Chapter 176: Questioning Again

Words : 1734 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Questioning AgainIn Gina Lopez’s office, James Brown had laid all the documents out on the office desk. Gina and Sunny Nguyen immediately began to scrutinize them with earnestness; with work as demanding as this, they had to set aside the matter they had deliberated on for the time being. As Gina had said, there were many important matters within the company at the moment, but recruitment was of paramount importance. Only by hiring the necessary staff could the company operate smoothly. Otherwise, even if the existing employees worked themselves ragged, even if they worked twenty-four hours a day without rest, it would be impossible to get the company up and running. What the two of them were primarily focusing on now was selecting individuals who had work experience and capabilities. As for the recent university graduates and the like, they had no choice but to leave that to James for the selection process. Nowadays, many university students complain about the work experience requirement set by companies during recruitment. However, this requirement is precisely what some companies truly value. There is an abundance of university students, yet some learn absolutely nothing in school, spending all day dating and gaming. Even with a diploma in hand, they have no abilities, unless they come from genuinely renowned institutions that truly educate talents. Only such graduates garner the recognition of companies, otherwise, work experience remains the priority. After more than two hours, the three of them had finally sorted through the documents once, picking out about twenty key individuals for heightened attention. It was likely that these people would become significant figures within the company, while the rest who were fairly promising would be ushered into direct roles at the company. And then there were the recent graduates, who would be responsible for miscellaneous tasks, such as office work, logistics, personnel department roles, and the like. The truly pivotal departments, however, would not be given to them just yet, unless they demonstrated exceptional performance in their roles, which could possibly result in a department transfer. "Ah! How could I forget to pick a pretty secretary for myself?" James suddenly exclaimed out loud, the picture of regret. Gina immediately shot James a glare and said, "You can get a secretary, but you’re looking for someone to assist you with work, not someone for you to admire." James, seemingly unaffected, smiled mischievously, "While ability is more important, it bothers me if my secretary isn’t easy on the eyes; it affects my work. So, it’s still better to find a fairly pretty secretary. Mr. Lopez, Director, if you’re not choosing a handsome man, I could help you pick one." "No way!" Gina and Sunny outright rejected James’s suggestion in unison. James lit a cigarette and said, "Well, if you don’t want one, forget it. But I’m the HR Manager, and I demand this privilege." Gina immediately frowned and said, "Your throat’s so rough today, why are you still smoking? Can’t you cut down a bit?" "It’s fine, you know about Comrade Tim, right? He’s never without a cigarette, but he’s lived to such an old age. These cigarettes are the same brand he smokes, so no matter how much I smoke, there’s no problem. Want to try?" James offered, placing the plain white carton on the table with a grin. "Did Miss Johnson give these to you?" Gina picked up the carton, gave it a few looks but couldn’t discern anything, and asked with puzzlement. "Yep, she got them for me. No one else could." Gina and Sunny instantly gave James strange looks. He, feeling very uncomfortable under their gaze, rolled his eyes and said, "Why are you looking at me like that?" Sunny and Gina exchanged glances, and Gina remarked, "Sister Sunny, don’t you find it strange that Miss Johnson has come here?" Sunny nodded, "Yeah, considering the significant background you told me about her, it’s puzzling why she would come here to invest. But now, it seems like we’ve found the reason." Gina also nodded, "Right. To appoint this guy as president, to bring him such expensive cigarettes, it’s pretty clear that Miss Johnson has come for this guy outright." James instantly pointed at them and burst into laughter, wearing an expression as if he were looking at two fools, "You guys... you really crack me up... That idea is utterly ridiculous, a complete fantasy, and totally impossible." Seeing James’s exaggerated reaction, Sunny and Gina were a bit bewildered. They still felt that Lucy Campbell had come for James. Gina said, "Didn’t you know Linda Campbell before? Didn’t you save her once?" James continued to grin, "That was on a mission. With so many soldiers around, it was already impressive she could recognize me at all—how could she possibly have taken an interest in me?" Lucy had given a reason for knowing Gina, but she had omitted that James was from Hawk Squad, nor had she explained the details to Gina. With Gina’s status, she naturally couldn’t probe further without Lucy volunteering