CHAPTER 162: WHAT FAMILIES ARE FOR

"Well, he made it clear—he wants to know me," Ella confessed, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of excitement. "He said he’s interested, and I am too.

So I thought... why not give it a chance? The business is holding strong, my siblings have partial scholarships secured. For once, I think it’s time to focus on myself."

Georgia’s smile softened into something warm, genuine. She pulled Ella into a firm embrace. "You’re absolutely right. You’ve carried so much on your shoulders. You deserve this—happiness, freedom. So take it. Don’t hesitate."

Their laughter echoed lightly in the room, tension finally breaking for the first time that night—until Liam reappeared, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. His gaze flicked between them, sharp and assessing.

"What did I miss?" He asked, amused. "Earlier, you were drowning in worry, and now you’re glowing. Did I just walk into a celebration?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," Ella replied smoothly, straightening with a practiced grace. "I just reminded her how to smile. Now, were you able to reach Vicky?"

Liam’s lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Yes. And as I predicted, she’s still in her office. She’s waiting for us." His voice was deliberate, leaving no room for hesitation. "So... shall we strike while the iron’s hot?"

Georgia didn’t waste a second. She snapped her laptop shut, gathered her files, and stood tall. "Let’s move."

When they arrived at the Knight Marine Chandlers’ office near the port, the scene that greeted them was pure chaos. Papers stacked unevenly on the desk, half-empty coffee cups scattered like forgotten soldiers, food containers shoved to one side of the table, and on the sofa—an abandoned pillow and blanket, evidence that the office doubled as a bedroom.

Ella and Georgia exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Liam caught it and let out a low chuckle, though he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

Vicky noticed too and sprang into action, scooping up the trash in haste. "I wasn’t expecting visitors," she admitted, her tone brisk but painted with embarrassment. "I just came back from the port when Liam called. Please, sit."

Georgia lowered herself onto the sofa, still scanning the room. "Do you actually sleep here? Work this much?"

"Sometimes," Vicky answered flatly. "The port runs twenty-four hours. If I’m not at the docks, I’m here keeping up."

Georgia shook her head. "You should go home once in a while. Live a little. Go out, see your friends—"

Ella cut her off with a sly grin. "That’s advice from someone who does the exact same thing."

"Hey, my situation is different," Georgia shot back. "My company is struggling. It needs all the attention I can give."

Liam leaned casually against the desk. "Different or not, she has a point. And besides, my sister needs to stop marrying herself to work. You’re not getting any younger, Vicky. Go on a date for once."

Vicky narrowed her eyes at him, playful fire sparking in her glare before she turned her focus back to Georgia. "Speaking of struggling businesses, I’m not exactly floating on calm waters either. Nick’s expansion plans are putting pressure on my side. If I can’t meet his demands, I’ll drown in backlogs. That’s why I’m here at midnight instead of home."

"And that," Liam interjected smoothly, "is exactly why I suggested you look to Georgia. Her agency can cover the demand. Skilled workers, no exclusivity contracts holding you back. You’d both win."

Vicky blinked, realization dawning as if someone had unlocked the simplest solution in front of her. "Why didn’t I think of that? I’ve been too buried in processes, numbers, logistics, suppliers—chasing efficiency but ignoring the one thing I need most. Manpower."

Georgia leaned forward, her earlier softness replaced by determination. "If you’d accept us as your partner, we can move fast. I’ll have the structure ready to support your expansion."

Vicky didn’t hesitate. She grabbed her laptop, slid onto the seat beside Georgia, and pulled the screen to life. "Then let’s not waste time. Let’s get into business now."

"I’ll order food and drinks, Ella and I haven’t eaten dinner yet," Liam said, but the three ladies ignored him and got busy talking about their plans. He just smiled and started tapping on his phone. It was a sight that made him happy, and he wouldn’t dare disturb that.

In less than an hour, the chaos in Vicky’s office had shifted into a war room of ideas and strategies. What started with scattered papers and tired minds ended with a clean-cut plan sharp enough to pull them all out of the fire... at least for a while.

Georgia leaned back, exhaling as if a huge weight had just been lifted off her shoulders. "This is incredible... With this strategy, we can finally place the applicants I enlisted before the problem broke out. You have no idea how much this means to me.

Thank you—all of you. I’m not the best when it comes to handling a business, but tonight... I feel like I’ve learned more than I ever needed." Her cheeks flushed with the admission.

Vicky gave a warm but tired smile, her fingers still resting on the keyboard. "You’re welcome, Georgia. That’s what families are for. You’ll get the hang of this. One day, you’ll be the one teaching the rest of us."

The word struck Georgia harder than she expected. ’Family’. The thought echoed in her chest, unfamiliar yet comforting.

Her face heated even more, and she quickly averted her eyes, unwilling to let them see how much it affected her.

Liam, who had been standing against the desk, straightened. "It’s late. The work can wait. We’ve done enough damage control for one night. Let’s all go home—including you, Vicky. No excuses."

"Yes, brother," Vicky said with an exaggerated sigh and a playful roll of her eyes, though the corners of her mouth betrayed a smile. Ella and Georgia chuckled at the exchange, the tension dissolving for a moment.

Georgia rose, gathering her things. "Liam, could you drop me and Ella off at my office? Nick gave me a car and it’s parked there."

Liam’s gaze sharpened. "No. It’s late, and I’m taking Ella home myself. As for you, Georgia—I’ll drive you straight to your house. It’s not safe for you to be out driving alone at this hour."

Georgia blinked, surprised by his decisiveness. "Oh... my house is farther than my office, but if you insist, then I’ll accept." She smiled faintly, then glanced at Ella with a teasing glint in her eyes, as if to say ’See, he’s already overprotective.’

********

Thanks for the Golden Tickets!

Kris_K16

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