Chapter33 Emmaliefrowned,herfrustrationevident.Thea,wrongiswrong.Hasntourfamilyalreadycoveredforyouenough?And now you Beforeshecouldfinish.ThecalmlypulledoutherphoneanddialedMaxsnumber,puttingthecallonspeaker. Whatisit?Maxscoldvoiceechoedthroughthephone. WithoutgivingEmmalieachancetointerrupt,Theasaidsmoothly,Max,wasntitalreadyproventhattherumoraboutmebullyingMadelynwasjustamisunderstanding?Whyisitstillbeingspreadaround?ImconcerneditmightaffectmymarriageplanswiththeHendrixfamily Maxstoneturnedcold.Nonsense!NoonefromtheRowlandfamilywoulddosomethingsodisgraceful.Wellgatherevidenceandsueanyonespreadingsuchlies. AsEmmaliesfacedrainedofcolor,Theaseyesglintedwithsatisfaction.Shesighedsoftly,ButMax,itsnotjustanyonesayingthis.Itsyourbelovedsister,Emmalie,Whatdoyousuggestwedoaboutthat? Alongsilencefollowedbeforethecallabruptlydisconnected. Immediately.Emmaliesphonebegantoring.SheglancedatthecallerLD,herexpressiondarkeningasshehurriedlywalkedawaytotakethe call.. AlanwasafraidthatTheawouldcomplaintoMax abouthim.Caughtintheuncomfortable tension,hestoodfrozen,unsurewhethertostayorleave. WhenEmmaliereturned,hereyeswerered,as ifshedjustenduredsomegreatinjustice. you ShelookedatTheaandletout aweaklaugh,tearswellingup.Imsorry,Thea.Ididntknow.IwasupsetwhenyousaidjoinedHendrixGroupformysake,andIjustblurtedsomethingoutwithoutthinking.Imisunderstood.Youwontholditagainstme,willyou? AsEmmalietearedup,appearingpitiful,voicesaroundthemroseinherdefense. Shemadeamistake,butitsnotthatserious,someonesaid. Exactly,anotheradded.Ms.Rowlandhasbeentravelingforperformances.Sheprobablydidntknowthewholestoryandjustrepeatedwhatshedheard.Noneedtobeharshonher Theascoldsmilewidened.IgnoringEmmalic,sheturnedtoAlanandsaid,Now.. misunderstanding,shallwediscusstheVirtuexGroupmatterproperly? weveclearedupthat Alanhesitated,weighinghisoptions.ThoughThea wasntwelllikedathome,shewasstillaRowlandandengagedtotheHendrixfamily.Aftercarefulconsideration,hedecidedtogiveherachance. BeforeTheacould proceed,Emmaliecutin,Wait,areyou talkingabouttheVirtuexGroup? Theafeltasurgeofirritation.Emmalie,onceagain,seemeddeterminedtointerfere IknowalittleabouttheVirtuexGroupscollaborationswithuniversities,Emmaliesaid,hervoice sweetandcalm. Curious,someoneasked,How doyou knowabouttheHendrixfamilybusiness,Ms.Rowland? Emalie smiledsoftly,bitingherlipinacoymanner.Oh,itsnothing,really.IhappenedtorunintoNicolasatapartyonce,andhementionedittome:Normally,Idontunderstandbusinessmatters,butheexplaineditindetail,soIcaught on. 1/3 11:39Fri,Oct 25 Chapter33 白气69% 69% HearingherspeakofNicolasso intimately,Thea frowned. EmmaliesensedTheasdiscomfort,andhereyessparkledwithsatisfaction.Nicolasalsosaidthatonlyheorsomeoneheltrustscompletelyhandlestheuniversitycollaborations. IwasjustwonderinghowThea ,whooriginallyworkedwithAvonVentures,endedupmanagingtheVirtuexGroupspartnerships.ThenIsee. Shesmiled,hertoneplayful.Thea,areyoutryingtoimpressNicolasforJakessake?Thatsabitrisky,dontyouthink?IfNicolasfinds out youvebeenactingonyourown,hewontbepleased. Theatookadeepbreath,suppressingherirritation,andsmiledicily.ItseemsyouknowNicolasverywell,evenhispersonalthoughts. Emmalieflushed withshyness. Justthen,someoneinthecrowdsaid.Theaprobablydoesntknow,buttheRowlandfamilyisplanningtomarryEmmalietoNicolas,headoftheHendrixfamily.Lookslikethebigdayisapproaching. TheaglancedatEmmalie,amusementandmockeryflickeringinhereyes. SeeingThensexpression,Emmaliemisinterpreteditasshockandfeltevenmoretriumphant. Tornbetweenlaughterandfrustration,Theathought,Howstrange.NicolasandEmmalie,huh?Ashiswife,howcomeIdontknowaboutthis? EmmalietookTheas handwith ashowoffakesympathy.Iknowitmightbetoughforyou,Thea.OnceNicolasand1amarried,Illbeyourelder.Butdontworry,Illmake sureNicolastakesgoodcareofyouandJake. Withaforcedsmile.Theaplayedalong.Youre jumpingahead,Emmalie.YourmarriagetotheHendrixfamilyisfarfromguaranteed.Honestly,Idontseeithappening Emmaliessmilefaltered,andhereyesfilledwithtearsonce again.I…Iknowyoudontlikeme,butyou shouldntsaysuchhurtfulthings: ThecrowdquicklyturnedagainstThea,havingacceptedEmmaliesmarriagetoNicolasasadonedeal.NoonewantedtoriskupsettingthefuturewifeoftheHendrixfamilyleader. EvenAlan,growingirritated,coldlysaid,Thea,withthatattitude,wecantworkwithyou.AsEmmaliesaid,ifMr.Hendrixisinterestedincollaboratingwithus,hellcontactmedirectly.Wedontneedsomeonelike youtryingtohandleit. Thea felthertemperrising.ShelookedatAlan coldly.IfyourewillingtooffendmebecauseyouthinkEmmaliemightmarryNicolas,letmesettherecord straightEmmaliewillnevermarryhim. ImhereonMr.Hendrixsbehalftonegotiatethisdeal.Ifyoudoubtme,feelfreetocallhimdirectly.Butifyourejectme now ,dontexpectMr.Hendrixtoreturnandnegotiatelater. Intruth,thedealwithAureliaUniversityhadalreadybeenagreedupon ,butatthelastminute,theuniversity,feelingentitledasaprestigiousinstitution,hadbegunpushingforbettertermswithoutofferingmore inreturn. Itwasallpettybargaining,whichwaswhyNicolasdidntbotherattendingthis partyhimself. Emmalie,stillmaintaininghergracefulappearance,subtlyclenchedherhandsinfrustration.SheleanedclosertoAlan, hervoirelowbutfirma.Letmemake thisclearaswellyoure choosingbetweenthisonedealorcompletelyoffendingmeandtheHendrixfamily Alansexpressionhardened,andhemotionedforsecurity. Theachuckledasshesidesteppedtheguards attempttogralsharm .Noneedtodragtheout.Ican walkmyself. 2/3 11:39Fri, Oct25 Chapter33 |68% Emmalie,attemptingtomaintainherpublicimage,liftedherdressand followedafterThea.Letmewalkyou out,she said.stilltryingtoappeargracious. ButTheaignoredher,quickeningherpacetowardtheexit.Justthen,agroupofmeninsuitsentered,carryingatray,makingtheirwaydirectlytoEmmalie.