chapter 25 Overheard

At the Griffith Family villa. During dinner, Apollo and Violet, father and daughter, discussed the day's operations of the company. Both being the Chairman and the President, they were too busy with work and hardly had time for meetings. Therefore, they only discussed the company's progress in private. Apollo's wife had passed away early, and his most trusted person was his daughter. Such feeling was mutual. Thus, for further development of the company or significant decisions, they would have them discussed at the dinner table, like tonight. "Wait a moment!" Just as they were about to discuss confidential company matters, Jackson, who was nearby, quickly intervened. "What's the matter with you?" Violet, originally expressing her opinion, was displeased by Jackson's interruption. Apollo, thinking Jackson wanted to avoid company secrets, said with a laugh, "Jackson, you're not an outsider. It's okay for you to listen." "Listening is not the problem. But what if someone overhears these secrets? What consequences will that bring?" Jackson hinted. "There's no outsider here, and the villa is surrounded by elite bodyguards. Calling it the safest place is not an exaggeration. How could anyone eavesdrop?" Violet clearly didn't believe it. "The safest place? Have you forgotten about the bug installed in Uncle Apollo's office?" Jackson shook his head. "Company is company, home is home. Here we have the most professional security team and surveillance equipment. It's impossible for anyone to sneak in and plant bugs," Violet didn't believe Jackson, no matter what he said. "Violet, stop being unreasonable!" Apollo scolded his daughter, then turned to Jackson, "Jackson, have you discovered something?" Jackson hummed in affirmation, then pulled out a small bug from under the table, which he had already crushed. Throwing the bug on the table, it made a clanging sound, "Such an obvious place under the table had a bug. Your expensive bodyguards didn't notice any of it. Yet you still dare to call this the safest place?" Apollo and Violet's expressions changed, as they had discussed company secrets at the table numerous times. "No wonder so many company secrets have been leaking recently. The problem lies here!" Apollo said, looking at the bug on the table with a grim face. "There's probably not just one. If there are bugs in the hall, the entire villa needs a thorough check." Jackson took out some tools from his bedroom. After searching the hall, they found more than ten bugs, some under the sofa, some on fitness equipment. "Well done, placing them in obvious but hidden angles. Without a detector, they would be hard to find." Jackson was impressed, indicating that the person who planted the bugs was a master. Violet, with her mouth slightly open, said, "But how did they do it? We have so many bodyguards at home…" "Surveillance can be evaded, and even the best bodyguards can be negligent," Jackson said casually, heading upstairs. "Where are you going?" Violet asked quickly. "With so many bugs in the hall, there must be some upstairs too. We need to search the entire villa," Jackson said, standing at Violet's bedroom door, giving her a mischievous smile. Knowing Jackson was going to search her room, Violet couldn't let him. Especially seeing his sly smile, she hurried upstairs, but it was too late. "Open the door! Jackson, you jerk, open up!" Violet angrily pounded on her room door. This room was Violet's personal sanctuary. In the days following her mother's death, she would stay there alone, holding her mother's photo album and writing in her diary to heal. Even her father wasn't allowed in without permission, and now Jackson had barged in. Jackson could remove bugs, which meant he could also install them. If he planted listening devices in the bedroom, Violet wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully. Violet admitted Jackson was competent, which had been proven. But she didn't know him well enough to trust him, finding him flamboyant and not serious. Fortunately, Jackson didn't stay long in her room, and with a whoosh, he opened the door. "Jackson, open the... Ah!" Violet was knocking on the door and missed. Her hand landing on Jackson's chest as she stumbled forward into his embrace. Jackson felt the softness against his chest, the scent of her hair, and the unique fragrance of a woman, which made his breathing clearer. Previously at the café, Violet had bumped into Jackson like this, but he was distracted by an assassin and couldn't enjoy it. This time, however, Jackson's whole body relaxed, revelling in the sensation. "Rogue!" Violet pushed Jackson away as if she had been electrocuted, her face filled with embarrassment and annoyance. "It was you who bumped into me. If it weren't for me blocking, you would have fallen to the ground already. Ungrateful, you even call me a rogue, you ungrateful person," Jackson retorted. "If it weren't for