Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 356 - 355 Uncle plagiarized? The copier is actually...

Chapter 356: 355 Uncle plagiarized? The copier is actually...

Finn Hale tightened his grip on the pen in his hand, refining and revising the completed design draft. Sussie Lopez examined it carefully as if it were a treasured possession, because she lacked the solid foundational skills possessed by Finn.

He was a bit reluctant to hand over the draft to the client.

However, Finn had other thoughts in mind.

His assistant...

Before he had even established his studio, she had been a great admirer of his work, and after applying for a job and demonstrating her abilities, he had promoted her to assistant.

She had been with him for nearly a decade.

During this time, she had been diligent and meticulous in her work, always prioritizing his needs, and Finn had esteemed her highly.

She focused all her thoughts on the sketches while managing the studio and interfacing with clients and handled many other matters very efficiently.

The assistant had a great deal of power.

Finn glanced at Sussie Lopez. If his assistant were to sabotage, pushing out an employee would be all too easy.

"With this design draft, I can stall Mr. Payne for now," Sussie said with a smile at the corner of her mouth. "Mr. Hale, thank you, you’ve really been a great help."

"Helped you out a lot, and you just say ’thank you’? Isn’t that a bit perfunctory?"

"Then how would you like me to thank you?"

Sussie held the design draft, cherishing it dearly.

"Give me a kiss."

"..."

Sussie’s grip on the design draft stiffened suddenly. At that moment, Finn was still sitting at the desk, and she stood beside him, eyes slightly downcast toward him.

His expression was focused, not like he was lying.

"I’ll take a photo of the design draft and upload it first." Sussie turned to walk away, but her left forearm was caught, pulled forcefully, and she found herself suddenly seated on his lap. As she attempted to struggle, her waist was restrained.

"Finn!"

"Shh—" His voice was low, "The Sheng Family Mansion is an old house with poor sound insulation. If you shout again, you might attract your senior."

Through gritted teeth, Sussie remarked, "Mr. Hale, I really respect you, and I didn’t expect you to have such a shameless side."

"Shameless?" Finn chuckled softly, "Don’t you mean disgraceful?"

Sussie didn’t respond, acknowledging by her silence.

The heating in the room was too high, she was dressed lightly, and Finn’s hands rested on her waist...

The friction was gentle,

and the sensation was exceptionally intense.

Her entire body was tense, fearing any sound might escape her lips; she bit her lip, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"How did you just refuse Michale Shaw?"

"He really isn’t my type, and besides, haven’t you said before not to accept you now but also not to like anyone else?"

Finn chuckled softly, "Are you so obedient?"

"I..."

Before she could finish her words, Finn had already leaned down and kissed her.

His lips were soft and dry.

Yet his breath was unusually warm and tingling, combined with their intimate pose and his hand lingering on her waist, wandering, igniting... Sussie couldn’t stand it, nearly crushing the design draft in her hand.

After the kiss, his breath, hot and pressing, scorched her face.

"Sussie, if you really listen to me that well, you should agree to be with me."

Sussie’s face was flushed, still catching her breath.

"The design draft that was so hard to produce, you don’t want it anymore?" Finn took the design draft from her, smoothing out the creases one by one.

He picked up the pen,

and signed [moon] in the bottom right corner.

All of Sussie’s design drafts had this signature, but she didn’t expect Finn’s English signature to be so similar to her own.

After Finn left, she held the design draft and examined it for a long time, the signature almost indistinguishable from the real one.

When she handed over the design draft to the studio, her boss spontaneously contacted her, "Lopez, you’re still so diligent even when injured. There’s no rush on work-related things. Get well first."

"Thank you for your concern, I understand."

Having been in the workplace for so long, Lopez was far from naive; she couldn’t fully trust what her boss said.

"I really didn’t expect you to have a connection with Junior President Payne. It’s no wonder you could take on the design work for both the Old House of the Hale Family and Mr. Hale’s new house. The whole industry is paying attention to you now. Do well, and a bonus at the end of the year won’t be lacking."

"Thank you for your support, boss."

"The Purple Gold Cup design competition in three days, go and see the world. You’ve just returned to the country, and it’s beneficial to connect with industry professionals. But if you’re unwell, it’s alright not to go."

"Alright."

"I’ll have my secretary send the digital invitation to your email."

