Chapter 4

During the final month of my contractual term, I secretly went through handover procedures while managing Storm Group's day-to-day operations. Yaeger had advised that I shouldn't always cater to Lilith's demands and should allow her to adjust to running the company independently. However, that wasn't part of my job description. I ensured that my responsibilities were handed over after perfectly executing them. If Lilith couldn't manage, it wouldn't be my concern. In addition to the handover procedures, I laid the groundwork for my plans. With the connections and resources I had gained at Storm Group, retaining some of the inventory sources would allow me to establish a trading company. Storm Group wasn't the only prospective investor on my list. If I could refine my business model and ensure a higher profit margin, surely more investors would be interested in chipping into the trading company. "Mr. Schmitt, here are the company's approved documents from last month. Also, the chairperson has turned down the request from our biggest collaborator to date, Johanssen Building Materials Inc.," the head of the foreign trade department informed me. I couldn't hide my surprise. "Turned down? Why? If I remember correctly, Johanssen Building Materials Inc. did not propose anything unreasonable." I quickly scanned the documents for answers. Johanssen Building Materials Inc. had proposed that we use the Lyrian Sea route to shorten the shipping duration on their end. The shorter the shipping duration, the higher the monthly transportation volume. Storm Group had been planning to use the Lyrian Sea as a trade route and would soon commence using it. The increase in transportation volume would significantly benefit the company. I didn't, nor did I want to, understand the reason Lilith turned down such a suggestion. "Mr. Schmitt, how should I reply to Johanssen Group regarding the matter?" the head of the foreign trade department asked. After a moment of thought, I considered calling Lilith and asking her why she had turned down the proposal. However, I changed my mind when I remembered that I only had a month left in the company. I might as well go along with her decision. She was the chairperson, after all. "Respond according to the documents," I instructed, handing the documents to the head of the foreign trade department. He froze. "But if we do that, Johanssen Group might not want to do business with us anymore." "We're not the only ones with access to the Lyrian Sea route. We'll proceed with Ms. Storm's decision." "Alright, then." The head of the foreign trade department left without further argument. I knew he was upset, but I was merely following the chairperson's decision. … I stayed in my office until nightfall. The handover procedures were complicated, and it was my job to simplify such matters. When I took a breather, I finally had time to microwave instant mac and cheese. I had just taken a bite when my phone rang. "Leon, you have ten minutes to show up before me," Lilith demanded irritably, her voice shrill in my ear. My brows furrowed. "Have you been drinking again?" "How's that any of your damn business? Do as you're told! You have nine minutes left!" she snapped, then hung up immediately. There was a flash on my screen as she dropped me her location. I sighed and tossed the instant mac and cheese into the bin. I got into the car and drove to the location shown on the navigation system. Lilith had sent me the location for a karaoke bar downtown. I sighed as I pulled up outside the questionable building. It seemed she had an affinity for spending her days in a drunken haze in shady places. The incident three years ago had happened because of her drinking habits. Perhaps it was her privilege and entitlement that made her so incorrigible. I arrived at the karaoke lounge 15 minutes later, panting. As I pushed open the door, I was surprised to find a dozen or so familiar faces in the opulent lounge. These were faces from my university days, some of them from my faculty. Had there been a reunion today? I was pulled out of my confusion when I heard someone cry, "Wow, what a good dog! He came when called!" Someone guffawed. "Well, if it isn't Leon Brainiac Schmitt!" "He wasn't just a brainiac, was he? He was the most handsome guy in our faculty! Did you forget how droves of girls fawned over him on campus?" "Hey, Leon! Come sit with me," someone called out. I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Cedric Fletcher, the class president from my faculty, waving me over. He could be a little sycophantic, but at least he was decent enough to show some respect to me, the scholarship kid from back in the day. "Pah! What right does he have to sit with us?" Lilith sounded annoyed as she snapped at me, "Stand next to me." I froze, but I did as she asked anyway. "Yes, Ms. Storm." I stood next to her like a waiter in the lounge. "Go stand behind me!" Lilith barked. "You're such an eyesore." "Very well," I said with a nod. None of the dozen others in the lounge dared say a word while Lilith bossed me around. They threw odd looks at me. Some looked as if they were about to say something but stopped, while others regarded me with cruel amusement. "I heard this saying a while ago," Cedric said, breaking the silence. "Those who are academically inclined tend to make good employees. It was a good call hiring Leon, Ms. Storm."