After 10 minutes, Jane came knocking on the door. "Knock, knock, knock," echoed through the room. Loretta opened the door and greeted Jane, who entered and took a seat on the couch. Emily, stepping out from her room with a folder of documents, approached Jane and settled beside her.
"I wrote down some notes from my visit to Oakheart Brewery," Emily began, spreading the papers on the table between them. The room fell silent as the discussion commenced. Emily recounted her entire encounter at the brewery, detailing her inspection and the observations she made.
"The brewery's operations are running, but they have significant issues with staff management and outdated machinery," Emily explained. "Henry, the manager, mentioned that they lack manpower, which is affecting their productivity."
Jane listened intently, occasionally nodding as she jotted down notes. The meeting continued for about 30 minutes, with Emily providing thorough insights and Jane asking pertinent questions.
"Thank you for the detailed update," Jane said finally, standing up. "I'll work on drafting the contract and send it over to you for review."
Emily nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Jane."
After the meeting, Lauretta looked at Emily and said, "Don't you think you gave Jane too many explanations?"
Emily looked at Lauretta and replied, "I know I gave her a lot of information, and it was intentional. I'm trying to see what she can actually do in this short period of time."
Lauretta raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but also concerned. "You think she's up to something?"
Emily sighed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and caution. "I've had my suspicions for a while now. Jane's been acting strangely, and I needed to test her. By giving her detailed information, I can see how she handles it and if any of it gets leaked or misused.
Lauretta nodded slowly, her respect for Emily's strategic thinking growing.
Emily turned to Lauretta. "Lauretta, I need you to draft another contract as well. I don't fully trust Jane to handle this perfectly, and we need to be prepared."Lauretta nodded. "Alright, I'll get on it right away."
Later that evening, Lauretta stepped out to get some evening snacks. As she exited the hotel, she noticed Jane standing off to the side, engaged in a hushed conversation with a shady figure dressed in all black, complete with a hat that obscured their face. Suspicion pricked at Lauretta's mind.
Quickly, she ducked behind a nearby column to avoid being seen. Her curiosity piqued, she discreetly pulled out her phone and snapped a couple of photos of Jane and the mysterious individual. The atmosphere between them seemed tense and secretive. The exchange was brief; soon, the shady figure slipped away into the night, leaving Jane standing alone for a moment before she turned and headed back into the hotel.
Lauretta's heart raced as she pondered what she had just witnessed. The clandestine meeting seemed out of place, especially considering the high-stakes business they were involved in. She sensed that something hidden and potentially dangerous was unfolding.
Despite her unease, Lauretta knew she couldn't let her suspicions derail her tasks. She continued on her errand, grabbing the snacks she had initially set out for. However, her mind remained occupied with the images she had captured and the implications they could hold. She knew she needed to share this information with Emily, but the timing had to be right. For now, she would keep her discovery to herself and proceed cautiously.
Returning to the hotel, Lauretta 's steps were measured, her thoughts a whirl of speculation and concern. She knew she needed to share this information with Emily, but the timing had to be right. Bursting in with accusations without concrete proof could backfire spectacularly. For now, she would keep her discovery to herself, biding her time and proceeding with caution.
"I need a private investigator," she thought to herself, the resolve hardening her features. If Jane was up to something that could jeopardize their project or the company's interests, Loretta needed to know exactly what it was.
Unlike her usual punctual self, Loretta arrived late to Emily's room the next morning. Emily, already awake and sipping a cup of coffee, was reading through the contract Loretta had sent the previous night.
"This is unlike you," Emily remarked, her eyes glancing up from the document.
"I'm so sorry," Loretta responded, slightly out of breath. She set her bag down and took a seat opposite Emily.
Emily gave her a curious look. "Everything okay?"
"Yes, just had a late night working on the contract," Loretta explained.
Emily nodded, accepting the explanation. "The contract looks good. You've addressed all the key points we discussed. I especially like the clauses about staffing and machinery upgrades. It's thorough."
"Thanks," Loretta replied, feeling a bit more at ease. "I wanted to make sure we had all bases covered, just in case."
Upon arriving at the hospital, Emily carrying a basket of fruits, was greeted by the sight of the sheriff and a detective standing around Jacob's bed. The air was thick with concern and the quiet hum of medical equipment. She entered the room quietly, trying not to disturb the conversation. Mr. Thompson noticed her arrival and signaled for her to come in from the other side of the room
"I hope I didn't come at a bad time," Emily whispered.
Mr. Thompson nodded reassuringly. "He's awake," he said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion.
The sheriff turned to see Emily and spoke to the young man on the bed.
"Jacob, this is the woman who saved your life."Jacob, lying on the bed with a bandaged torso, turned his head slightly to look at Emily. His voice was barely above a whisper as he said, "Thank you."
Emily offered a warm smile. "I'm Emily," she said softly, stepping closer to him.
Jacob nodded weakly, his gratitude evident despite his weakened state. "Thank you," he repeated, his eyes reflecting both pain and appreciation.
Emily walked over to Mr. Thompson. "Good morning, sir," she greeted him quietly.
"Yes, Emily," Mr. Thompson replied, a tired smile on his face. "Welcome. Please, have a seat," he gestured to a chair opposite him.
As Emily sat down, she leaned in and spoke in a low voice, "I don't think this is the right time for us to talk about the contract."
Mr. Thompson's smile widened a little. "I understand,
The detective turned around, addressing the group. "Thank you for your cooperation. We'll continue our investigation with the information we've gathered from Jacob. We'll keep you updated as we find more leads on the assailant."
Emily asked, "What about Grandma?"
Mr. Thompson replied, "Grandma went home to pick up a change of attire. She wanted to be prepared to stay with Jacob for as long as needed."
Emily nodded, understanding the dedication of a concerned family. "That makes sense. It's important to be comfortable, especially with everything going on."
Mr. Thompson's face softened. "Yes, she has always been the backbone of this family. Her presence is a great comfort to all of us."
Emily sat for a while with them, focusing her attention on Jacob. She moved closer to his bed, her eyes filled with genuine concern.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Jacob?" she asked softly, her voice gentle and soothing.
Jacob winced slightly as he shifted on the bed. "In a little bit of pain," he admitted, his voice strained but steady.
Emily's face softened further. "I'm so sorry," she said, reaching out to gently squeeze his hand. "I can't imagine what you're going through"
Jacob managed a faint smile
Emily stood up to leave the hospital room, gathering her things as she prepared to head out. Just as she turned to go, Mr. Thompson called out, "Are you not going to leave that?" His eyes flicked to the contract in Emily's hand.
"Oh, I thought it was a bad time," Emily replied, glancing at the documents. "Maybe we can discuss this later."
Mr. Thompson smiled warmly, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Emily. You can drop the contract. I'll read it and get back to you as soon as I can so we can discuss."
Emily hesitated for a moment, then nodded and handed over the papers. "Thank you, Mr. Thompson. I appreciate your understanding. Please take your time with it."
"I will," he assured her. "And thank you again for everything."
With a final nod and a reassuring smile, Emily turned and left the room.