Chapter 29
How could someone as smart as Evelyn not see through Timothy's stalling and refusal?
But beneath her seemingly gentle exterior, she was actually quite stubborn.
"Why not? They say business gets done at the dinner table. Are you really going to make me drink with you?"
As she spoke, she ran over to Hannah and clung to her arm playfully. "Mom, Dad's using his business tactics on me. You need to tell him off!"
"How dare he bully my precious daughter? Just wait till I deal with him!"
Evelyn and Hannah played off each other perfectly. How could Timothy, being both a devoted husband and a doting father, possibly resist?
A hint of helplessness flashed across his face. "Evelyn, I know you're smart. But if you suddenly parachute in, a position that's too high wouldn't be appropriate, and one that's too low would be beneath you..."
"I want to go to the finance department. That shouldn't be too high or too low, right?" Evelyn stated her purpose directly.
She definitely couldn't become CFO, but getting into the finance department would let her see the Thomas Group's financial statements and better understand the company's situation.
How could Timothy, who'd been shrewd his whole life, not understand?
He just couldn't figure out her real purpose, but under her insistence, he agreed.
In the study.
Hannah walked in with a plate of fruit. "Tired? Take a break."
"You have something to ask me?" He looked at her with a smile, reached out to take the fruit plate from her hands, and set it on the desk, then held her hand and pulled her to sit beside him.
She rarely came to the study.
Hannah's excuse was that she didn't want to disturb his work, but really, she knew nothing about business and had no interest in it.
She even found financial reports annoying, so naturally she kept her distance.
Caught off guard, she didn't mind and got straight to the point. "Why don't you want Evelyn to work at the company?"
Timothy sighed and naturally picked up a piece of fruit to her lips. "Who do you think Evelyn really likes in her heart?"
A name was on the tip of her tongue, but Hannah didn't say it out loud.
Her brow furrowed slightly, and the sweet orange in her mouth seemed to turn a bit bitter at that moment.
"You think she still has feelings for him?"
"Hannah, we were both young once. People you keep in your heart aren't that easy to forget, especially for someone like Evelyn who values relationships so much."
Years ago, when their friend's family had troubles, Matthew was left alone.
Actually, the Thomas family hadn't planned to adopt him. They'd thought about giving him some money and having his relatives raise him.
It was Evelyn who saw the sunshine doll hanging on Matthew and recognized him as the little boy who'd once saved her from the pond. She begged Timothy and Hannah to adopt Matthew.
How old was Evelyn when she was saved from the pond?
Even then, she valued relationships so deeply. And now she'd been chasing after Matthew for over ten years.
Hannah's already heavy expression darkened further.
"So why do you think Evelyn wants to join the company?"
"Not sure. I'm just worried she really has turned love into hate and wants revenge on Matthew."
As he spoke, his eyes showed some sympathy, and perhaps a bit of reluctance.
"So what?"
She pushed his hand away and glared at him. "No matter how good Matthew is, he's still someone else's child. He grew up in the Thomas family, so even if it's just to repay us, he should treat Evelyn well. But what happened?"
Usually, Hannah was very kind and treated Matthew extremely well.
But when it came to Evelyn, that was different.
Timothy's brow furrowed as he gently patted her back. "Don't get upset..."
"How can I not be upset? Evelyn wasn't interested in the Thomas Group, so giving it to Matthew was fine. But now that Evelyn wants the Thomas Group, whatever her reasons, the Thomas Group can only be hers."
A woman may be gentle, but a mother is strong.
When it came to planning for Evelyn, Hannah never backed down an inch.
He looked at her helplessly. "But Evelyn has never handled company affairs. I'm afraid she can't take it all on at once. And would you really bear to see her suffer?"
"Timothy!"
She stared at him unhappily. "Don't change the subject. Evelyn is my child. Everything I consider is for her. Even if she really wants to use the Thomas Group to get revenge on Matthew, that's justified."
No matter how talented Matthew was, without the Thomas family backing him, he couldn't possibly have people calling him 'Mr. Thomas is at such a young age.
Before, she'd always felt that Matthew had someone he loved, and they couldn't force him.
But she'd heard the rumors going around, about Matthew and Sophia conspiring to set up Evelyn. That crossed her line.
She narrowed her eyes at Timothy. "Don't tell me that because I didn't give you a son, you think an outsider who took your surname is more important than Evelyn?"
"Hannah!" His tone was a bit sharp, and she pressed her lips together without saying more.
Timothy gently patted her back. "How could I not know who's more important? It's just..."
At this point, he glanced at Hannah in his arms, who looked displeased, and gave a bitter smile.
"I'm worried that if Evelyn pushes too hard, she'll drive Matthew away instead. If he were willing to be with Evelyn, I think that would be great."
"That may be true, but I think Benjamin is better in every way."
"This kind of thing ultimately has to be Evelyn's own decision."
Evelyn had no idea about Timothy and Hannah's argument.
The next day, she got up early on purpose, put on a light gray business suit, applied light makeup, and came downstairs in black heels.
"Evelyn, you're..." Hannah was startled by her appearance.
"Mom," Evelyn smiled slightly, "going to the company like this shouldn't embarrass you, right?"
"How could it? If anyone dares say a bad word about you, I'll tear their mouth apart!"
Usually gentle Hannah immediately became fierce when it came to Evelyn being wronged.
As she spoke, Hannah shot Timothy a glare, an obvious threat.
He took a sip of water and looked at Hannah and Evelyn with helpless indulgence."Evelyn, wanting to work at the company to develop your abilities, is good. But I hope you'll rely on your own abilities, not..."
"Evelyn was able to create Belle & Chic on her own, which proves her abilities. Don't stand there making snide remarks."
Hannah didn't give him a chance to continue. "Evelyn, should I go with you?"
Hannah clearly wanted to help establish her authority.
But Evelyn had started her own business before. She knew very well that what convinced people most in the workplace was work ability.
As for status, it could be used as a foot in the door, but it couldn't be relied on as the foundation.
"No need. Why would you need to handle such a small thing personally? I'll ask when I can't handle it myself. But..."
She smiled and turned her gaze to Timothy, but didn't continue right away.
His eyebrow raised slightly, but his expression didn't change much.
"What, planning to scheme against your father now?"
"What do you mean by scheme? You're her father. Helping her is what you should do. If you don't help her, who are you going to help? Don't tell me you have other children?"
Even as a joke, he couldn't possibly admit to that.
The helpless look in Timothy's eyes deepened, but the curve of his lips didn't diminish. "Whatever you arrange, I'll go all out for you!"