Louie couldn't figure out why Edith nominated him as the manager of the Organizational Department, and he was even more baffled about Rex's approval. Wasn't Rex afraid that Louie might ruin Infinity Group?
Thinking Louie was pleased and at a loss for words, Shaw playfully smacked the tender buttocks of the massage therapist. "You two can leave now."
Once the two massage therapists exited the private room, Shaw grinned, "Louie, I think you've hit the jackpot. The manager of the Organizational Department is a high-ranking position. From now on, you'll be my superior, and together we can make seven or eight hundred thousand a year without any problem."
Louie chuckled, "Manager, the deal hasn't been sealed yet, and you're already considering a partnership between us. What if I don't become the manager of the Organizational Department? You'd be quite disappointed."
"Louie, you don't understand the intricacies here. On the surface, it's about making the connection between production and marketing tighter, but in reality, it's about power decentralization. The president probably wants to secure power through this department. Think about it; with the substantial power of the Organizational Department, would the president feel at ease? He will definitely appoint someone he trusts," Shaw explained, smiling at Louie. "I won't say much more about this. I believe we're both smart people, and we don't need to spell everything out."
"Manager, I'm not that smart, but speaking of which, we still don't know what kind of department the Organizational Department will be. Let's talk about it once it's confirmed," Louie avoided delving further into the matter with Shaw. He knew Shaw's intentions and that he wanted to rope him in for future money-making ventures.
Shaw mistakenly thought Louie had already agreed, laughing, "Louie, that's right. Once the department is confirmed, we can collaborate well. Oh, by the way, some high-quality goods just arrived at the Golden Entertainment. After the massage, let's take a couple out, have some fun, dance a bit, and maybe get a room. I'll cover all the expenses tonight."
"No need, I'm not interested in ladies of the night," Louie stood up, "I have plans to meet a friend tonight, and we've already made arrangements. Maybe next time."
"Sounds good for next time," Shaw chuckled repeatedly.
Returning to the changing room, Louie took out his phone from the locker and noticed a missed call. The number was unfamiliar, and when he returned the call, it turned out to be Mia. From the conversation, Louie learned that today was Mia's birthday, and she wanted to celebrate it with him.
"This little girl, choosing me, an old man, instead of hanging out with classmates," Louie muttered to himself, but he agreed nonetheless.
After parting ways with Shaw, Louie headed to the Central Mall and bought a set of Dior cosmetics from the women's section as a birthday gift. Louie wasn't sure if Mia would like this high-end cosmetics set, but he couldn't visit Mia empty-handed. After wrapping the gift, Louie casually tossed the high-end cosmetics set onto the passenger seat and drove straight to the seaside square Mia mentioned.
Finding a parking spot at the seaside square, Louie, with the birthday gift in hand, walked through the square until he reached the seaside. Even from a distance, he spotted Mia leaning against the railings, legs crossed, and playing with her phone.
"Louie, where are you?" Louie received a text message from Mia on his phone. Smirking to himself, he placed the phone back into his pocket and strode toward Mia. Mia had been engrossed in looking at her phone screen and hadn't noticed Louie's arrival until he gently patted her shoulder.
"Little girl, what are you looking at?" Louie lightly tapped Mia's shoulder, and she, only then, realized that Louie was standing right in front of her. Hastily stashing her phone back into her small bag, Mia squinted her eyes and smiled. Her smile revealed two sweet dimples on her face.
"Mr. Louie, you're late," Mia pouted, "It's my birthday, and you kept me waiting for so long."
"It's not my fault. Why didn't you inform me earlier?" Louie said, waving the birthday gift he held in front of Mia. "Look, I just went to buy you a birthday gift. Do you want to know what's inside?"
"Mr. Louie, you don't have to buy me gifts. I just want to spend my birthday with you, not others," Mia looked at the beautifully wrapped birthday gift, contemplating what kind of gift Louie might have bought. But she couldn't express her desire for a gift, as that might lead Louie to think she deliberately wanted one.
"Just a small token. I can't let you celebrate your birthday empty-handed," Louie handed the gift to Mia. "Don't open it now; wait until you're back in the dormitory."
Holding the gift, Mia thanked Louie repeatedly.
Louie scanned the surroundings, noticing a fair number of people on the square. The sky had darkened, and the lights around the square had come on. "Little girl, where are we going for dinner? Have you chosen a restaurant?" Louie had just looked around and didn't see any restaurants nearby. He wondered where Mia planned to have dinner.
Mia raised her snow-white, tender right hand and pointed to the beach below the square. She said, "Mr. Louie, I want to buy some things. Let's have dinner by the seaside. I've never camped in the wild before, and I've always wanted to experience that camping feeling you see on TV. Today is my birthday, so I thought about having dinner by the sea and treating it like camping."
"Want to go camping?" Louie grinned, feigning a lecherous look. He playfully wrapped his right arm around Mia's slender shoulders and teased, "Little sister, if you're not afraid of this big wolf, I can take you camping."
Mia was only wearing a white dress, a garment she had bought earlier in the year and hesitated to wear. Today, she chose to put it on. When Louie embraced her, she felt an electric shock-like sensation on her shoulder. Unable to resist blushing, she lowered her head and murmured, "I'm not afraid, Mr. Louie. I believe you're not a wolf."
Louie felt a warm glow in his heart hearing Mia's words. He thought, "In these times, someone who recognizes my worth is quite something. At least she can see I'm not a big wolf, much better than Isabella." Louie laughed heartily, "Since you're not afraid of me, I'll take you camping. Let's not go too far; we can camp at West Mountain Park."
Surprisingly, Mia didn't hesitate at all and agreed. Perhaps, in her eyes, Louie was the most trustworthy man. She still remembered the time he came to her rescue, and she hadn't forgotten that act of kindness.