A Crazy One-night Stand
Chapter 52: Don’t Want to Be a Stranger

Alina left the hospital and headed straight for the Imperial Landscape's design department.

Mike's accident had been a while ago. Alina hadn't returned to the office for a long time. She noticed there were some changes to the department's appearance.

The office now looked bright and inviting with sunlight streaming in through large windows. The place was also decorated with tiny flags.

Alina broke out in a smile. The decorations must have been put up to welcome the new design director. Rosie mentioned that the new director was pleasant and easygoing. In the future, they wouldn't have to suffer under a boss like Hall anymore.

Alina entered the design department with light steps.

There was a round of applause as she entered.

Before she could take it in, Rosie rushed out excitedly and gave her a bear hug.

"Let's welcome our new team leader of the design department!" she exclaimed loudly over the racket.

"Hip, hip, hurray! Welcome back!" There was another round of loud cheers and applause.

Alina was struck dumb by Rosie's words. Team leader? What's going on?

Just as she was about to ask, Rosie took out a piece of red paper that looked like a formal letter of appointment. She spread it out carefully and read clearly, "This is a letter of appointment from the Adams Group. Miss Alina Miller is promoted to team leader of the Imperial Landscapes' design department. Look, this is Mr. Harry's signature, the president of Adams Group. His handwriting is so fine and elegant! Isn't this so cool?"

Alina frowned slightly and looked at Rosie. "What in the world happened?"

Rosie raised her chin and said proudly, "Your talent in design has finally been acknowledged! Did you know? Your design plan was so impressive that the headquarters decided to archive it! I didn't tell you on the phone because I wanted to give you a surprise!"

Upon hearing Rosie's words, a smile appeared on Alina's face. She took the letter from Rosie's hands and saw her name printed on it in large letters. She was filled with happiness!

As Alina was promoted, she promised to treat everyone in the department to a celebratory meal when she received her salary. Cheers erupted from the crowd and requests to eat at Modern barbecue again rang out. Alina couldn't help but laugh. The barbecue was really addictive!

After the pandemonium died down, the office returned to its orderly and quiet state. Everyone went back to their own tasks.

Rosie and Jenny accompanied Alina to the nursery department to discuss the matter of plant transplantation into the construction site.

The progress was much smoother than she had expected. Alina thought that the nursery department had deliberately made it difficult for Rosie to work with them. Even if she were to go, she would have to spend a lot of time arguing with them.

However, the people working in the nursery department didn't make things difficult for her at all. As soon as Alina explained the purpose of her visit, they were very polite and agreed to send the green plants for transplantation into the site.

The schedule for transplantation was finalized tomorrow at noon. Winter was coming soon and the weather had gradually turned chilly. At noon, the temperature would be slightly higher which was better for the plants' survival. With the addition of nutrient fluids, the plants would not wilt after transplantation.

Walking out of the nursery department, Rosie hugged Alina and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Alina's the best! As long as she's here, we can handle anything. The director of the nursery department was really accommodating as well!"

Alina laughed. "Maybe you are unfamiliar to them, they couldn't recognise you!"

"Oh, really? I joined the company on the same day as you! How could they not know me but recognise you?"

Alina was amused by Rosie words and chuckled.

Jenny giggled as well.

The three of them chatted and laughed as they returned to the design department.

In the Scott Group's president's office.

Simon held a folder and was reporting Wilson's work schedule.

"Mr. Wilson, Mr. Walter is urging us to send the money. He had inquired when our funds would arrive."

Wilson curled his lips and sneered. "Tell him that I am very busy. However, I will fulfil my promise to send the funds if everything goes well."

Simon replied with a smile, "Understood. When the deadline is up, I will give Mr. Walter a shocking surprise, making it impossible for Williams Group to make a comeback! Besides this, Clara came to the company every day, dressed up in her most fashionable clothing to meet you. The reception counter was informed to keep her out. In addition, Mr. Jayden wanted to report that recently, Clara and Colton had been frequently meeting up in private. He asked me to remind you that they may be plotting something."

Wilson smirked. "Leak the news to Colton's girlfriend. By the way, what's her name? Is she from the Cooper Family?"

"Yes, her name is Selma Cooper. She is the fourth daughter of the Cooper Family. I've heard that she was not favoured upon in the family before this. However, since she became Colton's girlfriend, her status has risen in her family." Simon added.

Wilson snorted coldly. He could not stand to imagine these snobbish faces.

Simon continued to report. "Mr. Harry and Miss Monica will be inspecting the steel plant this afternoon. They have also invited you to visit the Adams Family's project site tomorrow. I've already declined the invitation."

"Which project?" Wilson raised his head.

"It's the project by Imperial Landscapes."

"I'll go and have a look tomorrow!" After saying that, Wilson lowered his head and continued working. He glanced at the documents in his hands and revised any mistakes that he could notice. For documents that appear satisfactory, he signed his signature in large strokes.

Wilson could recall the name, Imperial Landscapes. Alina was in charge of the landscape for this project. She even received a bonus of 200 thousand dollars. He wanted to see for himself what her design would be like.

