Chapter 7: The New King of Aurelia
1016 Words
Cedric had only said it casually.
He did not think much of it.
Work had always occupied most of his mind. The moment he left Moonwater Residence, everything that had happened in the bedroom was left behind.
Domestic matters.
Private emotions.
Miranda’s mood.
None of it followed him into the office.
At two o’clock in the afternoon, the streets near Ashbourne’s central business district were packed with traffic. Heat shimmered above the asphalt, and the summer sun hung bright and merciless over the city.
It was the hour after lunch break, when white-collar workers returned to their offices with iced coffee in hand, laughing in small groups and walking a little more slowly than usual.
It was Friday. Most people were already thinking about the weekend.
Except for the employees of Aurelia Group.
Two young women from the marketing department had just been chatting about weekend plans when their phones buzzed at the same time. The moment they saw the message in the company group chat, their relaxed expressions disappeared.
“Why is he here so soon?” one of them whispered as they hurried forward. “Didn’t they say he might not come in today?”
“Who knows? If I could understand what people like him were thinking, I’d be buying stocks blind and getting rich already. Hurry up.”
Aurelia Group’s headquarters stood near the financial center. The complex consisted of two connected towers with a sharp geometric structure that made the buildings instantly recognizable.
The eastern tower belonged to Aurelia Grand, the most representative luxury hotel under the group. The other tower housed the corporate headquarters.
At 2:15 p.m., the first-floor lobby of the office tower was already filled with management.
Executives stood in two neat lines, arranged by rank from low to high. The junior meeting coordinators were placed near the entrance. Senior managers stood farther inside.
The air was tense.
At 2:20 p.m., three black cars drove into the building’s entrance one after another.
A Cadillac led the way and stopped beside the column. The Bentley in the middle was far more arrogant. It rolled straight to the center and stopped directly before the main entrance.
A young man in glasses stepped out from the passenger seat. He buttoned his suit jacket as he walked to the back door, then bent slightly and opened it with practiced respect.
Everyone held their breath.
Their eyes fixed on the door.
For no reason, nervousness rose from the soles of their feet.
The afternoon sun was fierce. The road was hot, the leaves shone green, and the noise of summer seemed to fade for one suspended moment.
Cedric Kane stepped out of the car.
Then he slowly straightened.
He had sharp brows, clear eyes, and a cold, clean kind of handsomeness. With his tall figure and tailored suit, he carried a natural distance just by standing there.
Young.
Reserved.
Untouchable.
Before anyone could fully recover, the doors of the cars in front and behind opened as well. Three men and three women stepped out, all dressed in formal business attire, carrying briefcases. They followed half a step behind Cedric in perfect order.
Many senior managers had come to greet him today.
But several old foxes had deliberately stayed away, clearly intending to show the young heir that this company was not so easy to take over.
Cedric walked forward without expression.
Just as he entered the elevator, someone hurried over and pressed the floor button for him.
“Mr. Kane, I’m Mr. Penn’s secretary. My name is Evan York. You can call me Evan.” The man smiled politely, his posture courteous but not humble. “Mr. Penn hasn’t been feeling well lately and has been resting at home, so he couldn’t come to welcome you today.”
Evan’s voice was soft, but there was a faint sense of superiority in it.
“Mr. Penn specifically asked me to take good care of you. If there’s anything you’d like to see or need, just let me know.”
The air went silent.
Julian Shaw, Cedric’s chief assistant, stood beside the elevator with his body slightly lowered, one hand extended to keep the door open for Cedric.
Only after Cedric entered did Julian turn to Evan and speak.
“Mr. Penn is getting old. It’s normal for his health to decline. Evan, please pass a message to him for us. Tell him to rest well at home. He can grow flowers, drink tea, and enjoy retirement. He no longer needs to worry about the group’s affairs.”
Evan’s smile froze.
Julian continued calmly, “Mr. Kane will be taking full control of Aurelia from today onward. As for elders like Mr. Penn, who once made contributions to the group, Mr. Kane will do his best to provide them with the most comfortable retirement possible.”
Retirement?
Evan did not react for a moment.
Julian did not wait for his reply. He walked into the elevator and stood slightly behind Cedric, then changed the floor to the sixty-eighth.
The elevator doors slowly closed.
Cedric stood in the center, his expression gentle and distant.
From beginning to end, he did not spare Evan even half a glance.
The group arrived on the sixty-eighth floor, where the chairman’s office had been left unused for a long time.
One assistant quickly placed a temporary nameplate on the door.
Two others entered the office and began measuring the space, recording details for the desk, chairs, and personal arrangements Cedric preferred.
Julian opened his laptop and sent a company-wide notice through the internal system.
Effective immediately, Mr. Cedric Kane, formerly Director of Overseas Development and President of Aurelia Australia, would be transferred to the position of President of Aurelia Group. All departments were expected to cooperate with his transition and support Aurelia Group as it entered a new stage under his leadership.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Cedric’s father.
Almost at the same time, notification sounds rang across the office floors.
Computers lit up one after another.
Every employee in Aurelia received the email.
The entire company exploded.
- Writer
