The Cheap & Dupe CEO

CHAPTER 08

All the friends, relatives, and those related to the Conreid family were sent flowers, sweets, concert tickets, and wine. A bottle of Conreid wine cost 9,900 dollars and was only sold to private buyers. Many people felt glad to receive this wine harvested from exclusive vineyards and produced in limited quantities every year. It wasn’t thick, yet it offered a deep, concentrated taste. It was best known as the wine that’ll go well with any meat dish out there.

The workers in Conreid companies received gift cards.

Evelyn also received a 1000 dollars gift card, an expensive suit, and the Conreid wine in addition. She took it to her apartment, and her parents were most excited by seeing the wine.

“A bottle of this stuff costs about a grand!” they quickly said ‘cheers’ before sucking in a small glass of it.

Seeing their subtly shocked expressions, Evelyn asked, “How is it?”

Her father sipped some more again and shook his head in surprise and shock. “Too good.”

Her mother also nodded in agreement. “Most of these rich wines taste like syrup, but this one is dilute yet has a rich texture and deep mix of sweet and spice. I’ve never tasted a wine like it before.”

Her parents exchanged cheers again and this time made each other drink.

Evelyn just smiled, her arms folded loosely. She was walking away, and her mother called her.

“Why don’t you have a round, sweetheart?”

“Thanks, but no. You guys can empty it if you want.”

“Don’t come yelling later then.”

“I won’t,” she was climbing the stairs and reached the first floor. As she entered her room and was closing the door, her mother’s words reached her ears.

“It would be nice if she could marry her boss, Adam.”

“Stop it, dear,” her father said. “I’ve asked my friends, and they say he’s a big playboy. I don’t want our daughter to waste her life with such a man.”

“Huh, do you know of any rich man who isn’t a playboy?”

“Well, you’re not wrong, but… Evelyn doesn’t need another man’s help to live. She’s smart and hard-working. She’s already very close to buying this apartment.”

“A smart woman can also change her man as long as he’s not beyond saving,” she said. “And I believe our daughter can wrap him around her fingers if she puts her heart into it. And then she doesn't need to worry about buying any apartment. She doesn’t need to run after wealth. It will follow her wherever she goes.”

“You’re not wrong, but… Just say you want to have Conreid wine every night, will ya?”

“Haha, you know me better than anyone else.”

While her parents kept on talking, Evelyn slowly shut the door and walked over to her bed. The book ‘One Step To Overcome Lust’ was on her bed, half-opened. She put her bag aside, removed her suit and sat on the bed before picking up the book. “You helped me fight against the sexual temptations,” she paused, “but… I can’t keep running away from every man who approaches me. How do I find the man whose hand I should hold? How will I know that he’s the one? Will I fall in love with him? What is falling in love like? Will my heart flutter or feel lighter? How will he make me feel? I wish you also expounded upon that. I’m not as smart as my parents think I am.” She took a deep breath, leaned to the side and put the book on the small shelf next to the bed. She switched the lights off.

Normally, she would never go to bed without bathing, but today she was strangely tired and relieved at the same time. She had worked so much these past forty days, and now that Adam returned, she felt like she earned her right to sleep with her shoes still on.

In her dreams, she looked for a man with a deep, mellifluous voice that could resonate straight through to her soul, but all she saw was vague figures whispering things.

At the same time, in Conreid’s mansion.

Adam just wore lounge pants and kept stretching them. “They are so loose and elastic.” He wasn’t even wearing underwear right now, and the AC was on, so he felt extremely comfortable. As he was about to sleep, one of the maids entered without knowing. She was neither tall nor short but had a plump figure that could easily attract any man’s attention.

“Do you need any service, Young Master?” she asked.

“S-Service?” Adam had a bad feeling about this. “NO.”

“Okay,” she bowed slightly. “Have a good night.” She turned and left just the way she came.

Adam sighed in relief. “Just how many women did this freak sleep with? To think he didn’t even leave the maids,” he shivered, “he’s crazy. And I’m working for that crazy guy. I hope nothing goes wrong.”

After some worrying, he laid back on the bed and ended up falling asleep with the lights still turned on.

The door was open, and so a tall, sturdy man with a slick beard and mustache entered the room. He had more gray hair and whiter beard than Eric, for he was Brandon, the first son of Parul. A bottle of Conreid wine was in his hand. Unsealed.

“I wanted to share this with you, but whatever…” He put it on the desk next to the bed and looked at his younger brother once and touched his cheek with his fingers. “I’m glad you’re back, Brother. Of course, I am relieved that you’re safe and sound, but I’m more happy because I can compete with you and take everything from our father. But don’t worry. I’ll still let you be the CEO of the Conreid Lore, and you’ll receive your salary if your work meets the minimum expectations. That’s the best I can do as your brother.” Saying that he walked away.

Seconds later, Adam opened his eyes. Growing up, he didn’t have siblings. His aunt and uncle didn’t have children, so they raised him after his parents passed away. He didn’t know what brotherly love was, so he found Brandon’s words not so easy to comprehend. Would brothers generally talk like this and fight like this for their property? Even when their father was still alive? All these thoughts made him feel strange. “Putting brother against brother, and blood against blood… Money really is both the best friend and the mortal enemy of mankind.”