Coleen: "…Fabric?"
Molly suggested, "Let's assume it was arson. What do you think was the motive? To harm people? We've got no enemies among our staff, and who would dare make a move on our turf? To wreck machinery? It would've been easier to just throw a wrench into the works. Why go for arson, the least clever option? Even if the machinery was damaged, buying new equipment worth millions would be no big deal for us. So why set a fire?
The most likely target was that batch of fabric since it's the easiest to destroy. Mom, remember, that batch was supposed to be our entry into the integrated market."
Coleen didn't want to be reliant on others. She previously depended on imports or selections from other manufacturers for her fabric. She wanted her own factory to produce fabric.
If anyone in the business tried to block her fabric supply, she could confidently start her own manufacturing.
During the trial period, Coleen hadn't expected the factory to catch fire.
Her daughter's words gave Coleen a clue.
She looked at her daughter, "You mean, the target was that batch of fabric. But this wouldn't affect others. Our partners wouldn't suspect that we might stop buying their fabric and resort to arson, would they?"
Arson is a crime. Wouldn't that be like cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Molly shook her head, "Mom, think about it. If you go integrated, whose cake are you cutting?"
Coleen frowned, her mind racing through potential suspects.
Kendrick looked at his daughter, pride in his eyes. "My girl's got some brains."
Molly went to her father, playfully, "Then, Daddy, could you please go downstairs and grab the delivery for your brilliant daughter?"
Kendrick, pointing at her indulgently, said, "You lazy thing."
He stood up, "Did you call?"
Molly shook her head, "Dad, I just put your mobile number down. Make sure your phone's on."
Kendrick laughed, growing fonder of his daughter by the minute.
Coleen was exasperated, "You two go joke around somewhere else. I'm fed up with your father-daughter bonding."
The two obediently quieted down.
Everyone else had left for the day, only the CEO's office light was still on.
With Dad not home, Andre took his wife and son back to Maplewood Estates.
The family of three hadn't gone to bed yet when Naomi called, missing them, "Andre, let Mia and Henry come over. It's too quiet without them at home; I'm not used to it."
Andre: "..."
The warmly welcomed mother and son, with their chubby faces, looked at Andre from either side.
Andre told Naomi, "Naomi, these two kids are too noisy, giving me a headache. Consider these few days a holiday for you and my brother to enjoy some quiet. After a few days, when Dad comes home, we'll come back."
Andre still declined Naomi's invitation.
After hanging up, Mia asked, "How many kids do you have in your family?"
"Two."
She gave him a look, "Count again carefully."
Andre tapped his wife's head, then his son's, "Here, one, two. Two."
She was speechless.
She didn't look like a child at all!
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Sweet Mischief's Rollercoaster Romance