When the butler went outside to handle the situation, Eleanor picked up her phone and dialed Teresa, her childhood friend.
"I've arrived in the Kingdom. I'm sending you the address. Come as fast as you can. What about the ten Range Rovers I asked you to purchase?"
Teresa responded promptly, "I managed to buy six from the market. The other four will be delivered within a week."
"Alright. Bring all six with you. I have some things to take care of here, so we'll talk later."
She ended the call, asked a staff member for the villa's exact address, and quickly sent it to Teresa.
Teresa Li had been Eleanor's friend since primary school. Her family once owned a renowned Shaolin dojo, where Eleanor had visited multiple times as a child. Teresa had always been a skilled fighter, trying to teach Eleanor self-defense techniques, but Eleanor, a pampered heiress, had never been interested in such rigorous training.
However, after Teresa's father passed away, their dojo was forced to close due to pressure from competitors. Teresa and her mother then moved to San Francisco to live with her aunt, who owned a small business there.
Fate brought them back together two years ago when Eleanor went to acquire a promising AI startup, only to find Teresa as one of its co-founders. Instead of simply taking over the company, Eleanor offered her an even better opportunity… to work as her personal assistant and help build a new tech empire. Teresa accepted without hesitation, eager to prove herself in the business world.
After resolving the disturbance outside, the butler returned.
Eleanor looked at him and asked, "Did you report the situation to your clan head?"
The butler's face flashed in embarrassment, he hesitated before nodding. "Y-Yes, Ma'am."
She studied his nervous posture before offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I trust Clan Blanc. Your family has served us for generations without fail. I won't hold you personally accountable for something like this."
She then picked up her phone and called Dominic Blanc, the head of Clan Blanc.
"Greetings, Grandpa Dominic. How is your health these days?" she said warmly as soon as he answered.
After exchanging pleasantries, she got straight to the point. "I have to say, I'm a little disappointed by today's incident. Though it's partly my fault for not informing you sooner. The Leroux family doesn't know I'm in the Kingdom yet. If they want to eliminate me to pressure my grandmother, your family is my first line of defense. Even if they're unaware of my combat skills, they will undoubtedly send their best assassins. If my security team isn't up to the task, it will be a problem."
Dominic assured her that reinforcements would be sent immediately, and they discussed further security measures before she ended the call.
Eleanor then turned to the staff present and declared firmly, "I want all my staff to be trained professionals. I've already survived multiple assassination attempts in the States. The Leroux family will strike again if they get the chance. I trust Clan Blanc, but if anyone feels unprepared for the responsibility of protecting me, let me know now. You will be replaced with someone more capable. If there are any vacant positions that Clan Blanc cannot fill, inform me as soon as possible, and I will make alternative arrangements."
After issuing her orders, she stood up. "My assistant, Teresa Li, will be bringing some vehicles later. Inform me when she arrives."
With that, she ascended the stairs, searching for Ethan and Freya. Following the sound of laughter, she found them immersed in a game.
She paused at the doorway, watching them. Ethan, usually composed and intimidating, now appeared completely at ease, his usual cold expression replaced by warmth as he played with their daughter.
Freya had missed her father terribly, especially after starting school. Despite Ethan's daily video calls, they had only met in person a handful of times. Seeing them like this, Eleanor decided to give them some time together.
"Freya, I'm going to take a bath. Freshen up after you're done playing," she said casually before heading to the master bedroom.
**
That afternoon, as Eleanor was resting in her room, the butler informed her that Teresa had arrived. Meanwhile, Ethan had taken the responsibility of putting Freya down for a nap.
Eleanor made her way to the lounge, where Teresa was waiting. It had been nearly six months since she last saw her.
As soon as she came downstairs, Teresa's face lit up. "Eleanor!" She jumped up and hugged her.
Eleanor returned the embrace before motioning for her to sit. "How's your progress here?"
Teresa sighed, then handed over a folder. "Of the twelve companies you wanted me to acquire, I've finalized deals with eight. The remaining four are causing trouble. Though they don't know who's behind these acquisitions, the industry is abuzz with speculation. If we wait too long, it will become even harder to complete the takeovers."
Eleanor flipped through the reports. "Which four are left?"
"Sage Enterprise, Techno Club, Chen Group, and Fortune Tech," Teresa said, passing another set of documents. "This contains the finalized deals for the eight we've secured, and these are the investigative reports on the remaining four."
As Eleanor scanned the documents, Ethan descended the staircase. Teresa immediately tensed and scrambled to her feet.
"E-Ethan… Good afternoon, Mr. Raynor," she stammered, her voice a mix of nervousness and awe.
She had heard countless stories about Ethan Raynor in the past six months. Ruthless, brilliant, and unforgiving in business… his reputation alone was enough to intimidate anyone. Though she had seen him in the news before, this was her first time meeting him in person.
Ethan gave a brief nod. "Good afternoon, Miss."
Eleanor glanced up. "Ethan, this is Teresa, my assistant and childhood friend. I'll give you her contact later."
Ethan nodded. "Alright. I have a scheduled meeting, so I need to leave. Teresa, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
After thinking for a while, Eleanor asked, "Besides Uncle Xavier, do we have any other intelligence sources?"
Ethan responded, "Uncle Xavier has handled our family's intelligence for years. He has pre-existing information on every major player in the Kingdom. If you need something urgently, he's your best option. But if you'd rather not involve him, send me the names, and I'll handle it."
"Got it. I'll message you later," Eleanor said.
As Ethan walked out, Teresa let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Eleanor, unfazed, continued reading the reports.
After a moment, Teresa hesitated before asking, "Is Ethan Raynor your husband?"
Eleanor didn't look up. "No. We're not married."
Teresa frowned. "Then why is he here? And… doesn't Freya resemble him?"
Eleanor finally looked at her and said nonchalantly, "He's Freya's biological father. That's all. We're just friends."
Teresa was speechless.
Eleanor sent Ethan a message detailing information about four companies. Then, turning to Teresa, she said, "Finalize all acquisitions for the eight companies by tomorrow morning. The Executive Boardroom at the Hyatt Hotel has been booked for the meeting. I've already sent a list of employees to retain, dismiss the rest with three months' severance. I want everyone relocated to Heimdall Tower immediately."