As the evening approached, sneaking between skyscrapers, the London sky was painted with warm orange hues. Geoffrey Alexius, the handsome blue-eyed businessman, arrived at the construction site with determined steps. The news about a young female technician who had managed to revive the stalled construction project intrigued him.
His luxury vehicle stopped in front of the project gate. Geoffrey, dressed in an elegant business suit and wearing sunglasses, exited the car with a confident stride. His fit physique and sharp gaze immediately drew attention. Without much preamble, he entered the project area, surveying the workers busy with heavy machinery.
Under the scorching sun, Geoffrey searched for the person rumored to be the project's savior. He wanted to see for himself if the female technician was as remarkable as they claimed. "Where is that woman?" he thought.
Geoffrey's sudden arrival startled the project manager, Anderson. He hurried over with several staff members, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Welcome, Mr. Alexius," he said, sounding rushed. Geoffrey merely nodded, his eyes continuing to scan the area.
"As Mr. Reynolds mentioned, the project is back on track," Geoffrey said quietly but firmly, removing his sunglasses to observe the machines that had resumed operation. "The sound is beautiful, isn't it? This is how a project like this should be, Sebastian. Like an orchestra of life."
Sebastian, his personal assistant, nodded without speaking. In his mind, he thought, "This man is truly obsessed with work. Or perhaps, he just loves what he does—his work is his life."
"I'm very glad you came," Anderson said, catching his breath. He had just attended a coordination meeting with his staff.
"I want to see for myself how the project is back on track," Geoffrey replied coldly. "I heard there's a female technician who is said to have been very instrumental."
Anderson was taken aback. "A female technician? Who told you that?"
Geoffrey looked at him sharply. "I don't need to know who told me, Mr. Anderson. I just want to confirm it." His cold tone added to Anderson's unease.
"Reynolds! The man really can't keep his mouth shut for a moment!" Anderson thought to himself. He swallowed hard. "Ah, yes! That's right, Mr. Alexius. She's a very skilled young technician. She has managed to fix most of the broken machines and optimize their performance. She's also very tough in dealing with field challenges," the project manager praised, trying to suppress his excitement.
He was aware of the rumors that the handsome businessman was notoriously unfriendly towards women, so he felt apprehensive about Geoffrey's judgment, reaction, and response.
"So, where is the young technician now?" Geoffrey asked, his tone revealing impatience, which immediately broke Anderson's train of thought.
"The last I heard, she's in the project workshop, Mr. Alexius. I'll take you there," he replied, trying to stay calm.
Geoffrey raised his hand, stopping him. "Later, Mr. Anderson. I'd like to inspect the site first."
"Alright, Mr. Alexius. It would be best if you waited in the office with Mr. Foster. We'll prepare personal protective equipment for you before you enter the project site."
Geoffrey nodded briefly and walked towards the project office, followed loyally by Sebastian. He felt something was drawing his attention in the workshop, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. For some reason, he hoped to meet the female technician who had made his project back on track.
Meanwhile, in the workshop, Gillian was engrossed in her work. Her eyes were focused behind protective glasses as her skilled hands repaired a broken welding machine. She didn't even notice that someone was observing her from the project office window.
"For the first time, he's behaving like this. Is he just planning to do a site visit or is he genuinely curious about the young woman? A woman who is only known by name has managed to change his mind so quickly. Could she be capable of changing his personality for the better?" Sebastian thought while watching Geoffrey, his boss and best friend.
The vibration of his cell phone distracted Sebastian. He quickly grabbed his phone and saw a notification about Gillian's identity—the daughter of the Fellow Workshop owner.
"No formal education? Only up to high school? You've gotta be kidding me! Does that mean she has a natural talent for machinery?" Sebastian raised his eyebrows. "This is going to be interesting," he finished checking the data. He looked up at his boss, who was still talking with Mr. Anderson.
In the workshop, a worker taking a break asked Gillian, who was now working on the broken welding machine, "Not done yet, Gill?" He waved his hat at her face while occasionally wiping sweat from his brow.
The young woman simply nodded without looking up. "Just a little more, Sir. Mr. Richard asked me to fix this machine. The construction team is working overtime tonight. It seems they're racing against progress because they've had delays for the past few days."
"Look at you! You're so dedicated and hardworking, Gill. Your father raised you well!"
Gillian's hands stopped momentarily. Memories of her childhood flashed briefly—parents who should have been there but were absent. However, she quickly dismissed those thoughts. Machines were easier to understand. Damage could be seen, repaired, and replaced. Unlike human hearts or relationships. She sighed softly and refocused on her work, repairing the machine with precision.
