Chapter 324: Chapter 324: One Step Behind Again
After confirming the time with Susie Sommers, Ann Vaughn quickly finished her breakfast and went out the door.
During the car ride, she finalized the design plans with Mark Joyce, preserving the original setup of Vaughn Clinic while adding some clever ideas, which took a lot of effort.
For some reason, Mark Joyce’s replies were slow; perhaps he was deliberating strategies.
Ann Vaughn then opened Cyrus Hawthorne’s chat interface. The input box still showed that ironclad phrase: "Forget it, maybe you’ll get full from being annoyed."
If she sent that message, ha, she’d be dead on the spot.
Ann Vaughn chuckled, just about to exit, but her fingertip accidentally hit the send button.
Ann Vaughn: ???
Her entire body stiffened. She hurried to retract the message, but the phone slipped from her hand due to a sudden stop from the car.
The driver reminded her at this moment, "Miss Vaughn, we’ve arrived at Azure Gardens."
"Okay, thank you." Ann Vaughn nodded, stretched to retrieve her phone from under the seat, and then opened the door to get out.
As soon as she exited, she quickly accessed Cyrus Hawthorne’s chat to retract that message.
Unfortunately, it was over two minutes and couldn’t be recalled!
This is terrible!
Ann Vaughn felt a sudden desire to die, staring at her glaringly embarrassing statement hanging on the screen, ready to bang her head against the wall to faint!
Now, all she could do was pray Cyrus Hawthorne would never read his messages in this lifetime.
Meanwhile.
Outside Vaughn Clinic.
"Mr. Hawthorne, please look at this revised design drawing again; it’s been entirely modified according to your requests." Regis, the designer dressed in dark blue casual wear, approached the dignified, elegantly cold-looking man with the plans.
Just then, a message popped up on the phone; Cyrus Hawthorne was about to check it but set it aside upon seeing the plans.
After examining the modifications carefully, Cyrus Hawthorne slightly furrowed his brows, "This area and this area need to be opened up and a curved cabinet installed for storing herbs, to avoid inadequate space."
Regis nodded upon hearing this, "The wall can also have corresponding fittings to maximize space use." He added, wondering, "You own the entire Hawthorne Corp., why not simply buy the surrounding shops to create a large clinic?"
Cyrus Hawthorne raised his eyes and spoke in a bland tone, "This entire street belongs to Hawthorne Corp."
Initially, to prevent the government from targeting that old street, he had it bought up and rebuilt, and now it presented a completely different scene.
It was now on par with commercial streets from different areas.
Only Vaughn Clinic remained untouched, still preserving its original look.
Regis was at a loss for words; having money was indeed impressive, but did he really have to flaunt it, owning an entire street?
It’s frustrating to be compared to someone else.
"Then why not expand here? There’s really not much to see in this tiny space." Regis muttered.
"Are you saying you lack the confidence to remodel this place?"
Hearing that, Regis nearly jumped up; he could tolerate someone doubting his single status but absolutely couldn’t stand someone questioning his professional skills!
"Just watch, I’ll make you see this rundown place in a new light!" He stormily grabbed the plans and went back to work.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s thin lips subtly curved, then returned to calm.
Remembering the message he received earlier, he opened his phone, seeing the familiar name before a wave of warmth swept away the cold from his eyes.
Ann: Forget it, maybe you’ll get full from being annoyed.
As soon as this message entered his sight, Cyrus Hawthorne’s handsome face visibly darkened rapidly, his lips pursed into a line.
Mark Joyce then walked over with his phone, "President Hawthorne, has Mr. Regis finalized the design drawing? Miss Vaughn..."
Before finishing his sentence, he was met with a deathly cold gaze from the BOSS, momentarily shocked, "Pres- President Hawthorne?"
"What does she mean by this?" Saying this, Cyrus Hawthorne flipped his phone, showing it to Mark Joyce, confirming in an icy tone.
So he asked her to reflect at home seriously, yet she came up with this?
Mark Joyce, upon seeing the sentence on the screen, felt an urge to strangle himself for walking over at that moment.
Why did he always have such impeccable timing?!
"President Hawthorne, Miss Vaughn might be trying to apologize to you but can’t bring herself to say it outright, so she took a roundabout route. The first two words show her deep internal conflict about wanting to explain but feeling embarrassed, and the rest conveys her uncertain attitude toward you..."
Mark Joyce displayed a smile with eight teeth showing, beginning the translate-an-awkward-task feeling life couldn’t be more challenging.
He had never felt his often lacking language skills to be so excellent before.
However, after hearing his explanation, not only did Cyrus Hawthorne’s expression not soften, but it grew even colder, reminiscent of icy winds from the Arctic.
Great.
Just great!
...
Azure Gardens Apartments.
Ann Vaughn discussed the renovation of Vaughn Clinic with Sherry, planning to move things from the studio there, and it was evening before they realized.
"Mommy, I’m back." Kenny ran in with his little backpack from the hallway, followed by Sutton Jennings with a gentle smile.
"Sweetie, go take a hot bath; there have been multiple cases of contagious flu lately, so we must pay attention to hygiene."
Ann Vaughn put down her proposal and, holding Kenny’s little hand, headed toward the bathroom, while not forgetting to say to Sutton Jennings, "Brother Shane, have a seat first."
"Alright." Sutton Jennings lightly nodded, then sat by the table, picking up the proposal Ann Vaughn put aside to glance at.
Just one look, and Sutton Jennings squinted his peach blossom eyes, his gaze heavy.
This cutting-through-the-noise style, directly addressing key points and providing corresponding strategies...
Perhaps others couldn’t tell who wrote it, but as someone who had been at odds, pitting against Cyrus Hawthorne for so long.
Sutton Jennings was sure no one but him could write such a proposal.
Indeed, it was a step behind him again.
"Mommy, Kenny is grown up now; no problem doing the bathing himself!" Kenny came out of the bathroom with a pouty face, his bright eyes blinking, looking utterly adorable.
Could it be Mommy hasn’t realized what a mighty and powerful man her darling is?
Kenny puffed out his tiny chest and walked, with the solemnity of an adult, towards the dining table.
"You haven’t even had your fourth birthday yet, and you dare say you’re grown up." Ann Vaughn wiped her hands with a soft tissue, teasing him as she laughed.
Sutton Jennings found it amusing too, pinching Kenny’s chubby cheeks, suddenly remembering something, "Has something happened recently? The lock at the door looks changed."