Chapter 532: Chapter 532: Third Master Hawthorne
The extracted essence of the herbs is naturally several grades higher than before.
"Indeed, blessings never come in pairs, and disasters never come alone. Who would have thought that a few weeks ago we were still worried about the supply of herbs, and now we have our own channel? No more fear of it being deliberately cut off."
Sherry looked at the list of herbs printed from the computer, smiling so much that her eyes were barely visible, "That scum Ansel probably didn’t expect this either."
Ann Vaughn sighed, "The branch company here is basically stable, but suitable managerial staff haven’t been found yet, and the invitations are already pouring in."
Sherry didn’t understand what was so troubling about this: "Imperial Glory’s status domestically is nothing to be underestimated, and there will be more of these things in the future. Are you going to decline all of them?"
"Not necessarily." Ann Vaughn was looking at the invitations sent by her assistant, her slender fingers stopping at the last one, "This business gala is a must-attend."
The assistant had emphasized that the president of the National Pharmaceutical Association would attend as well. Imperial Glory was new to The Imperial Capital and didn’t have the deep foundation it had in Marinia, so refusing might give people something to talk about.
Sherry leaned over to look at the invitation in her hand and exclaimed, "This invitation... the clinic received an identical one yesterday."
As she spoke, Sherry took the ignored invitation from the drawer and handed it to Ann Vaughn.
Ann Vaughn picked it up and looked at it. Indeed, it was the same as the one the gala organization sent to the Imperial Glory Branch.
This was a bit strange.
In terms of medical skills, those pharmaceutical companies could not necessarily compare to the Vaughn Clinic.
Similarly, regarding drug research and distribution, the Vaughn Clinic was like a newborn baby compared to those corporate enterprises.
Although the Imperial Glory Branch was just a branch, what it represented behind it, the entire Imperial Glory, held a position in the country that no pharmaceutical company could shake.
Therefore, it was not strange at all that Imperial Glory was invited to this gala.
But the invitation to the Vaughn Clinic couldn’t be described as anything but strange.
While contemplating, the phone beside Ann Vaughn rang; it was her assistant calling.
"Miss Vaughn, as per your instructions, we’ve screened two suitable managers. I’ve sent their resumes to your email. If you find them appropriate, I can arrange for an interview tomorrow."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Ann Vaughn replied softly and, after hanging up, opened the email to load the resumes sent by her assistant.
But upon seeing the first name, she was instantly stunned.
Elias Hawthorne...
How could it be him?
What surprised Ann Vaughn even more was that Elias Hawthorne’s resume was so flawless that it almost left no room for criticism, completely meeting the criteria she wanted for a manager.
But with his qualifications, even a position at Imperial Glory’s headquarters would easily suffice, so why did he choose the newly established branch in The Imperial Capital?
Moreover, she was concerned about a text message from Sutton Jennings, mentioning his close relationship with Jane Sheridan.
Could it be... they were coming for her?
Ann Vaughn furrowed her fine brows, resting her chin in thought. She always felt that before meeting Jane Sheridan last time in Marinia, she seemed to have seen her somewhere else.
But the fact was she hadn’t; if she had, there was no reason she wouldn’t remember.
If she couldn’t recall, Ann Vaughn simply chose not to think further and continued reading the second resume.
Since the best choice was already there, Ann Vaughn directly sent the results to her assistant, asking her to arrange an interview for tomorrow.
Just after sending the message, Ann Vaughn received a call from an unknown number.
... Why are there so many unknown calls lately?
Feeling puzzled for a moment, Ann Vaughn casually placed the prescription she was writing aside and answered the call, "Hello?"
"I heard that Miss Vaughn’s clinic has recently suffered a blow and won’t hold out for long. I’ve come specifically to show some concern." A sinister voice came from the other side.
Recognizing who it was, Ann Vaughn’s lips twitched, her eyes mocking, "President Fuller should mind his own business. Wasn’t the last lesson enough?"
This scum dared to call and provoke her; did he think his lifeline had been long enough?
"Humph, oblivious to reality!" President Fuller evidently believed she was just talking tough, sneered, and said, "Miss Vaughn should have received the invitation we sent, right?"
"So what if I have?"
"If you don’t want Ansel to continue targeting that failing clinic, obediently bring the invitation to the gala, apologize to me in person, and entertain me for a few days. I’ll let bygones be bygones!"
Hearing those disgusting words, Ann Vaughn’s face turned cold, and she retorted savagely, "Go screw yourself! I crippled you once, and I can make sure you’re a eunuch for life! If you want to give it a try, go ahead, trash!"
President Fuller’s voice trembled with anger, and the word "eunuch" reminded him of his recent impotence, nearly causing him to roll his eyes.
Ann Vaughn didn’t give him a chance to spew more filth, coldly hanging up before deftly picking up a wooden sculpture on the table and crushing it to pieces with a "crack."
There, she felt much better.
Once her mood calmed down, she noticed that the clinic had suddenly fallen silent, with all the guests inside staring at her in horror.
Ann Vaughn: "..." Oops, she lost control for a moment.
But she never cared much about what outsiders thought of her, so she shifted her gaze away as if nothing had happened.
What she didn’t know was that after today, rumors inexplicably spread within the circle not to mess with the Vaughn Clinic owner.
It was said that with a pinch, she could crush a person’s head with her bare hands...
...
Ann Vaughn didn’t stay long at the clinic. Close to six o’clock, Cyrus Hawthorne sent Mark Joyce to pick her up to go to the main family residence.
Third Master Hawthorne returned to the country today, and a banquet was held at the main residence to welcome him. As Young Madam Hawthorne, she had no reason to be absent.
—Though their divorce wasn’t yet public knowledge.
Compared to her last visit to the main residence, this time it was much livelier; almost everyone in the Hawthorne Family was present.
When Ann Vaughn walked into the living room, Old Master Hawthorne was in the middle of a tense chess match with Third Master Hawthorne, and everyone nearby couldn’t help but lower their voices.
This was Ann Vaughn’s first time seeing Third Master Hawthorne.
Compared to the spirited Old Master Hawthorne, Third Master bore more marks of illness, with a faint aura of darkness on his face, eyes cloudy and lacking vitality, looking very weary.
Yet his back remained straight as ever, never once bending down.
"Annie, you’re here! Come over quickly!" Old Master Hawthorne’s gloomy face transformed immediately upon seeing Ann Vaughn at the entrance to the living room, and he beckoned her lovingly.
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