Chapter 531
531
531
Owen’s lips lifted in a small smile, but his eyes were serious. “If she goes somewhere, I go too.”
Though his tone carried a trace of amusement, Johnny heard a deeper emotion beneath it.
Owen wasn’t someone who sweet-talked to please others. If he said it, he might really mean it.
Johnny’s eyes shifted slyly, shooting a look at Aria and waggling his brows.
Aria caught his expression.
With a blank face, she looked away and tapped her fingers lightly on the table. “Back to business. What’s the update on the chip?”
“Ms. Olsen is watching over it. The core R&D is solid,” Johnny said, scratching his head. “But the brain-inspired computing team is understaffed. This field lacks talent to begin with, and we just lost a key member to poaching.”
Aría raised an eyebrow. “Your salary offer isn’t high enough?”
“It’s very high, well above market rates!” Johnny suddenly glared fiercely at Owen.
Aria looked puzzled. “Why are you glaring at him?”
“Because of his damn brother!” Johnny gritted out.
He added, “That key tech guy. He’s single, mid-thirties. He got totally smitten by a female employee from Shaw Group! She lured him away, and even offering double salary couldn’t keep him.”
Johnny had even tried to poach that female employee in retaliation, and failed. Of course, he kept that embarrassing detail to himself.
“Poaching is one thing, but using a honey trap? That’s just low!” After ranting, Johnny glared at Owen again, channeling all. his anger at Kim onto his brother.
Owen smiled politely. “Mr. Oconnor, I never interfere in family business.”
Johnny snorted. “But you must hold some shares, right?”
Owen replied calmly, “Not a single one. I chose the path of law. I don’t hold even a sliver of Shaw Group.”
Aiden was always fair. The company shares were earned by contribution. Since Owen had taken a different path, he didn’t
get any.
Hearing how “miserable” he was, Johnny felt a little better and stopped glaring.
This project was too important. Technical leads couldn’t be just anyone. If someone with ill intent infiltrated, years of hard work would go down the drain.
Aria thought for a moment. “I’ll find a solution. We could go through a university partnership, or acquire a reliable team.”
Johnny nodded. “Those are all options we’ve considered. But training talent takes years, and this project needs to start right now, University partnerships might work, but we have to pick the right people.”
He added, “You’re at Mandino University. I’ll leave it to you.”
Aria nodded. “Sure,”
Owen suddenly spoke. “Professor Adrian Galan at Mandino University has a team that specializes in brain-inspired computing.”
If he brought it up, it meant the professor was reliable.
Johnny glanced at him. “Alright. You two handle it.”
The office building was empty. It was the weekend, nothing worth showing around.
Johnny turned to Aria. “Once the staffing issue is resolved, I’ll let that secret visit to Mandino University slide.”
Aria said, “It wasn’t a secret. I went openly.”
Johnny gave a snort. Suddenly remembering Silvia, he said meaningfully, “Guess who just applied to the Stars Group? You’ll never guess.”
Aria raised an eyebrow. “Silvia?”
Johnn’s Oconnor’s eyes widened. “How did you guess? Have you been in touch?”
Aria nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been taking care of her little sister.”
Johnny exclaimed, “Wait, what?”
Aria gave him a brief summary of Pearl. Johnny gave her a thumbs-up. “Classic you. Can’t quit that habit of picking up strays.”
Owen suddenly cut in. “She’s picked up others too?”
Johnny perked up instantly, stretching his voice with exaggerated meaning. “She even picked up a man.”
Aria shot him a glare. “You’re full of nonsense.”
“Am I, though?” Johnny smirked, clearly enjoying the show. “Can you swear it’s not true?”
Aria fell silent for a moment.
Owen’s gaze
landed deeply on her. Aria, meeting it, quickly looked away.
“Alright, I’ve got nothing else. You two can go,” Johnny said. He then turned to Owen. “Anyway, you’re just the lover, remember your place. Don’t meddle in your sponsor’s private life.”
Owen smiled. “Of course not. But… she won’t be picking up any more men.”
Those last words came out slow and heavy.
Johnny didn’t catch the meaning, but Aria did.
She rubbed her temples. “Let’s go.”
Owen nodded. “Sure.”
Johnny clicked his tongue. “Mr. Shaw you have a calm temperament.”
Owen didn’t lose his smile. “Appreciate the compliment, Mr. Oconnor.”
Johnny felt like he’d just punched a pillow.
He’d tried to stir the pot to get back at Kim, but Owen’s poised “main wife” demeanor left him no drama to enjoy.
To his surprise, Owen handled everything with the dignified composure of the official partner, completely denying him the drama he’d been hoping for.
He grumbled, “Enough of this lovey-dovey show. Get out of here, both of you.”
Just as the two stepped out, they bumped into a young woman holding documents.
She froze when she saw Owen, eyes lighting up. “Owen!”
Hearing that, Johnny came to the doorway for some more gossip.
Owen looked confused. “You are?”
The girl’s smile faltered. “I’m your cousin.”
Seeing his confusion, she explained, “My mom is cousin to your mother.”
So, it was not too close of a relation, barely any family interaction.
Owen gave a polite nod. “Hello.”
The girl looked at Aria, testing the waters. “And this is… your wife?”
The moment she asked, she sensed a subtle shift. Owen’s aura softened.
“Yeah,” Owen murmured.
Just a faint reply, but much less distant than before.
She froze for a second, then quickly greeted Aria. “Hello. I’m Tilda.”
Aria gave a slight nod. “Hello.”
Tilda couldn’t help thinking, ‘Wow, she’s absolutely gorgeous.
Watching the two walk off, the smile on her face faded a little.
Tilda thougt, ‘So, Owen has a girlfriend. But… what about Janice?’
The office door had been left open. Tilda stood frozen for a moment. Johnny frowned. “What are you standing around for? Weren’t you delivering something?”
Startled, Tilda turned and met his gaze. A blush crept onto her face. “Sorry, Mr. Oconnor.”
She placed the documents on his desk. “Is there anything else I can do?”
No drama left to watch, Johnny waved a hand. “No. You can go.”
“Alright,” she replied.
Tilda sneaked a glance at him before quietly closing the door.
Back at her desk, she pulled out her phone and opened her second pinned chat. [Janice, when are you coming back?]
The reply came quickly: [The day after tomorrow. Why?]
Tilda stared at the screen, her finger hovering hesitantly before finally typing: [Owen has a girlfriend now.]