Chapter 12 A Sneaky Snapshot

The next morning, Emelie joined William in welcoming Mr. Smith from yesterday to the boat factory. Cloudex Corporation focused on venture capital and emerged as one of the nation's top investment firms with extensive projects and influence both domestically and internationally. It played a key role in backing government-supported projects, notably this cultural heritage boat factory. Emelie had managed to compose herself from last night's emotional upheaval. Now, she's perfectly embodying the role of a CEO's secretary by William's side. She spoke when needed and remained silently observant when not. There was a diverse collection of cultural heritage boats displayed inside the expansive factory, each boat was vibrant and unique. An elderly factory manager led them through the exhibits, earning repeated expressions of admiration from Mr. Smith. "These boats are only 60 feet. We're in the process of constructing the longest cultural heritage boat in the world, targeting to be 330 feet. Once it's complete, we intend to apply for a Guinness World Record to bring global recognition to our cultural heritage boats," the manager said with pride. "330 feet? That's taller than some buildings. It must be a spectacular sight on water! Could I have the honor of seeing it?" Mr. Smith was visibly amazed. "Of course, it's actually right above us. Have a look," the manager replied with a smile. As everyone looked up, they saw an enormous boat suspended from the ceiling, its full length extending beyond their view. "It occupies too much space on the ground, so hanging it was the best solution to conserve space. We've only finished the basic structure. A lengthy process still lies ahead. The next step is the completion of the body structure," explained the manager. While all eyes were on the boat, Emelie sensed as if someone was targeting her with their gaze. She scanned the area and spotted a tall man in a corner. The man's face was concealed by a hat and mask. He was aiming a long-focus camera in their direction. Emelie frowned as she asked, "Factory manager, who is that person?" The manager glanced over. "He claims to be a blogger, someone who posts stuff online. Hearing about our cultural heritage and the 330-foot boat, he wanted to capture it. I thought it'd be good publicity, so I allowed it." Emelie considered the man's focus could logically be on the uniquely lengthy cultural heritage boat, especially as they stood right beneath it. She thought she might be overthinking it. Emelie shifted her focus back, just as William extended his hand to her, catching her off guard. She hesitated as she was uncertain of his intentions. William's hand hovered mid-air for a good 20 to 30 seconds until he frowned at Emelie. It took her a second to realize he was asking for a wet wipe for his hands. A man with his cleanliness habits would naturally want to clean his hands after touching anything. Previously, Emelie would keenly observe his every action, memorizing all his habits and understanding his needs from a mere glance or gesture. But today, her attention was elsewhere. Emelie handed him a wet wipe from her bag when she felt a pang of surprise at her own lapse in attention. Her thoughts were not as centered on him as they used to be. This moment of neglect caught William's eye, prompting him to observe her more closely than usual. The previous night's slap didn't leave any mark, it was as if the incident had never occurred. Daphne was also present. She noticed William's prolonged gaze on Emelie and a sentence crossed her mind, "You can't move up until there's room at the top." Daphne suddenly called out, "Ms. Hoven." As Emelie turned, she caught the man taking photos in her direction again. She was certain it wasn't a misperception this time as he was focusing directly on her. She thought about confronting the man but decided against it with Mr. Smith around, to avoid creating a scene. She figured there would be time to address it later as the tour was almost over. "What is it?" Emelie asked, turning to Daphne. Daphne said softly, "Does the company profit from such projects?" "It's not about financial gain," Emelie explained. "So it's about reputation? I understand now," Daphne responded with a sweet smile. After a quick look at a wall sign labeled "4," Emelie proceeded to follow William. As their visit wrapped up and William was about to invite the clients for lunch, a sudden warning came from the second floor. "Danger! Move away!" The instinctive reaction to the warning was to gaze upwards. As they did, they saw the 330-foot cultural heritage boat start to tip alarmingly as its ropes gave way, sending it crashing toward the ground. Without a moment to spare, Emelie reached out for William but only caught air. "Boom!" The boat crashed down, chaotically scattering the crowd beneath. Emelie was delayed by her attempt to reach William and couldn't evade in time. Her lower leg was struck, and she elicited a sharp cry of pain. Yet, it was the emotional pain that cut deeper. She glanced up and realized William had instinctively chosen to shield Daphne instead of her in that critical moment. Could his affection for Daphne have grown so deep? Looking down at her injured leg, a bitter chuckle escaped Emelie. Three years of unwavering devotion, all seemingly in vain.