Next One Is a Babe
Chapter 1620

lan walked across the lobby, which was empty save for the receptionist manning the front desk.

The receptionist noticed his approaching figure and she had only just greeted him when she stopped short as she took in his features. A look of recognition flashed in her eyes, and it was clear that she knew who he was.

However, he was unfazed as he said, "I'm here to see Sean; I've called him in advance."

Whether or not he had called Sean in advance was actually irrelevant, seeing as the receptionist wouldn't have stopped him anyway. True enough, she responded hastily from behind the desk, "Alright. You may come in."

lan easily made his way up the stairs and headed for Sean's office. The door was open, but lan knocked twice as a matter of courtesy.

Sean was going through documents when he heard the knocks and looked up. Perhaps it had been quite some time since the men last saw each other, but Sean thought lan was dressed differently now than he usually would in the past. He appraised lan with narrowed eyes and pointed out a couple of seconds later, "Looks like being a celebrity has changed you. You look and carry yourself like a whole different person."

lan ignored this as he pulled out the seat across Sean and asked, "Did I catch you at a bad time?"

With frustration, Sean threw the documents he had been reviewing onto the table and answered, "See how I'm the only one running the company now? I barely have the time to breathe."

A small smirk played on lan's lips. "Isn't this what you wanted?"

Sean had always been forthright with his ambitions to claim the company as his own, so much so that he wanted lan's help to kick Simon and Sally out of the company.

It was something lan thought Sean had wanted all along to have full control of the family business.

Presently, Sean leaned into his chair and said thoughtfully, "I do want to be in control of everything, but at the same time, I'm hoping that the people I trust will eventually return to lend me a helping hand."

lan chuckled. "You're not talking about me, are you?"

"I can tell you have no interest in having anything to do with the company, but there was a time when I thought you could be my right-hand man," Sean explained frankly. "Now that you've chosen another path for yourself, I suppose I can't persuade you otherwise."

After a slight hesitation, lan asked, "How is he? What did the doctor say?"

Sean knew that lan was asking about Bryce. Sean paused to think for a while before he finally answered, "Well, he's not getting any younger, and with all that has happened of late, it's only normal that he can't cope physically. The doctor recommended that he stay at the hospital to catch up on some much needed rest. You know how it is at home; no one will give him the peace and quiet he needs to recover."

He had as good as told lan that Bryce was fine. It didn't matter whether he was telling the truth or not; knowing Sean, he probably didn't see lan as a threat, given how lan had never expressed much interest or greed in the family fortune.

Upon hearing the explanation, lan nodded and said, "I wasn't sure whether I should visit him at the hospital, but now that I know he's fine-"

"You should visit him," Sean said, cutting him off mid-sentence. "You're back anyway, so it wouldn't be a good look on you if you don't drop by to see him."

lan was a little taken aback by this. He hadn't expected Sean to be quite so encouraging.

Sean, on the other hand, merely crossed his legs and placed his hands on top of his knees, looking relaxed as he asked, "So, what did your company say about the Internet fiasco?"

"They were wondering whether you could do something about it," lan replied straightforwardly.

As if he had already guessed this might happen, Sean smiled and nodded while musing, "What a surprise."

Meanwhile, Cindy was scrolling her phone in her bedroom when she heard the sound of the gate being opened. She knew it couldn't be Hazel, who was still at her poker game at this hour.

As she set her phone aside, Cindy stood up and headed into the living room, whereupon she saw that there were indeed visitors—all of whom were her neighbors.

There were three neighbors who appeared to be chattering happily as they made their way up to the house. Cindy hurried over to the door and opened it before she greeted the approaching women, "Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Ferrell, Mrs. Myers-what brings you all here today? My mom isn't home at the moment. She's at a poker game."

The women chortled. "Oh, we know. We heard that you're back, so we thought we'd drop by for a visit!"

Now that they had explained themselves, Cindy said nothing more and stepped aside to let them into the house.

If she had to be honest, she wasn't particularly familiar with any of these women. After all, she had spent a number of years studying abroad and hardly ever stayed at home when she subsequently joined the workforce.

However, these three women seemed rather enthusiastic to learn more about Cindy. From the moment they settled down in the living room, their questions only poured forth like a relentless stream.