"Where should we put such a large photo?" asked Sienna.
Simon didn’t think much: "Of course, we’ll hang it in our room."
She shook her head: "Better hang it in your study room."
Throughout the pregnancy, although Sienna didn’t gain weight or beco ugly, the various discomforts from being pregnant have continued to torture her till now. She doesn’t want to be reminded of the pregnancy days every day. Therefore, placing the pregnancy photo in Simon’s study is the most logical option. She doesn’t often enter his study; he works there every night, so having the photo hang over there is just fine.
Simon probably guessed her thoughts, didn’t object, and said with a smile: "Great."
"Will you put it up after dinner?"
Simon had already lifted the oil painting fra with both hands: "I’ll take it upstairs first, and hang it up after our daughter is born."
Sienna was puzzled: "Why?"
"Because you’re pregnant now, so it’s better not to hang anything on the walls at ho."
"You’re quite superstitious." Sienna laughed, "When you grow old, you’ll be just like Grandpa."
"When it cos to you and the kid, it’s better to be cautious. There’s no loss in being superstitious, except for being laughed at by you."
Sienna laughed heartily, following him out of the billiard room, heading upstairs together to the study.
Simon indeed placed the photo leaning against the wall opposite his desk, near the door. He stepped back a few paces, stood at a perfect distance to examine it, and suddenly clapped his hands, saying: "No need to nail it to the wall, hanging like this feels great." As he spoke, he pulled Sienna to him, turning to plant a kiss on her.
...
The next day, Joyce called to say that the cesarean section was scheduled for August 12th at ten in the morning. They should go to the hospital on the morning of the eleventh to prepare for the cesarean section in advance.
This call was made to Sienna. She was at her parents’ ho at the ti; Simon was at work. She waited until he got off work to pick her up in the evening before talking to him about this in the car.
Simon imdiately made a decision: "Tomorrow, I’ll go to the office to arrange the work, and won’t go to work on the eleventh."
He then called Old Master Forrester and Sylvia Langley, informing them of the specific ti for the cesarean section.
During the week leading to the expected due date, Old Master Forrester called every day to ask if the baby was born. Sylvia had also returned from Franland a week ago. As the old mansion was not comfortable, and knowing Sienna visited her parents every day, she didn’t stay at Fenmore Hill with them. Instead, she stayed at her parents’ in The South, telling Simon to call her once Sienna started labor pains, and she’d fly over imdiately.
Sylvia said she would co to assist on the day Sienna was admitted to the hospital. The call was through the car’s Bluetooth system, so Sienna in the passenger seat heard everything clearly.
Simon glanced at her, seeking her opinion. She nodded, indicating her approval, so Simon consented to Sylvia coming.
.
On August 10th, as per the plan, Simon was supposed to arrange the work at the Group, so he could spend the whole week at the hospital accompanying his wife for delivery. Last night, he asked Gavin to notify all senior managent to have a eting at his office at half past nine in the morning. However, just as he was about to leave for work, Sienna suddenly experienced a leg cramp so severe she couldn’t walk.
After he massaged Sienna’s cramped leg to relieve and relax it, and sent her to her parents’ ho, he went to the office, which was already past ten o’clock.
Scores of senior managers from Forrester Group crowded around the long conference table in his office. Seeing him enter, they all stood up to greet him, though their faces wore an expression suggesting "The boss is quite capricious, summoning us for a eting and turning up late himself."
Simon guessed their thoughts, explained with a smile: "Sorry, this morning my wife suddenly had a leg cramp, so I had to massage and relax it for her, which delayed my departure. I hope everyone can forgive ."
Carrying a paper bag, Simon was hurrying toward his office space.
Imdiately, a senior manager fond of flattery chid in: "Of course, of course. Chairman Forrester sets an example for us all! Cherishing our wives and caring for them!"
Sienna rarely showed up at Forrester Group. With her pregnancy and busy workload, it was practically impossible for her to visit. Besides Gavin, no one within the Forresters knew that Sienna was near delivery.
Simon had settled into his executive chair and, carefully, from his paper bag, took out a photo fra and placed it on the table.
Once the fra was set, he overlooked the anticipation of the senior managers eager for him to begin and end the eting quickly. Instead, he stared fondly at the photo fra for a while, finally picking up his laptop and standing to move to the head of the long table to take his seat.
Without further ado, he announced that he would be taking leave for the upcoming week, and would often be absent from work during the subsequent five weeks, thus necessitating so changes in the managerial operations.
The work plan was already sorted, so he let Gavin distribute it among everyone.
It was rely a notice, so the senior managers read it and didn’t dare voice any objections, promptly signing their nas on their responsibility sheets.
Soone asked: "Chairman Forrester, are you heading to the United States?"
Everyone was well aware of Zane Forrester’s affairs in the United States, and sohow heard through the grapevine that Simon would soon take over all overseas operations of the Forrester Group, thus assuming that Simon’s planned absence might be to handle affairs in the United States.
"No," Simon replied with an ever-present smile, "my wife will give birth in a couple of days and I need to accompany her."
Everyone was initially stunned and soon broke into smiles, heartily congratulating Simon, offering pleasant words and auspicious remarks. But when the eting ended and they left the Chairman’s office together, their faces beca disdainful, revealing their contempt.
"Don’t all won give birth like that? Just go on the day of birth, what’s the point of staying for a week?"
"Maybe worried if he doesn’t accompany well, the Dean of Thorne won’t be pleased?"
"Isn’t it well known that the young master of the Forrester Family isn’t one to take heed of others’ moods? Do you think he cares about Dean Thorne’s feelings?"
"Who knows? Maybe he’s ek as a lamb in front of the father-in-law?"
"Oh? Wouldn’t that still be being henpecked?"
"You just realized this? He previously unceremoniously split the finance departnt in two, cutting off newly appointed Director Rhodes, reportedly following the daughter of the dean’s suggestion... isn’t that exactly henpecked?"
"..."
The voices were finally isolated inside the elevator, heading downstairs.
In the office, Simon leaned back in his executive chair, his hands clasped gently against his lips, gazing intently at the photo fra he had placed on the table that morning.
Gavin walked over carrying several folders, chuckling: "Congratulations."
Simon regained his focus, smiled, and accepted the folders. He lowered his head to review them and, encountering sothing unclear, beckoned Gavin over for a look.
Gavin circled to his side, quietly explaining as just lifting his head, his gaze caught on the newly placed photo fra on Simon’s desk.
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