Chapter 222
Outside the door, David was still frantically pressing the doorbell and making phone calls.
However, Michael just wouldn't answer, pretending to be deaf.
"Mr. Smith, please don't be angry, don't be angry. I'm knocking on the door outside, but Mr. Smith doesn't seem to be home. I'll definitely get you in touch with him. Don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive."
"Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith is your son. What father would truly stay angry at his son? You can't do this."
"The board members won't agree to this either." David was getting desperate, almost ready to curse Nolan for being a complete jerk.
Nolan was clearly threatening Michael with his shares and the CEO position, saying that he'd give Michael half an hour to get to the company conference room, or else he'd bring the board members to remove Michael from his position.
"Mr. Smith!" David hung up the phone, nearly in tears.
Now wasn't the right time. Who knew what Michael was thinking, suddenly announcing his relationship on Twitter like that.
Unable to reach Michael, David had no choice but to call Nora.
On this end, Nora had been feeling anxious. When she heard her phone ring, she wanted to answer it.
"Too noisy." Michael deliberately held Nora back, not letting her answer the phone.
Nora couldn't do anything about Michael, "Mr. Smith, it's David. What if he has something urgent?"
"What urgent matter could he have? Nothing's more urgent than what I need." Michael pulled Nora over and held her in his arms, "Sleep."
"Mr. Smith." Nora's voice was a bit hoarse.
"Starting tomorrow, don't call me Mr. Smith anymore." Michael said jokingly.
Today he'd pushed Nolan too far, so he'd definitely be removed from his CEO position. He might as well let Nora get used to it in advance.
"Mr. Smith." Nora looked at Michael in alarm, "Let's go to the company first and stall for time, okay?"
"No need to bother." Michael's attitude was firm.
Nora looked at Michael, feeling inexplicably heartbroken.
Just how much despair had that father caused Michael to make him so determined to choose confrontation?
Nora didn't ask more questions. She felt anxious because she didn't know if Michael had made any arrangements, or if he had a backup plan.
Nora's phone vibrated. It was a text message.
She reached for her phone and glanced at it, then took a deep breath.
It was a termination notice from the company.
Clearly, Nolan had the HR department fire her as a warning to Michael.
"The company sent a termination notice." Nora said softly.
Michael slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep.
"Mr. Smith, why don't you go back to the company with David?" Nora sighed, really feeling uncertain.
Getting out of bed, Nora helped Michael prepare a fresh suit and tie.
"Firing an employee without cause has consequences. File for labor arbitration, sue him." Michael leaned against the headboard, speaking with a smile.
His tone made it sound like the Smith Group had nothing to do with him anymore.
"I will file for labor arbitration, but can you go to the company now?" Nora sighed. Who would have thought that in private, Michael needed someone to push him to go to work, "If you give in now, it would be such a waste."
Nora knew that Michael must have been holding back for many years, from when Fallon died until now.
How could he give up over something like this?
Especially not because of her, giving up what should rightfully belong to him.
"What did you call me?" Michael was being difficult.
Nora brought the suit from the walk-in closet, her fingers pausing for a moment, "Michael."
"I don't want to hear that." Michael played with the ring on his finger.
Deliberately reminding Nora.
Nora's face turned bright red from holding back, but she just wouldn't say it.
"Then I'm not going. No motivation." Michael turned the ring, saying resentfully, "Wearing a ring but no wife, how pitiful."
Nora's heart was racing. At a time like this, how could he be so calm and unhurried?
If he really got kicked out of the company, what would he do?
"Honey." Nora bit her lip, her voice lower than a mosquito's.
Michael's fingers stiffened, and he sat up straight, "I didn't hear that."
Outside the door was David's hoarse shouting.
Anyone who didn't know better would think someone was slaughtering a pig out there.
"Mr. Smith! Mr. Smith, come out!"
Nora wanted to laugh a bit, but also felt sorry for David.
She could only coax Michael first, "Honey."
"Does that word burn your mouth?" Michael raised an eyebrow, pulling Nora into his arms, "Didn't hear it clearly."
"Honey." Nora said with determination.
But actually, saying this term of endearment wasn't as awkward as she'd imagined. She even felt a little flutter in her heart.
Michael tightened his hold on Nora and kissed her forehead, "Marriage should be sacred. It's those scumbags who ruined it."
His eyes darkened as Michael got up and changed into his suit, adjusting his cuffs.
To put Nora's mind at ease, he could only go meet with Nolan and the people from the Clark family first.
"Don't be impulsive." Nora reminded Michael, "Just appease Nolan for now. Even if you have to step down from the CEO position, it doesn't matter. You can claim illness."
Michael looked at Nora and smiled slightly, "You're underestimating how ruthless Nolan is."
"That's okay too." Nora clenched her hands, "I have a way."
Michael raised an eyebrow, curious about what plan Nora had.
"You go first. You'll know when you get there." Nora urged Michael to go to the company.
Michael smiled, pinched Nora's chin and kissed her, "Alright."
He was also curious about what surprise Nora had prepared for him.
After seeing Michael off, Nora stood at the door, silent for a long time.
Finally, she gathered her courage and called Daryl.
"Mr. Fields..."
The Fields Group, Emerald City branch conference room.
Glancing at his phone screen, Daryl raised his hand, signaling for the meeting to pause.
Taking his phone, Daryl got up and went to the side to answer the call.
The employees looked at each other. Their Mr. Fields never answered calls during meetings.
"You're finally willing to call me. What's wrong? Has Michael been pushed into a corner?" Daryl asked with a smile.
"Nolan has already called a board meeting." Nora said softly.
"You want me to help Michael?" Daryl asked.
"It's mutually beneficial." Nora reminded Daryl. It wasn't one-sided help, so he shouldn't make yourself sound so noble.
Daryl raised an eyebrow, listening to Nora with interest.
"Although the Fields family is a major family with significant influence in business circles, your roots and core are abroad after all. Over the years, the Fields family has been trying to break into the Emerald City market and establish a solid position, haven't you?"
Nora asked Daryl.
Daryl chuckled softly but said nothing.
"A marriage alliance would be mutually beneficial." Nora spoke again.
"Michael agreed to marry Tessa?" Daryl asked.
Nora was right. Daryl had his own interests too. He wouldn't help Michael just for Nora's sake. The Fields family had long planned to establish themselves in the Emerald City market.
Michael was obviously the best choice.
"Not Tessa." Nora clenched her hands, "The real daughter of the Fields family."
Nora took a deep breath.
Daryl laughed, "Nora, you're quite good at buying time. Because I promised you one year, you're using that to make me help Michael stall for a year."
"Do you think that with Michael's abilities, one year is enough to completely take over the Smith Group?" Daryl asked again.
"One year is enough." Nora bit her lip, "He's not alone."
She would help him.