Leonie''s hands and heart trembled as she called Hawthorne.


    The phone barely rang a few times before he answered.


    "Uncle "


    The moment she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks. She stammered through her exnation, and only after a while did Hawthorne finally piece together the heart of it.


    Gwh had hit someone with her car. Someone had taken her, and now both she and the person she hit were missing.


    "I understand. I''ll take care of it."


    He hung up. Though his face remained calm, a sharp pain pricked his heart.


    Hawthorne pressed the button on his desk phone, just about to call his assistant in, when the door rattled with a few knocks. Before he could respond, Yvette pushed the door open and strode in.


    "Mr. Everhart, what''s going on with that Gwh? She''s eighteen minuteste today."


    Yvette was fuming, heels striking the floor with such force it seemed she might crack the marble.


    Hawthorne''s gaze paused for a moment. His finger hovered over the phone''s keypad as he shifted his focus back to her.


    "Hmm?"


    He leaned back in his leather chair, eyes cool and impassive as he looked at Yvette.


    "So Gwh''s here, then?"


    That at least meant she was safe. For a moment, he''d nearly been ready to send men to lock down every exit in Greenvale, not letting even a mosquito fly out.


    Yvette, even whening toin, could read Hawthorne''s mood.


    “Mr. Everhart, I know Gwh''s a friend of your niece''s, and it''s not really my ce to meddle, but since she started, she''s hardly put in a proper day''s work. Every department''s fed up with her, and her constant absences are setting a terrible example for the rest of the staff."


    Without realizing it, Yvette''s personal feelings bled into her words. Hawthorne listened silently, never interrupting, while even the secretary nearby felt a cold sweat for Gwh.


    In thispany, if Yvette set her sights on someone, no matter howpetent they were, they''d better start packing. She wasn''t the peto be jealous for no reason, and whenever she let someone go, she always had solid grounds.


    Everyone knew: when Yvette set her mind to firing someone, Hawthorne never stopped her.


    Hans had just stepped into the office and caught the tail end of Yvette''s tirade, looking a bit embarrassed.


    Yvette called out to him.


    "Hans, didn''t you drive Gwh for a while? Why don''t you tell Mr. Everhart what she''s been up to?"


    Hans felt his heart sink. Yvette didn''t seem to fealize she was basicallyining about the boss''s wife in front of the boss. He was just a personal assistant-what could he possibly say?


    "I''ll go take a look."


    Hawthorne had already risen from his seat. Yvette was caught off guard, her voice dropping by several octaves.


    She''d hoped for Hawthorne to


    simply give her the green light to deal with Gwh herself. But now, with Hawthorne personally heading to the gaming department-just for a neer-it was almost absurd.


    "Really, there''s no need for you to handle this in person. Just leave it to me," Yvette protested, her displeasure obvious.


    Hawthorne nced at her coolly. "And what would you do?"


    "Fire her, of course."


    Hans shot Yvette a look as if she''d lost her mind.


    Hawthorne buttoned his suit jacket, his tone turning even colder.


    "Hans, you''reing with me to the gaming department."


    He didn''t spare Yvette another nce.


    She stood there, stunned, then hurried after him a few momentster.


    Hawthorne made straight for the gaming department. Even though Leonie''s call had been disjointed, he''d understood enough: his little girl had been wronged.


    No matter who''d been hit, who was hurt, or what damage had been done he had an entire legal team at his disposal. He''d make sure that Gwh wouldn''t suffer the slightest harm.