On the eighth day of the New Year, many companies began to resume work.
Except for a few executives who were not in place, the employees of IP&G Group returned to the
company on time excitedly.
Today was the first day they worked in the New Year, so everyone was especially energetic.
At the first morning meeting of the company, the directors in charge of businesses in North America
and the Asia-Pacific regions took turns to make speeches on this year's performance plan.
In the 100-square-meter conference room, the managers, inspectors and directors of various projects
kept applauding for the lofty goals set in the new year.
“We are confident that we will achieve this year's high target and strive to exceed last year's growth
rate at 32% by the end of this year!"
"Okay!"
There was thunderous applause, and everyone present was very excited.
However, they also noticed that Patrick, who was sitting in the middle of the conference room, seemed
to be absent-minded all the time.
According to the custom of previous years, Patrick would go on stage and briefly summarize at the end
of the meeting.
But he seemed not to have such a mood today.
"Proceed with your work as planned."
He stood up and looked around.
His grim and serious expression met the expectant eyes of his subordinates.
After he said these words calmly, Patrick walked straight out of the conference room.
Several regional directors in the conference room looked at each other puzzled.
They had worked with Patrick for many years and knew very well that although Mr.Hopkins always had
a lukewarm attitude, he would not let personal feelings influence work, but he seemed to be laden with
anxiety today.
Patrick returned to his office on the top floor.
On the wall-mounted high- end TV, international news was broadcast.
He focused his eyes on the news and frowned, indicating he was really worried about something.
All the secretaries had returned to work.
The senior chief secretary knocked on the door as usual, then walked in with a few documents in her
hands, and was about to report to him.
The secretary cast a glance at the international news broadcast and found it was all about Switzerland.
Before being qualified as a top secretary of IP&G Group, one needed to pass a lot of tests, which
naturally included EQ test.
The secretary found that Patrick was so absorbed in the news that he didn't notice her coming in.
The secretary stood aside and waited quietly for the CEO to finish reading the news without disturbing
him.
When the news reported that there might be a heavy snowstorm in Switzerland recently, Patrick
couldn't help but turn around and walk towards his desk.
He grabbed his phone and was about to call someone.
When he turned around, Patrick noticed with a little surprise that the secretary had been waiting here
for a while.
The beautiful secretary took the initiative to say, "Mr.Hopkins, here are two contracts from abroad which
you need to check and sign as soon as possible."
"Put them down first"
He didn't even look at the documents.
The cald tone obviously intended to drive her away.
The secretary already knew Patrick's cold temper very well.
She did not dare to add anything more and put down documents swiftly, simply nodding at him and
helping close the door.
"Here comes the first piece of news this year.Our boss may be planning to invest in the Swiss
market..."
As soon as the door was closed, the women began a heated discussion.
There were more than 20 people in the secretarial office and they were all world-famous university
graduates and elites in the sector.
Nevertheless, they were all gossipy, especially about the news of the head of IP&G Group, who was
right next door to them.
All news related to Patrick would become the object of their discussion for ten days and nights.
"That's impossible.I hear that our boss was uninterested in the meeting this morning, and the
company's main market has always been in North America..."
"It definitely has something to do with Switzerland!"
The chief secretary was very confident.
"Although I don't know which company our boss is interested in, we have to gain the upper hand first by
buying the shares of Swiss corporations.After the successful acquisition of them, shares will definitely
soar..."
Every white-collar elite knew the stock market very well.
They were especially enthusiastic about benefiting from the insider's message.
Suddenly, a tall and slim figure approached and sneered.
The mocking voice was a little abrupt, urging the chief secretary and the others to restrain their gossipy
manners immediately and turn to look.
"Have you got the wrong place? We never accept outsiders on the top floor..."
Hearing this arrogant and provocative tone, the newcomer, who was a short-haired beauty, shrugged
as if it didn't matter.
She smiled at these secretaries and reached out her hand.
"Hello, my name is Lucy:"
"I am chosen by my leader to do odds and ends here." Lucy smiled brightly.
She pointed at the blue folder on the chief secretary's desk with her long, tapering finger and said in a
clear voice, "You can look through your personnel records.My profile is supposed to be included there."
When the chief secretary heard this, she immediately turned serious.
"Miss Parker of the personnel department hasn't resumed her work yet.It's impossible for us to accept
new people here..."
As she flipped through the documents, the chief secretary was very surprised that there was indeed a
record of Lucy, who was promoted directly by Patrick.
The secretaries on the top floor of IP&G were knowledgeable, and it was common for them to socialize
and chat with the big shots in the circle.
However, Lucy, the new employee who suddenly dropped in, left a strange impression on them.
To their surprise, Lucy actually called Patrick her leader.
She spoke in a calm manner, completely free from the nervousness and restraints featured by new
employees.
She even didn't take the IP&G Group seriously.
"Lucy, right? We'll be colleagues in the future.If you have any problems, you can turn to us."
The sudden arrival of a newcomer appointed by the boss made the secretaries on the alert.
They were no longer in the mood to gossip about their boss.
But Lucy seemed very interested in the boss.
She knocked on the door of his office directly and shouted mischievously, "My dear leader, I'm here to
report the weather in Switzerland to you."
When seeing this, the group of elite secretaries outside were astonished.
Was this newcomer a familiar friend of the boss? Lucy was a little unsteady in character, but she was
very efficient in fulfilling tasks.
She had gathered all-rounded information about the snowstorm in Switzerland and the safety facilities
of the Swiss ski resort, which Patrick longed to know.
"This is from the meteorological bureau, so the accuracy rate is very high.The snowstorm is most
concentrated in Sankt Moritz.It is expected that there will be a snowstorm starting from tomorrow and
lasting for a month, and the temperature will plummet.If the air of low temperature can't dissipate with
the barriers of the Alps here, the temperature is estimated to drop to minus 20 degrees in the worst
case..."
Lucy pointed to an area on the map, which included the ski resort Christina had gone to.
"It's really unfortunate to encounter this kind of weather when traveling.If they want to leave, set out
early, or the airport will definitely be closed later"
At the sight of Patrick's sullen face, Lucy suddenly shut up, put the collected information on the desk,
and quickly left.
She did know Patrick well, but she didn't dare to pester him.
Lucy sneered in her heart.
After all, she wasn't Christina, who Patrick was concerned about.
Patrick was the only one left in the spacious office.
He looked at the documents of the collected information on the desk for a long time.After hesitating for
a while, he took his cell phone and made a call.
"How long does it take for you to take her back?"
Patrick was furious as soon as he started to talk.
Charles, who was on the other end of the phone, was so frightened by Patrick that he didn't know how
to reply.He took Christina away without informing him in advance.
Now he felt that he was doomed.
Charles replied ina panic, "Patrick, you couldn't come!"
"Christina has been having a good time these two days.She must be in a bad mood if you come
over.She doesn't want to see you.So you should take care of your child at home.Never ever come
here!"
Charles spoke very quickly for fear that Patrick would come in person to get even with him.
Then, before Patrick could speak again, Charles hung up the phone as he was afraid of Patrick's
blame.
Patrick clutched his phone tightly.He stood in front of the French windows on the top floor of the
company, his eyes drifting away.
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