Vernon sighed and took out a file inside his briefcase, "It's just a few documents regarding my current project with my big brother. No need to be so guarded."
Vernon handed the file containing the documents that needed to be signed to the old secretary. He seemed annoyed, but not angry, from Maria's perspective.
"Thank you, Mr. Phoenix Gray," Maria accepted the documents. Then she started skimming through the documents. She had a few suspicions, mostly because she reminisced about Mr. Vaughn Gray in his early days. She assisted him, working as a real secretary for a long time, and she knew how scheming and cunning he could be just to get what he wanted.
Vernon Phoenix Gray reminded her so much of Mr. Vaughn, so she had to make sure that he didn't plan to do any treacherous thing to the Gray family, especially to his big brother, Vincent Gray.
After reading everything and ensuring it was safe, she put the document on the table, "I will stamp and sign it now, Mr. Phoenix Gray. I'm sorry for reading the document first," Maria apologized. She found out there was nothing suspicious about the document.
Vernon snatched the document right after Maria stamped and signed it by replicating Vincent's signature. He clicked his tongue annoyedly, "Of course, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just a project that my brother and I are currently doing. Do you not realize that you're prying too much?"
"I thought my big brother said that you're a professional."
Vernon tried to break her down just to ensure she wouldn't pry none of his business. It would be difficult to progress under a tight watch.
Maria, the old secretary, bowed her head nonchalantly, "Pardon me, Mr. Phoenix Gray, but this is the protocol I need to follow to ensure the company wouldn't make a mistake."
Vernon's expression darkened. This old secretary was annoyingly persistent. It was practically impossible for him to break her.
"Well, I'll leave now. I already told my big brother to send the scanned document to his email instead," Vernon said.
Maria only answered with a nod, waiting for Vernon to leave.
Vernon stomped his feet as he left his big brother's office.
Maria stared at Vernon Phoenix Gray, who left her in Vincent's office alone. Indeed, she felt guilty because he actually suspected the second son of her boss, who had passed away.
But she knew Mr. Vaughn Gray too well. He was a man that would crush absolutely anything just to get what he wanted, "But what does he want?" Maria asked herself. "Vernon is already a successful businessman without the help of his family. Mr. Vincent Gray also often talked about him in generous light, so if Vernon wanted a piece of his inheritance, Vincent would definitely give him without question asked."
"But what does he really want?" Maria asked again. It might be a gut feeling, but Vernon's behavior speaks for itself based on her experience working with the late Mr. Vaughn Gray.
"He is into something…." Maria murmured.
But she couldn't just accuse him, not in front of Mr. Vincent Gray. Because Vincent seemed to be so fond of his little brother.
It also made Maria wonder about something…
"Does he want something from his big brother?"
Maria couldn't find an answer, nor she could talk about this to Vincent. So the only thing she could do was to watch from the side and hope for the best.
**
Vernon kept his leisure smile until he entered his car. He stared at the empty VIP parking lot in front of him, then threw his briefcase to the next seat and slammed the steering wheel to vent his anger.
He realized that his big brother's old secretary was much more cautious than he expected.
Vernon already studied a pattern that his big brother would leave the office at around 3 P.M and would allow his secretary to handle the documents, making it easier for Vernon to get a signature from his big brother's secretary.
But Vernon thought the one who would give him a signature was that bimbo secretary that wouldn't give two shits about the document's content and just stamped and signed it.
But turned out that the said secretary was actually a senior that was much more attentive and careful and also worked for his late dad for a long time.
Vernon checked his briefcase and saw the two files that he had prepared.
Vernon had a hunch that something would be wrong with his plan today. So he prepared two separate documents. One was the normal one that would benefit both parties and had been officially signed by that old secretary just now;
And the other document was the real one, a document that he truly wanted to be signed. Because there were bits of almost unnoticeable but important parts of the contract that he reworded, making it exponentially beneficial only to one party, which would be himself, Vernon Phoenix Gray.
"That old secretary read everything very thoroughly as well. Good thing I brought the fake document so she wouldn't get suspicious and report it to Vincent," Vernon said. He didn't want to rouse any suspicion, not at this stage when he had prepared everything for at least three years.
"Now I have to play a long game with him because of that old hag," Vernon grumbled as his plan had been hindered by one person. But he was naturally cunning, so he had already formed a second plan in his head. No matter what, he had to ensure he got all the trust from his big brother until he lowered his guard completely and trusted Vernon without question.
"Then, I can plan on doing what I want, including my plan with my sister-in-law, hehe…." Vernon smirked as he imagined everything he would do to his family. He felt no remorse, especially for his estranged mother and brother.
The only thing that made him feel a little doubtful was Chloe, his sister-in-law;
He felt… a little disturbed with his own plan that involved her.
But Vernon shook his head quickly, dispelling the thought of pitying his sister-in-law, "No, that woman doesn't deserve pity, not after what she did to me, to us."
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