Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 394

Hearing him bring up the news, Willow bypassed the topic entirely and asked, "Aren't you supposed to be on vacation? Why are you tracking industry gossip?"

She hated the idea of him working during his time off. In all the years they had worked together, Leo had barely taken a breath, let alone a proper break. Now that he finally had a real vacation, she just wanted him to unplug and leave the corporate chaos behind.

Leo, however, was wired differently. "I might be on vacation, but my brain is still at the office. Honestly, resting for a day or two is great, but any longer than that and I start going crazy. I'd rather be in the trenches with you. Besides, when a titan like Professor Smith is flying in, I don't even have to look for the news—people are blowing up my phone with it."

Fair point. Since he was already in the loop, Willow didn't bother gatekeeping. She relayed the details Silas had shared with her earlier.

After digesting the information, Leo made a pitch. "How about I cut my vacation short and head back to New York?"

Willow didn't shoot the idea down immediately, offering a gentle counter. "You rarely get this kind of downtime. You should spend it with your family. Don't stress about the workload here; I can hold the fort."

"My family's all sorted. We did a big trip a few days ago, but now everyone's back to the grind—work, school—and I'm just sitting around an empty house. It's driving me nuts," Leo insisted. "I'm practically climbing the walls. I want to get back to New York where the action is."

"Plus, with Sinclair Group bringing in a heavy hitter like that, they're going to be unbearably smug. I need to get back and watch your six."

Willow refused to micromanage his choices. She gently reminded him to do what he actually wanted, assuring him again that she had the workload handled.

She stopped right in the center of the bullpen, casually flicking a lock of curled hair over her shoulder. When she spoke, her voice wasn't loud, but it dripped with authority. "Everyone, stop what you're doing. Pencils down."

Heads snapped up across the room, all eyes locking onto her.

Vivienne tilted her chin, her gaze sweeping over the staff with a toxic blend of triumph and disdain. "I assume you've all heard the news. We have a VIP arriving next week. Before he gets here, there are a few ground rules we need to establish."

She paused, soaking in the nervous, sycophantic anticipation radiating from the crowd. Satisfied, she continued. "Effective immediately, every single workstation will be spotless. I want strict 5S management protocols enforced. As for the catering, the welcoming committee, and the presentation materials—I expect flawless execution. Not a single mistake."