"Hey, Rich, I'm done here. I managed to fix it," she said on the phone, her voice reflecting satisfaction and a bit of fatigue after working hard and occasionally wiping sweat with her coverall sleeve.
"Wow, you're amazing, Gill. I can't believe you did it so quickly. That machine is notoriously troublesome, and we've been running out of energy to fix it. I'm proud of you," Richard praised sincerely.
Once, this man was her father's friend. Their relationship had become strained when her father started drinking. He was the one who gave Gillian the opportunity to work as a machine technician despite her lack of formal education. Richard knew Gillian had a talent and passion for machines, and he always supported and guided her. In fact, it was this kind-hearted man who recommended Gillian to Mr. Reynolds.
"Thank you, Rich. But I have two questions. Should this machine be stored in the warehouse or taken to the site? We need to work overtime tonight, right?" Gillian confirmed her instructions.
"You're right, Gill. We need to work overtime tonight. This project is very important, and we need to finish it on time. I think we should take the machine to the site now. I'll come to pick you up and the machine. Wait there!" Richard replied firmly.
"Alright, Rich. Don't take too long, okay! I'm hungry and tired," Gillian joked lightly, placing her hands on her hips.
"Haha, don't worry, Gill. I'll be there soon. We'll have dinner with the others. Be patient!" Richard laughed at Gillian's joke.
"Okay! See you soon, Rich," Gillian ended the call with a smile. Her body was covered in sweat and dust, even grease stained her nails and fingers, but the young woman still looked so enthusiastic compared to the other workers, who appeared exhausted.
In the project manager's office, Mr. Anderson sat anxiously while Geoffrey remained calm, sitting on the sofa. Their conversation had been tense and protracted.
"How is the progress of this project, Mr. Anderson?" Geoffrey asked in a flat tone. He looked calm and confident, exuding an undeniable charisma. After all, blue blood flowed in his veins.
Mr. Anderson, observing the slow progress of the luxury apartment construction he was handling, plagued with technical and non-technical issues, felt pessimistic about himself and his team's performance. Could he complete this major project?
Mr. Anderson turned to face Geoffrey and tried to answer politely and professionally.
"The project is still ongoing, Mr. Alexius. We've repaired and restored most of it, but it has required significant time and cost."
Geoffrey raised an eyebrow. Displeasure was evident in his heart. He sighed roughly. Geoffrey disliked hearing excuses or explanations. He only wanted results and results.
"Ongoing? Of course! But very slowly," Geoffrey said coldly. "I don't want to compare it to other projects. Technical problems? That's not an acceptable excuse. You know very well that I've invested a lot of money and time into this project. I expect perfect and timely results. What are you doing to solve this problem?"
"As you know, we have been working hard to find a solution, Mr. Alexius. We've contacted several parties who could help us, but they are all busy or lack the qualifications. We have also been looking for parts and technicians to repair our machines and equipment, but they haven't arrived. We were in a difficult situation at that time."
Geoffrey looked at Mr. Anderson cynically. He didn't care about the reasons or difficulties Mr. Anderson faced. He only cared about his own interests and profits.
"I don't want to hear it. I only want to see results. You have six months left. If it's not finished, I will withdraw my investment and sue your company for penalties. I hope you understand. This project is already significantly delayed from the time we agreed upon! Do you understand? Six months is a long enough time to complete this project."
"But, Mr. Alexius, that's not possible. We cannot expedite the construction process without compromising quality and safety. We have worked as hard as we can and met the applicable standards. We cannot do more than that."
Geoffrey shook his head. He couldn't accept that answer. "No negotiation! I don't want to hear your nonsense, Mr. Anderson. I want to see action. Six months, or I will take firm action! I won't give you another chance," he replied coldly.
Tension continued to rise in the room. Mr. Anderson knew he had no choice. Geoffrey walked out, leaving Mr. Anderson still shaken. He didn't want to waste any more time with someone he considered incompetent and irresponsible.
His steps momentarily paused as he scanned the office surroundings. His eyes only found a handful of employees still at their workstations. The man simply shook his head.
Sebastian had been waiting near the door with two helmets and safety vests. "Shall we head to the site now?" he asked.
"Yes, no more delays," Geoffrey grabbed the helmet from Sebastian's hands, putting it on firmly. He glanced briefly towards the workshop, where the female technician was supposedly located.
In the distance, the sound of drilling machines echoed, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The hot asphalt aroma wafted through the air, mixed with the smell of cut metal. Geoffrey quickened his pace towards the parking area.
"Let's go," he said briefly.
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