling.
I answered the phone, and Atlas's voice came through, "Helena, come downstairs."
"How did you know I'm still at the company?"
"I saw your car."
I chuckled, hung up the phone, and headed for the elevator.
"Let's go, let's go, together."
York called to a few colleagues to join me in the elevator.
I asked, "Weren't you guys going to watch the show? Why aren't you watching anymore?"
York grinned, "We can watch from downstairs too."
I didn't think much of York's words.
When I walked out of the company's front door, the scene before me shocked me.
The company entrance was somehow covered in flowers, arranged to spell out my name.
The band on the side started playing harmoniously the moment they saw me appear.
"Look over there!"
Someone cried out in surprise, and I followed their gaze.
The high-profile confession message on the tower across the street had changed to a countdown.
I looked around and saw that the colleagues who came down in the elevator with me were all standing beside me with knowing smiles, counting down together, "Five, four, three."
"What's going on?"
"Who did this? You all know, don't you?"
Although I already had an answer in my heart, I couldn't help asking.
But no one answered me.
Soon, when the number one appeared, there was a loud bang, and fireworks slowly rose into the night sky.
My name instantly appeared on the observation tower.
"Helena, will you be my girlfriend!"
The colorful words kept flashing, brilliant fireworks bursting in the sky.
With the crowd's cheers, the atmosphere reached its peak.
Accompanied by melodious music and fireworks, Atlas appeared in a white suit, holding flowers.
When he appeared, the lively crowd automatically cleared a path.
Along this path, under everyone's envious gazes, Atlas slowly walked up to me.
He knelt on one knee, holding the flowers with both hands, looking up at me with eyes full of joy.
"Helena, will you be my girlfriend?"