104 Chapter 104

104 Chapter 104

'Visit (No ve (l)B i n) to read, pls!',

"Go to the office now. I want to check on something," Vincent said.

"Sir, if I remember correctly, you don't have any more meetings in the office, right?"

"I'm wondering if my little brother is still in my office. So we can have a talk about something. Stop asking questions and go," Vincent ordered again.

Thus, the chauffeur drove the car out of the main gate of Gray Mansion, and they headed to Vincent's main office. Vincent didn't call Vernon to notify him, he just wanted to make sure about something, and he would feel guilty if he called Vernon.

Because… for some reason, Vincent also wondered if Vernon ever had an idea of ruining them all.

**

Vernon arrived right after he got permission from his big brother. He swaggered to the executive elevator and was assisted by the receptionist as Mr. Vincent Gray had already told her to always give access to Vernon Phoenix Gray to his office.

Vernon was carrying his briefcase containing the documents that needed to be signed by his big brother. Once the elevator door opened, Vernon saw nobody but a woman in her late 50s sitting at the secretary's desk. She wore a blue blazer and seemed to be busy working on a document and didn't notice Vernon's arrival.

The receptionist wanted to notify the old secretary, but Vernon stopped her, "No need to do that, I'll do it myself. You've assisted me enough."

Vernon smiled at the receptionist, and the latter blushed instantly. Her heartbeat accelerated just looking at the handsome young CEO. His devilish smile grasped her heart, making her feel a little lightheaded.

"Y—Yes, Mr. Phoenix Gray, you can a—always call me if you—"

Vernon stepped out of the elevator before the receptionist could finish her sentence, and she went down disappointedly.

Vernon walked to the secretary's desk confidently and tapped the desk gently to notify the old woman.

p Maria, the senior secretary of the Gray office, looked up, and her eyes widened instantly. Her mouth gasped, but no words came out of her open mouth.

"Good afternoon, senior secretary," Vernon smiled again. "I'm here to get the signature from my big brother. I think he should've informed you about it."

Maria was still stunned for a while as she observed the man in front of her.

Of course, she knew who he was. Even without giving his name, the name of Vernon Phoenix Gray had been the talk of around social media and gossip from her colleagues.

Maria was stunned because this would be the first time for her to see Vernon up close after ten years. The last time she met him was during his 15th birthday party before he left to live in Europe for ten years.

'He's now grown up to be so big… and scary,' Maria thought. 'Reminds me of Mr. Vaughn Gray in his prime days.'

Maria had followed the late Mr. Vaughn Gray since she graduated high school around 19. Mr. Vaughn Gray was still in his prime days of the late twenties and hadn't married his wife, Mrs. Dorothea Gray.

Maria vividly remembered how similar he was to Vernon, from how they talked, the smirk, and even their eyes.

'Well, Vernon is bigger, has sharper facial features, and is much more intimidating than Mr. Vaughn Gray ever been. But the similarity was there. I wonder if he is just as scheming and hot-blooded as the young Mr. Vaughn Gray,' Maria thought. As Mr. Vaughn Gray grew older and older, he became more like Vincent. His expression was unreadable. He liked having lots of affairs, was conceited, and basically was a shell of his former self. 'I doubt he remembers me, though. I'm just a random employee of his father, after all.'

"Hey, hello, Mrs. Secretary?" Vernon tried to snap the woman out of her daze because she kept staring at him with that empty gaze and mouth wide-open.

Maria snapped out of her daze and got up to greet her, "Yes, Mr. Phoenix Gray, I have been informed by Mr. Vincent Gray about your arrival, and I've prepared the stamp for it. Please follow me."

Vernon followed the old but professional secretary to enter Vincent's CEO's office. His big brother said she had worked for the family for the past thirty years, which also explained how she recognized him instantly.

'But what's with that gasp? Why is she acting as if she had seen a ghost? Did she know something?' Vernon pondered.

His gaze darkened full of hostility as he sensed this woman wasn't someone he could fool easily.

However, he resumed his smile and kind gesture once the old secretary took something from the drawer and turned towards Vernon.

"Mr. Phoenix Gray, may I read the document first?" Maria asked.

"You want to read it? I thought my big brother only told you to replicate his signature and stamp it with the official stamp. I don't think reading the content of the contract between my brother, and I is your duty as a secretary," Vernon said.

Maria shook her head firmly," I'm sorry, Mr. Phoenix Gray, but your big brother always told me to check on documents that need to be signed and stamped officially. This is a procedure that I've kept since Mr. Vaughn Gray's era."

'ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ No(v) e lBin ᴏɴʟʏ.',

"But my Dad has passed away now. You don't need to be too strict about it," Vernon continued to argue.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Phoenix Gray. I cannot sign it nor give you the stamp if you don't allow me to read it first," Maria said firmly, giving no space for compromise.

Vernon clenched his jaw. Whether intentional or not, Vernon realized this old woman was dangerous to his plan. But in the end, he gave in, knowing that he shouldn't trigger any suspicion, no matter how small it was.

Vernon sighed and took out a file inside his briefcase, "It's just a few documents regarding my current project with my big brother. No need to be so guarded."