you entering my room without permission, would I have to do this?" Violet said angrily. "Entering your room is a job requirement. What's more important, your privacy or personal safety?" Jackson rolled his eyes and said. "I don't believe anyone could sneak into my room!" Violet huffed. Hearing this, Jackson laughed and said, "Look what this is!" Seeing what was in Jackson's palm, Violet showed a look of disbelief and muttered, "I always lock the door when I leave, how is it possible..." "Lock? You underestimate professional spies! No matter what lock you use, they can enter without damaging it," Jackson shook his head. Violet's lips parted slightly, obviously hearing about such a thing for the first time. Although many movies and dramas depict scenes of breaking into doors, it's too exaggerated, and Violet didn't believe it happens in reality, just like she didn't believe walking in a hospital could be dangerous. "Two bugs and one hidden camera. My lady, I hope you don't have the habit of sleeping naked, otherwise, someone has seen everything," Jackson said with a smirk. Violet was truly panicked now, "I, I have the habit of wearing pajamas!" "Oh really?" Jackson elongated the word 'oh', showing a suggestive expression. "Go to hell!" Seeing Jackson's lecherous look, Violet punched him in the chest and then anxiously asked, "This camera, it's not installed in the bathroom, is it?" "No, it's not. It's installed on the desk. The other party probably wanted to monitor the documents you work on every night," Jackson shook his head. "That's too much, how could they do this!" Violet was annoyed. "Exactly, they are so foolish. If it were me, I would have installed the camera in the bathroom!" Jackson said, empathizing deeply. "Go to hell, I didn't mean that!" Violet really wanted to strangle him. Apollo pulled the two apart, who were about to start fighting, and said with a wry smile, "Let's focus on the important matter. Jackson, go check the other rooms. So many bugs have been installed in the house, it's not safe until we find them all." "As long as someone doesn't stop me," Jackson grimaced. "Who would stop you!" Violet pulled a long face and then entered her bedroom. The room's arrangement was the same as always, and Violet couldn't tell that Jackson had searched it. Violet searched everywhere, under the desk, under the bed, in the bathroom, several times to make sure there was nothing suspicious, and then she finally relaxed. When she came out of the room, Jackson and Apollo were in the living room, with a pile of surveillance equipment on the coffee table. "Did you clean everything?" Violet asked. "35 bugs, 10 hidden cameras, almost covering the entire villa. Our every move in the villa couldn't escape their observation," Jackson said. "That's despicable!" Thinking that all her actions were exposed to others, Violet shivered uncontrollably. Apollo was also furious, then took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Jackson, if it weren't for you this time, the consequences would be unimaginable." "The priority is to find out the identity of the person behind this," Jackson suggested. Apollo nodded and then looked at his daughter seriously, "Violet, you've seen the situation. The Griffith Family is in a very dangerous stage." Violet's heart tightened, and she quickly said, "Dad..." "Violet, I don't want to force you, but the situation is urgent. Jackson also needs a legitimate identity," Apollo said tactfully, but his meaning was clear. Seeing the pleading look in her father's eyes, Violet's heart softened. Since her mother's death, it was the first time her father showed such an expression. "Damn it, consider yourself lucky!" Looking at Jackson beside her, Violet bit her lip. Although she was still somewhat unwilling, she agreed for the sake of the company and her family. "Next month, at Violet's birthday party, we will announce the matter to the public. Jackson, what do you think?" Apollo said excitedly. Becoming Violet's fiancé, even if it was fake, would make anyone ecstatic, but Jackson's reaction was somewhat indifferent, making Violet doubt her own charm for a moment. "I remember, the person responsible for the villa's security is a man named Julius," Jackson suddenly said. Apollo nodded and called Julius to report to the living room. With so many bugs installed in the villa, as the head of security, Julius was negligent. Seeing so many listening devices on the coffee table, Julius's face changed immediately, knowing the seriousness of the situation. "Mr. Apollo, I will submit my resignation tomorrow," Julius said proactively. Apollo shook his head, "Julius, about the negligence, we'll talk later. Go out and tell the brothers to be more vigilant tonight." Julius was a retired special forces soldier, who had followed Apollo for five years without major mishaps. It's hard to let go of such loyalty, and Apollo certainly didn't want to fire Julius.