The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1815

Cleo stood by the window, gazing at the distant flickering neon lights. His reflection in the glass revealed a face marked by weariness, and despite his composed expression, the anxiety in his eyes was unmistakable.

It had been three days since Wynter's disappearance. The news had spread like wildfire within the Chamber of Commerce, causing an uproar.

After all, it hadn't been long since Wynter had taken over the chamber again, and now she had suddenly vanished. Cleo had been searching for her tirelessly, but there were still no clues.

Meanwhile, the chamber was swamped with internal affairs.

"Mr. Sinclair, is there any news about Ms. Quinnell?" Lynus Lodovico, Cleo's secretary, gently knocked on the door.

Cleo shook his head. "Not yet."

Lynus continued, "A few of the chamber members have arrived. They require your presence."

Cleo turned around, straightened his collar, and said, "Alright. Have them wait in the conference room."

Wynter's disappearance had emboldened some of the members, as her absence left a leadership vacuum. Although she had appointed Cleo as the acting chairman in her absence, some members felt this arrangement was unfair.

The conference room was filled with over a dozen members, some standing, others sitting, engaged in hushed conversations.

"The chairman has been missing for days. Is the chamber still being managed?" A middle-aged man in a gray suit broke the silence, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction.

Despite Wynter's ban on foreign collaborations, the domestic profits were still substantial.

"Who knows? They say a new broom sweeps clean, but this chairman came in, did nothing, and then vanished without a word."

"It's been three days already. We've been operating at a loss this whole time, with no profits at all."

"This shows she doesn't value us. I say we should elect a new chairman. Who knows how long we'll have to wait otherwise?"

The room buzzed with complaints about the negative impact of Wynter's disappearance.

Just then, the conference room door opened, and Cleo walked in. The room fell silent. After all, some things were better left unsaid in front of him. If Wynter returned, it wouldn't do to have burned bridges.

"Thank you for waiting," Cleo said as he walked to the head of the table. He pulled out the chair but remained standing.

His gaze swept across the room before he spoke. "I understand why you're all here. We still haven't been able to contact Ms. Quinnell, but I believe we will soon. She has many responsibilities, and once she's finished, she'll return."

"But we need a specific timeline. We can't have the chamber stagnate like this. While you're the acting chairman appointed by Ms. Quinnell, you're not getting any younger."

Cleo's eyes sharpened as he looked toward the speaker. "Are you suggesting you'd like to take over as chairman?"

The speaker waved his hand dismissively. "Mr. Sinclair, don't misunderstand me. I'm only interested in making money. I have no desire to be chairman."

Cleo smiled faintly. "While I may be old, I don't need anyone to teach me how to run the chamber. Yes, everyone has lost some money these past few days, but you'll all earn double what you lost soon. However, you'll need to rein in your ambitions.

"Of course, if anyone feels they can't afford these losses, they're free to withdraw from the Chamber. I'll buy back their shares at market price. That way, everyone benefits."

The room fell silent after Cleo's words. While they had lost money recently, it was a drop in the bucket compared to what they had earned before. Their presence here was more about pressuring Cleo and vying for greater benefits, with some harboring hidden ambitions.

Suddenly, a man in a well-tailored suit straightened his posture. "Ms. Quinnell's capabilities are undeniable. But as you can see, Mr. Sinclair, we've been losing money these past few days. We're here to ask when Ms. Quinnell will return and put an end to these losses.

"Eric has never caused us to lose money when he was in charge of the chamber before. We were always making profits. Regardless of what he did, it's none of our concern. We're here for the money, not the person. Whoever can lead us to profits is the best leader."

His words resonated with the others.

"Exactly. Arlen is right. Whoever can make me money has my loyalty."

"Ms. Quinnell disappeared shortly after taking over. We can't be left without a leader."

Arlen Merv pressed his lips together. "Mr. Sinclair, as you can see, we're all here for the money. The title of chairman doesn't matter to us. I have no objections to you being the acting chairman, but it depends on what others think."

"Mr. Sinclair, you're too old to be the acting chairman. This is the era of the young. Your management style is outdated."

"In my opinion, the most suitable candidate is Arlen. He's young, and he just got back from overseas. Who else is more qualified than him?"

