Chapter 211 William, do you like me?
The call connected, and Clarence hurriedly said, "Gage, I had a shipment for export seized today. But didn't we agree before that my goods wouldn't be held up?"
"Clarence, I was just about to call you. This really isn't me deliberately making things difficult for you. It's because people from an international department showed up, and they insist that your group is connected to a case. All goods coming out of your company have to be seized for thorough inspection and can only be released if there are no problems."
Clarence froze for a moment, then quickly said, "Gage, that's impossible. Our company absolutely couldn't be involved in that kind of case!"
This shipment was legitimate goods he was exporting. He had no idea how it got mixed up with that kind of unlucky business.
"I know! There's nothing wrong with the goods, and I've explained that to them, but they won't listen."
Clarence couldn't understand. "They won't even listen to you?"
"Don't even get me started. The people holding your goods aren't from our Lumaria department - they're from the United Nations of Concord. You know how it is, those people have huge authority and can do whatever they want wherever they go. Plus they insist that your Ascend Global Group is connected to that major criminal case. What can I do? If I interfere, I'd be going against them. Would I even be able to keep working after that?"
Hearing this, Clarence's pupils contracted.
He naturally knew about the United Nations of Concord - it was an organization established in recent years specifically to combat international crime, so it had extensive authority and could move freely between locations without obstruction.
He'd heard that the United Nations of Concord also had an organization underneath it similar to an assassin group, with most members coming from an ancient martial arts family in Novaria. It was the United Nations of Concord's sharp blade for specifically combating criminal forces.
Thinking about all this made Clarence even more anxious.
He didn't know why these people would suspect him.
"Gage, please help me think of something. That shipment is going to Novaria, and Novaria's import-export regulations are already strict. I finally managed to secure this cooperation opportunity with them, so there's a penalty clause for delays in the contract, and the amount is huge. If this shipment gets held up, I could very well go bankrupt!"
The other side sighed. "Clarence, it's not that I won't help you - I'm powerless..."
"But let me give you a heads up. From what I can see, not only is your shipment being held, they're also planning to immediately conduct a thorough investigation of Ascend Global Group!"
"Clarence, those people seem pretty determined. Did you offend someone? Why aren't they suspecting anyone else, but specifically suspecting your group is connected to that case?"
When Clarence heard they were going to thoroughly investigate the entire company, cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.
If they really conducted a thorough investigation, his smuggling activities would definitely be discovered.
"Clarence, I've told you everything I needed to tell you. I've got other things to deal with here, so I'm hanging up."
Hearing the sound of the call being disconnected, Clarence's mind went blank, and he couldn't quite process what was happening.
Compared to the seized goods, he was now more worried about his past activities being uncovered.
Everything had been fine all these years - he didn't know how the investigation had led to him. If it were a Lumaria department, he could still pull some strings and get through it, but if it was an international department, he was completely doomed!
"Mr. Fisher," the secretary said cautiously while looking at him, "should we contact Ms. Taylor now?"
The secretary only realized it at this moment.
It was too much of a coincidence - Isabella had said those words in the morning, and by afternoon the goods were seized, and suddenly the group company was in danger.
He couldn't help but suspect this matter was connected to Isabella.
Only when reminded did Clarence remember, and he said urgently, "Quick! Contact her for me right away!"
——
Isabella learned about Hayden sending Chase to the Baker family to propose marriage.
It was William who told her.
At noon, William called her saying he'd pick her up for lunch, and at the table, he told her about this matter.
Considering that William had planted people in the Taylor family, it wasn't strange that he knew about this.
"That Hayden, selling his daughter for glory, really can't wait even a moment." Isabella couldn't stop sneering.
She glanced at William across from her and said, "I clearly promised him I'd help him get the Crown District project, and he said he'd give me three days."
William took out a red fruit she couldn't name and handed it to her. "Try this, a new variety imported from Novaria. Very sweet."
Isabella took it and bit into it.
"What do you want to eat?" William pushed the menu in front of her.
"I'll eat something light," Isabella said. "I've actually gained some weight recently."
Logically speaking, she shouldn't have gained weight. During the school term, what she ate most was the lunch boxes William fed her every day - those lunch boxes must have made her gain weight.
William glanced at her cheeks and said seriously, "You're not fat."
Then he directly ordered a whole bunch of delicacies.
Since William had already ordered, Isabella decided to put off dieting for now and started eating heartily.
Watching her eat contentedly, William pulled out a napkin to wipe the grease from her mouth.
"I always feel like you're taking a kid out to eat," Isabella said.
William paused. "Why do you think that?"
"Because when adults take kids out to eat, they like to sit there watching the kid eat, neither eating themselves nor talking."
William inserted a straw into some yogurt and handed it over. "I'm not eating because I already ate at the company."
"Well, that's nice of you, taking me out to eat even though you've already eaten."
"Mainly I wanted to remind you about Chase going to the Baker Villa."
"You're not worried I'll actually get engaged to Zachary, are you?" Isabella asked with a smile.
William narrowed his eyes, glanced at Isabella's smile that could easily make people lose focus, and said quietly, "A little worried."
Isabella looked at his serious expression and froze.
Many times William gave her the feeling that he really cared about her.
But this kind of caring felt somewhat unreal to Isabella - she didn't know where it came from.
"William, do you like me?"
"Yes."
"What do you like about me?"
In terms of status, she and William were worlds apart.
William stared at her, his expression still very serious. "Everything."
Isabella's heart inexplicably skipped a beat under his gaze, and she quickly turned her face away.
"I'm full, let's go."
"Okay."
William took her hand and walked toward the restaurant entrance.
Isabella pressed her lips together, her face feeling somewhat hot.
At the restaurant entrance, William asked gently, "Do you need me to call Clarence?"
He believed that if Clarence received his call, he wouldn't refuse to give the Crown District project to the Taylor Group.
"No need, I can get that project myself."