Chapter 55: Giving Advice
Scarlett raised her eyebrows and said, “Wasn’t your uncle’s marriage also for political and commercial benefits?”
“Yeah, exactly! So I guess he can understand my suffering better than anyone…”
“Think about it, bro. Even your determined, eloquent, and powerful uncle couldn’t win the battle against his marriage, what about you, little pawn?” Scarlett’s words made him even more deflated.
“But I think you could probably learn something from his experience… So just tell me about Francis’s divorce! You know what, even the most genius agent needs enough intelligence to solve a problem!”
“What the fuck do I know? They got divorced, and that’s it…” Chuck had no interest in distracting himself from his own problem.
Scarlett remained silent for a while, and Chuck surrendered. “Alright, alright. I’ll tell you all that I know. Francis had never agreed to that marriage, but he had no choice at that time. Grandpa threatened to kick him out of the company, so Francis surrendered. But once Francis got the hang of the business and realized he could survive without anyone’s help, he announced a divorce immediately without informing anyone, including his wife…”
Chuck took a deep breath, “I wish I could have his bold courage and power…”
“Your grandpa didn’t interfere?” Scarlett was puzzled.
“At that time, Francis’s business was getting big while Patel’s enterprise…her name was Vivian Patel by the way…Patel’s family enterprise was almost ruined in the hands of Vivian’s elder brother. So you know, we had fewer business connections, and grandpa thought it unnecessary to interfere since it was already a deal that would bring no profit.”
“But isn’t that Vivian doing quite well now? She’s the president of some chips enterprise?” That was what Bell told her when Francis was invited to UI for that award ceremony.
“You did some Googling, huh? Yeah, Chips & Fun was only a declining line of T. B. S. Empire at that time, and Francis left it to Vivian as compensation. Nobody expected her to develop it as well as she did. I gotta admit that she’s a real talented businesswoman.” Chuck explained it all very clearly to Scarlett.
Scarlett was lost in thought until Chuck waved his hands in front of her to interrupt her contemplations.
“I can’t do it. Scarlett, I really can’t do it. I don’t wanna stay with that woman for one more second.” Chuck felt like he got a headache as soon as he thought of Tiffany Crawford.
“Is she really that bad?”
“You know what, she’s dead boring! Honestly, I would be better with you than her cause at least I always have fun when I’m with you. Tiffany and I don’t have anything in common. We can’t even have a conversation.”
He suddenly turned to Scarlett and shook her shoulders back and forth, “Tell me… what should I do, Scarlett? What should I do?”
“Prove to them that you can make the business big without cooperating with that stupid Crawford Inc.,” Scarlett reclined in her seat and said calmly. Chuck put his hands back on the steering wheel and sighed deeply.
“I’ve done my best, dude. The rest’s left to you.” Scarlett said, patting Chuck’s back.
***
Scarlett began to prepare supplies for her new teaching assignment in the countryside of Manbuca. She knew that the winter there would be very cold, so she filled up her bags with many warm sweaters, woolen coats, and down jackets.
Dan had a lot of experience and occasionally reminded her of the long list of things she should definitely remember to bring along. Finally, Scarlett packed up two suitcases, in addition to a large backpack.
Before they got on the train to Cleveland, Dan asked Scarlett to decide, for the very last time, if she had really made up her mind to go. He told her that she still had the opportunity to quit the project entirely. She just had to make the decision.
Dan and Scarlett were not headed for the same destination, so they were getting ready to part at the next train station. While Dan wished he could just put Scarlett in his pocket and carry her with him, Scarlett was clueless. She had no idea what sorts of plans he was making in his head.
“Come on, man. I can handle any problems and challenges that are headed my way. Trust me, okay? I’ll be fine! Now, let’s go!”
Scarlett turned around and got on the train without any hesitation. After setting her own luggage down, she offered a helping hand to the fellow girls.NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.
Dan looked at Scarlett, going here and there in the carriage helping the girls transport their luggage. Her mood was pleasant, and her spirit ardent. Seeing her, Dan finally believed that Scarlett was serious about the project and felt certain that she would be fine. In fact, he thought that she would be better than everyone else.
The train was about to leave. Scarlett helped the leader of the crew count everyone and make sure that they had all gotten on the train safely. Then, finally, Scarlett seated herself. She tried to make herself comfortable.
“Dan Jones is very nice to you!” The girl sitting next to Scarlett said to her with a smile. She was Alice Watson, one of Scarlett’s classmates.
Scarlett didn’t understand the underlying connotations of what Alice had just said to her. She tore open a packet of Cheetos and said, “He is kind to everyone, sometimes he’s so considerate and kind to people even against his better judgment! You know, he’s like a brother to me. He’s helped me out a lot throughout college.” She then pushed the Cheetos towards Alice and said, “Want some?”
“My favorite!” Alice took a few Cheetos and savored them with a bright smile on her. She then took out some Tupperware from her backpack and opened it up.
“I’ve got some toast smeared with peanut butter and jelly; looks yummy, doesn’t it?” Scarlett took a look inside the Tupperware and found several bits of toast oozing delicious peanut butter and jelly. It made her mouth water.
“Have a try!” Alice took one out and handed it to Scarlett.
Scarlett bit into the toast greedily, and peanut butter got all over her mouth. It was a messy scene.
“My God, why is peanut butter and jelly so damn good!”