the information. Now with James casually dismissing it, they had no choice but to believe it. "Then why did she want you to be president and bring you cigarettes?" Sunny still seemed puzzled. Unlike Gina, who hadn’t experienced romance, as someone who had already been through a failed marriage, Sunny had a deeper understanding of relationships and continued to feel that Lucy had come for James. "And tell me, in YODC City, who else... does she know besides me? Moreover, soldiers tend to be trustworthy..." he said. "Tch!" Gina gave him a disdainful look. Ignoring Gina, James went on to say, "Besides, my role as president is just in name; Mr. Lopez is the one truly managing the company. If that were the case, wouldn’t it mean that Miss Johnson is attracted to Mr. Lopez and wants to start something with Mr. Lopez?" "Go to hell," Gina Lopez shot James Brown a big roll of her eyes and picked up the pen from the table, throwing it at his chest. But Sunny Nguyen immediately followed with another question, "What about the cigarettes? If they’re so valuable, why would she get them for you?" "Cigarettes like these, for others, they’re simply unattainable. But for her, getting some cigarettes is a piece of cake. There’s nothing remarkable about it. Besides, she’s now my neighbor, always mooching off my meals, so it’s only right she should get me some cigarettes." "What?" Sunny Nguyen and Gina Lopez exclaimed in unison. Gina Lopez had never been to James Brown’s place, but Sunny Nguyen had stayed there. She knew the residential community was decent, but just your average apartment complex. Moreover, James Brown’s place was a three-unit-per-floor building, which clearly consists of small-sized apartments. For someone like Lucy Campbell to live there, could there be no reason? "You don’t need to look at me like that. This has nothing to do with me. She just picked a place at random when she first arrived. In YODC City, she just wanted to live an ordinary life, occasionally coming here for vacation. It just so happened she moved in next door, and that’s how she got to know me, mooching meals and giving me cigarettes, turning me into a mascot CEO. You two, don’t let your imaginations run wild. A woman like Lucy Campbell, if she were to find a husband, could only possibly be looking among the most powerful leaders’ offspring in the Capital of SSUP." With this explanation from James Brown, Gina Lopez and Sunny Nguyen began to understand. A woman like Lucy Campbell, accustomed to a life in the spotlight, probably found enjoying the lifestyle of the petit bourgeoisie here an occasional treat. Most importantly, they both knew that Lucy Campbell, such a woman, finding interest in an ordinary guy like James Brown, was simply out of the question. "Alright, I’m done chatting with you two. I have to go now," James Brown said, standing up to leave. "Hey, where are you going? We’ll walk out together," Sunny Nguyen immediately called after him. "I’m not going with you guys. I’ve got a date tonight," James Brown turned and winked at them with a mischievous smile before bolting away. Though Sunny Nguyen and Gina Lopez tried to pursue him, James Brown was too fast. And unbelievably, that guy even took the stairs, leaving them no chance to catch up. "That jerk, just took off like that. Clearly, he’s up to no good," Gina Lopez was quite irritated. Sunny Nguyen chuckled lightly and said, "Then let’s try and see if we can find him." Gina Lopez shook her head but suddenly her expression became tense, and she hurriedly said, "Then let’s hurry. That guy might be going out with Sandra." The two rushed out only to see James Brown’s car just leaving. Gina Lopez quickly got into her car and, with Sunny Nguyen, followed in the direction James Brown had driven off. Although only half a minute had passed, James Brown’s car had already gone a significant distance; and with the night now fully dark, it was impossible to spot his car. This made Gina Lopez somewhat vexed. She slapped the steering wheel and said, "That bastard, where’s he gone off to?" Sunny Nguyen laughed, "Then let’s just let it go and give him a break today." Sёarch* The Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gina Lopez shook her head repeatedly, "No, no, if he’s out with Sandra this late, that would be terrible." "Why don’t you just call Sandra and see where she is?" Gina Lopez hurriedly took out her phone and called Emily Lopez. It took quite a while before Emily Lopez answered. "Where are you?" Gina Lopez asked, sounding rather flustered and confrontational. "What does it matter to you where I am?" Emily Lopez responded leisurely. "Are you with James Brown?" Gina Lopez pressed further. "So what if I am? Can’t I go out to see a movie with my brother-in-law?" "You... which cinema are you at?" Gina Lopez grew even more irate, they had just gone to see a movie yesterday and now again. Something fishy was going on between those two. "I’m not telling you. Are you dreaming that I’ll let you spoil my fun?" Emily Lopez giggled over the phone and hung up.

Chapter 176: Questioning Again

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