After seeing Miss Jenkins off, David Carter no longer hid his actions. He took out a cardboard box from his own filing cabinet, opened it, pulled out the aluminum alloy cash box inside, then took the money hidden in the computer box and put it into the aluminum cash box. In a very good mood, he stacked the money neatly, trying hard to resist the urge to count it. He thought to himself, no wonder research says that counting money brings pleasure—just seeing these stacks of cash is already satisfying. Then he broke down the empty computer boxes one by one and called the building’s cleaning staff to take them away... Finally, after locking the office door, he carried the cash box out of Xinlong Building.

Because he was so relaxed while doing all this, David Carter didn’t pay attention to the time. Only when he walked out of the hotel did he realize the sky was already full of stars. Standing in front of the building’s main entrance, he hesitated about whether to call a taxi. Looking out, not far away, the dim streetlights turned the long street into a ribbon of light. Cars kept roaring by on the road, and the occasional snippets of music drifting from the vehicles made the night air shimmer with a sense of decadent laziness.

A few days ago, the building security guard who had personally seen David Carter delivering goods in a van happened to be on duty tonight. He stared in astonishment at David Carter standing at the hotel entrance, carrying a silver metal cash box and looking very pleased with himself. For a moment, the guard forgot to help David Carter hail a taxi. Just as he was wondering if he’d made a mistake that day, he saw the same delivery van David Carter had driven before screech to a stop at the hotel entrance. Two women jumped out of the van, both staring at David Carter in shock.

Immediately after, a thin, dark man in the driver’s seat stuck his head out and shouted, “Little David, you’re looking good! I knew I could count on you. Look, I clearly gave you two days off, and you still came to check on things—so responsible, really, you all should learn from him... No more talk, tonight I’m treating you. Come on, Little David, when we go in later, you can order whatever drinks you want... Hey, since you’re so free, after this round of drinks, you’re coming to work at the company tomorrow!”

Chapter 12: The Surveillance Device Nearby

David Carter glared at him. “Mr. Cooper, that’s not fair! Ever since I started working for you, I haven’t known what a real holiday looks like. Now that you’ve finally shown some mercy and given me time off, I’m definitely going to enjoy it to the fullest—there’s no way I’m coming to the company tomorrow!”

“This, this, you...” Brian Cooper wanted to lose his temper, but just then Helen Foster came around to the driver’s side and poked Brian Cooper with her finger. At the same time, the security guard was shouting, “Don’t block the way, hurry up, move the car.”

Brian Cooper pulled his head back in and shouted from inside the car, “So David, there’s still a bit of payment left on this order. Keep an eye on it these next few days... Little David, I really treat you like a brother. While you’re on break, check in on your mother too, so Teacher Gong doesn’t turn around and scold me for being mean to her son.”

Helen Foster jumped back into the van, Brian Cooper started the car and drove to the parking lot, while Elaine Bennett stayed behind and explained to David Carter, “The company’s landed several big orders these past few days, so the boss is in a good mood and wants to take everyone out for some fun. I heard the bar in this building is pretty good... So, how about it, want to come and have some fun too?”

David Carter lifted the box in his hand and politely declined, “It’s rare for business to be this good and for the boss to be happy, so you all go and enjoy yourselves. I’ll pass. I still have some things to do and need to go home first, otherwise I won’t be able to relax... Besides, I’m exhausted these past few days. Right now, all I want is a good night’s sleep.”

Meanwhile, in the parking lot, Helen Foster grabbed Brian Cooper and asked, “Boss, you’re playing favorites. The Soren Capital order was only worth a little over four hundred thousand—how much commission did you give David Carter?”

Brian Cooper parked the car, locked the door, and replied, “I haven’t given him his commission yet... Besides, even though this order was quite profitable, rules are rules. I can only give him commission according to the set percentage—you know, after taxes, he’ll get about thirty thousand.”

Helen Foster shook her head. “Liar! How much money could Little David possibly have? I know the place he rents is way out in the suburbs... Boss, if you just got a bonus, would you spend two-thirds of it on a cash box? ...Exactly, you wouldn’t. But just now, Little David was carrying an LV travel cash box, aluminum alloy shell, anti-magnetic, shockproof, drop-resistant, meant for storing important documents and computer disks... That box is worth at least twenty thousand.”

Brian Cooper was puzzled too. “That can’t be right, Little David is a very frugal person—actually, he’s downright stingy... Maybe someone gave it to him? Yeah, it must have been a gift. I bet he doesn’t even know how much that cash box is worth... Wait, a cash box—why would he buy a special box just for money? What’s inside the box?... Come on, let’s go ask him.”

Unfortunately, by then only Elaine Bennett was left at the hotel entrance. When she saw the boss, she quickly explained, “Little David said he still had things to do and wouldn’t be joining us tonight. He already left in a cab, and I couldn’t get him to stay.”

Helen Foster stopped in her tracks and turned to ask Brian Cooper, “Boss, do you think Little David knows how much that box in his hand is worth?”

Elaine Bennett chimed in, “Ms. Foster, what kind of box is that, is it a designer brand? Look at you, your eyes are sparkling!”