Chapter 297 - Soft Opening Day (15)

'The time seemed to significantly move faster,' Jing Jing secretly pondered as she continued to anticipate the clock to strike at 9 AM. 'That troublesome competitor and customers are waiting. But, Miss Sofia looked calm. Under the pressure of showing a good first impression on the first day of business, she seemed not to be affected at all!'

The entire Chronos members sigh in relief. Fortunately, the outcome of the misunderstanding was not what they had expected earlier. 

Time is ticking yet, there was still so much to discuss around them. 

Sofia could only give Derek and Danny a grateful gaze with their favorable response and smile at them. 

"About the protection of your fraternity, it's ---" Sofia paused her words. She was about to say it was unnecessary. That there was really no need for the fraternity leaders to offer protection to her group as they have no enemies anyway.

But, out of a sudden, another fragment of memories from her last life flashed before her. A very vivid image replayed in her mind. There were two figures in her memories. One was her past self as Lisa, sitting comfortably in her office. And there was the head of her company's security team, Mr. Jun.

'CEO Lisa, please allow my team to install bulletproof glass in your office. These past few days, some elites were kidnapped. Our district 2 might soon become chaotic. It's good to be prepared.'

Truth be told, in her past life, the situation in district 2 was indeed well-developed. The lavish life of heirs was commonly seen in the streets. Investors were eager to put the business in such a place. But, under the spotlight of becoming the place with the highest financial growth, criminals started to appear and targeted the rich family.

'There's no need, Jun. My family and the entire Summer Holdings never had any enemies. No one will harm us.'

Back at present time, for a few seconds, Sofia just stared blankly into the empty space while recalling these scenes in her past life.

As the CEO of Summers Holdings Inc, such a case about protection was really proposed by the security team to her. But she directly rejected them thinking that no one would harm her. Only after transmigration, did she realize that she would not probably be dead if she had accepted her security team's proposal.

Now thinking of her present life, she was also surprised to have almost the same reaction - refusal. 

When it comes to the safety and security of her life, why did she refuse in the past? Why did she want to refuse it again?

"With my complacent attitude towards having no enemy, the cost that I had to pay was way too priceless," Sofia mumbled to herself and took a deep breath. 'Forget it. What happened in the past can no longer be changed. But, in this new life, it served as an expensive lesson."

"Miss Sofia, you suddenly look pale. Is everything alright?" Jing Jing pointed out after noticing that her change of expression was quite strange. While in a state of daze, she really felt as if something was suffocating her.

"Hmm. Well..." Sofia took a deep breath and gathered her composure. "Since Danny and Derek are not offended by Joey's request, everything is great! Everyone, we should thank them for being broadminded!" Sofia instructed them and they quickly spoke their thanks right away.

Hearing her words, Danny waved his hands and shook his head, hinting that it was not a big deal.

On the other side, Derek could only scratch his head and slightly laugh. "Ahaha, no need to thank us, Miss Sofia. This is not something that is worth mentioning."

"It should be my fraternity that needs to thank you. We are very thankful for giving us formal and legal employment here," Danny expressed with a slight bow of his head. Derek nodded his head in agreement and offered a bow toward her too.

"Hmm. We need your manpower to operate our business. You need our employment for daily survival. No need to thank us too. Let's just work hard to earn a big profit. The more we earn, the more we can have convenience!" Sofia easily replied.

"Yes! We will work hard! Miss Sofia, rest assured!" Danny and Derek said in chorus.

"Regarding my squad's protection, about your Double Sigma fraternity's help, we will definitely not refuse," Sofia declared and sat properly. She moved both sides of her shoulder as she felt a little uncomfortable in her sitting position.

"Great! We will make sure that no one will harm our benefactors! I promise, no one in the Chronos squad will get hurt as long as we are around!" Derek promised.

"Of course, our combat skills are far different from those professional bodyguards. But we are not inferior when it comes to fighting. We are just used to fighting the street," Danny stated and looked at Clark. His words implied Clark's social status and his family's wealth.

"I'm afraid it is also beyond our league to hire a professional bodyguard. And Clark's family may have bodyguards... but, an extra helping hand is also better when it comes to fighting," Stephen stated.

"Haha, bro, isn't your family have bodyguards too? When it comes to numbers, my family has hired few..." Clark chuckled and looked Danny in the eye. "Still, those personal guards, it's not ours. It belongs to our parents."

"Understood," Danny spoke.

For a moment, they become silent. Jing Jing suddenly felt more uneasy thinking that there was still another problem that they need to solve. 

"Ehem, ehem," Jing Jing purposely cleared her throat to give them a hint. Yet, after looking at Sofia's face, she realized that there was another matter that the young lady was thinking. "A penny for your thoughts, Miss Sofia?" Jing Jing inquired.

"Oh... I'm just thinking of this protection. Right now, even with our business, we cannot afford to pay a separate salary for our protection. We should discuss this matter once the company has sufficient money," Sofia stated. 

Since her mindset was designated mostly to the idea of doing business, such a consideration quickly formed in her mind. If one would provide them a service, they must provide a payment assigned for it. Even if the Double Sigma leaders would be willing to protect them freely, she would still insist to pay them.

Derek and Danny exchange another meaningful look. The two of them instantly shared a tacit understanding of Sofia's words. Business is business. Kinship and friendship are separate from business.

"Miss Sofia, we are really lucky to meet you. You are so capable and knowledgeable of how business works. Let's set aside the matter about separate salaries for now. There is someone outside that could compromise our first day of operation," Derek thoughtfully responded to remind Sofia that they were running out of time.

Sofia pressed her palms and smiled. She then tapped her index finger on the table repeatedly.

"Hmm... Alright! This internal issue made us feel a little bit anxious. But, since you are not offended by Joey's request, then, thank you very much! Now that this matter is solved, I'll have to trouble you sister Jing and handle Mr. Jonathan," Sofia said and switched her attention to Jing Jing.

"Me? B-but Miss Sofia---" Jing Jing hesitated. But after she made eye contact with Sofia, she realized that it was the only solution. If the Chronos squad would meet the man, they would expose their identities. 

"Just have a casual conversation with him, sister Jing. We don't know why he is here," Sofia easily told Jing Jing with a calm expression on her face.

"Mr. Jonathan is up for no good for sure," Derek commented.

"Although that man outside can be considered as the villain of the former business owner in this place, he may have a different motive for coming here today. It's not good to be driven by prejudices. But, it's also bad to be careless. Let's just see his real intention first," Sofia emphasized. At the very least, she did not want to judge the man without hearing him first.

"Please give me some suggestion of how to handle him, Miss Sofia," Jing Jing asked. For some reason, she suddenly felt that despite her years of working in the press company, her knowledge of handling people was far inferior to Sofia's.

"My suggestion? Make your conversation brief. Two minutes if possible. Then, if he still has other matters to discuss, later on, tell him to set an appointment and come back at around 4 PM," Sofia replied.

"Why 4 PM, Sof?" Claire curiously asked. 

"Well, we have a photo shoot at 12:30 later. I think we will be able to finish the endorsement activity at around 3 PM. Then, I'll come back here and I will talk with him personally," Sofia answered.

"I see," Jing Jing softly muttered.

"Sister Jing, just try to examine his real attention. This time, since both businesses are strangers, no need to indulge in another discussion. We just need to be friendly with him for now.. Then, let's see if he is willing to establish a connection with us or the other way around," Sofia finished.