Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 190 - 188: Pretending

After looking around, Sienna Thornton discovered that the litigation group and the non-litigation group had the fewest people, each with only one specialist and two or three clerks; whereas the tax group and contract group had the most, with each specialist leading at least several dozen members.

This shows that the tax group has the most troublesome matters; the contract group receives Zane Forrester’s utmost attention.

These observations are consistent with what Simon Forrester had reported earlier.

Sienna Thornton also realized that within the entire legal department, her focus should actually be on the tax and contract groups.

The tax group appears to be busy due to some Forrester subsidiaries facing malicious trade barriers against their exports; while the contract group is used by Zane Forrester to oversee whether there are any violations in the departments managed by Bianca Fordham.

As for the investment group, major investment plans are generally directly reported to the Board, so there’s nothing much to focus on.

The remaining groups mostly have little to do with the group’s operations and hold no gray areas for personal gain. Everyone does their job, using their professional knowledge to serve the group, appearing peaceful as there are no disputes of interest.

-

Approaching lunchtime, Sienna Thornton settled down in her office, ready to take her meal card to the employee cafeteria for lunch when Simon Forrester just walked in.

He headed straight to the sofa in the reception area, deliberately taking the main seat to highlight the upper-lower echelon relationship, resting his arms on the sofa’s armrests, his legs crossed, surveying the office before asking: "Are you satisfied with this office? Is there anything else you need?"

Sienna Thornton came over to sit down, poured him a glass of water, and smiled: "I find it quite nice; it’s much larger than my office at Vantage."

Simon Forrester nodded: "That’s good. Let me know if there’s anything lacking."

"Okay." Sienna was about to mention the need for two large safes when there was a knock at the door.

It was Steven Chapman.

Sienna Thornton quickly stood up to welcome him: "Mr. Chambers, please come in and have a seat."

Steven Chapman entered, greeted Simon Forrester but didn’t sit down, asking: "Young Mr. Ford is here as well, would you like to join me for lunch downstairs?"

Sienna Thornton stayed silent while Simon Forrester readily agreed: "Let’s go together!"

The three of them then headed toward the elevator.

Steven Chapman was quite gentlemanly, remaining humble before Simon Forrester. When the elevator doors opened, he blocked the door with his arm, first allowing the lady to enter, followed by the leadership.

Sienna Thornton entered the elevator and stood to the rear side.

Soon Simon Forrester also entered.

She looked up at him and offered a smile.

He maintained his expressionless demeanor, preserving his leadership aura, yet as he turned to stand, his fingers subtly touched hers.

Instinctively, she moved her hand behind her back.

Steven Chapman entered, standing in front of them.

The elevator descended slowly, taking several dozen seconds from the thirty-fifth floor to the second.

No one spoke within the elevator.

Sienna Thornton kept her hand behind her back, then Simon Forrester suddenly grasped her hand.

His hand was dry, warm, and strong.

Initially gentle, he later tightened his grip, squeezed a few times, and intertwined their fingers.

Sienna Thornton sneaked a glance at him out of the corner of her eye.

He wore a smile at the corner of his lips.

-

As a shareholder and director of the Forrester Group, Simon Forrester was a VIP, having access to a private dining room at the restaurant, yet today, he chose to dine with Sienna Thornton and Steven Chapman in the main dining room.

The restaurant operated on a buffet system. While Steven Chapman was getting food, Simon Forrester and Sienna Thornton sat facing each other, attempting to present themselves as typical friends and colleagues, neither distant nor too close.

Simon Forrester speared a piece of beef from his plate, asking: "What happened after I left?"

"Mr. Chambers took me around the various departments. I’ve understood most of the surface things, but it’ll take a bit more time to grasp the underlying complexities."

"Alright, do communicate promptly if there are any issues."

"Okay."

They were seated by the window; it was midday and the autumn sun was blazing outside. Sienna Thornton’s slender, alabaster-like hand naturally rested on the table, the ring on her finger emitting a dazzling radiance.

Simon Forrester glanced and slightly raised his brows, murmuring with a smile: "The ring is beautiful."

Sienna Thornton also looked at her left hand, laughing: "Isn’t the hand even more beautiful?"

Finishing the sentence, her gaze swept over to the similar ring on his left ring finger, softly saying: "You’re boldly wearing the same ring as me, in that position, aren’t you afraid of sparking speculation about us having a relationship?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Simon Forrester smiled lightly, continuing to eat his food nonchalantly while saying: "Isn’t that good? Let the rumors ferment a bit, then we could just publicly announce it..."

Before he could finish, Sienna Thornton lightly kicked his foot, whispering: "Steven Chapman is coming."

Simon Forrester no longer continued the topic.

Steven Chapman approached with his tray, sat down beside Simon Forrester, his face constantly smiling, behaving politely, without saying anything inappropriate.

Yet Sienna Thornton clearly knew that such individuals are often the most dangerous.

Bianca Fordham, who is upfront about everything, is easier to deal with. People like Steven Chapman, who greet with friendliness and civility, often harbor the sharpest knives in secret.

Individuals like this will not only be ambitious but extraordinarily patient, able to wait decades, or even longer, to achieve their goals.

Against such individuals, feigning ignorance and subservience is the wisest strategy.

-

After lunch, Simon Forrester returned to his office upstairs.

In the afternoon, Steven Chapman had his secretary inform Sienna Thornton to attend a meeting. The attendees were the specialists from various groups. The meeting’s agenda was to discuss the departments under Sienna Thornton’s management.

Steven Chapman believed that Sienna Thornton had work experience from a law firm, thus he assigned her the litigation group, non-litigation group, and tax group to manage, reasoning that this best utilized her specialty, avoiding wasted talent, and was more beneficial to the group.

Sienna Thornton quietly accepted.

Before the meeting concluded, Steven Chapman asked if Sienna Thornton had any further questions. She immediately stated her need for an assistant, and Steven Chapman advised her to report directly to the management department, which would be responsible for recruiting.

Sienna Thornton returned to her office, arranged to have dinner with Rochelle Linwood in the evening, and also informed Simon Forrester.

At the end of the workday, just after closing her office door, she bumped into Steven Chapman who was also leaving.

Steven Chapman carried a briefcase, adjusted his glasses, and smilingly asked, "Mr. Thornton, do you drive yourself to work and back?"

Sienna Thornton locked the door, naturally accompanying him to the elevator, conversing as she went: "In the morning, Young Mr. Ford brought me, but now that it’s time to finish, I can only take a taxi home."

"I see!" Steven Chapman said, "Where do you need to go? I can give you a lift."

Sienna Thornton had a sudden thought, saying: "I’m meeting my former assistant at Vantage for dinner, planning to persuade her to switch over here to work with me."