Chapter 264: Different Intentions
Samuel looked at her.
"What's wrong? Are you surprised?"
Amelia nodded honestly. "A bit, but now I can understand why you were able to take over the Crawford Group so quickly."
As Samuel led her inside, he said, "Haven't completely taken over yet. Several branches have been pretty restless lately."
"Is it because of Zachary?"
"Probably. But he's at the end of his rope now, won't be able to act tough much longer. I can take this chance to replace all the branch employees with my own people."
After a pause, he said, "It's just that I'm a bit short on people. I've trained a group of trusted aides, but it's not enough. The Crawford Group's branches are all over the country, and I don't have time to train new people right now. Maybe you could help me?"
His eyes were full of meaning.
Amelia understood and felt a surge of joy.
"You're willing to use my people?"
"I'd love that. I wonder if Blaze would be willing to part with them?"
He now knew that many people in Shadow Operations Division called her Blaze.
Amelia excitedly grabbed his hand.
"I—I was actually just about to ask you if there's any way to give Louis and Byron legitimate professional identities."
Initially, her plan was to help Micah rise to a high position, then have the government officially recognize Shadow Operations Division.
Micah had indeed agreed.
He promised to absorb Shadow Operations Division and turn it into a special department specifically for handling special cases.
However, when Amelia went back and discussed it carefully with Byron and the others, she found it wasn't feasible.
First, Shadow Operations Division wasn't just one or two people.
All the people in Shadow Operations Division added up to over two thousand.
Having the government absorb these two thousand-plus people would be too much to ask of Micah.
Second, while some might be willing to be absorbed, most were used to their freedom and weren't willing to be taken in by the government.
They'd rather continue their current lifestyle.
This made the plan she'd discussed with Micah unworkable.
And indeed, those now working with Micah were less than a hundred.
There were still over two thousand people she didn't know how to arrange for.
But now, Samuel's words were like timely help in a snowstorm.
Her own businesses were already fully staffed, and all trained by Max. If she suddenly sent people there, it would put Max in a difficult position.
Max wasn't from this circle—he was a standard businessman.
He didn't understand Shadow Operations Division's rules.
And Samuel happened to need people and was good at managing subordinates.
The two discussed for a long time and quickly confirmed the matter.
Amelia had solved a major problem and felt incredibly relieved, even taking the initiative to kiss Samuel.
Samuel kissed her back, only releasing her after a while.
"Thank you, Samuel." Amelia's lips were red, her eyes bright and sparkling.
Samuel could barely control himself.
He forced himself to look away, saying, "I should thank you. I really need people. Your people—I trust they won't betray me."
"The two thousand-plus people in Shadow Operations Division will never betray me."
"I know. That's why I'm thanking you."
Amelia smiled.
She couldn't wait to tell Byron this good news, to have him prepare a list with everyone's specialties and preferred cities, then confirm with Samuel.
But Samuel stopped her.
"This isn't urgent. Let's eat first."
Amelia was still quite full.
But when Samuel said he'd cook himself, she immediately agreed.
So on the table, besides the dishes Samuel had learned from All Seasons Table, there was also the fried fish she'd eaten that afternoon.
Amelia took a bite, her eyes full of surprise.
"Exactly the same. You really didn't buy this from that restaurant?"
"Tomorrow come into the kitchen with me and watch me make it myself, then you'll know whether I bought it or not."
He learned things quickly.
Some things he couldn't do were simply because he hadn't learned them.
Once he started learning, he'd do it perfectly.
"Our children will definitely be very smart," Samuel said.
Amelia blushed.
A servant walked over at that moment.
"Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Crawford, the master bedroom has been prepared."
Being addressed as "Mrs. Crawford" made Amelia blush even more.
But she didn't object.
She was willing to be Samuel's wife.
She still did need to condition her mind to accepting the idea of sharing a room.
Just as she was hesitating about how to bring it up without making Samuel think she didn't like being close to him, he spoke first.
"Amelia and I aren't married yet. Prepare another guest room—I'll sleep in the guest room."
The servant nodded in acknowledgment, showing no extra expression and speaking no words.
Samuel's people were all very smart.
Amelia glanced at Samuel.
"You're the owner of the house, why should you sleep in the guest room? I'll sleep in the guest room."
Samuel said, "I heard from Mrs. Richardson that you're used to sleeping on a firmer mattress. Only the master bedroom has a firm mattress. The guest rooms all have soft beds—I'm afraid you won't sleep well."
Amelia did prefer firm beds; soft beds made her ache all over, so she didn't insist further.
Samuel walked her to the master bedroom.
