Chapter 124

"Why not?"

Frederick was persistent. "If you're not worried about embarrassing me, why won't you let me come with you?"

"I've told you a million times!" Alexandra was exasperated. "It's not just your car, it's you too. If you follow me upstairs and the late-night workers see us, who knows what they'll say tomorrow!"

"You're my fiancée. Why does it matter what they say?"

Frederick still didn't get it. "Even though we're not officially engaged, everyone knows about us. What are you so afraid of?"

"Because no one here knows I'm the daughter of the Windsor Family!"

Alexandra pushed him away. "My family hasn't announced my return yet, so hardly anyone knows my true identity, even here at the Windsor Group."

"Exactly because they don't know who I am, I've been able to get a lot done since I joined the Windsor Group. But because I'm young, I've already attracted a lot of gossip. If you, the future son-in-law of the Windsor Family, come in with me, people will speculate even more. Tomorrow, it'll be the talk of the town!"

Frederick felt wronged. "We could use this to reveal your identity. Then we wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore!"

"My mom specifically told me the reasons for keeping my identity a secret. I get it, and I don't want to cause any trouble."

Seeing Frederick's dejected look, Alexandra softened and ruffled his hair. "It's just not the right time yet. Do you understand?"

Frederick wasn't unreasonable. He was just trying to assert his place. But Alexandra had a point, and he didn't want to cause trouble.

So he pouted and nodded. "Alright, go ahead. I'll wait for you here."

Alexandra was exasperated. "Where else would you wait? Don't you want to take me home?"

Though they spent a lot of time together, Alexandra was usually quiet and didn't initiate conversations. Frederick had gotten used to her personality over time.

But now, her sudden comment surprised him. Normally, she might insist on going home alone.

"Of course I do! Now hurry up!"

Frederick held her hand and reluctantly kissed her cheek. "It's getting late."

"Okay."

Blushing slightly, Alexandra turned and entered the building. At this hour, only one person was at the front desk.

The receptionist stood up as soon as she saw Alexandra, but Alexandra gestured for her to sit down and quickly headed to the elevator.

Her bracelet was on the sink in her office bathroom. She needed to grab it quickly so Frederick wouldn't have to wait long.

As soon as she got off the elevator, she found the sparkling bracelet.

In the dim light, it shone like a star, almost blinding.

Alexandra hurriedly picked it up and carefully put it on her wrist.

She then headed to the elevator, but as the doors opened, she heard a commotion.

With so few people in the building, the noise was loud enough to be heard through the elevator doors.

Alexandra listened closely. Someone was arguing.

The only people left in the building were those working late or the night shift on the production line. Her office was on the top floor, and the production line was two floors below.

Could the noise be coming from the production line?

Driven by curiosity, Alexandra took the stairs instead of the elevator.

As she got closer to the production line, the arguing grew louder.

"Why are you shutting down our production?"

"I've told you a hundred times! It's Ms. Anna's decision. What can I do?"

"What about Ms. Anna's promise? She said our group would keep producing as long as we were profitable!"

"Don't you get it? Ms. Anna isn't in charge anymore. Since Miss Smith arrived, Ms. Anna's power has been almost completely stripped. How can she protect you?"

"If we stop production for even a day, do you know how much money we'll lose? We all have families to feed! Ms. Anna made promises and profited from them. Now she wants to shut us down?"

"It's not permanent, just for a while!"

"What about our profits during that time? Are we supposed to do nothing?"

"If it weren't for Ms. Anna, would you be making this much? Why can't you be satisfied?"

"I have a family to support! If I stop working, how will we eat? How will my kids go to school? How will my parents get medical care?"

"It's Ms. Anna's decision. Arguing with me won't change anything!"

"Fine, I'll go ask Ms. Anna myself!"

"Go ahead. Do you think your work can stand up to scrutiny? No one can help you now. We're all in this together. If we could make more money, do you think Ms. Anna and I would want to shut you down?"

"You!"

Hearing this, Alexandra was shocked.

She had followed the voices to the office of the third production group.

She realized the argument was coming from there.

The production line had five groups, each responsible for different products.

Anna had managed the entire production line before Alexandra took over the company. With so many issues to handle, Alexandra hadn't had time to deal with the production line.

She had no idea there were such shady dealings going on!

The conversation hadn't been explicit, but it was clear the third group was producing something illicit.

Why else would they stop production as soon as Alexandra arrived?

They were obviously afraid that if Alexandra inspected the production line, she would uncover their secrets.

By then, it would be too late to regret, so Anna was urgently trying to shut down the third group's production.