CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: SHE TRULY HAS A LOT OF TRICKS TO KEEP HIM

At this moment, Vincent Hawthorne was in his office. He had just helped Cindy Lynn with the bruised and swollen injury on her hand, and the phone next to him buzzed.

Vincent picked it up to take a look. Seeing the message from Rhys Lucas, he was at a loss for words.

Rhys Lucas had never thought much of Tanya Sinclair, and it wasn’t a recent development. Vincent didn’t think much of it either and casually set the phone down.

Meanwhile, Cindy Lynn had already tidied up the medical kit that he had just taken out.

"Let me do it," Vincent reached out to take it, but Cindy Lynn dodged him.

She gave him a playful smile, "If such a minor injury requires President Hawthorne’s personal attention, I’m afraid I’ll be out of a job by tomorrow."

Vincent was infected by her joking words, and his previously furrowed brows relaxed.

Cindy Lynn suddenly leaned in, reaching up to touch his brow.

Vincent paused slightly but didn’t move.

"Senior," Cindy Lynn tiptoed, her beautiful eyes fixated on his, just like countless times during their school days, and softly said, "Don’t frown because of me; I like seeing you when you smile."

Vincent’s gaze deepened, but before he could speak, Cindy Lynn had already wisely stepped back. She put the medical kit back in place and regained her professional demeanor as a secretary.

"President Hawthorne, I’ll go arrange the meeting room and notify the heads of the departments attending the meeting. You can come over in twenty minutes."

"Secretary Lynn," Vincent called to her, "Your appointment letter will be delivered this afternoon. Since I’ve promised you the position of R&D manager, there will be no changes."

Cindy Lynn’s eyes lit up with obvious delight, but the next moment, she restrained herself.

"But, what about Madam..."

Vincent was already displeased with Tanya Sinclair’s attitude today, and he interrupted Cindy Lynn’s worry: "You don’t need to worry about that. Given her current state, it’s unsuitable for her to work."

"Alright, I’ll get busy then."

After Cindy Lynn left, Vincent sat in his office chair, absentmindedly tugging at his collar, recalling Tanya Sinclair’s refusal to apologize to Cindy Lynn in the R&D department earlier, and he felt inexplicably irritated.

If replacing all the tulips with yellow roses was Tanya Sinclair’s way of trying to attract his attention, then what was she playing at today?

Even though they signed a ten-year contract when hiring Tanya Sinclair as the R&D manager, she later became a vegetable.

He had kept her position for five years, which was already quite considerate!

Moreover, during those five years, as the acting manager, Cindy Lynn had developed several new drugs with satisfactory market responses, making her permanent appointment well-deserved.

In the past, even if Tanya Sinclair felt displeased, she would endure it and ask him at home later with a gentle voice, or perhaps say nothing at all, supporting his every decision... She would never embarrass him like today!

Just as Vincent was feeling annoyed, a call came in from The Hawthorne Gardens.

Vincent sat up slightly and answered the phone before he could speak, and Father Hawthorne’s deep voice came from the other end.

"Vincent, today when I went to the hospital for a check-up, the director mentioned that Tanya Sinclair has woken up?"

Father Hawthorne was also a shareholder in that hospital and had secondary hypertension, requiring regular check-ups. Vincent remembered that today was indeed the day Father Hawthorne was going to the hospital for his examination.

Vincent rubbed his temples, feeling a bit tired, "Yes, she woke up a couple of days ago. But her eyes are currently unable to see. I was planning to wait until she recovered before telling you."

"Her eyes can’t see?" Father Hawthorne’s tone carried unmistakable disdain as he paused, "Never mind, since she’s awake, bring her home for dinner tonight. Your mother has been talking about wanting to see her precious grandchildren these past few days."

Vincent rubbed the coffee cup beside him, feeling a bit hesitant. He didn’t particularly want to bring Tanya Sinclair back to the estate for dinner tonight.

"Dad, tonight..."

But before he could express his refusal, Father Hawthorne interrupted him.

"Remember to have Tanya Sinclair dress appropriately tonight," Father Hawthorne specifically reminded, "There’s a very important guest tonight. Also from Northwood University, an alumnus from the same year as Tanya. I remember Tanya being quite popular at school back then; if they recognize each other, all the better."

Vincent’s curiosity was piqued by this, "Who exactly is this person that makes you put such emphasis and even invite them to our home for dinner?"

Besides being The Hawthorne Estate, The Hawthorne Gardens is also famed in Aris for its heritage-protected garden architecture, exquisite and magnificent.

Father Hawthorne meticulously maintained the old estate, rarely allowing outsiders to visit.

Father Hawthorne left a bit of a mystery, "You’ll find out when you come back. I had to pull some strings for quite a while to invite this distinguished guest; make sure you come back early and don’t be late." Father Hawthorne said meaningfully, "If tonight’s dinner goes well, it will significantly aid your career ahead."

"Understood, Dad."

Since Father Hawthorne stated it that way, Vincent naturally had no reason to refuse.

If Tanya Sinclair could indeed be of help tonight, it would be all the better.

Father Hawthorne: "By the way, were you about to say something just now?"

Vincent hesitated slightly, briefly recounting what happened today when Tanya Sinclair came to the company and the incident in the R&D department.

"Secretary Lynn’s appointment letter has already been approved by the HR department and will be formally issued this afternoon. Yet she insists on causing problems at this juncture."

Father Hawthorne’s response was a cold laugh: "Of course she’s causing problems."

Vincent was puzzled, "Dad, are you saying Tanya did it on purpose?"

Father Hawthorne let out a disdainful scoff.

"You’re not unaware of her family’s circumstances. If it weren’t for recognizing her ability to assist you, coupled with her particular favor with the elderly woman of our family, I would never have agreed to let someone like her in!"

The words were a bit harsh, but Vincent simply listened in silence, without retorting.

Father Hawthorne continued his analysis, "Now that your position in the company is solid, Tanya Sinclair has also given our family two children, continuing the bloodline. Her eyes are blind; if she doesn’t secure the R&D manager’s position, what other use does she have for you? A blind person without any value is destined to be cast aside!"

Father Hawthorne’s words made Vincent suddenly see the light.

Indeed, it was the only logical explanation.

Tanya Sinclair, who had always loved him deeply, worried about her worth after waking up from a five-year vegetative state and feared being abandoned by him, which explained all her strange behaviors.

Heh, to remain by his side, she was quite painstaking in her scheming.

Interesting.

Vincent leaned back in his executive chair, completely relaxed.

He curled his lips, "Dad, I understand."