Filed to story: Disdained Son-in-Law, Destined Riches >>
Claire lifted her gaze and said, “Joe, I know you have a lot of friends who venture in the entrepreneurship industry such as Mr. Quinton and you won’t have any problem borrowing the money, but honestly speaking, it will be quite stressful if our business’ capital fund is a loan instead of our own money. I might as well open my own personal studio with less capital funds and get the designing projects from the major construction companies.”
Joe replied firmly, “No matter what you decide to do, I’ll be there for you as always!”
Claire nodded gratefully and said, “I want to start the studio first and then work my way up. The Wilson family members thought that I couldn’t do anything without the Wilson Group. I want to prove to them that I can!”
Joe pondered her words before he nodded with a gentle smile. “You have my full support, but you must promise to share all the problems you encounter at work with me. We’ll solve them together! In fact, you can hire me as a free-of-charge employee. Your husband is not very skillful, but he can certainly drive and carry your bag.”
“Alright.” Claire nodded, slightly touched by his notion.
She was actually taking a big risk in making such a decision.
If she didn’t go to work, her family’s biggest source of income would be cut off. Even if she opened a design studio, she needed to rent an office, buy office equipment, and so on…
All of it required a certain amount of capital funds.
Moreover, the Wilson Group had a lot of business projects with major construction companies in Aurous Hill. They would probably shun her from potential clients, openly or discreetly.
However, as Joe was supporting her solidly without any hesitation, she felt a tinge of warmth and passion floating in her heart.
Just when she was still in that complex mood, Joe spoke. “Dear, go ahead and do whatever you want. If things don’t work out as you plan, I’ll find a job to support you.”
Hearing his remark, Claire held her breath and felt a soreness rush to her nose, and her eyes were reddened with tears.
When she was in such a desperate and depressing situation, her husband, whom she felt was ‘worthless’, still firmly believed in her and supported her!
Because of Joe’s instigation and encouragement, Claire spent the whole night tossing and turning, thinking about her business. She looked rather exhausted and fatigued the next morning due to the lack of sleep.
After waking up, Claire hurriedly freshened herself up. Joe frowned at the sight and asked, “Dear, why don’t you sleep in? What’s the hurry?”
“I’m going to Millenium Enterprise. I must not be late.”
“Millenium Enterprise? Another interview?”
“No.” Claire shook her head and said gingerly after a short pause, “I’m going to try to look for some projects for myself.”
“Great!” Joe smiled happily. “If you start a construction company, I’ll be your first employee.”
“Do you think that starting a construction company is like making dinner? Funds and connections are the main criteria for the business to strive and survive,” Claire said. “I want to start from a small office and draw design drawings for the construction company. When I’ve built a significant network for myself and generated enough capital funds, I’ll register the company.”
Joe chuckled. “Money and connections are not a problem. I can help you start a company right now if you want.”
“No thanks,” Claire rejected his kind offer without thinking, and then said seriously, “I want to try it myself first. Besides, what kind of resources could you possibly have, anyway? Starting a construction company is not a child’s play.”
“I’m serious. I have the money to start a company as well as business connections.”
Right now, the Emgrand Group’s investment covers almost 70% of Aurous Hill’s businesses. It was a piece of cake to get some designing projects from construction companies.
Claire assumed that he was just joking, and so, she waved her hand reluctantly and said, “You don’t know anything about the construction industry. I’ll think about the investment, just leave it to me.”
To register a construction company, she needed at least 10 million dollars as start-up capital and a significant amount of circulating capital. Where would Joe get that amount of money?
Even if he did have the money, it was impossible for him to have connections in the construction industry.
Joe was utterly speechless. His wife would rather start from scratch rather than utilize the readily available resources that were himself. He didn’t know what else to say to her.
Claire had just only left the house when Elaine, her mother, returned. She relied heavily on the Wilson Group for her pension, so she had often visited the Wilson Group over the past two days.
Although Claire had cut her ties with the Wilson family, Elaine didn’t seem to share the same sentiment. On the contrary, she wanted to reconcile with them.
“Where did Claire go?”
“She went to look for freelancing projects.”
“What freelancing project! Do you really want to leave the Wilson family?” Elaine huffed in irritation. “It was just a tiny misunderstanding, why do you want to make a fuss out of it and cut ties with them?! We’ve become the laughingstock in the city!”
Jacob stared at Elaine in disbelief and bewilderment.
“Darling, what did Lady Wilson do to you when you were there? Did you knock your head against the wall after all the scolding? Are you out of your mind?”
“What? No! I didn’t lose my senses, mind you!” Elaine threw herself onto the sofa as she growled, “Tomorrow, go to the Wilson family villa with me and apologize to Lady Wilson. She is your mother, and Chris is your brother. Blood is thicker than water, how could you cut ties just like that?”
Jacob glared at her and said in a slightly furious tone, “They wanted to sell my house, and they wanted to rob Joe’s villa. They have never regarded me as part of the Wilson family ever! If you want to apologize, you can go alone. I won’t step into their house ever again!”
Elaine grew angrier when Jacob, who was always so kind and mild-tempered, became so stubborn and firm. She turned to Joe and said, “Joe, your dad is an old, stubborn dog. You be the judge! They are mother and son, they are brothers. Family quarrels are soon mended! Don’t you think it’s a little too childish and trifling to sever ties just like that? Besides, I need to count on the Wilson Group for my pension!”
“See?! She’s crazy! They want to seize my property and rob Joe’s villa, they even want Claire to divorce Joe and marry another man! Don’t you see how insane they are?” Jacob stood up and shouted indignantly. “Did they hypnotize you or something when you were there? How could you simply believe everything they said?”
Joe’s head was tingling in pain as he stood in the middle of the feud, thus, he quickly blurted out an excuse to get out of the miserable situation. “Claire asked me to pick her up, I have to go now.”
Joe quickly slipped out of the house while the quarrel was still going strong inside the house.
It would be best for him to stay out of the annoying domestic disputes.
Joe went into a small cafe, ordered some snacks, and decided to spend his leisure time there until the evening.
It was a famous gourmet street in Aurous Hill with people bustling around.
Joe was enjoying his meal when he suddenly spotted two figures on the opposite side of the street, one of them looking extraordinarily familiar.
That was Claire, wasn’t it?
Across the street was a very lavish restaurant. Joe saw Claire sitting by the huge window on the second floor, and opposite her was a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes wearing gold-framed glasses.
Claire was holding a folder and talking to the man non-stop as if she was showing her portfolio and her new role as a freelance designer and hoped that the man would invest in her new establishment.
Despite her enthusiasm, the man didn’t seem to pay any attention to her speech. He even attempted to touch Claire’s hand by taking the folder from her which she quickly pulled away before he succeeded.
Joe’s blood was boiling upon witnessing this ridiculous scene!
That bastard, how dare he try to sexually assault his wife!
Just then, the waiter came over with a plate of chips. Before he could put it down, Joe slammed a twenty dollar note on the table and got to his feet hastily.
“Keep the change.”
***
On the second floor lounge of Little Italy.
Suppressing the disgust surging inside her, Claire plastered on a polite smile and said to the man across the table, “Mr. Murray, I’ve compiled all of my company’s future plans and prospects in this folder that will promise a positive development in the future. If you are willing to work with me, I promise you, I’ll give you the best project planning.”