The layout of the master bedroom here was similar to the one at Rosevale Manor.
Samuel gave a brief introduction, saying, "I'll have them bring toiletries."
"No rush."
Amelia held Samuel's hand, making his heart jump hard.
The next second he heard Amelia say, "There's something I don't know if I'm overthinking, but I want to talk to you about it."
Samuel's tense back relaxed, and he felt a bit embarrassed. He'd thought she wanted to do something else.
The two sat down on the sofa.
"Go ahead."
Amelia got straight to the point. "I'd never met Nash before and didn't know what kind of person he was. After meeting him today, I think he's a bit strange."
Samuel said, "That's just how he is. Except for Stanley, he doesn't take anyone seriously. Don't be fooled by how scared he seems of me—he doesn't really respect me. He's just afraid of the power I hold, afraid I'll kill him."
Amelia said, "But that makes it even stranger."
"How so?"
"If he only obeys Stanley, why did he call you this time to tell you Stanley was on the operating table? Stanley must have told him to keep it secret, but he still told you."
"He was afraid something would go wrong, and if it did, I'd come after him first."
"That's true, but I still feel something's not quite right."
This inexplicable feeling made Amelia uneasy.
Samuel was silent for a moment, then said, "Women are more accurate than us men when it comes to intuition, and you're especially perceptive. Maybe he really does have a problem. I'll have Jeremy investigate him. I'm just not sure where to investigate from!"
Amelia said, "When you were downstairs, you told me several branch managers have been restless lately, and this timing coincides with when Stanley found the 'Miracle Physician.' Do you think he might be in contact with Zachary?"
Samuel said, "Though I don't like him, out of respect for his loyalty to my dad, I never suspected this before. But now that you mention it, maybe we really should investigate, just to be safe."
Amelia nodded. "Yes, let's investigate first. If I'm overthinking, we've just wasted some effort. But if I'm right, Nash absolutely cannot be retained."
Samuel agreed completely.
They had to be vigilant.
Especially since the current situation was very unfavorable for Nash—he had motive to side with Zachary.
If anything were to happen to Stanley, Nash would lose his backer.
And Samuel not only disliked Nash and would never use him, but might even go after him.
So Nash's only way out would be to side with Zachary.
And Zachary needed someone like this to help him.
In Samuel's mind, Zachary was like a ticking time bomb.
He and his mother had schemed to get everything Samuel had. Now that everything was back on track, how could they give up?
If he and Nash worked together from inside and out, it would be big trouble for Samuel.
"Don't delay—have them investigate now. My eyelid keeps twitching. I have a really bad feeling." Amelia pressed her right eyelid.
Samuel laughed. "You're a doctor, how can you believe in this? Even I know that eyelid spasms are caused by eye fatigue. Get some rest early, worry less, and your eyelid will stop twitching."
Amelia sighed. "I'm probably just born to worry."
"No one's born to worry. You're just concerned about me."
Samuel reached out to cup her face, treating her like a precious treasure as he placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Get some rest early. I'll handle the rest."
"Okay."
Samuel left soon after.
Amelia also did as he'd suggested and took a hot bath.
Her visit to Thornfield had been so sudden that she hadn't brought anything, so she could only use what the servants prepared for her.
This included the shower gel and shampoo Samuel originally used.
When the unfamiliar scent surrounded her, she vaguely understood why Samuel had asked her for her homemade hair wash before.
Having each other's scent on their bodies was something that seemed ordinary but was actually very sweet.
So Samuel had liked her even back then.
Amelia's cheeks were flushed. Was it from the warm heating or from something else? She had no idea.
Before bed, she found a steam eye mask to wear.
When she woke up the next day, her eyelid had indeed stopped twitching.
……
Amelia' mind was blank the minute she woke up. It wasn't until she saw the unfamiliar light blue ceiling that she realized she was at Thornfield.
Winter at Thornfield was much warmer indoors than Goldenvale.
After gathering her thoughts, she sat up in bed.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed two sets of clothes on the nightstand.
One was a light indoor loungewear set.
The other was heavy outdoor clothing.
On top of the clothes was a rabbit fur scarf.
Amelia reached out to touch it—it felt very nice.
She guessed Samuel had left these here.
Because the clothes weren't folded very neatly.
The servants here were all well-trained and wouldn't make such a mistake.
Amelia changed into the loungewear, finished washing up, and went downstairs.
She didn't know which room Samuel was in, so she planned to ask downstairs.
But when she asked a servant, she learned Samuel wasn't home.
He hadn't returned all night, only coming back around seven in the morning—specifically to bring her clothes.
After leaving the clothes, he'd gone out again.