Simon was a little taken aback that his boss would actually want to go to the site. However, he quickly composed himself and continued to report. "Scott Group's international fashion branch is actively negotiating with the famous fashion designer, Morga Ortiz. We've heard from her assistant that no company had managed to obtain authorization from Morga to produce her designs. Morga does her own marketing and direct sales. She is renowned to be an elegant yet business-minded person. Although she had lived overseas most of her life, Morga is devoted to our country. She would be returning to the country next month to have a feel of the domestic markets. This is our opportunity to strike a business deal with her."

"Okay, note this down as an important arrangement in the schedule. I'll receive Morga personally when she arrives in the country," Wilson replied.

"Understood." Simon nodded and continued, "The expansion of Scott's Pearl World Studios is progressing smoothly. This month, two very promising film stars have accepted the invitation to join the team."

"Good!"

"The mayor of Zaru held a meeting and approved our application to purchase the central location of Zaru City for our hotel chains."

"Noted."

"Last but not least, our surveillance camera caught Lucas's car entering and leaving the lawyer, Mr. Bennett's apartment recently. Is it possible that both of them are planning something?" Simon took a wild guess.

Wilson interrupted him. "Even though Lucas has no brains, Mr. Bennett is not simple-minded. There will be no problem since Grandfather trusts him."

Simon said hastily, "But Mr. Wilson, Lucas's girlfriend, Caitlin Brooks is the cousin of Mr. Bennett."

Wilson didn't even look up from his work. "Even if she is Mr. Bennett's sister, he won't do anything that is against his ethics. Besides, Caitlin is just a cousin, it has nothing to do with the Brooks Family. It's useless for Lucas to make an issue of her identity!"

"Then I'm relieved. Mr. Wilson, you have three meetings this afternoon. The meetings will commence at two, three, and five o'clock respectively!"

"Alright." Wilson had already signed the last document.

He put down his pen and leaned back against the chair. Simon swiftly removed the pile of documents in front of him and left.

Wilson took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He saw the words "Alina Miller". He swiped right to call her but hung up immediately before it could go through. This woman was really annoying. Why didn't she call him?

He opened his photo album on the phone and saw the photo he took of Alina at the hospital. Her fair skin was flawless and smooth. Because of her fever, her cheeks were flushed red. Her long eyelashes could be seen as her eyes were closed. She looked like a sleeping princess.

Wilson smiled faintly. "She looks so gentle while asleep. How could she be as stubborn as a mule when she wakes up? Even if we are not getting married, we could still be friends, couldn't we?" Wilson didn't understand why he felt so unwilling to cut ties with Alina. He could not go back to being strangers to her. Perhaps, it was because they once had such a close relationship, intentionally or unintentionally.

The next day was warm and sunny.

During the winter season, a sunny day rarely occurs.

Both Alina and Rosie were wearing sneakers and safety helmets. They arrived early in the morning at the construction site with the design plans. Their job was to double-check the location of the planting holes in preparation for the transplantation later.

The whole morning, two of them were busy counting the planting holes and comparing them to the design plans. It was already noon when they finished. They went to a fast-food restaurant just outside the construction site to have lunch. After that, they quickly came back to wait for the transplantation team.

At one o'clock, the mobile crane entered the site.

Within fifteen minutes, several big trucks carrying large trees entered the construction site one after another.

"They are coming, Rosie!" Alina patted Rosie and both of them walked toward the big trucks.

The person in charge from the nursery department went to meet the truck drivers. They had to make an inventory of the number of trees, tree identification and the circumference of the trunks. Alina and Rosie then went up to talk to the person in charge from the nursery department.

After verification of the plants, the transplantation started.

"Miss Alina, we need to prepare for transplantation now. Before doing that, we will compare the location with the design plan and verify it again with you. Once you have confirmed that everything is satisfactory, we will transplant the tree into the planting holes." The person in charge said to Alina.

"Okay!" A polite smile appeared on Alina's face as she nodded.

The person in charge motioned to the staff to start moving the large trees. In his hand was the blueprints of the design plan. "A ginkgo tree with a diameter of 45!" He yelled loudly.

Several workers began to attach straps to the ginkgo trees on the truck. The crane was placed into position. After the workers tied up the trees, the crane would manoeuvre the trees into their planting holes for transplantation.

Alina nodded and gestured an okay sign to the person in charge from the nursery department after she double-confirmed on her side. She and Rosie stood aside to monitor the transplantation process. With cooperation from the workers and the crane operator, a huge ginkgo tree was lifted up vertically by the crane.

Alina and Rosie had to crane their heads to look at the erected tree. They couldn't help but exclaim, "Heavens, it's so tall!"

The crane operator manoeuvred the tree expertly. The roots of the tree moved gradually towards the planting hole. Even though the weather was chilly, all of the workers were sweating profusely. "This way please, Mr. Wilson!" Alina suddenly heard Wilson's name and looked up instinctively. She saw Wilson's slender figure facing her direction.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