Chapter 1009 Why He Quit Smoking
When Tom caught up to Toby, the latter was already in front of the elevator. Seeing how the man gave off an oppressive aura through every pore, he knew that he was in a bad mood at the moment. After a moment’s thought, he fished his cigarette pack from his pocket, shook a cigarette out of it, and handed the cigarette to the man. “Wanna smoke a cigarette, President Fuller?”
Toby darted a look at it before straightening up. “No, I don’t need it. I’ve quit smoking.”
“Huh?” Tom was startled. “You’ve quit smoking?” When was that? Why don’t I know about that? Well, President Fuller wasn’t a heavy smoker, but he’d occasionally smoke a cigarette or two. I’ve not heard of him quitting smoking, though.
Raising his chin slightly, Toby replied with a note of unconcealed pride in his voice, “I quit smoking just a few days ago. Little Leaf forbade me to smoke, saying that it was bad for my health. Since she cares so much about me, how could I disappoint her?”
“Uh…” Tom’s lips twitched. “I see. Alright then, I’ll smoke the cigarette myself,” he said while putting away the cigarette.
Toby frowned. “You’re not allowed to smoke as well.”
Tom was just about to put the cigarette between his lips when he heard this. “Why?” he couldn’t help but ask curiously. “Could it be that you’re also concerned about my health, President Fuller?” Aww, I’m so touched! I’ve been working for this mean boss for over ten years.
Not only has he never cared about me, but he also leaves all kinds of dirty and heavy work to me. It’s no exaggeration to say that he’s a bully who exploits his employees. I thought I’d keep on living under his exploitation, but to think that he has finally become more like a human now! Really, I’m so touched. This is all thanks to Miss Reed’s taming of him!
Just when he was inwardly walking on air, Toby’s response dampened his spirits like a bucket of cold water pouring down on him, making him feel touched for nothing. “What are you dreaming about? Why would I care about a guy like you?”
Toby looked at him with a frown of disgust. “I forbid you to smoke because I don’t want to betray Little Leaf’s concern for me by breathing in secondhand smoke from you. What does that have to do with you?”
Ha ha. Speechless, Tom put his cigarette back into his cigarette pack with an expressionless face. I should’ve thought of this long ago. How could the wicked boss for whom I’ve worked for over ten years become so humane all of a sudden? If he were humane, he would’ve done so long ago, no?
How could he possibly become humane over ten years later? Seriously, it’s too naive of me to believe that my bully of a boss will care about me. Ha ha. Really, I was touched for nothing. What a lack of awareness.
“Remember not to smoke in front of me from now on, or I’ll make you feel sorry for it,” Toby warned in a cold voice.
Tom’s lips twitched again before he replied sulkily, “Yes, President Fuller.”
Only then did Toby withdraw his gaze in satisfaction and stop looking at him.
Just then, the elevator arrived. Toby stepped into it, and Tom immediately followed suit.
After the elevator door closed, Tom turned to look at the man next to him, asking, “By the way, President Fuller, does your previous conversation with Connor mean that he admitted he was the one behind Mr. Homer’s death?”
Toby balled his hands at his sides into fists while starting to give off chilly vibes once again. He replied with a monotonous “yes,” but one could recognize the murderous note in it if they were to listen carefully.
Tom took a deep breath. “So it really was him. I never thought he’d really dare to admit it.”
Toby’s eyes were bloodshot with fury. “Didn’t you hear it? With Grandpa’s meritorious service, is there anything he wouldn’t dare to do?”
Tom fell silent. After a while, he said with a sigh, “I suddenly feel that it’s not a good thing for the late Old Master Fuller to have made so many contributions. Who knows if these contributions were used to shield the Fullers or our enemies?”
Toby lowered his eyes. “There are things that are good and bad at the same time, to begin with. With advantages come disadvantages. The Fuller Family is able to become so successful mostly thanks to the contributions Grandpa made to the country. Now that we’re enjoying the benefits brought by his contributions, we have to abide by the law and not do anything reckless.”
“It’s exactly because of this that Connor is able to catch this flaw and act cocky.” Tom sighed. “As expected, there are some things that come with their own advantages and disadvantages.”
Toby didn’t respond to his words.
Looking at the man, Tom continued, “Say, President Fuller, if the late Old Master Fuller were to know how Connor had killed his son and used his meritorious service as a protective cover, would he still care about his legacy? Perhaps he’d agree to let you kill Connor right away to avenge the deaths of Mr. Homer and the late Madam before using his contributions to smooth over the consequences of killing Connor.”
“Grandpa wouldn’t agree to it.” Toby wearily pinched the space between his eyebrows. He said, “I know what kind of a person he is. Grandpa lived through the war years and was one of the founders of our country. Not only did he have an abhorrence of evil, but he also knew how and when to repay grievances with grievances.
Connor killed my dad, so he would approve of me taking revenge on Connor, but he wouldn’t approve of me doing so by giving Connor a taste of his own medicine. He’d only let me search for evidence and have Connor arrested according to law. Otherwise, do you think I’d really wait until now without asking Connor whether he was my dad’s murderer?
No, I’d have asked him about it and killed him right away as soon as I began to suspect him in the beginning. But if I were to do so, I’d act against Grandpa’s beliefs and what he had taught me.” If it weren’t for this, he wouldn’t have really waited for 12 years while still searching for clues and evidence about Homer’s death. He’d have gotten his revenge long ago.
Tom threw up his hands in resignation. “Well, an old revolutionary like him did have strict morals. He’s too upright and incorruptible, though.”
“That’s why I wouldn’t disappoint him by bringing shame upon him,” Toby replied impassively while watching the floor numbers flash on the elevator board.
“Oh, right, President Fuller, Connor wanted me to pass on a message to you when we left just now,” Tom said as he suddenly recalled this. Then, he quoted what Connor had asked him to tell Toby.
Toby’s face darkened when he finished listening to Tom’s words. “He’s really unwilling to give up, isn’t he? How dare he threaten me!” Seems like I was too lenient with him just now.
“President Fuller, Connor knew that by offering the late Madam’s stuff in exchange for his illegitimate daughter, he’d probably make you so angry as to kill him on the spot for real, but he did it anyway. Perhaps Anya really is his daughter, and they only interacted in such a strange manner because he doesn’t like her.
But Anya is his only offspring, after all, so he has no choice but to save her.” Tom made his analysis while rubbing his chin. Then, looking at Toby, he asked, “I can tell that the stuff belonging to the late Madam that Connor talked about was really important to her. Should we get it back?”
Toby lowered his head in thought without saying a word.
Upon seeing this, Tom shut up and stopped bothering him.
Meanwhile, Sonia and Charles had finished eating, so they called the waiter over. They were about to pay the bill and leave for the bank to meet up with the bank’s person in charge.
Sonia opened her handbag and took out her cell phone, asking, “How much is it?”
The waiter opened his notebook to take a look. Then, he replied with a smile, “Miss Reed, both your meal and this gentleman’s have been paid for.”
Sonia paused for a moment just as she was about to tap the ‘Pay’ button on her phone’s screen. Then, she looked up at the waiter, asking, “What did you say? You mean the bill has been paid?”
“Yes, it has.” The waiter nodded with a smile.
Sonia immediately turned to look at Charles. “Did you pay the bill?”
Charles threw up his hands. “No, it wasn’t me. I didn’t pay the bill. I never left the room even once, so how could I have paid the bill?”
