Chapter 2402
After being scolded by the doctor, Balfour cast a worried glance at Mara.
âThanks for the heads up, Doc.â
âIt's fine. Just remember one thing: you can't stress Ms. Lewis out anymore.â
âGot it,â Balfour replied.
Surveying the scene, Balfour heaved a deep sigh.
He wasn't sure if it was his fault, if he had mishandled things, causing the relationship between the
three of them to become so tangled. But now wasn't the time to suggest Mara go back home, not
when she was still unconscious.
And how on earth had she managed to take leave from the academy without his knowledge?
Balfour's head throbbed with the thought.
Over at the Howard Group, the news spread like wildfire that the formidable matriarch was coming
for an inspection. The rumor sent everyone into a frenzy. Desks were tidied, trash was swept away,
and the tech department's engineers, usually a scruffy bunch due to their round-the-clock coding
sessions, made a beeline for the bathroom to wash up
and shave.
Their previous encounter with Alyssa hadn't gone well; she had been less than impressed with their
unkempt appearance. Although she didnât say anything outright, her stern gaze was enough to send
chills down their spines.
But Balfour, their boss, wasn't bothered by their scruffy exterior. He knew they were the brains, not
the face, of the company, and their appearance had no bearing on their innovative work. Not
wanting to add to their already heavy workload, Balfour had always been understanding.
they
With such an empathetic boss, the company's staff were generally content. However, no one wanted
to put Balfour in a tight spot, so whenever Alyssa was rumored would quickly spruce themselves
up;
"All this fuss for nothing, don't you think? Alyssa hasn't been here in ages.
at home doting on her grandchildren by now,â one of the engineers said, scra stubble, while
addressing a colleague.
"Who knows what's going through Alyssaâs mind? Hey! If you don't believe it, why shaving?â
âI never said I didn't believe it! Did I? I'm just wondering if there's been some kind of mix-u
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since it's been so long since her last visit.â
They bickered while continuing their grooming, eager to look sharp before Alyssa made her
appearance.
Alyssa herself had grown accustomed to the stir she caused whenever she visited headquarters. She
didn't see it as a problem. In her view, for a company to succeed, every employee had to be
energetic and engaged. The tech department's previous disheveled state was simply unacceptable
to her.
She sympathized with their long hours devoted to product development and technological
advancements, but they couldn't possibly meet with clients looking like they'd just rolled out of
bed.
Today, Alyssaâs arrival had the entire building buzzing. Thankfully, after reaching the CEO's office,
she didn't summon the tech or research departments, which allowed them a collective sigh of relief.