As it was her first time there, Winnie decided to survey her surroundings. Anyway, that was something any ordinary person would do in an unfamiliar environment. It would be stranger if she wasn’t curious at all.
Harold seemed patient the entire time. He waited for Winnie to finish surveying the entire study before asking, “How is it? Ms. Vivian, do you like it here?”
Winnie retracted her gaze from the book-rack-filled wall and glanced at Harold.
“Are you thinking of giving this study to me if I say I like this place?”
Harold chuckled. “This is an old study. Ms. Vivian, if you like it, I’ll get someone to build a new one for you. The old one doesn’t deserve you.”
“No need. I’m not interested in books. The moment I see those words, my head hurts, and I feel like sleeping. So, where’s the thing you were going to show me, Mr. Horton? Is it here? Why are there no traces of a computer around?”
“Of course it isn’t here,” Harold nonchalantly replied. “How can I put something so important out in the open just like that?”
Winnie inhaled sharply before furrowing her brows. “So what are you trying to do, Mr. Horton? You took my phone away and conducted a body search on me, but in the end, you’re just toying with me?”
A calm smile grew on Harold’s lips. “Ms. Vivian, aren’t you a little too short-tempered? I’m not done speaking yet. I’d like to have you turn around. You’ll understand in a bit.”
If he says I have a short temper, I’ll show him what short-tempered means! “Harold Horton, what are you trying to do?”
“Please stay calm, Ms. Vivian. Someone will eventually take advantage of that temper of yours one day. Still, don’t worry. From now on, I’ll treat you as a part of my family. As long as I’m around, no one will dare to lay a finger on you.”
Winnie narrowed her eyes. “Fine, I’ll listen to you one more time.”
With that, she turned around.
Frankly, she could guess what was going to happen next by then.
Someone like Harold had little interest in books, but he had a wall full of books in his study.
What could that mean?
That could only mean that there was something fishy about the wall—that there was a secret room behind it.
Harold wanted her to turn around because he did not want her to see where the switch for the secret room was.
Shortly after, Winnie’s speculation was proven right. After a creak, the wall full of books shifted to reveal another room behind it.
“This way, please, Ms. Vivian.” Harold gestured at Winnie as he stood by the entrance.
Winnie ambled over and commented, “Mr. Horton, I didn’t know you had a secret room. How unexpected.”
Harold smiled in silence.
Although the secret room was not huge, one of its walls was covered with screens. As it turned out, they were all screens of surveillance cameras.
In the middle of the room was a table, and two computers were on it.
While Winnie was observing the room, Harold was observing her.
Then, he chuckled, his eyes still fixed on her side profile. “This is a safe place, but at the same time, it’s dangerous to be here.”
Winnie knitted her brows and turned to Harold. “Oh? What do you mean by dangerous? You can’t have planted a bomb here, right?”
“Of course not.” Harold’s lips curled. “There aren’t any bombs here, but I’m much more dangerous than a bomb. These things you’re seeing have the capability of taking your life. If you dare to reveal anything, I’ll make your life a living hell.”
Winnie arched a brow in response. “You have no need to worry about that, Mr. Horton. Coincidentally, I’m terrified of dying, so I definitely won’t do that.”
As she spoke, she gave Harold an amused look. “You made your point clear, and I’m already in the secret room. Do you still need me to turn around?”
“There’s no need for that.” Harold was confident, for even his computer’s password was ten digits, let alone his intranet login identity and password.
Nevertheless, what he never imagined was that Winnie only needed to look at his hands once to remember the position and order of the keys he pressed.
After that, Harold showed Winnie his past year’s shipment and revenue.
Still, he was quick, and most people would not remember the information after one look. Even if they could remember the first few pieces of information, they would not be able to remember the rest.
However, Winnie was not like most people. She remembered everything.
At Winnie’s request, Harold showed her his development plans in Chanaea and the buyers’ list.
Those were important data, and Winnie memorized all of the addresses and names.
Still, there was something else she needed to learn—she needed to find out the location of Harold’s other factories.
Alas, Harold refused to show her anything about that.
He was right when he told her that he had already shown enough of his sincerity. If she were to keep asking for more, she would simply be stepping over the line.
Not wanting to raise Harold’s suspicion, Winnie dismissed her plan to ask for the addresses of the other factories.
Almost without missing a beat, Harold turned off his computer.
“How is it, Ms. Vivian?” he asked. “Are you satisfied?”
Winnie nodded as a sated smile appeared on her face.
“So my instincts were right. The one I wanted to work with the most from the start was you, Mr. Horton. Now, it looks like you really do have the capability of becoming my partner.”
As she spoke, she stepped forward to hug Harold. “I’m sure this place will be our playground from the moment we start working together. No one will be a match for us.”
“Indeed.” Harold reciprocated the hug tightly. “I’m certain we will have a good time working together.”
“Of course!” A thrilled look crept onto Winnie’s face. “Once I’m out of here, I’ll send you my account number so that you can send me one-third of the deposit. Then, I’ll be able to start making the products.”
“No problems. From now on, you can see me as your own brother, and I’ll see you as my sister!”
“Okay, I’ll call you Hal, then.”
“Why, hello, Vivian, my dear sister.”
The two of them were putting on a show as they called each other their siblings, and neither made a move to stop the show.
However, just as the two of them were about to exit the room while wearing fake smiles, they abruptly noticed a man in a vest outside the study.
The man was hunched over and seemed to be sneakily looking for something.
Winnie had no idea what was going on, and she did not have a gun on her. Thus, she promptly hid behind Harold.
Even if a fight were to break out, she would still have Harold as her human shield.
Still, Winnie was confused. Christopher and the others were still guarding outside, so how did this person enter the room?
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