Chapter 124: Jean’s Cover is Blown

The Ford Group had recently been working on a project. Every department in the company had been busy for months on it. If the project succeeded, the company’s market value would more than double.

This was what Jean Vance had gathered from listening for just a short while.

He walked toward the sofa after entering the office. Samuel Ford paid him no mind and continued speaking with Assistant Young, asking in a low voice, "The project proposal was leaked?"

"Yes." Assistant Young broke out in a cold sweat, his brow deeply furrowed. The project was in its final stages, with the bidding conference just around the corner. There was no way they could start over now. At this thought, even more sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Who was it leaked to?"

"The Trent Group."

Samuel Ford didn’t seem particularly surprised by the answer. The Trent Group had always been the Ford Group’s arch-rival, so it wasn’t shocking they would pull something like this.

A leaked project clearly meant there was a mole. Even if they found out who it was now, it would be too late.

His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, a dangerous glint in his eyes. After a moment, Samuel Ford opened his laptop and directly pulled up the surveillance feed.

Unsurprisingly, there was a gap in the surveillance footage. Assistant Young explained it was due to a malfunction.

"And you believe that?" Samuel Ford asked nonchalantly.

Assistant Young fell silent. Of course, he didn’t believe it. Not to mention the Ford Group’s 24-hour power supply system, even if the entire city had a blackout, backup power would kick in within five minutes. Besides, a power outage happening right at the critical moment of a company crisis seemed suspicious no matter how you looked at it.

Without saying more, Samuel Ford’s expression remained unchanged as his fingers tapped away at the keyboard.

Jean, also holding a laptop, didn’t interrupt.

Five minutes later, both of them stopped typing.

It was practically at the same time.

However, Jean’s brow furrowed. He looked up at the man behind the desk. ’I started before he did, but he still managed to find it a step faster than me?’

’That speed...’

Samuel Ford pushed his laptop toward Assistant Young. On the screen was a surveillance video. Judging by the time stamp, it was the exact segment that had been missing.

’He found it?!’

Assistant Young was slightly stunned, but his attention was quickly drawn to the person in the video. A flash of anger crossed his usually refined face, and he ground out through clenched teeth, "It was him!"

Old Wang from the operations department. He was a company veteran, the kind of person everyone called an "honest man." Who would have thought he would be the one to betray the company!

Even if he’d gone through every possible suspect, he would never have suspected him.

He didn’t waste time asking if there was a mistake. He knew that if President Ford had found it himself, it was definitely correct.

"President Ford, what do we do now? Should we call the police?"

Leaking corporate secrets was illegal, after all.

"No rush," Samuel Ford declined. "Continue preparations for the bidding conference."

Hearing this, Assistant Young was stunned and blurted out, "President Ford?"

Samuel Ford looked up at him. "Is there a problem?"

Assistant Young’s back was soaked with sweat. But looking at Samuel’s calm gaze, the heavy weight in his heart suddenly lifted. Before his brain could even process it, his body reacted instinctively. He nodded. "No problem, President Ford. I’ll take my leave now."

"Mm."

Once Assistant Young left, the office fell silent again.

"So you’re just going to do nothing?" Jean suddenly asked, his little brow furrowing as he looked at him with disapproval.

It would be one thing if they didn’t know who was behind this, but now that they did, to do nothing and stick to the original plan... was the outcome even a question?

Samuel Ford raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

’Does he really have to ask me?’

Jean’s brow tightened, his gaze tinged with impatience. "Damage control, obviously. Cut your losses. You have the evidence. The person who betrayed the company and the person who bought him can’t escape. Your company’s losses can be minimized."

"Mm, that makes sense," Samuel Ford nodded noncommittally.

Jean stared at him for three seconds, then suddenly looked away and sank back into the sofa, pursing his lips. "Suit yourself."

’It’s not my company. What do I care?’

’He’s not worried, so why should I be?’

The corner of his mouth curled into a mocking arc. ’Fine, don’t listen. It’s not my money on the line anyway.’

The child was pouting, his little face as gloomy as a rainy day. Samuel Ford raised his eyebrows, slowly walked over, and gave his chin a little scratch. "Are you mad? Worried about me?"

Jean didn’t want to acknowledge him, but the hand on his chin was getting bolder, moving from his chin to pinch his cheek. He turned his head to dodge the hand and looked up at him, unable to bear it any longer. His thin lips were pressed tight, his eyes flashing with the embarrassed anger of being seen through. "Who’s worried about you?" he said coldly. "What does your company have to do with me? Why would I be mad?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the man let out a soft chuckle.

Jean was secretly annoyed. He bit his lower lip and clenched his fists, but his emotions gradually calmed, and his face returned to its usual expression.

He didn’t really care about this man. He was just thinking of Felix Ford. If something happened to Samuel Ford’s company, Felix would be the one to suffer. He just didn’t want Felix to have to live a hard life with him.

’Even though Mom doesn’t know he exists, I’ll do my best to take care of him.’

However, he would only go so far. Since Samuel wouldn’t listen, he wouldn’t say any more. He wasn’t that kind-hearted. At the end of the day, they weren’t really related anyway.

At this thought, his emotions completely stabilized.

Taking in his entire reaction, that strange feeling surfaced in Samuel’s heart again.

’Does Colt have this much emotional control? Normally, he would have thrown a fit by now.’

’No, he wouldn’t even bring this up in the first place. He never cared about my company’s affairs.’

His fingertips brushed against the boy’s cheek as Samuel Ford watched him, lost in thought.

Sensing something, Jean’s fingers paused. He suddenly looked up at him and asked, "If this project fails, are you going to go bankrupt? Does that mean I won’t be able to buy toys or good food anymore, and I’ll have to sleep on the streets?"

Samuel Ford froze for a second. ’So that’s why he asked. He was worried about this?’

He gave the boy a light tap on the forehead. "You little brat, where do you get all these ideas? Don’t worry, you won’t be lacking for food or drink, and I won’t let you sleep on the streets."

’His imagination is really running wild.’

Shaking his head, Samuel Ford started walking toward the door. "I’m going to a meeting. You be good and wait for me here."

"Mm-hmm."

Jean nodded, his eyes lowered, looking very obedient. After Samuel left, he slowly opened up a game and started to play.

He would laugh every now and then, seeming to really enjoy the game.

"President Ford?" Assistant Young followed behind him, looking bewildered. He didn’t understand why President Ford would go to the conference room just to secretly watch the young master. If he wanted to see him, couldn’t he just go look? Since when did a father need to use surveillance cameras to watch his own son?

’What a strange habit.’

Samuel Ford ignored him. Watching the boy in the video, he scrubbed the progress bar backward, stopping at the moment he had just left the office.

On the screen, a look flashed across the boy’s face with lightning speed.

The direction he was looking... it was clearly straight at the camera!