Chapter 714 - 453: Recruitment (Part 2)

Chapter 714: Chapter 453: Recruitment (Part 2)

"Is Tessa reliable?"

Feng Shan’s brow furrowed slightly. He had some recollection of this employee.

She must have been in the second batch of drifters Frank sent over. She’s been at the camp for a while now.

He just remembered that Tessa always wore a stern expression, didn’t like to talk, and never initiated conversations with other employees.

She was always alone, quietly keeping to a corner as if intentionally maintaining a distance from the world around her.

She was later assigned to the restaurant’s back kitchen to prep ingredients.

Her work performance was adequate but unremarkable. She was the type of person who was easily overlooked.

In Feng Shan’s mind, she was even more introverted than the taciturn Nash.

Jenny took Little Mira, who was flailing about and gnawing hard on Feng Shan’s finger. She soothed the little creature as she spoke.

"She’s reliable. I know Tessa. It might be her past work experience or something else that gave her that personality, but she’s actually a good person. Don’t be fooled by how cold she seems to everyone; she actually sneaks off to feed Tu’Er and Loki."

The financial work is the lifeblood of the Crown Territory. Too many people have their eyes on it, so we can’t afford to be the least bit careless.

Even though Jenny trusted Tessa, he still had to be cautious before making a decision.

Feng Shan gently patted Little Mira’s head.

"Alright, have Tessa come over so I can talk to her. Little Mira is teething, so don’t let it bite you."

"It would never bite me! It only bites bad people!"

Jenny walked away with a grin, holding a Little Mira that was now as docile as a kitten.

’If Tessa can take over the financial work, my life will get so much easier.’

She also hoped that the conversation between Feng Shan and Tessa would go well.

「A short while later.」

Tessa walked over wearing an apron.

Judging by her appearance alone, she was quite attractive, with fair skin and delicate features. But her expression was frigid, and her eyes held not a trace of warmth. She was like a timeless glacier in the Brooks Range, indifferent to everything.

She came to the table and looked at Feng Shan with a placid gaze, simply calling out, "Boss."

Her voice, like her expression, was devoid of much emotion.

"Please, sit. I heard you’ve worked in finance before." Feng Shan gestured to the chair in front of him, trying to soften his tone and break the stiff atmosphere. "If you don’t mind, could you tell me your story?"

Tessa neither refused nor agreed.

She simply pulled out the chair and sat down quietly.

Then she began to narrate, her tone so flat it was as if she were recounting an ordinary matter that had nothing to do with her.

The story was actually quite simple.

Once, there was a manager at a finance company who was quite successful in her career.

However, that was when fate played a cruel joke on her.

The finance manager met a scumbag and fell in love.

Blinded by love, she completely lost her senses, took out all her savings for the scumbag to squander, and was eventually even forced to embezzle company funds.

But the truth will always come out. When the matter was discovered, the scumbag saw that things were going south, took the money, and fled.

He left the manager to face all the consequences alone.

The finance company promised that as long as she replenished the embezzled funds, they would not press charges.

Left with no choice, the manager could only sell her only property.

She was ultimately kicked out, and her name was put on an industry blacklist.

No company dared to hire someone with a prior record of embezzling company funds.

And so, the manager began to live as a drifter. The hardships she endured during that time are impossible to put into words.

She braved the elements with no place to call home, struggling to survive every minute of every day.

Fortunately, she was eventually taken in by Mr. Frank and found her way to the Crown Territory.

After hearing the entire story, Feng Shan looked at Tessa’s still-indifferent face and couldn’t help but sigh with sorrow.

’This woman has suffered such a heavy blow.’

’To fall from the clouds into the abyss... the past must have carved indelible scars on her heart.’

"If you found that man, what would you do?" Feng Shan couldn’t help but ask, wanting to see how deep Tessa’s hatred ran after so much suffering.

"I would shoot him dead with a pistol." Tessa’s reply was curt and decisive. Her face was a placid mask, but the finality in her words was almost palpable, revealing the suppressed rage and pain deep within her.

"Congratulations, you’re hired!"

Hearing her answer, Feng Shan nodded to himself. He greatly admired Tessa’s candor and honesty.

He immediately stood up and extended his hand to Tessa with a smile.

In his eyes, although Tessa had a sordid past, her hatred for traitors was perhaps the best testament to loyalty. That quality was crucial for the financial work of the Crown Territory.

A rare trace of emotion flickered across Tessa’s cold expression.

She raised her head slightly, her puzzled gaze fixed on Feng Shan.

Miss Jenny had only told her the boss wanted to talk, but she hadn’t mentioned what the conversation was about.

’How did this suddenly turn into me being hired?’

’Hired for what?’

Seeing Tessa’s blank expression, still reeling from the sudden turn of events, Feng Shan quickly explained with a smile.

"As you know, the Crown Territory has many investment projects. Our staff and scale are growing, and the financial workload is increasing with it. Jenny is fine managing the restaurant, but she’s a bit overwhelmed with the financial advising side of things. So she recommended you, saying you’re diligent and responsible, and that you have experience in finance."

He paused for a moment, looking at Tessa with a sincere gaze before continuing.

"After hearing your story, I believe your experience and skills in finance are exactly what I urgently need right now. Besides, I believe everyone makes mistakes; what’s important is learning from them. So, I sincerely hope you’ll accept this job, join us, and help contribute to the development of the Crown Territory."

’A financial advisor?’

Hearing this familiar yet foreign job title, a complex look flashed in Tessa’s eyes.

A flicker of anticipation, so faint she barely noticed it herself, rose in her heart.

However, it was overshadowed by a deep-seated dread.

"Boss, I have a record... I’ve embezzled company funds before."

Tessa lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly.

She was terrified that this opportunity would vanish in an instant because of her past.

Feng Shan just shrugged, a casual expression on his face. "I know, you just told me. All I want to ask now is, will you accept the job?"

"I..."

Tessa opened her mouth but hesitated.

Of course, she wanted to say yes.

Once, as a senior CPA from a prestigious university, she had been in her element in the world of finance, and she had her pride.

But ever since that nightmare, she’d spent her days in the back kitchen facing potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, and all sorts of meat, feeling her spirit gradually approach the breaking point.

But fate was a strange thing.

Just when she was about to give up hope, someone was actually willing to give her another chance.

"Silence is consent, so it’s settled!" Feng Shan seemed to sense Tessa’s inner turmoil and made the decision for her before she could respond. "As for compensation, if you have any thoughts on it, just let me know later. The most important thing now is to get the handover from Jenny started so you can get up to speed on the Crown Territory’s finances as soon as possible."

"O...Okay!"

Tessa’s mind was reeling.

She had accepted the job before she could even fully process the shock and joy of the moment.

It all felt too sudden, as if she were still in a dream.

"Congratulations, Tessa!"

Just then, Jenny walked over, beaming, her smile filled with palpable relief.

She placed a thick ledger on the table.

She took Tessa’s hand, led her to a chair, and then began to enthusiastically go over things with her.

Jenny began to explain in detail all the current financial operations of the Crown Territory.

From income to expenditures, assets to liabilities, she spared no detail.

Seeing that he wasn’t needed, Feng Shan decided to take an afternoon nap to recharge for a meeting later.

He took Little Mira from Jenny’s arms. "Give me the key to the cabin."

"What are you going to the cabin for?" Jenny asked, a blush suddenly rising on her cheeks as a thought occurred to her. "The key is under the flowerpot by the door."

"Remember to wake me up at three."

With that, Feng Shan left the two of them, walking out of the restaurant with Little Mira in his arms without a backward glance.

....