Chapter 196: The Hand In the Capital

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Lucas smiled faintly without explaining much. He simply said, “I guess you already know what happened to Oliver Harvey. I told Flynn to go to the police station to cooperate with them in the investigation. So, you will be the acting general manager and manage everything of the Stardust Corporation from now on. Can you do that?”

Charlotte widened her mouth in shock, and countless thoughts ran through her mind.

Lucas suddenly appeared alone in the chairman’s office of the Stardust Corporation, and he seemed to be used to issuing orders too…

Thinking of a certain possibility, she couldn’t help but inhale sharply and look at him in astonishment. “Lucas, are you…!”

Lucas nodded casually. “Yes, but we’ll leave that for later. Can you do what I just asked of you?”

Charlotte bit her lower lip tightly and was at a loss for an answer. Before this, she was merely a junior employee of the Stardust Corporation, yet she was suddenly promoted to deputy general manager today, which was already an unexpected surprise. Now, Lucas handed her the even more shocking task of being the acting general manager!

Charlotte honestly wasn’t sure if she was cut out for the job. And even now, she still felt that everything that happened today was extremely surreal.

Seeing Charlotte hesitating and not answering right away, Lucas shot her an approving gaze.

When an opportunity was presented before you, some people would immediately agree to it regardless of their competency, while some would be too cowardly to agree. In the end, they would eventually lose the opportunity.

Charlotte was obviously contemplating carefully and trying to evaluate if she could take on the role or not.

Lucas said, “You don’t have to be too stressed. First of all, there’s something more to Oliver Harvey’s death than what meets the eye. But it has nothing to do with you at all, so you don’t need to care.

“Besides, I asked you to take over the position of general manager temporarily because Flynn will be away for a while, and there must be a leader in the company. After what happened with Oliver Harvey, I can’t trust the others in the office except for you. Another reason is that I believe you have the ability to take on this role. Just gather your courage and do it. It won’t matter if you don’t do a perfect job. After all, it’s your first time.”

Upon hearing this, Charlotte smiled and felt a lot less stressed.

The reason she didn’t dare to agree to Lucas immediately was that she was afraid she was too inexperienced and would end up doing a terrible job. But Lucas’s words were a great encouragement to her.

Moreover, the fact that Lucas said that he trusted her and her abilities made her feel excited and confident.

“Of course, you will experience some difficulties at first. First, the employees might not be too convinced of your abilities, and second, Oliver Harvey’s incident will definitely be blown out of proportion. By then, the entire Stardust Corporation will face the pressure of public opinion. Third, some people in the company who are out of line might deliberately try to make things hard for you. So pay attention to these three points I’ve mentioned and deal with them properly.

“That’s all I have to say. Now, do you have the confidence to take on this task?”

Sitting in front of the chairman’s desk, Lucas gave off an invisible domineering aura. He was completely different from the Lucas Charlotte remembered.

He had the majesty of the chairman of the Stardust Corporation.

After pondering for a moment, Charlotte nodded firmly. “I’m confident that I can do a good job. Rest assured, Mr. Chairman!”

Lucas smiled and seemed to have expected this. He felt that he had made the correct judgment of Charlotte.

“Alright. I’ll have someone relay this order immediately. From now on, you’re the acting general manager of the Stardust Corporation. Get to your duties!”

Lucas called James, the general manager’s secretary, over and gave him some instructions before standing up to pat Charlotte on her shoulder with an encouraging smile. He then turned around and walked out of the room.

“Lucas… where are you going?” Charlotte asked in surprise.

“It’s almost dismissal time at the kindergarten. I’m going to pick up Amelia and take her home.”

“…” Charlotte was speechless. She thought that Lucas would stay in the office after such a major incident happened today. She didn’t expect that he would just leave so casually.

…

Soon, Flynn arrived at the police station to cooperate with the police in the investigation of Harvey’s suicide. The news that the Stardust Corporation would be presided over by Charlotte, the new acting general manager, soon spread throughout the company.

After hearing this, numerous people had various thoughts in their mind, and many were displeased and unconvinced that Charlotte could take on the job. But when they heard that it was an order from the chairman himself and that there was an official document, they dared not show their displeasure.

But it was common for many people in the workplace to defy orders from the higher-ups and even disregard them. Thus, this undoubtedly caused a lot of hindrance for Charlotte.

Lucas was naturally aware of these things, but he didn’t take any countermeasures and simply handed the Stardust Corporation entirely to Charlotte, leaving it in her care.

For Charlotte, it was both a Herculean task and a great opportunity for honing her skills.

If Charlotte could be trained into a competent leader, Lucas would be able to hand over his business in Orange County to her in the future.

After all, Lucas wouldn’t stay in this city forever, and he would one day return to DC to face the Huttons head-on.

…

At this moment, in a luxury villa belonging to the Huttons in DC, a young man was sitting leisurely on the terrace of the second floor and swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.

There was another young man in his thirties standing behind him with his head hung low. He reported softly, “Mr. Leighton, Oliver Harvey from Orange County has jumped to his death, and I have, as you instructed, engaged many reporters and hired some netizens to blow the matter up. Once things escalate out of control, the Stardust Corporation’s reputation will be tarnished, and that good-for-nothing Lucas Gray won’t be able to do anything while watching his hard-earned business collapse.”

“Haha, Dave, you’ve done a good job.” The young man complimented and then gracefully sipped a mouthful of red wine before continuing, “In order to avoid letting them investigate you, you’d better go abroad to lay low. I’ve prepared the plane ticket and money for you. You will leave tonight.”

Edward Leighton nodded slightly, and then a person beside him who seemed to be a bodyguard handed an envelope to Lewis.

Lewis was overjoyed and took the envelope containing the plane ticket and check with both hands. He then bowed and thanked him, “Thank you, Mr. Leighton! It’s my greatest pleasure to work for you!”

“Go ahead. Come back and continue working for me after the matter blows over. Don’t worry. I won’t mistreat my subordinates,” Edward said warmly with a smile.

“Yes! I’ll get going then. Goodbye, Mr. Leighton!”

Lewis turned around to leave gleefully with the envelope in hand. He didn’t even notice Edward winking at his bodyguard behind him.