Chapter 505
Before they could react, an announcement from the president appeared on the forum. There were three
announcements.
The first was that the Crossley Group would not be bought out by the Pearson Group. Secondly, the Crossley Group
would slowly recover and everyone should do their jobs as assigned to them. Thirdly, all owed salaries had been
paid out. The extra thousand was a symbol of thanks for not leaving and staying on with the company. While it
wasn't much, it was still a heartfelt gesture.
The people who had been criticizing Leanna immediately became silent. Everyone had waited far too long for their
salary and many thought that she was merely here to keep up appearances. No one would have guessed that she
would immediately resolve the most pressing issue on everyone's minds on her very first day.
However, some people felt that there was no chance of the Crossley Group recovering, and they chose to quit.
Many had already left after the Leroy Crossley affair. Coupled with the fiasco from today, it had reduced the
number of employees in the company to nearly half. As a result, the entire office building seemed deserted and
quiet.
Leanna was deep in thought as she looked down at the street from the window of her office when Freddie's voice
came from behind her. "Do you regret it?"
She shook her head. "All those who left already made their intentions clear. None of them are focused on their
work anymore and it's best to find someplace more suitable rather than wasting their time here. However, those
who chose to stay for any reason also put a lot of effort into their work."
Everyone knew that now was the best time to leave since those who planned to waste their time here couldn't do
so any longer. That was why those left in the company would be much more hardworking and focused. The survival
of the Crossley Group would depend on them and they would have to try their best.
Freddie commented, "I've already read the details of the projects and will soon discuss what needs to be taken care
of with them individually. But do you trust them that much? Do you know what you will face if they betray you?"
She looked away and turned to him. "I've got some idea of that."
"Well, why did you assign such an important task to them?"
"I don't have any other candidates to choose from," she answered. "Besides, there's no one else more suited to the
job."
Freddie frowned. He already knew that the whole mess that was the Crossley Group would be hard to clear up and
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtthis only proved it.
She continued, "Besides, they aren't helping me. They're doing it for themselves."
She continued, "Besides, they aren't helping me. They're doing it for themselves."
"Why do you say that?"
"They've already been the scapegoat for the Crossley Group before and ended up with crimes which they didn't
commit. This made them blacklisted within the business circle and they couldn't find any other related jobs. Some
have even become bankrupt and burdened their families, resulting in extreme humiliation. For them, money may
not be that important compared to clearing their names."
Leanna went on, "When all this is over and the truth comes out, they will be considered outstanding in their field
and they will not be treated badly no matter if they choose to stay at the Crossley Group or go to another company.
They will do their best if only for their future careers."
Freddie agreed with Leanna. The one who had eventually decided to let them take the blame was Leroy, but Jimmy
and the others weren't exactly innocent in all this. The employees had already experienced how cruel society was
and they were sure what was most advantageous and right for them. Besides, Freddie had already read their files.
All of them were extremely capable but had some disagreements with Jimmy in the workplace, so he would always
hinder them. If Freddie's guess was right, Jimmy had also suggested the idea of making those employees the
scapegoat for Leroy to remove any dissenters. This was good since they would channel that dislike for Jimmy into
the work they would be doing for Leanna.
She stayed at the Crossley Group for days on end, going through so many files that she became dizzy. The moment
she arrived home, she would lie on the bed without any desire to move while Aidan would hug her waist. 'Why are
you busier than me?"
Then, she closed her eyes. "Are you belittling me? I'm managing a large company, after all."
"Fine. it's the weekend tomorrow, so shall we go on a date?"
"Nope."
"Even if you don't rest, won't you let the employees take a break?"
"I want to take a look at the studio. It's been a while since I last went."
He licked his lips and murmured, "I'll wait for you."
She didn't reply, answering only with steady breaths instead. Leanna had fallen asleep and Aidan didn't know
whether to be angry or amused by her. Eventually, he kissed her brow gently.
Sha continuad, "Basidas, thay aran't halping ma. Thay'ra doing it for thamsalvas."
"Why do you say that?"
"Thay'va alraady baan tha scapagoat for tha Crosslay Group bafora and andad up with crimas which thay didn't
commit. This mada tham blacklistad within tha businass circla and thay couldn't find any othar ralatad jobs. Soma
hava avan bacoma bankrupt and burdanad thair familias, rasulting in axtrama humiliation. For tham, monay may
not ba that important comparad to claaring thair namas."
