Chapter 4 Taking Back What's Mine

Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by a shrill, insistent ringtone.

It was an unfamiliar number, but I already knew who it was.

The moment I answered, Naomi's irritable voice came through. "Connor! Where the hell have you been? Where's my coffee? Do you even know what time it is?"

Listening to that all-too-familiar tone of command, I calmly poured myself a glass of milk.

"Ms. Alder, it's seven-thirty in the morning. According to labor laws, this is my personal time. As for your coffee, shouldn't your husband be handling that now?"

There was a brief silence on the other end, then Tristan's voice came through, thick with tears. "Naomi, it's my fault. I didn't know you only drink that kind of coffee… That machine was too complicated. I think I broke it, and I still couldn't figure it out…"

Instantly, Naomi's tone softened into concern. "It's okay. It's not your fault. Connor didn't tell you."

Then, she snapped back at me, her voice rising. "Connor, you're my assistant. Can't you even handle something this basic? Get to the hospital right now! Bring my coffee and a change of clothes! If I don't see you in thirty minutes, you're fired!"

And with that, the call ended.

I stared at the darkened screen, a cold smile tugging at my lips.

'Fire me? Naomi, you've probably forgotten. Half of this company's shares are under my name. Back then, to put your mind at ease, I signed a proxy holding agreement so you could stand in the spotlight. But now… It's time I took back what's mine.'

I finished my milk leisurely, then headed straight to the company's legal department instead of going out to buy her coffee or bringing her clothes.

"Draft a shareholding confirmation agreement." I paused, my gaze turning cold. "And look into the cash flow of the company's recent projects. I suspect someone has been misappropriating funds."

Only after handling that did I take a cab to the hospital, unhurried.

By the time I pushed open the door to Naomi's room, it was already ten in the morning.

The room was a mess.

Coffee had spilled all over the floor, and pieces of a broken cup were scattered everywhere. Tristan was crouched on the ground, crying, a bandage wrapped around his finger. Naomi sat on the bed with a dark expression, looking worn down and irritable.

The moment she saw me, the anger in her eyes flared. "Connor! Look at the time! Do you have a problem understanding orders?"

Stepping around the mess, I walked to the foot of the bed, crossing my arms as I looked down at her. "Ms. Alder, that temper of yours isn't good for your recovery. The line at the café was too long, so I didn't get the coffee. As for your clothes…"

My gaze flicked to the pile of dirty laundry tossed in the corner. They were the clothes she had changed out of the day before. Clearly, Tristan had found them too dirty to touch.

"It seems Mr. Sawyer isn't very good at household chores. Perhaps you should hire a caretaker, Ms. Alder. After all, I'm an assistant, not a housekeeper."

Naomi let out a humorless laugh. Her fingers trembled with anger as she pointed at me. "Very good, Connor. Do you think the company can't function without you? Don't make me fire you this instant!"

Tristan stood up as well, wiping his tears, looking as though he had suffered a great injustice. "Mr. Brooks, I know you have issues with me, but Naomi is a patient. How can you treat her like this? I may be clumsy, but at least I'm trying to learn. And you? All you do is sneer and mock!"

'They really do make a perfect pair.'

"Fire me?" I took a document out of my bag and placed it lightly on the bedside table. "Ms. Alder, before you do that, I suggest you take a look at this."