Soon after hanging up the phone, Sussie indeed received the invitation. The spots were limited, and not every designer could attend; being able to attend was a recognition of one’s ability.

And her capability was likely to take on interior designs for both the Payne Family and Hale Family.

In any circle, things are pretty much the same: ingratiating oneself with those above and looking down on those below.

Initially, not many were aware of it, but after all, she was working in the studio, taking on tasks, it was impossible to avoid the boss.

As a capitalist, he naturally wanted everyone to know, waving the flags of both the Payne Family and Hale Family could attract quite a number of people to their studio.

Consequently, many people within the circle were now watching her.

When Sussie Lopez told Tim Payne that she was going to attend the competition, he simply said, "Don’t you want to go?"

"The boss verbally says it’s okay not to go, but he actually wants me to attend."

Michale Shaw was still with the Payne Family, "Then go."

"I don’t know many people, I’m afraid it would be awkward."

Not everyone is like Michale Shaw, getting along with everyone wherever he goes.

Tim Payne: "I’ll accompany you."

He had received an invitation but hadn’t decided whether to go or not. Since his junior sister had no one to accompany her, he’d join for a bit of fun.

"Can I go?" Michale Shaw was the type to crave bustling places.

"You’ll need an invitation."

"..."

Michale Shaw slumped, asking in a group chat who could get an invitation to the Purple Gold Cup.

[Why are you interested in this kind of event all of a sudden?] Michale Shaw’s biggest hobby was making money; if not for his usefulness, with his personality, the Shaw Family would have exiled him to the frontier long ago.

[Miss Lopez and Junior President Payne are both going, maybe Junior Uncle too, I just want to join the fun.]

[Are you stupid, isn’t this event hosted at your family’s hotel? Isn’t getting an invitation simple?]

Michale Shaw checked, and it was indeed.

William Hale: [Get a few more invitations, if possible, I’ll also come to see.]

Everyone: [...]

Married people are indeed different. Even if thrown into a melon field previously, he wouldn’t spare extra glances or ears; now hearing that Miss Lopez and Junior Uncle might attend, he eagerly joins in.

After marriage, his personality indeed changed greatly.

**

Old House of Hale Family

The next day, William Hale received an invitation from Michale Shaw, went to the Incense Making Room to find Zoe Payne to ask if she was going but encountered Junior Uncle’s assistant, Finn Robinson, in the corridor, appearing hurriedly as if there was urgent business.

Upon seeing him, he respectfully said, "Mr. Hale."

This assistant had followed his family’s Junior Uncle for a long time, handling many matters, so William Hale was polite to him, "Rare to see you here, anything urgent?"

Finn Hale separated his personal and professional life; although he would bring work home, he almost never let studio staff visit his home.

Unless...

There was urgent business.

"Yes, I’m looking for Mr. Hale."

"He should be in the study."

After thanking him, Finn Robinson hurriedly walked towards the study, and William Hale didn’t think much of it.

It’s just that he seldom came and didn’t know the way.

"I’ll take you there," offered William Hale, leading him to the study.

"Thank you, Mr. Hale."

Finn Robinson seemed indeed in a hurry and did not exchange pleasantries further.

When the door of the study was knocked open, a large desk inside was covered with a design drawing; Finn Hale was marking something with a pen. Finn Robinson had called him in advance. Upon seeing him, Finn Hale wasn’t surprised but asked, "What’s the matter that couldn’t be discussed over the phone?"

Finn Robinson glanced at William Hale who had led him into the room.

"It’s within the family, what can’t be said in front of him?"

Finn Robinson’s expression was serious, "Your unpublished work has been copied."

Finn Hale’s action of holding the pen paused.

He was well-known early on, and being the youngest son of Old Sir Hale, during his years in the field, no one had dared to copy his work.

"And they have already applied for a design patent," Finn Robinson frowned deeply.

"Did you find out who it is?"

"It’s from the Northern Architecture Studio..." Finn Robinson hesitated as if reluctantly disclosing something.

Northern Architecture?

Finn Hale’s brow furrowed slightly, "Who is it?"

"Sussie Lopez!"

William Hale showed no emotion, just glanced quietly at his Junior Uncle.

Finn Hale’s grip on the pen tightened abruptly, surprised at hearing the name.