Chapter 26
Heidi's hand paused mid-air, her eyes filled with just the right amount of confusion as she turned back. "What's up?"
"The USB drive was hidden by Layla and Logan." Caroline walked over to the bed, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles on the sheets.
"Layla confessed to me before dinner. We can just ask them for it directly."
The surprise on Heidi's face was fleeting, quickly replaced by a gentle smile. "So that's it. Those two kids are getting naughtier by the day."
Instead of leaving, she moved to Caroline's computer, where the screen still displayed the quarterly report of the Windsor Group.
"Have you been looking at these lately?" Heidi's voice carried a hint of curiosity. "Are you helping Arthur with company stuff?"
Caroline followed her gaze to the screen, the dense numbers and charts that once made her head spin.
"It was Grandpa's suggestion," she said calmly. "There are a lot of things I don't quite get."
"That's totally normal." Heidi turned around, her smile sincere.
"The Windsor Group's operations are super complex. Even pros take three to five years to fully grasp it. I've been with Arthur for seven years, and I know the ins and outs of the company as well as he does."
She took a half-step forward, her tone becoming even more earnest. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Arthur can be a bit impatient and might not always explain things thoroughly. I'm always available."
Caroline looked up, meeting Heidi's seemingly straightforward gaze.
She could sense the underlying boast in Heidi's words but didn't feel offended. Instead, it was like finding an oasis in a desert.
Isaac was getting old, and every time she asked him a question, she could see the fleeting fatigue in his eyes. Arthur was even worse; he would likely brush off any question she asked.
Suddenly, Heidi's offer felt like a ray of light, illuminating her uncertain situation.
Caroline's lips curved into a genuine smile. "That's wonderful. Thank you, Ms. White."
She lightly brushed her fingers over the keyboard. "I do have a lot of questions. I might need to bother you in the future."
Heidi's smile deepened. "No need to be so formal."
Caroline turned back to the computer, her fingers hovering over the keyboard for a couple of seconds before her eyes landed on the financial data on the screen.
She looked up as if grasping at a lifeline. "Ms. White, I don't quite understand the quarterly cost accounting method here."
Heidi's steps halted, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes as she turned back. It was as if she hadn't expected Caroline to actually ask.
The surprise lasted less than half a second, quickly replaced by a professional smile, but Caroline caught it.
"What's the matter?" Heidi walked back to the desk, leaning in to look at the screen. The scent of her hair, a floral fragrance, subtly different from Caroline's usual woody scent, wafted over.
Caroline didn't answer directly, instead furrowing her brow slightly. "You seem surprised that I would ask you?"
Heidi straightened up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her smile more genuine. "A bit, yeah. If it were me, I'd probably feel uncomfortable with an unexpected guest and wish they'd leave sooner."
Caroline's gaze shifted from the screen, her eyelids lowering, casting a small shadow from her long lashes. "You're overthinking it."
"In my eyes, you're just someone who can help me with my questions." Caroline's voice was soft but carried an undeniable calm. "I don't have the time or desire to think about anything else."
Heidi's smile faded slightly, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes—surprise, maybe something else. She opened her mouth but ultimately just nodded. "Ms. Hamilton, you see things clearly."
Caroline didn't respond, pointing back to the screen. "Why is the depreciation method here different from the financial standards I read before?"
Her voice was steady, as if the previous conversation had never happened. Only the hand clenched at her side knew that with each word, she was digging her nails into her palm.
Hate? How could she not hate?
If it weren't for her, she might still be living in the glamorous dream of being "Mrs. Windsor."
But what good was hate? Hate wouldn't make Arthur change his mind. Only by understanding these dense numbers and the Windsor Group's operations could she truly stand on her own after leaving the Windsor family.
Heidi's explanation was professional, her points clear as if she had prepared in advance.
She pointed to the formulas on the screen. "The Windsor Group has its own fixed asset evaluation system. Especially for overseas subsidiaries, equipment depreciation is adjusted based on local tax rates..."
Caroline listened intently, her pen moving swiftly across her notebook.
Whenever she encountered something she didn't understand, she immediately asked, her eyes sharp as if dissecting a precise instrument.
Initially, Heidi was somewhat reserved, but seeing Caroline's pointed questions, she became more detailed in her explanations.
"These are just basic financial operations," Heidi closed her notebook, her tone businesslike. "As you get more involved, you'll find that the Windsor Group's core competitiveness lies in supply chain management and overseas channels."
Caroline's eyes lit up. "What about the supply chain?"
"That's a long story," Heidi glanced at her watch. "It's getting late. I need to find Logan and get the USB drive before it gets too late."
Caroline nodded, closing her notebook, her fingers lightly tracing the embossed gold lettering on the cover.
She knew Heidi was being strategic, showcasing her expertise while withholding core information.
But that was okay. Learning this much today had already exceeded her expectations.
Meanwhile, a secret meeting was taking place in the children's room.
Logan spread his toy's jacket on the carpet, patting it solemnly. "We need to wear our best clothes for the art show tomorrow to match Ms. White's paintings."
Layla clutched her bunny toy, her little brows furrowed tightly. "But Logan, will Mommy really let us go?"
Her voice was tinged with tears, her big eyes already misty. "Mom didn't smile much in the living room earlier."
Logan puffed out his small chest. "Mommy promised! She never lies to us."
Despite his words, his fingers tightened around the jacket.
He remembered the cold look in his mom's eyes when she looked at Heidi, like they were frozen.
Logan's lips quivered. "Actually, I'm scared Mommy is just pretending. With Ms. White here, she might be too embarrassed to say no. But once Ms. White leaves, she'll come up with all sorts of reasons and won't let us go."
As he spoke, tears began to fall. "I really want to see Ms. White's painting of the bunny. I heard there are glowing stars too."
Layla's heart ached along with his. "Don't cry. We'll find a way to make Ms. White stay!"