Summoned by the leadership, Sienna Thornton didn’t even have ti to drink her coffee, grabbing her business folder and heading straight to Director-General Linton’s office.
On the way, she kept wondering how soone as calculating and protective of his reputation as Quentin Thorne could have co to Director-General Linton to confess that she was his illegitimate daughter?
Of course, if he was going to say it, he might dress it up nicely, claiming she was his long-lost eldest daughter. But within their circle of officials, who didn’t know he was the son-in-law of the Grant family, and had only one beloved daughter with Isaac Grant? Anything more would undoubtedly be considered illegitimate!
As she thought about it, the words "illegitimate daughter" kept popping into Sienna Thornton’s mind. Imagining how the world would talk about her behind her back once the relationship with Quentin Thorne was revealed, Sienna felt a bit upset. By the ti she reached Director-General Linton’s office, she was already wearing a disgruntled expression.
Director-General Linton’s secretary asked, "Director Thornton, is everything okay? You look upset."
Sienna Thornton snapped back to reality, quickly adjusting her expression and forcing a smile.
The secretary, seeing this, didn’t ask further. She reported Sienna’s arrival and let her in.
Director-General Linton greeted her as she entered, "Director Thornton, have a seat."
Sienna Thornton discreetly observed Director-General Linton’s expression, and before she even sat down, she heard him say, "Your father dropped by to see this afternoon."
Sienna Thornton: "..."
What one fears will indeed co to pass.
Her ears turned red, and she awkwardly found a spot on the sofa, trying to sound as natural as possible, "Really? He didn’t ntion he was coming today."
Director-General Linton began boiling water for tea, his hearty laughter echoing in the office.
"Why didn’t you ever ntion that your father is Dean Thorne?" he asked, then murmured to himself, "Strange, it didn’t show up in the background check."
In Sienna Thornton’s records, under the parents’ column, it listed Felix Raines and linda Linton. Director-General Linton recalled that Quentin Thorne had ntioned his eldest daughter recently started working in the Treaty and Law Departnt, asking him to look out for her. It took him a while to connect the dots, and he hadn’t considered Sienna Thornton.
Who would have thought that Sienna Thornton, from a poor county, was actually the eldest daughter of the dean of Court G? It was sothing no ordinary person could have guessed.
However, despite the surprise, Director-General Linton finally understood the source of her sharp legal acun and her seamless interpersonal skills. It all ca from the inheritance of the dean of Court G.
One had to admit, the father and daughter were indeed alike. Always with a smile, delivering the most incisive comnts. They also shared another trait: they seed able to read minds, effortlessly steering a conversation towards their desired outco, easily achieving their aims.
She was not only familiar with various laws and regulations related to foreign trade and WTO rules but was also a born negotiator. This was one of the reasons Director-General Linton had been eager to have Sienna Thornton join the Treaty and Law Departnt for years.
But why would a young Quentin Thorne, a child of high-ranking officials, have a daughter in the countryside?
Quentin Thorne naturally wouldn’t reveal everything about his private life to Director-General Linton. Although they were on good terms, it wasn’t to the extent of discussing family secrets.
Therefore, Director-General Linton hoped to glean so information from Sienna Thornton.
Faced with his subtle attempts to probe her relationship with Quentin Thorne, Sienna Thornton rely smiled politely, answering simply to deflect the question, "No one asked, so I didn’t say anything."
This response was sowhat redundant. After all, who would ask, "Do you have another father?"
Soone like Sienna Thornton could say sothing redundant to the leadership, and Director-General Linton naturally sensed her resistance. Curiosity remained, but it was inappropriate to press further, so he said, "I’ve known Dean Thorne for many years. If you have any thoughts or grievances in the departnt, feel free to talk to , don’t be shy, okay?"
Sienna Thornton responded politely, "I will, Director-General Linton."
Director-General Linton then inquired about her work progress, offered so advice, and let her go.
As Sienna Thornton stepped out of the Director-General’s office, the smile on her face vanished completely.
Now that the connection between Quentin Thorne and Director-General Linton was exposed, she could almost foresee people thinking she had taken a shortcut.
.
After returning to her office, Sienna Thornton imdiately called Quentin Thorne, asking if he was available for dinner that night.
Quentin Thorne happily agreed, saying it had been a long ti since he’d seen Sienna, and was just thinking of visiting her this weekend.
Sienna thought, Is half a month considered a long ti?
They arranged to et at The Imperial Court Club, believing there was no safer place than there.
Previously, when she was in Z City, Quentin Thorne visited on weekends, and it was convenient to et at a nearby café. Now in Brimfield, where people familiar with Quentin Thorne were everywhere, it was better to remain discreet.
That evening, Sienna Thornton didn’t work late. When she ntioned it to Simon Forrester, as expected, he wanted to tag along.
Sienna Thornton laughed over the phone, teasing that he was like a clingy child. But every ti she called him "baby," she found it endearing.
.
After work, Simon Forrester ca to pick up Sienna Thornton to go to The Imperial Court Club.
As soon as they got out of the car and before stepping into the lobby, they noticed the club’s general manager already waiting eagerly at the entrance.
Sienna Thornton knew the general manager usually handled administrative tasks from his office and rarely ca to the door to greet guests. So she asked Simon Forrester, "How did Mr. X know we were coming? I didn’t see you make a call."
Simon Forrester replied, "Certain special license plates are logged into the system. When an important guest’s car drives in, the system automatically sends an audio alert to Mr. X, and he cos down to greet them."
Sienna Thornton teased, "Tsk, tsk, tsk! What level of guests usually warrant a personal greeting from the general manager?"
"Top-tier mbers."
"How top-tier?"
"Like Thornton, Gage Grant’s father, and Tobias."
"Ha?" Sienna Thornton laughed, "My dad’s on the list too?"
Simon Forrester held her hand as they walked forward, "Though he rarely cos. Actually, he almost never does."
"Where does he usually go? Doesn’t he et friends? Doesn’t he need to socialize?" Sienna Thornton found it odd, considering Brimfield’s officials often gathered at The Imperial Court Club for etings or social events.
Simon Forrester stayed silent.
Noticing his hesitance, Sienna Thornton pinched his side teasingly, just as she was about to ask why he wasn’t speaking, Mr. X ca out to greet them.
He warmly greeted them, "Young Mr. Ford, Director Thornton."
Sienna Thornton nodded and smiled at him. Once inside the elevator with Simon Forrester, she laughed, "They really are quick-witted here; they even updated my title already. Last ti, they called ’Mr. Thornton.’"
Rembering her unasked question, she took advantage of Simon Forrester’s pensive mont, pulling him closer with a firm grip.
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