A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 760 760

As if suddenly seeing the light.

Iris Baldwin's eyes lit up.

She said, "Right. As long as Jabez Shaw and his people know I'm in his hands, and he can't hand me over, then Jabez will think he deliberately hid me. When that time comes, he'll have no choice but to make a move too."

The woman in the baseball cap nodded.

She stuffed a slip of paper into Iris Baldwin's hand.

She said, "Go hide at this place for a few days first. Once it's safe, I'll contact you again."

Iris Baldwin nodded heavily.

She asked, "What about my husband? He's okay, right?"

The woman in the baseball cap snorted coldly and said, "Relax. Dirk Carter just took office. They definitely won't dare lay a hand on your husband. You can rest easy."

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

Iris Baldwin said with a nod.

At the same time.

In a private room of a club.

Jabez Shaw sat on the sofa, smoking with a blank face.

Darien Griffin paced back and forth in front of him with his hands behind his back.

Jabez Shaw was getting a little annoyed from watching.

He said, "Can you sit down for a bit? You walking back and forth in front of me is really uncomfortable."

"You think I want to? Iris Baldwin's run off. If she sends that tape to the province, I'm finished, aren't I?"

Darien Griffin said miserably.

Jabez Shaw let out a cold laugh and said, "I told you long ago, don't touch the woman by your side. Why just wouldn't you listen?"

Darien Griffin looked all wronged.

He said, "I just wanted to try out that so‑called Ten Great Treasures. Besides, she's the one who threw herself at me. How was I supposed to know she was setting me up?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

There was a knock on the door of the private room.

Both of them jolted.

Jabez Shaw called out, "Come in."

The door was pushed open.

Secretary Liam Zane walked in.

Darien Griffin hurriedly asked, "Well? Any news?"

Liam Zane nodded and said, "Word from Brother K's side is that the person who took Iris Baldwin away tonight was none other than County Party Secretary Dirk Carter."

"What did you say? Dirk Carter!?"

Jabez Shaw shot to his feet and asked.

Liam Zane nodded and said, "I went to the traffic police squad and checked the surveillance. The person who appeared in the video really was Secretary General Carter. In addition, Director Li tracked them along the route through surveillance and found the hotel they stayed at. That room was indeed checked in under Secretary General Carter's ID. The waiter confirmed it was a man and a woman at the time, but by the time Director Li got there, they'd already left early. There was no one inside."

"Dirk Carter? How could it be him? He just got here. How would he already be tangled up with Iris Baldwin?"

Darien Griffin took a deep breath.

It was obvious he was still a bit scared.

Jabez Shaw narrowed his eyes.

He was pondering the same question that Darien Griffin was suspicious about.

When the appointment came down.

They had indeed looked into Dirk Carter's background.

He had absolutely no prior connection whatsoever with Helios County or even Veridia City. How would he have zeroed in on this Iris Baldwin matter?

It was really baffling.

After thinking for a while.

A vicious glint flashed in Jabez Shaw's eyes.

He took a deep breath and said, "Send someone tomorrow to grab Iris Baldwin's husband, Evan Perry. I don't believe she still won't show herself then."

Hearing this.

Darien Griffin quickly leaned in and said, "Old Jabez, that's not good, is it? Iris Baldwin's in Dirk Carter's hands. Doing this is just forcing the conflict to escalate, isn't it?"

Jabez Shaw gave a cold snort.

He said, "What's there to be afraid of? On this little patch of land in Helios County, have we ever been scared of anyone? Even if Dirk Carter had three heads and six arms, what kind of waves can he possibly stir up?"

"But what if we grab Evan Perry and Iris Baldwin still doesn't show?"

Darien Griffin asked.

Jabez Shaw paused, narrowed his eyes, and said, "There's something really off here. Why did Iris Baldwin throw herself at you? And how did she slip out from under the Discipline Inspection Commission's watch? Without someone on the inside helping her, she couldn't have pulled that off. Her husband might know something. Interrogate him properly for me."

"Okay, I'll go arrange it right now."

Liam Zane nodded, then turned and went out.

The next morning.

Dirk Carter appeared at The County Committee building right on time.

Today counted as his first real day at work in the official sense.

After so much had happened last night, the courtyard of The County Committee was still business as usual this morning, as if nothing at all had occurred.

Because it was the first day.

There were no scheduled events or meetings.

Around nine‑thirty in the morning.

Dirk Carter knocked on Britt Ford's office door.

The moment Britt Ford opened the door.

A flush rose over her face.

Clearly, it was because of what had happened in the restroom last night.

Today, Britt Ford was wearing a professional suit.

A white blouse and black blazer on top, a business short skirt on the bottom.

They say "clothes make the man and saddle makes the horse."

The truth is exactly the opposite.

Even clothes that aren't particularly pretty, when worn on someone with a good figure and great bearing, can exude a very different flavor.

Britt Ford standing before him was exactly like that.

Even in the most common professional outfit, she looked much better than most people.

"Secre—Secretary General Carter, what brings you here?"

Dirk Carter's unannounced visit had surprised her a bit.

Dirk Carter, on the other hand, seemed quite casual.

He said, "It's my first day at work today and I don't have anything scheduled, so I thought I'd walk around a bit. I'm not interrupting Deputy Secretary Britt's work, am I?"

"N‑no, not at all. Please come in, Secretary General Carter."

Only then did Britt Ford realize what Dirk Carter meant.

She hurriedly moved aside from the doorway.

She had the outer‑office secretary bring in a cup of tea.

Once Dirk Carter was seated.

Only then did Britt Ford sit down across from him.

But from the looks of her, she was still somewhat tense.

"Secretary Sterling, how are you feeling?"

Dirk Carter took a sip of tea and asked.

Britt Ford froze and asked in puzzlement, "Huh? How's what?"

Dirk Carter's gaze fell on her skirt and he said, "Did you get that thing out?"

Only then did Britt Ford catch on.

Her face flushed red again.

She said, "Y‑yes, I took it out. I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused you last night, Secretary General Carter."

Dirk Carter smiled faintly.

He said, "How is that trouble? Secretary Sterling has such a graceful figure, and they say you're the Nine‑Curves Corridor among the Ten Great Treasures. For me to have the good fortune to witness it is a blessing of three lifetimes, isn't it?"

Words like that.

Were clearly rather flippant.

Dirk Carter noticed a flash of displeasure between Britt Ford's brows.

She quietly let out a breath, straightened her back, and said, "Secretary General Carter, what happened last night did indeed inconvenience you, but please don't misunderstand. I was really left with no choice at the time."

"So what Secretary Sterling means is that you don't want me to set my sights on you, is that it?"

Dirk Carter suddenly asked, his eyes gleaming.

Seeing that look.

Britt Ford stiffened.

She said solemnly, "If what happened last night gave you any wrong impression, I'm very sorry."

"No need to apologize, Secretary Sterling. I just said it: for me to have the honor of catching a glimpse of one of the Ten Great Treasures is really something to be proud of."

Dirk Carter once again brought up the "Ten Great Treasures."

Britt Ford finally couldn't hold it in.

Her face showed anger as she said, "Secretary General Carter, that so‑called Ten Great Treasures is nothing but gossip from the streets. Please show some self‑respect and don't use that kind of term again…"