Arlen raised his hand modestly. "I appreciate everyone's support, but I'm not qualified to be the acting chairman. Mr. Sinclair was appointed by Ms. Quinnell, and we all know how decisive she is. She means everything she says. Otherwise, how could she have taken down Eric?

"Besides, Ms. Quinnell must have entrusted Mr. Sinclair with some strategies. We don't stand a chance against him."

Cleo's eyes narrowed as he looked at Arlen. From what he knew, Arlen's parents had passed away when he was young, and he had been raised by a guardian. However, the details of his background were unclear.

After returning to Cascadia, Arlen had joined the Chamber of Commerce, even accepting a lower salary to do so. His performance had been impeccable, to the point where Eric had considered him as a potential successor.

Wynter had taken notice of him and had someone investigate his background, informing Cleo of the findings. After all, with her own busy schedule, Wynter had little time to manage the Chamber of Commerce herself.

"Arlen?" Cleo called out.

Arlen stood up, unbuttoning his suit jacket. "Yes?" His humility earned him the respect of everyone present.

"It seems everyone recognizes your capabilities and is pushing for you to be the acting chairman," Cleo continued.

Arlen bowed his head slightly. "You flatter me, Mr. Sinclair. Everything I've done in the chamber has been for its benefit and, of course, to help everyone make more money. I believe no one here is opposed to making money."

Arlen's true goal was to climb higher. He was aware that the Chamber of Commerce's real power didn't lie in its current operations but in its historical personnel records. Some former members had left the business world to enter politics, reaching high positions. This was what he truly sought.

He recalled the day he returned to Cascadia and the words of the man in black.

"I've raised you all these years. It's time for you to repay me. Infiltrate the chamber and secure the personnel records, the official seal, and confidential documents."

No one knew of this mission, and he had buried it deep within his heart.

"Why have you come?" he asked.

The figure's voice was steady. "What? Am I not welcome?"

Arlen hurriedly waved his hands. "Of course you are! Your presence honors my humble home. I just worry it might not be to your liking."

"Did you manage to complete the task at the chamber today?"

Arlen took a deep breath. "No. I felt like Cleo was hinting at something in his words."

The figure frowned. "Does he suspect you? I've handled your background meticulously. There shouldn't be any reason for suspicion."

"Perhaps it's because it's too clean that it raised suspicions. I was planning to stir things up today and get the other chamber members to push the agenda," Arlen replied.

The figure rested his chin on his hand. "That's possible. Cleo is a cunning old fox. We need to be careful not to disrupt my plans. For now, lay low. I'll contact you if I need you to do something. As for the task I assigned you, we'll wait until this storm passes."

Arlen seemed to recall something. "I have a hypothesis. What if the thing you're looking for isn't in the chairman's possession at all? What if it's been entrusted to someone else for safekeeping?

"I never heard anything about what you're seeking, even when Eric had full control of the Chamber. I spent a considerable amount of time with Eric, and I never caught wind of it. Logically, it's likely been secretly entrusted to someone else."

The figure nodded thoughtfully. "You make a valid point. Continue to investigate this, but don't expose yourself. The consequences would be severe."

Arlen nodded vigorously. "Don't worry. I'll keep myself hidden."

The blueprints left by Gordon appeared ordinary, but when pieced together, they revealed something special. This rumor hadn't spread widely, but Gordon's close confidants knew of it. A scheme had been set in motion long ago to obtain those blueprints.

Legend had it that when assembled, they would reveal a Celestial Force's location. Whoever possessed it would enjoy financial fortune, with descendants destined for greatness and longevity.

The figure stood up and walked to the door. But before leaving, he turned to Arlen. "I'll make sure you regret it if you dare act behind my back. I raised you to where you are now, and I can just as easily make you disappear."

With that, he opened the door and left, leaving Arlen alone in the room.

Arlen hurried to the door. "Don't worry. I'll follow your instructions to the letter."

...

Meanwhile, in a room across the street, a person with a camera snapped a photo and then dialed a number. "Someone met with him."

The voice on the other end seemed unsurprised. "Did you get a clear look at the person's face?"

"No, they were very discreet. They kept their hats on even in his home."

The voice remained calm. "Alright, come back."