My Beloved

"You hesitated when you were about to take the file from Nancy," Thomas remarked. He was an observant person. It was the very reason he had never lost once he took an assignment.

"There is nothing I can hide from you, can I?" Han Luo chuckled. "I was wondering if that shop would be the best for us or not."

"We have decided it's the best place for a café. What's bugging you now?" Thomas was curious about her hesitation.

Han Luo thought for a moment and then said, "It's complicated. I have a feeling that I need to investigate this shop a little more." She didn't want to tell him the details. The relationship between Larry and her wasn't good. If this news spread, the higher-ups wouldn't want her to take over the company.

Being a leader means she has to keep a good relationship with her friends and foes.

"Don't worry. I'll dig up some information as soon as possible." Han Luo assured him but more problems added to her shoulder.

Han Luo called for a taxi and went back to her home. Noah saw her worried look but decided not to say anything. He could understand what happened at the meeting.

She freshened up and began to do some calculating but her mind was filled with the empty spot that William left for them.

She deeply pondered, 'Should we hire a new patisserie or order food? It will cost more. It's way past the budget.' She couldn't think straight.

At that time, Noah came to the room and said, "Go and have lunch with others. They are waiting for you in the dining room."

"…Okay…" Han Luo dragged her body downstairs.

As soon as Zheng Mian saw her, she commented, "Luo, you are late. That's unusual." She said it because Han Luo always called others during lunchtime. This time, she not only forgot to call everyone but also, she was late.

Han Luo pulled the chair and sat down while replying, "Preparing for mock test. I forget to check the time."

Han Sheng Ming said, "It's just a mock test. What are you worried about?" He skipped his class today because he was preparing for the semester exam.

Han Luo answered, "It has been a long time since I gave mock tests. I'm nervous."

"There is nothing to be nervous about. You will always get the top score." Han Sheng Ming brushed off her worries.

"I hope so." Han Luo forced a smile.

They began to eat. Looking at the Chinese meal, Han Luo couldn't help but praise Sophia. "The only person who can cook a hearty meal is Sophia."

Chef Sophia who was serving them dishes was delighted to hear the compliment. "Oh my, I'm glad you like my cooking, child. Here, have more braised pork." She filled Han Luo's bowl with meat.

'You are the best, Sophia." Han Luo beamed. While chewing the food, suddenly she came up with a plan. 'Wait, we have to hold a party in the shop for the Board of Directors and some customers in the inauguration ceremony. The decoration and meal would be costly. sixty percent of the budget money will go when we buy the shop, and twenty percent will go to decorating the shop and ordering the meal. If we can cook the meal and decorate the shop ourselves, ninety percent of the money will be still in our hands. This way, we can hire a private detective and still save some money for the next project.'

Han Luo's eyes shone with radiant light. She looked at Sophia and asked her, "Sophia, can you make French pastries?"

Chef Sophia pondered, "Hmm, you mean things like Croissant, Baguette, Macarón, Paris-Brest, Mille-feuille… yes, I can."

Han Luo wanted to clap her hands. "Awesome! Can you help the patisserie we hired to bake all these?"

"Is it for the new project?" Zheng Mian asked.

Han Luo cheered, "Yes! If we can help the patisserie making all these, we don't have to buy extra from another shop." She dropped her chopsticks, took out her cell phone, and began to calculate.

"Why do you have to buy from another shop? Didn't you hire a patisserie?" Han Sheng Ming was confused.

Han Luo explained shortly, "He is injured. So, he cannot help us."

"I'm so sorry to hear that." Zheng Mian covered her mouth in shock. "Wait, is that way you went out last night?"

Han Luo stated, "Yes, now that the thing has come to this, I need Sophia's help."

"In that case, we can add some Italian pastries too," Sophia suggested. She had always been good at making pastries. As long as she had the recipe, she could make any type of pastry.

Zheng Mian tapped her phone and said, "Hmm… let's see… Barbajada, Ciambella, Crostata, Cucidati, Mustacciuoli, Neapolitan ice cream, Panna cotta, Pasticciotto, Semifreddo, Zabaione… these are really good. Why don't you add them to the list?"

