Chapter 8: Congratulations, Mrs. Adams

"W-what?" Elizabeth froze, her face stiffening.

Mr. Beckett Robinson was at the door asking to see them. It was Mr. Beckett Robinson—a name that carried weight in Hiphia. He was no ordinary man. As the Atkinson Group's representative in the region, he was one of the most powerful figures around. Someone like him knocking on their door was unthinkable.

Flustered, she waved her hands. "Hurry, hurry! Bring him in!"

"Wait a second!" Jamie cut in sharply, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Grandma, think about it for a moment. Mr. Robinson isn’t someone who shows up unannounced—especially not to see people like us. What if he’s here because of trouble?"

"Trouble?" Elizabeth turned her sharp gaze toward Georgia, her eyes narrowing.

Jamie nodded gravely. "Georgia went to see Mr. Robinson on a motorcycle, of all things! Do you know how humiliating that was for our family? Not to mention, it was downright disrespectful to him. You think he’d let something like that slide? No way. He’s probably here to teach her a lesson."

The room fell silent. Even Georgia’s confidence faltered. Her heart pounded, and she swallowed hard. Could Jamie be right? Was Mr. Robinson really holding a grudge over something so trivial? If so, she might’ve made a serious mistake. She had been so naive to think the contract was already a done deal.

Elizabeth’s face darkened with anger as her thoughts spiraled. Pointing a trembling finger at Georgia, she snapped, "We'll see. If this is about your foolishness... You’ll wish you hadn’t."

With that, she stormed toward the door. Jamie and the others trailed after her, their faces tense with apprehension. Georgia stayed behind, frozen. Her mind raced with every worst-case scenario imaginable. What if Mr. Robinson hadn’t come to finalize the deal but to revoke it? What if everything she’d worked for fell apart in an instant?

At the door, Beckett Robinson stood tall, flanked by several subordinates in sharp suits. His presence was commanding, his black Mercedes S-Class parked conspicuously in the driveway. Elizabeth plastered on her most ingratiating smile as she stepped forward.

"Mr. Robinson!" she greeted, her tone almost syrupy. "What an unexpected honor! What brings you here today?"

Beckett’s eyes scanned the crowd briefly, his expression unreadable. "I’m looking for Ms. Georgia," he said, his voice polite yet firm.

Elizabeth stiffened, caught off guard. His tone wasn’t harsh, but she imagined it carried an undertone of displeasure. Her mind raced. What was he really here for? She forced a laugh, waving a dismissive hand.

"Oh, Georgia? She’s out right now," she lied smoothly. "We’re not sure where she’s run off to."

Jamie eagerly chimed in, "That’s right, Mr. Robinson. She’s been… unpredictable lately. We don’t always know what she’s up to."

Beckett’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t press the issue. "I see," he said simply. "Well, when she’s back, let her know I’ll return to speak with her."

Without another word, he turned and got into his car. The engine roared to life, and the sleek Mercedes glided out of the driveway, leaving Elizabeth and the others standing awkwardly by the door. She opened her mouth to ask why he wanted to see Georgia but thought better of it. Beckett Robinson wasn’t someone you questioned lightly.

As the sound of the car faded into the distance, Elizabeth let out a shaky breath. Jamie exchanged a glance with Layla, both of them looking equally bewildered.

They hadn’t even had time to collect themselves when another vehicle pulled up—a commercial van this time. Out stepped a man in his fifties wearing a flashy suit and an even flashier gold tooth. It was William Johnston, a well-known figure in the jewelry business. He was grinning from ear to ear as he approached.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Adams!" William called out, his voice booming with cheer. "You have been really lucky!"

Elizabeth blinked in confusion but quickly composed herself. "Mr. Johnston," she greeted him with a polite nod. "What a pleasant surprise. But… congratulations? I’m afraid I don’t understand."

William’s grin widened, his gold tooth catching the light. "Oh, come now, Mrs. Adams! No need to play coy with me. I just heard the big news—your family has been chosen as the raw materials supplier for the Atkinson Group! This is huge! Absolutely huge! With a deal like that, the Adams family is bound to climb to the top."

Elizabeth’s eyes widened, her breath catching. "The Atkinson Group... chose us?" she repeated, almost in disbelief.

"Of course!" William said, his tone matter-of-fact. "I just saw Mr. Robinson’s car leaving as I arrived. Surely he came by to deliver the contract in person, didn’t he?"

The words hit her like a thunderclap. Moments ago, she had been trembling with fear over Beckett’s visit, worried he’d come here for trouble. Now, this man was standing here, congratulating her on a deal that could elevate the Adams family to new heights? Her mind reeled.

"Are you… are you sure?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

William cocked his head, a curious expression crossing his face. "Of course I’m sure! Why else would Mr. Robinson have been here? Isn’t that why you’re celebrating?"

Before Elizabeth could respond, William’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and let out a small chuckle. "Excuse me," he said. "I need to take this. But again, congratulations, Mrs. Adams! This is a game-changer for your family."

With that, he stepped away, answering his call as he climbed back into his van. The engine rumbled to life, and the vehicle pulled away, leaving Elizabeth standing there, her emotions swinging wildly between disbelief and elation.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then Jamie broke the silence. "Grandma… does this mean…?"