“Mr. Warner.” Hoyt looked earnestly at Bradley and said, “I won’t take this job of yours.”
“15,000,000 dollars!”
Bradley grabbed his checkbook and hastily wrote a check for Hoyt. He handed it over, but Hoyt tore it in half.
“Mr. Warner, it’s not about the money,” Hoyt said, leaning back in his office chair. “Whether Esther is alive or dead,
I won’t assist you in doing harm. Clark regrets not being able to dissuade you in the past, which led to Esther
spending five years in prison.
“Mr. Warner, speaking as an onlooker, let me remind you that there aren’t many five-year periods in life, let alone
having a woman’s best years squandered in prison due to your arrogance. I won’t take your case. Please leave.”
Bradley realized that Hoyt knew Clark and must be somewhat aware of his and Esther’s situation.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Clark came to see you?” Bradley asked.
Hoyt then recounted the task Clark had given him.
“Clark has been searching for Esther’s twin daughters. According to my investigation, your assistant, Cole, placed
those twin daughters in Sunflower Welfare.”
Bradley had no knowledge of Clark’s ongoing search for his and Esther’s daughters during his absence.
“And then?” Bradley inquired.
Hoyt continued. “After Cole ran into the accident, there were no other leads.”
Bradley believed that Cole wouldn’t betray him. He remembered clearly that every time Cole went to Sunflower
Welfare, he visited Pixie and Tinkerbell.
“Perhaps you can continue the investigation with Pixie and Tinkerbell,” Bradley suggested.
Hoyt gave Bradley a look and calmly stated, “Mr. Warner, this is my business, and it has nothing to do with you.”
As a man, Hoyt held Bradley in contempt. The whole world knew that Esther had died, so what was Bradley
pretending to be devoted here for? If he truly loved Esther, how could he have systematically driven her into a
corner?
“Introduce me to another detective,” Bradley demanded.
Hoyt brought up the latest stock market conditions and gently advised, “Mr. Warner, the Warner Group is on the
brink of bankruptcy. Do you think any detective agency would take on your case?”
That was true. Oliver hadn’t received the signed transfer of ownership from Bradley. The Quill, Foster, and Searle
families were collectively attacking the Warner Group. Once a formidable entity, the Warner Group might be
dismantled from that moment forward.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Bradley felt defeated and powerless for the first time in his life. After leaving Hoyt’s place, he headed to the Warner
Group.
“Mr. Warner’s here, Mr. Warner’s here!”
“Mr. Warner, about this case…”
The moment Bradley appeared at the Warner Group, the employees were hopeful, as if they had seen a savior.
Bradley once again sat in his office. He gazed at the distant buildings and then at his secretary. “Notify department
heads to convene a meeting,” he instructed in a deep voice.
“Yes, Mr. Warner.”
–
Half an hour later, the department heads gathered for the meeting.
Bradley spent half an hour understanding the company’s affairs and comprehended the pressure from Oliver.
This time, he didn’t resist as he had the last time.