Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

Chapter 71: Chapter 69: This Young Master Still Has to Personally Drive to Pick You Up

”I did say that, but it only applies to the final assessment scores. Are there any other questions?”

His indifferent voice made Jasmine Walsh feel that this Nora Ainsworth was no simple character.

But she was still unconvinced. ”Who on earth is this Nora Ainsworth? Why does she have this privilege? Boss, if you don’t explain, our entire team will refuse to accept it.”

Herman Hawthorne was very blunt. ”So what if you don’t accept it? Anyone who’s not convinced can leave. This is my arrangement, and it’s not convenient for me to tell everyone the reason.”

His words successfully shut Jasmine Walsh up, but they also made her feel deeply wronged.

Herman Hawthorne’s words made Jasmine Walsh’s dissatisfaction with Nora Ainsworth rise to another level, to the point that during a field training exercise in the snow, Jasmine openly schemed against Nora.

But Nora saw through them all.

And just like that, a war without smoke inexplicably began.

All wars come to an end, but this one was only escalating, showing no signs of stopping.

Everyone persevered, and soon it was summer.

After several consecutive months of grueling training, everyone’s skills had become quite presentable.

This was both a devil’s training camp and a crash course. The next few months would be a period of self-training. Aside from some highly difficult techniques that required an instructor, they would have to figure everything else out on their own. This would be the true test of their abilities.

What made Nora Ainsworth feel both uneasy and fortunate was that ever since Quentin Grant had left back in January, he had never once summoned her.

Herman Hawthorne hadn’t dropped any suggestive hints either.

Several months passed without her realizing it. She spent her time here quietly and diligently.

It was a miracle, in a way, that she could persevere through such an ordeal.

As the end of their training approached, the final assessment period arrived.

They were given a three-day break. After those three days, the final decision would be made on who would stay and who would leave.

The trainees all packed their luggage, temporarily left the training camp, and would see each other again in three days.

Jasmine Walsh was picked up by a private driver, taking Shea Rhodes with her. Nora Ainsworth and Chloe Marshall, however, were left dragging their suitcases, baking under the scorching sun.

A few minutes later, a flashy sports car pulled up in front of them. It was Herman Hawthorne.

”Get in. I’ll give you a ride back.”

The two didn’t refuse. They put their suitcases in the trunk, got in the car, and drove off.

Five months of training could not be described in a few words. During her time here, Nora Ainsworth had truly matured a great deal.

It had not only tortured her body but also trained her mind.

Her hair was pulled back neatly into a high ponytail with no bangs, revealing her entire face and features. Without any makeup, her skin had tanned quite a bit, making her look even healthier.

Chloe Marshall was no longer so timid. She spoke very differently than before, and Nora Ainsworth felt this was the biggest change in her.

Herman Hawthorne barely spoke a word the entire way, and Nora Ainsworth found his behavior a little strange.

”Boss, are you feeling a bit down because we’re about to leave?”

Herman Hawthorne chuckled. ”More than just a bit down. Nora, neither Ethan Ellsworth nor I ever expected you and Chloe to last this long.”

He didn’t mention Quentin Grant.

Nora Ainsworth noticed.

She asked subconsciously, ”What has Quentin Grant been busy with all this time?”

Herman Hawthorne glanced out the window. ”Him? He’s been in a bad mood lately. He was supposed to come pick you up two months ago, but something unexpected happened, so he never came.”

Hearing this, Nora Ainsworth frowned. ”Don’t tell me the great President Grant has been angry for three or four months straight?”

Herman Hawthorne knew what she was referring to. ”It’s not because of you. He didn’t take that incident with you to heart at all. Didn’t I just say? He called me over two months ago to tell me you should go back to the city, but then something else came up, and he’s been busy ever since.”

Nora Ainsworth didn’t overthink it. ”A company that big isn’t easy to manage. It’s rare for him to let me off the hook, so I’m happy for the peace and quiet.”

Herman Hawthorne smiled at her. ”It’s good that you think that way.”

After a few hours of driving, they reached the city.

He didn’t drive to Quentin Grant’s villa. Instead, he pulled up in front of an apartment building in another residential complex.

”I have an apartment here. Nora, you can stay here for now. Chloe, give Ethan Ellsworth a call in a bit and have him come pick you up.” Herman Hawthorne laid out the simple arrangement.

Nora Ainsworth’s sense that something was wrong grew stronger. ”What on earth happened to Quentin Grant?”

Herman Hawthorne reassured her, ”I’ll tell you after your assessment is over.”

Nora Ainsworth’s heart tightened, but she said no more.

He handed her the keys and left. About ten minutes later, Ethan Ellsworth arrived, still driving his Lamborghini.

”Dumbass! I, your young master, actually have to drive and pick you up myself. You’ve got some nerve!” Ethan Ellsworth got out of the car, took off his sunglasses, and muttered.

Chloe Marshall walked over, pulling her suitcase. ”Boss Ellsworth, thank you for coming to pick up a lowly assistant like me in person.”

Ethan Ellsworth took the suitcase and put it in the trunk. ”Only a good employer like me would do this. With anyone else, you’d never get this kind of perk.”

Chloe Marshall agreed, ”Yes, yes.”

As Ethan Ellsworth was about to get back in the car, he saw Nora Ainsworth. He chuckled, just as he always did. ”Nora, did Herman arrange for you to stay here?”

Nora Ainsworth nodded. ”Yes.”

Ethan Ellsworth grinned. ”That’s good too. The environment in this complex is nice. Stay here for a few days, and then we’ll have Young Master Grant pick you up.”

Nora Ainsworth forced a smile and dragged her suitcase upstairs.

As the car started moving, Chloe Marshall asked tentatively, ”Our boss said something big happened to Young Master Grant. What was it?”

Ethan Ellsworth was dismissive. ”What ’big something’? It’s no big deal in my eyes. It’s just about a woman. It’s not like she can turn the world upside down.”

Chloe Marshall was shocked. She asked again, ”Boss Ellsworth, are you saying Nora has been... abandoned just like that?”

Ethan Ellsworth remained nonchalant. ”Not necessarily. And even if she were, wouldn’t that be better? Nora has wanted to escape Young Master Grant’s control for a long time. This would be perfect. But I don’t think it’ll be that easy. Young Master Grant has always been extremely possessive. It’s rare for him to be interested in a woman for several months. I don’t think he’s done with Nora. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent her to Herman’s training camp.”

Chloe Marshall didn’t dare ask any more questions. The car drove smoothly along the highway.

Nora Ainsworth got in the elevator and went up to the ninth floor.

She took out the key and entered. The apartment was fully furnished, and the tabletops were spotless. Someone had clearly been cleaning it regularly.

Walking into the bedroom, she saw a vanity. She sat down in the chair and looked in the mirror at the face that was a stark contrast to the one from a few months ago. Nora Ainsworth smiled faintly.

She took out her phone, placed it on the nightstand, and then lay down, falling into a deep, dead-to-the-world sleep.

When she woke up, the world outside was already pitch black.

Her stomach was a little empty. She sat up and checked her phone. The time was 7:00 PM.

As she was about to head out, she still dialed Quentin Grant’s number, but the call wouldn’t go through.

She didn’t call him often, but every time she did, it went through.