Chapter 37
Della readily agreed on the other end of the phone: "Sure! I'll get ready right away. But there are only folding beds in the resort's model room. Should we squeeze together?"
"No need. You stay at the office to coordinate with suppliers. Call me if there are any issues." Ophelia hung up, grabbed her car keys, and headed downstairs.
She knew clearly that this project was key to establishing her position at the Smith Group. Every detail mattered.
The car left the city center. The further into the suburbs she drove, the fresher the air became, and the outline of distant mountains gradually came into view.
Two hours later, the car pulled up steadily at the entrance to the resort construction site. The construction foreman, Austin Roberts, was already waiting at the gate.
"Ms. Blake, you're finally here!" Austin came forward with a smile on his face. "I've had people count the materials for the wooden walkway you mentioned last time. We're just waiting for you to finalize the plan."
Ophelia nodded and headed straight for the back mountain without stopping to rest: "Let's check out the terrain first. I want to fine-tune the walkway route to better follow the mountain's contours."
The vegetation on the back mountain grew thick, with fallen leaves piled in a thick layer underfoot that felt soft when stepped on.
Ophelia walked along the previously marked route, stopping from time to time to crouch down and sketch on the ground, muttering to herself: "We need to make a turn here to avoid that old pine tree. It'd be a shame to damage it."
"And here, the slope is a bit steep. We need to add anti-slip strips to the wooden walkway, or it'll be slippery when it rains."
Austin followed behind, taking careful notes in his notebook: "Ms. Blake is so thoughtful. We hadn't considered these details before."
"Tourist safety and experience are most important." Ophelia straightened up and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Once the wooden walkway is built, we'll plant some mosquito-repelling plants alongside it so visitors will be comfortable in summer too."
They discussed as they walked, and before they knew it, they'd reached halfway up the back mountain, where they could overlook the entire hot spring area construction site.
Ophelia looked at the hot spring pools taking initial shape, her heart full of anticipation: "Once this is built, visitors can soak in the hot springs while enjoying the mountain view. They'll definitely remember this place."
Just as she was speaking, her phone vibrated. It was a weather forecast notification: Heavy rainfall expected in suburban areas within the next 24 hours, with potential landslide risks in some locations.
Ophelia's heart sank, and she immediately put away her lighthearted mood: "Austin, notify everyone right away to suspend construction of the wooden walkway and reinforce the safety nets on the back mountain first!"
"Also, move all the building materials and tools to the foot of the mountain to higher ground, and check the drainage ditches again. Make sure they're clear!"
Austin also realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly responded: "Got it, I'll arrange it right away!"
Watching Austin hurry away, Ophelia still felt uneasy and turned to walk toward the safety nets.
The safety nets on the back mountain were already mostly installed, and the blue netting spread along the mountainside. Ophelia reached out and tugged at the netting to confirm the steel pins securing it weren't loose.
"Ms. Blake, don't worry. These steel pins are all secured to the highest standards!" said a worker who was inspecting the safety nets with a smile.
"Reinforce them one more time and add two more screws," Ophelia instructed. "When the storm comes, we can't let our guard down."
"Will do!"
Ophelia continued forward, stopping every few steps to inspect, until she confirmed all the safety nets were secure. Only then did she relax.
When she returned to the model room, the sky had gradually darkened, and the wind had picked up, making the windows rattle.
She took out her phone, wanting to send William a message to tell him about the situation here. Her fingers tapped on the screen, then she hesitated and deleted it.
She didn't want to depend on him for everything. This project—she wanted to handle it on her own.
In the courtyard of the Smith Mansion, Mireille sat in a wicker chair, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves and falling on her in dappled patterns.
Luca walked over, carrying a freshly brewed cup of coffee, and gently set it on the nearby table: "Mrs. Smith, have some coffee."
Mireille opened her eyes, picked up the cup, and took a sip, then asked leisurely: "Why hasn't Ophelia been to the Smith Group lately? She hasn't come to the Smith Mansion either."
"Ms. Blake went to oversee the project at the resort," Luca answered respectfully. "She is going out early and coming back late with the construction crew every day, working on the wooden walkway and observation deck designs. She even eats her meals in the model room."
The corners of Mireille's mouth lifted slightly, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes: "She's practical in her work. She reminds me of myself when I was young."
She paused, then asked: "What about Ainsley? She hasn't been causing trouble again lately, has she?"
At the mention of Ainsley, Luca's tone hesitated: "Ms. Smith has been behaving herself recently. She hasn't gone to the Smith Group or the resort. I heard she's been staying home."
Mireille snorted coldly: "Good that she knows better."
"Tell her that if she dares to cause trouble for Ophelia again, she shouldn't blame me for not showing mercy."
"Yes," Luca responded.
Mireille was silent for a moment, then said, "Is Ophelia comfortable there? The model room conditions are basic. Don't let her suffer."
"She hasn't complained about any inconvenience. The construction crew mentioned that she walks around the entire site every day and has already worn through one pair of shoes." Luca added.
Mireille nodded and instructed: "Have the kitchen prepare some clean cooked food, fresh fruit, and two thick quilts. You make the trip yourself and deliver them to her."
"Also, tell her that if she needs any resources that the Smith Group can coordinate, she should speak up. No need to be polite."
"Yes, Mrs. Smith. I'll arrange it right away." Luca turned to leave.
Ophelia had just finished arranging all the flood prevention work when she saw Luca's car pull into the construction site.
"Ms. Blake, Mrs. Smith asked me to bring you some things." Luca unloaded several boxes from the car. "There's food, quilts, and some common medicines."
Ophelia looked at the several boxes full of items, somewhat surprised: "Please thank Grandma for me. Tell her not to worry about me. I'm doing fine here."
"Mrs. Smith specifically instructed me to tell you to be careful and not to push yourself too hard." Luca carried the boxes into the model room. "She said the project is important, but your health is more important."
"I understand. Please pass that on to Grandma." Ophelia said with a smile, her eyes getting a bit moist.
She had never felt family warmth growing up. Mireille's care made her heart feel warm.
After seeing Luca off, the wind outside grew stronger, the sky completely darkened, and large raindrops began pelting the roof of the temporary housing with loud sounds.
Ophelia walked to the doorway and looked at the increasingly heavy rain outside, still feeling somewhat uneasy.
She picked up a raincoat and put it on, planning to check on the safety nets on the back mountain again.
Just as she stepped out of the model room, she saw a black Bentley driving through the rain curtain, pulling up steadily in front of her.
The car door opened, and William stepped out holding a black umbrella. His suit was somewhat wet, and a few strands of his hair were dampened by the rain.