Polly's heart was pounding, but she acted calm, "If President Parker is okay, then I'll just..."
Victor grabbed her phone and answered the call.
"Hello, you..."
"Polly, it's late, why aren't you back yet? We're waiting to have dinner." It was the concerned voice of her teacher's wife.
Polly's jumping heart finally settled back into place, and she swiftly snatched back her phone. "Teacher's wife, I'll be back soon."
"Did you sort out the clothes issue? Try talking it through with them properly."
Polly: "..."
"Yes, it's all sorted," Polly said, flustered as she hung up the call, decisively putting the phone behind her.
"Clothes? You ruined the clothes washing them?" Victor heard her.
"What's wrong with ruining them? How am I supposed to know that these clothes are fussier than people, can't even use cold water—living better than the princess on a pea." Polly was defiant, knowing that compensation was out of the question since she had no money.
Polly said her piece and turned to leave.
"My mother's birthday is the day after tomorrow, there's a party. You're coming with me," Victor said.
By the door, Polly turned back to look at Victor, "I refuse. That's not part of our agreement."
"How do you know my mom isn't using this chance to find me a potential match? That's within your job scope according to the agreement."
Given Victor's understanding of his mother, the suspicion wouldn't deter her from wanting to find him a suitable bride, especially after their agreement, which made her more eager.
Polly initially wanted to ignore him and leave directly but, as she reached the door, she pondered and turned back to Victor: "I can attend the party, but let me see the model of the winding stream where drinking games happen."
"Why, does that relate to your bid design? Are you planning to plagiarize?"
Polly gave him a big eye roll, "I'm just interested, and..."
Before Polly could finish, Victor received Andrew's call. Whatever Andrew said, Victor's expression had already changed.
Victor finished the call and pulled Polly by the wrist to leave.
Polly didn't get the chance to ask what was happening as a message from her senior sister came through.
[Emma: Did you go to Parker Corporation today? Do you know about the model repository data leak at Parker Corporation?]
Polly was stunned for a moment, looking at the man standing beside her in the elevator.
"It wasn't me. I didn't do it." Polly's first reaction upon seeing the message was to glance at Victor.
All the hotels and resorts under Parker Corporation have their own designs, which is why phones must be handed in when visiting; the leaked diagram wasn't a photo but a hand-drawn image.
Victor merely glanced at her before heading out of the elevator straight to the company.
Several senior board members were already at the company, causing a scene demanding Victor give an explanation.
"Who gave the courage to let an outsider enter the model room? Now, even if you retract all the images, what's been saved is saved." The speaker was Mr. Parker, a gentleman over eighty who had dedicated a lifetime to Parker Corporation.
Andrew stood silently receiving the scolding, with no intention to retort, "The CEO is on his way. He surely has his own thoughts on this matter."
"Having his own thoughts allows him to declare company secrets to the world?" Another board member retorted angrily.
"If he doesn't give us an explanation this time, he won't need to sit as CEO any longer."
"I don't sit in this position; Mr. Parker, who do you wish to put there?" Victor entered from outside, speaking coldly.
"CEO." Andrew quickly approached, pausing at the sight of Polly, then murmured in Victor's ear: "The directors have seen the video, it only shows Miss Sutton taking the sketchbook, so..."
Polly stood right behind Victor, so Andrew's words were clear to her.
"You did well to bring the culprit here." Mr. Parker squinted at Polly.
Polly froze momentarily, instinctively looking at Victor—was he bringing her because he thought she leaked Parker Corporation's secrets?
Mr. Parker was about to step forward to grab Polly when Victor suddenly blocked him, "Did I say she's the one who leaked them?"
As Polly hurried to fetch her sketchbook, she was pulled behind Victor, her eyes meeting his broad back.
Unconsciously, her heart skipped several beats.
Was Victor protecting her?
"Victor, what do you mean?" Mr. Parker pointed at Victor and shouted angrily, "Do you realize how much crisis this event will bring to Parker Corporation?"
"Mr. Parker, do you realize how much crisis this will bring to Parker Corporation?" Victor coldly eyed Mr. Parker. "Finding a scapegoat so hastily—Mr. Parker, don't you find your behavior unsightly?"
"I can prove I didn't do it," Polly spoke up loudly, gripping Victor's arm to clear the way ahead and placed her sketchbook on the table, "This is the design I drew in the video—it's just a sudden inspiration that I wanted to jot down."
"Who knows what you did after you left?" Mr. Parker was clearly targeting her.
"She was with me the entire time after leaving. Is that answer satisfactory, Mr. Parker?" Victor interjected, holding Polly's hand.
This was completely unexpected by Polly; she thought Victor also suspected her.
After all, she did have the opportunity to commit the act.
"Victor, don't you understand how serious this is? Parker Corporation isn't some toy for you to play with; whether it's her or not, let the police determine."
"Victor, you may be the Crown Prince inheriting the throne, but Parker Corporation doesn't belong solely to your family, you can't act recklessly."
The elder men around were chattering like a flock of gossiping women; Polly held back, again and again, but eventually couldn't bear it anymore, shaking off Victor's hand and stepping forward.
"Honestly, do you old men have brain issues or what?" Polly glared at the aggressive crowd. "Do you really consider these outdated design drafts from Parker Corporation to be precious treasures? You're more aware than anyone how stalled Parker Corporation has been over the years. It's ridiculous to pressure a newcomer who's been in charge for only three months. It's so unbecoming to use your seniority to bully the young!"
"You..."
"What about me? Parker Corporation was developed single-handedly by the Parkers; even in ancient times, there was a tradition of the Crown Prince inheriting the throne. Isn't the Crown Prince meant to take over the empire? If you're so envious, hurry up and get reincarnated—maybe you'll just catch the moment Victor has a son and directly become the Crown Prince." Polly rattled off at high speed, leaving the old men flushed with anger.
Meanwhile, Victor stood behind Polly, his deep eyes continually following her every move.