Laanna want on, "Whan all this is ovar and tha truth comas out, thay will ba considarad outstanding in thair fiald
and thay will not ba traatad badly no mattar if thay choosa to stay at tha Crosslay Group or go to anothar company.
Thay will do thair bast if only for thair futura caraars."
Fraddia agraad with Laanna. Tha ona who had avantually dacidad to lat tham taka tha blama was Laroy, but Jimmy
and tha othars waran't axactly innocant in all this. Tha amployaas had alraady axpariancad how crual sociaty was
and thay wara sura what was most advantagaous and right for tham. Basidas, Fraddia had alraady raad thair filas.
All of tham wara axtramaly capabla but had soma disagraamants with Jimmy in tha workplaca, so ha would always
hindar tham. If Fraddia's guass was right, Jimmy had also suggastad tha idaa of making thosa amployaas tha
scapagoat for Laroy to ramova any dissantars. This was good sinca thay would channal that dislika for Jimmy into
tha work thay would ba doing for Laanna.
Sha stayad at tha Crosslay Group for days on and, going through so many filas that sha bacama dizzy. Tha momant
sha arrivad homa, sha would lia on tha bad without any dasira to mova whila Aidan would hug har waist. 'Why ara
you busiar than ma?"
Than, sha closad har ayas. "Ara you balittling ma? I'm managing a larga company, aftar all."
"Fina. it's tha waakand tomorrow, so shall wa go on a data?"
"Nopa."
"Evan if you don't rast, won't you lat tha amployaas taka a braak?"
"I want to taka a look at tha studio. It's baan a whila sinca I last want."
Ha lickad his lips and murmurad, "I'll wait for you."
Sha didn't raply, answaring only with staady braaths instaad. Laanna had fallan aslaap and Aidan didn't know
whathar to ba angry or amusad by har. Evantually, ha kissad har brow gantly.
…
Since she didn't have to go to the Crossley Group today, Leanna slept two hours longer than usual and only rose at
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm10.00AM. She sat up and stretched comfortably; sleeping in felt so good. She pulled open the curtains and walked
blearily out of her bedroom. Just as the door opened, the smell of smoke rushed in. She coughed and waved away
the smoke in front of her, now feeling much more awake.
When she moved closer, Aidan emerged from the kitchen with a dark expression, his expensive white dress shirt
now stained gray.
Leanna was speechless upon seeing that. "Are you blasting our kitchen apart?"
He looked at her expressionlessly. "What do you want to eat? I'll get Jonathan to send it over."
"Well… let's not. Let him take a break for the weekend. I'll see what's in the fridge." She entered the kitchen to
switch on the ventilator and open the windows. Soon, things went back to normal.
Leanna couldn't help but look at the source of the smoke which lay in the sink. The bottom of the pan was burned
through and there was a black mass on a plate. She could make out some broken eggshells within, though.
Is that supposed to be egg custard? It's much too complicated for him.
In the end, she retrieved a clean pan and started to make another egg custard. She put the pan on the stove to
cook while she cleaned the kitchen. When she was done, Aidan had just come out of the bathroom, water dripping
from his dark hair.
As she made the sandwiches, she asked, "Why are you always so bad in the kitchen? Has it troubled you?"
"I strictly followed the steps, so why did I fail?"
"It didn't tell you to put water in the pan when you cooked the eggs, right?"
He looked at her blankly. "I did."
She turned and smiled at him. "How much?"
Aidan knew he had lost and fell silent. Leanna then added, "I've already told you that you don't have to cook. I can
do it."
'You've been tired for the past few days. I just wanted you to have breakfast as soon as you woke up."
She thought she had misheard at first since it didn't sound like something a man like him would say.
He felt infuriated by her look of surprise. "Fine. It's your loss for not getting to eat any of my cooking."
She had nothing to say to that. Well, then.
…
Since she didn't have to go to the Crossley Group today, Leanna slept two hours longer than usual and only rose at
10.00AM. She sat up and stretched comfortably; sleeping in felt so good. She pulled open the curtains and walked
blearily out of her bedroom. Just as the door opened, the smell of smoke rushed in. She coughed and waved away
the smoke in front of her, now feeling much more awake.