“Today's contest……ends here.”
Hope didn't lower the blade. She stared straight at him. “Then what about the heir?”
Antony was silent for a long time.
I spoke again, and my voice came out steadier than I expected.
“Master, my answer hasn't changed.”
“I'm out.”
Then I turned, pushed open the door of the main hall, and walked out.
As I stepped over the threshold, I heard Antony let out a long sigh.
I didn't look back.
The next day.
I got to the office half an hour earlier than usual.
The elevator reached the seventeenth floor, and the moment the doors opened, I heard voices.
They were coming from the president's office.
“I don't agree.”
Antony's voice wasn't loud, but it was hard.
“No one else can handle his current workload.”
“Then he can take his time learning.” Hope wouldn't let it go. “Dad, since Nathaniel is the heir now, then everything in Vincent's hands should be handed over.”
“The general manager's seat, control of the drug R&D department, everything tied to the Henson family business. Not one thing stays with him.”
“If you feel sorry for him, you shouldn't have made that rule in the first place.”
“Now the rule is set, the man is chosen, and you still want to keep both sides happy. You can't have it both ways.”
Another silence.
Then Nathaniel's voice rose, warm and mild. “Master, Hope just has a quick temper. Don't take it to heart.”
“Everything Vincent has done for the Hensons over the years, I've seen all of it, and I'm grateful for it.”
“But Hope has a point too. The heir is settled, so the authority and responsibilities should be made clear. It's better for the company that way.”
“Of course, how exactly to arrange it is still your call, Master.”
“Enough.” Antony's voice carried the weariness of a man forced to concede. “I'll talk to Vincent.”
I went back to my office and started packing.
My phone rang.
It was Antony's assistant, asking me to come up.
I picked up the folder on my desk and walked to the president's office.
Antony sat behind the desk, a cup of tea in front of him.
He hadn't touched it. It had gone stone cold.
“Vincent.” He paused. “About yesterday……”
“Master, I understand.” I set the folder down on the desk. “Everything I've been handling is in here. The progress on the R&D department's projects, the partners we're coordinating with, the budget plan for the second half of the year. It's all in there.”
Antony looked at the folder. He didn't take it.
His hand rested on the armrest, fingers tapping once, then again, slow and even.
“Vincent……”
The door swung open.
Hope walked in, Nathaniel behind her.
“Dad, how did it go?”
Antony was silent for two seconds, then reached out, took the folder, and flipped through it.
“It's settled.”
“Starting today, Nathaniel is head of the drug R&D department.”
Standing behind Hope, Nathaniel heard it, and the corner of his mouth moved.
It was a small curve, but I caught it.
He stepped forward, his tone carrying just the right amount of sincerity. “Vincent, you've worked hard all these years.”
“Don't worry. The foundation you built, I'll take good care of it. Your hard work won't go to waste.”
I looked at that fake smile of his and said nothing.
“All right, go get back to work.” Antony waved a hand at me. “I'll have my assistant arrange the handover later.”
