The Ex and Her Riches

Chapter 597 The Water Poured By Cedrick 

Nico was rendered speechless by Cedrick’s lecture. However, instead of getting upset, he laughed foolishly. “You’re right, Cedrick. Every word you say is a famous quote, and I’ll listen to you without question.”

He didn’t mind being reprimanded as long as his salary wasn’t deducted.

Concealing what was on his mind, he smiled ingratiatingly at Cedrick.

Cedrick stared at him. “You enjoy being reprimanded? Do you have a masochistic tendency?”

Nico replied, “No. I only enjoy being reprimanded by you.”

Disgusted by Nico’s cheesy remarks, Cedrick felt goosebumps crawling all over his skin. Hence, he quickly dismissed Nico, “Stop wasting time. ‘Go and do your push-ups and after that, do a handstand against the wall. Time yourself. I won’t be watching you.”

“Got it,” Nico responded cheerfully. “Rest assured that I will behave myself, Cedrick. Even if you’re not watching, I’ll finish it properly without missing a second.”

Cedrick eyed him coldly and said nothing else.

Doing push-ups and handstands against the wall were good ways to build a strong physique. It was not a difficult feat for Nico though it could be quite tiring. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

The only sounds in the office were the noise of Cedrick typing away on his keyboard and Nico’s occasional heavy panting.

Doing a handstand for more than four hours straight was a challenge much more intense than push- ups.

Sweat trickled down Nico’s body, dripping onto the wooden floor in front of him and seeping into his eyes, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Just like that, he spent almost half of the morning doing a handstand in Cedrick’s office.

After holding on for two hours, Nico found the veins on his muscular arms bulging from the exertion. His breathing also became increasingly labored as his arms trembled.

Cedrick observed Nico through the corner of his eye while sorting out the documents at hand.

Unlike Craig, the former deputy director, Nico had no complaints at all when enduring the high-intensity handstand.

Memories of being trained and disciplined by strict teachers at the training camp started to resurface in Cedrick’s mind.

Craig was once an innocent and honest guy just like Nico. Although he was aggressive, he had a kind nature.

However, he changed drastically after being promoted to deputy director and becoming the head of the Newton family. He grew increasingly ambitious.

I wonder if Nico will become like that in the future…

When his train of thought ended there, Cedrick capped his pen.

He looked up at Nico who was near the wall, clearly exhausted and on the verge of collapsing but still persevering.

“Doing a handstand for over four hours is intense exercise. You’re already struggling when you’re only halfway there. Do you resent me for punishing you so harshly?” Cedrick asked.

Taking a deep breath, Nico laboriously maintained his posture as he replied with difficulty, “You’re training me for my own good. I’ve been on missions for the past year and haven’t been training on my own. I slacked off, so I don’t see any problem in you training me.”

Nico’s reply was sincere and honest, unlike Craig’s deliberate flattery.

He would never resent Cedrick or develop such rebellious thoughts toward the latter.

After all, if it weren’t for Cedrick back then, he might have died on the chaotic battlefield at the borderlands. His life would end at the age of ten, and he would never have the luxury to enjoy the comfortable life he had now.

He was a stubborn and grateful person who would remember others’ kindness toward him for a lifetime, and he was confident that he would never hesitate even if Cedrick were to send him to the dangerous frontlines of the battlefield, where he would most likely perish.

With sweat blurring his eyesight and being upside down, Nico couldn’t see Cedrick’s expression clearly. Nevertheless, he still gritted his teeth and tried to push his body’s potential to the limit.

Cedrick stood up, went around the desk, and gracefully poured a cup of warm water. “Get up and pause the timer. I’ll note down the remaining time. Do watch your mouth in the future, for I’ll double the punishment time if I catch you running your mouth again.”

“Thank you, Cedrick.”

Relieved to be granted amnesty, Nico landed on his feet agilely but still staggered.

His arms were so sore and weak, and as soon as he stabilized himself, a glass of warm water was handed to him.

He looked up at Cedrick, who was holding the glass of water, in shock. His eyes, which were already bloodshot from the sweat, turned even redder.

Did Boss just pour me a glass of water and handed it to me?

Pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed by shock, Nico did not know how to react. He was confused, for Cedrick was being exceptionally nice despite the punishment the latter had just given him.

In fact, he was even wondering if more tormenting punishments would await him after he finished the glass of water. Am I going to end up like Craig, who was tortured in this same office the other day?

Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t reach out to take the glass. Cedrick frowned while maintaining his usual aloof demeanor. “You’re about to be promoted to deputy director soon, and everyone will have to address you respectfully. Say, Mr. Larson, are you looking down on the water I poured for you?”

Cedrick’s light-hearted taunt scared Nico to no end. Panicking, he bowed respectfully.

“No, no, I’d never. It’s all thanks to you that I’m able to become the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I will always remember your kindness and will forever be your subordinate, Cedrick.”

A faint smile formed on Cedrick’s lips as he patiently extended his hand which was holding the glass. “You’re also my comrade, my family, and my brother,” he said.

Nico teared up, deeply moved by Cedrick’s words. “Yes. We’re comrades, family, and brothers,” he repeated each word with great caution.

Taking the glass of water subserviently, he chugged it down in one go for he was too thirsty. The plain water tasted exceptionally sweet.

Cedrick turned to walk back to his chair. “Take it easy. You can still have more if one glass is not enough.”

Nico wiped the sweat off his face. “It’s enough. I feel much better now. It’s a pleasure to drink the water you personally poured.”

Cedrick shot him a cold glance and ignored his flattery. “Return to your office, take a shower, and go about with your work.”

,,

“Of course, Cedrick.”

Nico placed the glass down cautiously and quickly left Cedrick’s office.

Since he was drenched in sweat, the fabric of his shirt clung uncomfortably to his skin, and the sticky sensation made him feel the urge to take a bath as soon as possible.

There was a knock on Cedrick’s office door not long after Nico left. A bodyguard working for the Jenson family came stepping in.

“Boss, something’s up with Mr. Yael..”

Since today was the last day for Xander to recuperate and recover from his leg injury, the bodyguards had gone to Yael’s villa to look for Xander as per Cedrick’s orders.

Following Cedrick’s previous instructions, they were supposed to take Xander to the ancestral hall for thirty whips before bringing him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for questioning. Then, he would’ be sent to a high-security prison to serve his sentence of five years.

However, when the bodyguards arrived at Yael’s place, they didn’t see Xander anywhere.

Cedrick listened carefully to the bodyguard’s report. “What? Uncle Yael had the audacity to stop you guys from taking Xander away?”

The bodyguard shook his head. “We searched the entire villa, but Mr. Xander was not around. Logan dialed his phone number and even checked his phone’s GPS location but still couldn’t find anything. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air.”

Wearing a grim expression, Cedrick tried to suppress his anger as he adjusted his military uniform.

“How dare Uncle Yael hide Xander and obstruct the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s standard operating procedures? Seems to me that he has nothing better to do and is waiting to be arrested,” he said coldly.

Then, he called Neville, instructing the latter to bring an army along and return to the Jenson residence with him to confront Yael.