Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

Chapter 420 - 420 Julia's Might (1)_1

On a highway leading to a town in T City, Hansen Ruiz placed his phone, which his superior had just hung up, back into his bag and continued to focus on driving. Rachel Bailey sat nervously in the passenger seat, as if she were the one going home to meet the parents, not Hansen Ruiz.

Hansen was going to visit her parents in the countryside with her that day, so she had called her family the night before to mentally prepare them. Of course, she hoped even more that her family wouldn't do anything extreme. When her dad heard she was bringing a boyfriend home—and not just any boyfriend, but one with an impressive status and background—he announced he wanted to test whether Hansen Ruiz truly loved Rachel Bailey. Rachel's scalp tightened. She quickly pleaded with her dad not to test him, but he wouldn't listen, which was why she was so nervous now.

What kind of trap would her dad set to test Hansen Ruiz? Would Hansen Ruiz pass the test?

Knowing Rachel was nervous, Hansen couldn't help but chuckle; he thought he should be the nervous one. After they exited the highway, he reached out, held Rachel's hand, and gently reassured her, "Don't be nervous. It's not like we're going back to my suffocating home."

The backseat of the car was filled with gifts his subordinates had prepared for him. Rachel had mentioned her dad loved to drink, so Hansen had prepared two bottles of famous Syrenan liquor. When Rachel saw the expensive liquor he had gotten for her father, she laughed in surprise, joking that her dad could open a small shop in the countryside specializing in selling alcohol with all these bottles.

Rachel's mother was a simple rural woman whose greatest pleasure was eating. Consequently, Hansen had also prepared a lot of food, choosing the most expensive snacks—delicacies someone of her mother's standing had likely never had the chance to try—and stuffed the backseat full. Rachel's younger brother was still a university student who enjoyed gardening and fishing. So, naturally, there were gifts for him too.

Rachel turned her head to glance at the blue Isuzu following their Land Rover. Its bed was loaded with all sorts of flowers: prized varieties, easy-to-grow types, some already blooming, and others still budding. There was also fishing gear for her brother. Beyond the flowers and fishing gear, Hansen Ruiz had also prepared gifts for all the Bailey family's neighbors and even distantly related relatives. This made Rachel feel increasingly awkward; she thought he was going to excessive expense just to accompany her to the countryside to meet her parents.

Hansen Ruiz wasn't concerned about the expense; such a small amount of money meant nothing to him. What he cared about was making a good impression on the Bailey family. Before setting out, he had specifically consulted several people from rural areas to gather information, ensuring he had a clear understanding of various aspects of daily life there. Hansen Ruiz never fought a battle he couldn't win, and he considered meeting the parents his most important battle yet. He was determined to emerge victorious.

Rachel turned and flashed him a smile, not daring to tell him that her dad had set up a test for him at home. No matter, she thought, whether it's a blessing or a disaster, there's no avoiding it.

「Back at Valence Group.」

After Glades Horne hung up the call with Hansen Ruiz, he immediately instructed Secretary Yang to notify Anne Jones to come to the CEO's Office.

Anne Jones was a 29-year-old single woman. She had a model's height at 172 centimeters, regular features, and large eyes that appeared small due to severe myopia; without her glasses, she had to squint to see anything clearly. Her long hair was styled into a bun at the nape of her neck, adhering to company regulations for secretaries, which aimed for a professional and efficient appearance. Dressed in a black suit identical to Secretary Yang's and wearing half-rimmed, black-framed glasses for her nearsightedness, she looked mature and exuded a scholarly air.

After graduating from a junior college secretarial program, she had luckily joined the secretarial department at Valence Group. She started in a junior role, almost like an errand girl, and had to work her way up before Hansen Ruiz noticed her and made her his secretary. In her nearly seven years at Valence Group, she had rarely seen the top leadership, including the CEO himself. This couldn't be helped. The CEO only visited the office occasionally and would disappear after handling his affairs. Moreover, her direct superior was incredibly lazy, rarely showing up at the company—perhaps once every year and a half—unless the CEO specifically requested his presence. Even when the CEO was in the office and Anne needed a signature on a document, Secretary Yang would be the one to relay it to him.

When Anne received Secretary Yang's call summoning her immediately to the CEO's Office on the 68th floor because the CEO wanted to see her, her heart was thumping wildly, as if a frantic donkey were kicking inside her chest, much as Secretary Yang's had been earlier.

Upon reaching the 68th floor, Anne quickly grasped Secretary Yang's hand and asked with an ingratiating smile, "Sister Yang, does the CEO need me for something specific? Can you give me a hint? I'm a little scared."

Secretary Yang smiled and patted Anne's hand. "Just come in with me, and you'll find out," she said. "Don't worry. The Assistant has your back; the CEO won't give you a hard time."

Anne Jones's ingratiating smile softened. "But I would still like to have some idea of what to expect," she said.

Secretary Yang understood Anne's anxiety, but she also didn't know why the CEO had summoned her. All she could do was offer a helpless gesture and motion for Anne to follow her into the CEO's Office.

Glades Horne had just finished with some important documents when Secretary Yang escorted Anne Jones in. He was writing something as they entered.

"CEO, Anne Jones is here," Secretary Yang announced.

Glades Horne pursed his lips, saying nothing. He merely glanced at Secretary Yang, who understood the silent dismissal and exited the office.

"CEO, what are your instructions for me?" Anne Jones asked, her earlier nervousness replaced by a calm composure.

Glades Horne handed her a small slip of paper.

Puzzled, Anne quickly stepped forward and took the slip. Upon looking at it, she saw an address written in strong, forceful handwriting.

"Go back and pack your things," Glades Horne instructed. "From now on, you'll work at that address. First, however, prepare your personal resume. They're hiring a secretary there, and you are to apply. No matter what happens, you must secure the position. And you cannot let anyone know you came from Valence Group." The slip of paper Glades Horne had given Anne contained the address for the Toy Industry Company.