Chapter 156
The Smith Group.
"Hello, I'm Mr. Smith's assistant." Nora deliberately created a chance encounter and ran into Kurt. "We'll probably be in touch often. If there's anything you need, just let me know."
Nora was Michael's assistant, so being so attentive to him naturally represented Michael's attitude.
Kurt walked into the elevator, "You're Nora, right? Do a good job working for Mr. Smith."
"Yes, Mr. Lowe." Nora quickly nodded and proactively pressed the elevator button for Kurt.
"The company is currently selecting candidates for vice president. What about Mr. Smith's side?" Kurt asked meaningfully, clearly still lacking some confidence.
"Mr. Lowe, you don't know?" Nora looked at Kurt with feigned surprise. "Mr. Smith thinks highly of you."
Kurt was pleased with himself and looked Nora up and down, "You're a smart person."
"You're too kind." Nora quickly bowed, attentively holding the elevator button and seeing him off.
"Nora, Mr. Smith says to attend today's team building after work." As soon as Nora stepped out of the elevator, David came over. "He says he wants to specially praise Mr. Lowe from the investment department..."
Nora quietly reminded him, pulling David aside.
Kurt looked back, heard David mention himself, secretly followed, hid nearby, and eavesdropped on David and Nora's conversation.
"I heard Mr. Smith tell people from the project department that he really values Kurt's abilities, and said the company's investment department can't do without him. I heard Kurt is too popular, and we must find a way to keep him. If he gets poached by headhunters, the investment department will fall apart," David whispered to Nora.
"I think Mr. Lowe will be the future vice president, but our company's benefits for vice presidents don't seem that great. Look at the vice president of the project department—honestly, the benefits aren't as good as the investment department. If I were him, I'd negotiate hard. At the very least, I'd get the investment and project departments merged under my management. I wouldn't give up the benefits I already have."
Nora and David went back and forth whispering.
Kurt listened outside for a while, then left with a calculating look in his eyes.
Nora was right—although he was currently the investment department's project director, he made much more money than the company's vice president.
In terms of title and long-term prospects, naturally vice president was more valuable, since vice presidents could get company shares.
But the money really wasn't as much as in the investment department. If he could get the investment department and project team merged, all under his management, that would be perfect.
It's just that this goal was too obvious. Kurt wasn't too confident, unsure if his influence in the company was enough to intimidate Michael.
As long as Michael was wary enough of him, he'd have the capital and leverage to negotiate conditions with Michael.
If Michael didn't meet his conditions, he could threaten to resign.
In the corner.
Nora secretly poked her head out to look, saw Kurt had left, turned back to David with a sneaky smile, and made an OK gesture.
"Didn't expect you to be such a good actress," David said with a laugh.
Nora waved her hand modestly, "Not really."
"Kurt has already started secretly building alliances. If he really forms a coalition within the company, that's bad for us," David was a bit worried.
Nora shook her head, "No, that's actually better for us. We're just waiting for him to make a mistake. A motley crew only needs the right incentive to become scattered sand. Once they scatter, dealing with him will be easy."
David's eyes widened, increasingly impressed with Nora, "Amazing."
After walking a few steps, David stopped and looked back at Nora, "With your abilities, you're not without ways to deal with those who bullied you, right?"
Nora paused, lowered her head and said nothing.
David pressed, "Are you afraid of them?"
"Yes." Nora nodded.
Power always trumps ability.
David sighed, "Work hard for Mr. Smith. Although Mr. Smith has a cold personality, as long as he values you, he'll definitely be your support."
Nora remained silent, saying nothing.
Employee cafeteria.
Michael went to meet with the board members. David brought Nora to eat while he was away.
"Eat more." David got Nora a very nice-looking apple.
Nora's tray was full of food. She gasped, "David, I can't eat this much."
"Eat! You must eat. Physical strength is important when working for Mr. Smith," David said quietly, looking around, complaining about Michael. "Let me tell you, our Mr. Smith loves to overwork employees. You didn't eat breakfast this morning, eating more won't make you fat."
Nora gasped, looked up at Michael approaching with a dark expression, and blinked at David.
"Mr. Smith keeps work and personal life separate. During work hours, he shows no mercy to anyone," David continued complaining. "You better be careful normally. He's just too embarrassed to be harsh with you now. Once he gets familiar with you, he won't care if you're male or female—he'll definitely scold you badly."
Nora kept coughing.
"Drink some water, drink some water." David stood up to get Nora water, turned around and saw Michael standing behind him with a dark expression.
"Mr. Smith." David was so startled he almost sat on the table. "Why did you come down? Don't you not eat in the cafeteria?"
Michael lifted his chin, signaling David to wipe his chair.
Nora sensibly stood up, wanting to help Michael wipe the chair.
"Let him do it," Michael grabbed Nora's wrist.
David looked at Michael, shocked into bumping the table corner, gasping in pain, "Mr. Smith, she's also an assistant. Why can't she wipe it?"
"Non-work hours," Michael pointed at his watch.
David was unconvinced, "But it's non-work hours for me too."
"You can have permanent non-work hours," Michael thought David talked too much.
David quickly took out an alcohol wipe and cleaned the chair, "Please sit."
Michael snorted, sat down, looked at Nora, his voice instantly gentle, "Eat well."
David walked a few steps with his water cup, looked back at Michael in shock, and bumped into a pillar.
Michael was acting strange.
"Mr. Smith, David and I have everything arranged." Nora secretly made an OK gesture to Michael.
Michael smiled, "Eat well."
"Mr. Smith, you eat." Nora gave Michael the apple David had given her.
Michael reached out and took it without any sign of disgust, "This apple looks pretty sweet."
"Yes, David gave it to me," Nora nodded.
Michael's expression instantly darkened, "Looks like it won't taste good—what's the point of just looking nice? Can't even handle small things properly!"
Then he slammed the apple down in front of David.
Clearly criticizing one thing to condemn another.
Because Michael had told David to make sure Luna's assistant in Shadow City gave up Luna's information.
David hadn't managed it after all this time, and Michael had to personally send someone to meet Luna's assistant's mother in her hometown to get the information.
David looked at Michael timidly—if you're going to scold someone, scold them, why take it out on the apple?