Chapter 4: From Temp Worker to Full-time

Eliana brought a copy of her marriage certificate to the lawyer and completed the transfer process. With her mom's fifty percent of the shares, Eliana was officially running the show at Griffith's Enterprise. She held the documents, her fingertips trembling. She had waited for this day for over a decade! She went straight to the company for the handover, but when she looked at the accounts, she found out they were drowning in debt. Lots of transactions were sketchy, and they'd drained all their cash. The once-million-dollar company was basically worthless! Camille and Vanessa were sneaky as heck; they saw this coming and shorted the company ages ago. Colin tossed the documents aside, his face turning red with anger. "These accounts are a mess, probably deliberately confusing. The company is useless now, just an empty shell with no money or resources." Eliana glanced at the stack of papers, scooped them up, and tucked them away in a drawer, giving it a firm lock. "We can tackle this chaos later. Right now, let's think of it as a clean slate. Whatever happens next, we'll handle it together!" Colin rubbed his temples, looking at his niece's calm face. "As your uncle, I've got your back all the way if you're committed." Since his sister's passing, they had only each other to rely on. "By the way, did you really marry that boxer guy? Is he reliable?" Colin worriedly asked. What was supposed to be a temp actor had turned into a full-time one. "I went to his gym earlier today, and everything seems fine," Eliana recalled her probe earlier that day. Chase showed no signs of deception. "I've arranged a meeting with a client at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Let's go." Eliana changed into a professional outfit, chic and sharp, grabbing her briefcase as she headed out. Colin followed closely behind. At the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, they met in the café on the ground floor to discuss business. "Mr. Zierman, this price is already the best offer. Let's not just consider the price but also the quality of our product," Eliana analyzed her company's product advantages seriously. If they could secure a deal, it would at least alleviate some immediate pressure. The man deliberately grabbed her hand. "Your product quality is as impeccable as Ms. Griffith yourself. How about we continue the discussion upstairs? I've booked a room, and I can raise the price a bit." The implication was clear. Eliana felt disgusted and quickly pulled her hand back. "I know what's up with your company. Missing out on my deal? You're fucked up tomorrow." Mr. Zierman smirked suggestively, his eyes lingering on Eliana's chest. At the hotel gate, Chase entered, dressing in a designer suit. He had a meet-up scheduled with some bigwig from around here to talk business. But the minute he got inside, his gaze was fixed on someone. Even without her wedding gown, her gorgeous face remained the center of attention wherever she went. Today was their wedding day, and she left him for another man here? Eliana stood up with a stern expression. "If Mr. Zierman isn't interested in cooperation, let's not waste everyone's time." Before she could leave, the man forcefully grabbed her hand and squeezed it. Hey, chill out. Given your company's situation, you could really use my help. I'm open to negotiating on the price. "Save it for your medical bills!" Eliana narrowed her eyes, grabbed the coffee cup and smashed it on the man's head. Then she grabbed the contract, and stormed out, leaving behind the man's enraged shouts. "Bitch! You're fucked up! Get ready to hear from my lawyer!" Mr. Zierman, holding his bleeding forehead, went to the bathroom to tend to his wound. He spoke into his phone, "Sue that bitch, I'm going to sue her until she's stripped naked lying in bed..." Before he could finish his sentence, he was punched hard in face. Chase pinned the fat man against the mirror. "Sir, I don't know you. Did you mistake me for someone else?" Mr. Zierman, intimidated by the man's strength, begged for mercy. Chase snorted, "Which hand touched her just now?" Mr. Zierman's eyes went wide as he realized it was Eliana who had sent the person before him. "Eliana sent you? Well, I'll be settling this score for sure. You better back off if you know what's good for you, or else..." Chase didn't waste words, he clenched his fist and delivered another blow to Mr. Zierman's hand, the sound of bones breaking echoed, then the other hand, swift and deadly. Mr. Zierman's hands were both deformed, like two pancakes stepped on by someone. After teaching the lesson, Chase casually washed his hands. At that moment, his phone rang, Eliana's voice came through the phone, "I'll pick you up at the gym later, then we'll go home together." "What time?" "5 o'clock." "Alright." Chase hung up the phone, then called Stephan in. Seeing the situation, Stephan was also startled, he had never seen Mr. Wilkinson so angry. "Handle it," Chase said simply before walking out. ... Eliana was behind the wheel, and Colin was seething with anger, itching to confront that jerk. But she held him back, saying, "I've hit him where it hurts most already. Getting into a fight now will just mess things up more." "We keep very information about the company confidential. How could even a small trade company know?" Colin wondered. Eliana snorted, "That's the easiest question I heard today. It's gotta be that mother-daughter duo stirring up trouble. They're still sore about losing the company and will do anything to make me look bad." Colin angrily muttered, "That woman is two-faced, acting all nice in front of your dad, but showing her true colors behind his back." That's Camille's talent, being good at putting on different faces, looking delicate and weak, but in reality, more ruthless than anyone. Otherwise, Randall wouldn't have been deceived by her over all these years. Eliana pulled over by the roadside, "Get out, I'm going to pick up Chase and take him home." "You're not serious about that kid, are you?" Colin looked at her incredulously. "Newlyweds gotta act like newlyweds, you know? Can't have people thinking otherwise. Plus, my family's going through some rough patches. You'd better stay away from it. I got no guilty dragging a stranger to it, though." That sounded reasonable. Colin got out of the car, but not without reminding, "Be careful, call me immediately if anything happens." Eliana nodded and drove to the boxing gym. Surprisingly, it was closed already. There was only a receptionist do the final tidying. As she walked in, she was informed that Chase was in the office. "Thanks, I'll go get him myself," she said. Eliana pushed open the office door and saw Chase changing clothes. He wore black trousers on the bottom and a shirt unbuttoned on top, revealing his broad chest and muscular arms, looking particularly strong. "Why didn't you knock before coming in?" Chase turned his back, not letting her see. Eliana raised an eyebrow, grabbed his shirt, and questioned, "This outfit is a luxurious brand, worth tens of thousands. Can you tell me, how did a small boxer like you get the money to buy such expensive clothes?"