Han Luo frowned. "If we do that, we have to start preparing the pastries at least three days before the party. We will have to use not only the shop freezer but also our home freezer. Still, we might need to add more freezer."

Zheng Mian suggested, "How about using Yuan or Yujin's help? Their freezers should be huge."

"Hmm, I have to ask them," Han Luo said. 'Ah, wait, as long as Marth is at big brother Yuan's house, I cannot rest in peace if the pastries are there.'

Another idea came to her mind. "Hey, big brother Yuan's chef Rose is a professional chef. Why don't we ask her to help us too?"

Han Shen Ming threw a remark, "She might not do it for free."

Hang Luo rubbed her cheeks and said, "I will ask her. As long as she doesn't use her own recipe, it should be fine. Our patisserie has his own recipes. We just have to follow his recipe."

After lunch, Han Luo created a budget and went to the living room. Noah was watching television with Sophia, Poppy, and Eva. She sat beside Noah and whispered, "Did you find any suitable detective?"

"Yes, what about your budget?" Noah asked without moving her eyes from the television screen

"It's done. I can give him this amount." She showed him the budget. 

Noah checked it and nodded. "Okay, hand over the money to me."

"Huh?" Han Luo blinked. She couldn't understand why she needed to give him the money and not the detective. "Why should I do that?"

Noah spoke nonchalantly, "That's because I'm the detective."

"Stop joking." Han Luo didn't believe that he was serious.

Noah shrugged. "I'm being very serious. Don't you want what I found out about that shop?"

Han Luo paused before jumping out of the sofa. Then, she pulled his hand and said, "Come on and show me what you got."

Sophia, Popp, and Eva got startled by her sudden outburst.

Noah smirked and went to his room. Han Luo followed him. He took out some papers and an envelope and threw them at his bed. After that, he sat on the chair.

Han Luo quickly took the envelope and found some pictures taken by Noah. She frowned and asked, "What's this?"

Noah described, "This is the basement of the shop you are going to buy. Some rich kids gather there every Saturday night and take drugs. I believe you already know who is behind this."

"It's Larry Smith." Han Luo gritted her teeth.

Noah explained, "If the police find out after you take over the shop, you will be the one who is going to be arrested, not the previous owner. Moreover, you cannot even win against the Smith Family."

"That's true. They are too powerful to be trifled with. No wonder Larry wanted me to take over this shop. He wanted to sabotage me." Han Luo narrowed her eyes. "It looks like I've been being too soft. As a leader, I know what I must do." She looked at Noah and instructed him, "Call President Smith's secretary and make an appointment on behalf of me."

"Okay," Noah agreed.

Han Luo got out of the room and dialed Nancy's number. Nancy must have been using the mobile at that moment; she answered almost immediately. "Yes, Miss Han?"

Han Luo questioned her, "Nancy, can you prepare two more contracts for me? It's urgent and needs to be done as soon as possible."

"Two more?!" Nancy looked puzzled and confused.

"Just do the way I tell you…." Han Luo told her what to do.

In one hour, Han Luo got the papers. She read them thoroughly and smiled. "Good job, Nancy."

Nancy tried her best to act polite. "It's my pleasure. But may I ask for what reason you might need them?"

Han Luo told her, "I'm not sure if it will work or not. Just wait for my return. Tell others to come to my home after work is done. We have things to talk about. Don't worry about dinner. You will come to my house and eat at my place. We might have to work overtime."

"O-okay…" Nancy agreed and sneered inwardly. 'Now she is going to make us work our a** off. If she prepared for everything sooner, things wouldn't turn this way.'

Noah drove Han Luo to the Smith Corporation. Since she had an appointment, the receptionist told her to wait in the waiting room on the tenth floor. When her time came, she went to the President's room.

"Good evening, Miss Han. It's lovely to see you personally," Luther Smith greeted her.

Han Luo smiled and shook hands with him. "Good evening, President Smith.. It's an honor to meet you. Shall we discuss the contract?