Chapter 186: Business Trip

“Just a few days ago, people weren’t this desperate,” Lynch said from inside the car, watching the increasingly zombie-like people on the street.

The stock crash had taken away their last hope. Before this, no matter how hard running a physical business was, people believed things would soon improve because the financial market was booming, creating miracles every day.

As long as the financial market hadn’t collapsed, people still held onto hope, even in hardship.

But now, hope was gone. Two unprecedented crashes had broken some people’s spirits, forcing them to face harsh reality—there was no going back.

Inside and outside the car felt like two different worlds—unequal and unfair to each other.

Lynch shifted his gaze to Vera. “How much cash is available in my personal account?”

Vera responded quickly, “4.47 million. Want the exact change?”

“No need. How much can I actually use?”

“Not more than about 3.5 million. Besides taxes, some has to cover payroll and operations.” Vera’s eyes held something hard to describe—maybe admiration, maybe astonishment, mostly amazement.

A few months ago, when her firm told her she had an accounting job, she thought it would be simple—just a little time each day or week.

The young man she dealt with was handsome and gentlemanly but definitely broke. Yet in a few months, he amassed wealth many couldn’t in a lifetime, or even several generations.

Sometimes it felt like a dream; she had no idea how he did it or why people trusted him enough to invest.

Lynch nodded without comment. “Are you free soon?”

This was a sensitive question. When a male boss asks a female subordinate if she’s free, it often means a business trip is coming.

In social culture, traveling together implied risk—danger masked as work.

Vera hesitated, unsettled and unsure. She didn’t answer immediately. “I’m not sure. What’s going on?”

Lynch seemed unaware of her unease. He kept the same tone, attitude, and pace. “I’m going to Eminence tomorrow to acquire some things involving large fund transfers. If you can’t go, I’ll have to find someone else, but I don’t trust others—I only trust you.”

Such words might not sound dramatic but struck the softest place in her heart.

Vera was torn. Lynch’s reasoning made sense.

In the Baylor Federation, a person’s closest confidants weren’t their soulmate but their private accountant, lawyer, and psychologist.

A private accountant knew the person’s true financial situation in detail—even down to the last cent.

People might hide income and savings from partners, but never from their accountant.

The private lawyer knew the deepest legal issues, crimes unknown even to judges.

A private psychologist was even closer than a soulmate, hearing every hidden desire, hatred, anger—negative or positive emotions laid bare.

Vera played that role. Lynch didn’t even know exactly how much money he had; she did and tracked every transaction.

When she heard Lynch might hire another accountant if she refused, she felt a ridiculous but real sense of territorial invasion.

Lynch’s clear eyes and steady gaze were hard to refuse. Vera instinctively touched her cheek, then cupped her neck and looked away. “How long will it take?”

“Less than a week. I’ll speed it up.”

They went to the bank to handle some issues with Lynch’s personal account, transferring part of the money to a new account. Lynch then drove Vera home and arranged to pick her up the next morning for Eminence.

That evening, Gap returned home exhausted from dealing with the mountain of company ledgers.

As expected by CEO Neo, the State Federal Investigation Bureau had received a tip-off. They were investigating Liston for suspected income concealment. A joint task force of the FBI, tax bureau, and security committee had moved in.

Gap was puzzled. Audits were normal, but involving the security committee was unusual—they handled threats to national security.

Could Liston’s move threaten national security? Obviously not. He was just a small, insignificant figure, unable to resist the forces against him. He was on the ship, only able to move forward.

At dinner, Vera suddenly appeared. Since the incident, the couple rarely spent time together as before.

Some things, even if fixed, could never return to how they were.

“Anything wrong?” Gap put down his fork, wiped his mouth, and looked at his wife.

Vera hesitated, then said, “I have a business trip tomorrow. I’ll be gone about a week.”

“A trip?” Gap’s voice rose slightly. “Is it safe for you to go alone?”

He was smart and chauvinistic. He didn’t ask who she was going with but hinted at concern for her safety.

“I’m going with Lynch to Eminence. We have a job there,” Vera explained calmly. “It’s just a normal assignment. You travel a lot—you know.”

Gap pressed his lips, feeling itchy. He looked at Vera; she met his gaze unflinchingly.

After a few seconds, Gap asked a question Vera couldn’t believe. “Will you sleep with him?”

The question hit Vera like a speeding train. Her tone shifted. “Why would you think that?”

Then she realized the question’s weight. “I’m your wife!”

Gap unusually stayed calm, almost detached. “Look, since you got this job, all you talk about is Lynch.”

“I know him—a handsome young man. Everyone likes him. I even heard sometimes he brings you home late at night…” He paused. “Almost the whole community knows you’re close with a young man.”

Lynch had brought Vera home more than once. It was hard not to be noticed.

Curiosity is a deep-rooted human flaw; some people even exaggerate events just to watch the drama unfold, and this was certainly a topic that drew attention.

A beautiful young wife and a handsome young man—if sparks really flew between them, it wouldn’t be entirely unacceptable.

Some women were even a bit jealous of Vera, wishing they had a handsome young man to bring them warmth late at night.

Vera looked at Gap in disbelief; the man before her felt increasingly unfamiliar. She shook her head. “Sometimes I work late. Do you expect me to refuse his help and walk across half the city alone?”

“My loyalty to this family is greater than yours. I’ve never slept with him before, and I won’t on this trip either.”

“I’m not you—any woman could easily climb into your bed!”

“I’m going to Eminence tomorrow. Good night!”

After saying this, Vera, clearly upset, went back to her bedroom. She felt insulted that her husband would suspect her of sleeping with Lynch in such a tone—it was absurd.

Gap sat quietly in the dining room, watching her leave. He wasn’t angry, nor pleased by her firm denial—just silent.

The next morning, Lynch was supposed to pick up Vera, but she called him first to say she’d go to the office, and he could meet her there.

Around ten, they boarded the train together.

The trip from Sabin to Eminence took about twelve hours—a long journey.

To avoid distractions, Lynch booked a private room.

The room had two beds—not the kind so narrow that turning over meant falling off, but a spacious 1.5-meter spring bed.

At first, Vera felt awkward, but when Lynch lay down seriously reading, she began to feel embarrassed instead.