Chapter34 OneofthemenapproachedEmmalie.TheseareapologygiftsfromMr.MaxRowland.HesaidsomethingsneededtobedonetoprotecttheRowlandfamilysreputation,whichputyouinadifficultposition.Hedidntmeantoembarrassyouandhopesyourenotupsetanymore . Emmaliegasped,hereyesgleamingwithdelight.Shepoutedplayfully,DoesMaxthinkthatsallittakes formetoforgivehim?Hesnottryinghardenough. Theastoodwatching,herexpressioncold. Emmaliecaughthergazeandsmirked,theelegantfaçadereplacedwithachallenginglook . Holdingoneofthegiftboxes.EmmaliewalkedovertoThea.Seethis,Thea?EventhoughIexposedyourdirtylaundryanddraggedourfamilysnamethroughthemud,Imstilltheirpreciousdarling,Andyou?Whatareyoutothem? Leaninginclose,shewhisperedinTheasear,hervoice drippingwithmalice,Yourejustgarbageunwantedandunloved.ButTheadidntflinch.Shesimplysmiled.Doyouknow thebiggestdifferencebetweenus? Emmalieraisedaneyebrow,intrigued.What? IfIhadalltheloveandresourcesyouvebeengiven,Idusethemtorisehigher.Butyou ?Theashookherhead,hervoi celacedwithdisdain.Youresosmallminded.Allyoucareaboutitkeeping theiraffectionandlandingarichhusband.Howpathetic. Emmaliessmilefadedasherfacedarkened.Withoutwarning,sheslappedherselfhard,thesharpsoundechoingthroughtheroom.Herflawlessskinreddenedinstantly,Sheturnedcoldlytothebodyguards.GotellMaxthatTheahit me. Theguardsdidnthesitate,noddingandrushingofftofollow herorders. Asexpected,withinminutes,TheasphonebuzzedwithfranticcallsfrombothIvyandMax. Withoutaword,Theacalmlyblockedeach number. AfterthefalloutwithAureliaUniversity,tensionsranhighattheVirtuexGroup,andTheabecametheeasytargetforeveryonesfrustration Icantbelievethis.WhydidMr.HendrixsendherofallpeopleItwasadone deal,andnowitscompletelyblown,someonecomplained Didntyouhear?Thiswasntevensupposedtobeherproject.Shejusthadtostepinandstealthespotlight,anotherchimedin Typicalspoiled bratbehavior.Weretheonespayingforitnowathirdadded. Suddenly,a sharpmalevoicecutthroughthechatter.IfMissRowlandwerentcapable,Mr.Hendrixwouldnthavesenther Liamstrode forward,hisexpressiondark , positioninghimselfinfrontofThea.Ifyouthinkyoucoulddobetter, whydontyouaskMr.Hendrixtosendyou nexttime? Itsnot herfaultyoulacktheskillsor connections. Theothersfellsilentandreturnedtotheirdesks,unwillingtoargue withLiam,buttheirresentmenttowardTheaonlygrew. LiamturnedtoTheawithagentlesmile.Theyvebeenworking onthis projectforalongtime.Itshardforthemtoaccept how thingsturnedout,sodonttakeitpersonally 1/3 Chapter3 68% Hefeltconfident,surethathedwonTheaoverbydefendingherinfrontofeveryone. ButTheamerelygavehimaconfusedlook.WhywouldItakeitpersonally?Theprojectfailed,partlybecauseofme.Itsonlynaturalthattheyreupset.Butyoumadeitworse.Theycouldvejustventedatmealittle,butnowitlookslikeImusing mystatustointimidatethem. Liamssmilefroze.HehadntexpectedTheatobesoungrateful Quickly,hesoftenedhisexpression,hisvoiceturningwarm.Okay,okay,itsmyfault.ButIwasjusttryingtostand upforyou.Howaboutyoushowalittlegratitude?Whydontyoutreatmetodinner? Theasfrustrationbubbledover,herchestheavingwithanger.Justasshewasabouttosnap,herphonerang. Whenshesawthenameonthescreen,herirritationgavewaytoanervousflutteritwas Nicolas. Mr.Hendrix,Imreallysorry.ImessedupthetaskyougavemeThisisallmyfault.Theasaid,loweringherhead andstaringdownatherfeet.Hervoicecarriedanoteofdisappointment. DespiteheryearsatAvonVentures,thiswasthefirsttimeshedfacedsuchasignificant failure. Nicolasremainedsilent. Unsureofwhathewasthinking.Theatentativelyadded,Theyjustdontwantmetofollowthroughonthisone.Ifsomeone. elsetookover,theremightstillbeachance. Justthen,Nicolasscalmvoice camethrough,steadyinghernerves.Thendontapologizeuntilthechanceisgone.Areyougivingupalready? Iunderstand,shereplied,feelingawaveofrelief. Good,hesaid Good,hesaidandchangedthetopicabruptly.Comedownstairs.Imwaitingforyouattheentrance. Caughtoffguard.Theahurriedtothebuildingsexit.Sureenough,NicolasssleekMaybachwasparkedbythecurb. Hestoodnexttothecar,tallandcomposed,hispresencecommandingattention.Evenfrombehind,peoplecouldnthelpbuttakenoticeofhim-hisnaturalcharismamadehimstandoutanywhere. Theasheartracedassheapproachedhim.Tryingtomaintainhercomposure,sheclearedherthroat.Mr.Hendrix,werentyou supposedtocomebacktomorrow? Iwrappedthingsupearly.Wehavea dinnertoattendtonight.Yourecomingwithme ,Nicolassaidmatteroffactly.Theahesitatedbrieflybeforenodding. Onthedrive,NicolasfilledTheainonthedetails. Stefanhadanoldfriendfromhisyouth,someonehedstayedclosewithovertheyears, AfterStefanswifeNicolassbirthmotherpassedaway,theybecame evencloser . Mydadinsistsonseeinghimatleast oncea year.Afewdaysago,myfathermentionedyouandmetohim,soImustbringyoualongthistimeNicolassaid. 1see,Theasaid,feelingnervous.IsthisthefamousMr.IanDavisIveheardabout? Janwasarenownedpainter,famousbothathomeandabroad .Rumorhadithehadquiteatemperandcouldbeverysharptongued. 2/3 Chapter34 68% Π Yes,butdontworry.Hesaseasygoingasmydad,Nicolassaid ,glancingatTheasclenchedhands. Seeinghowtenseshewas,headded,Werenotinahurry.GowithDarwinandgetreadyfirst.Iwanttospeakwithlanalone beforewemeet. Understood,Mr.Hendrix,Theasaid.ShegotoutofthecarearlyandgatheredsomeinformationonIanspreferences,planningtopickoutathoughtfulgiftbeforetheirmeeting. Meanwhile,Nicolasheadedstraighttotherestaurant.Asheapproached,hespottedlandescendingthestairsalongside someoneelse. Tohissurprise,itwasEmmalie,impeccablydressedandexudingeleganceasalways.Standingnexttolan,sheworehersignaturecharmingsmile.ThemomentshenoticedNicolas,hereyeslitup. Shecalledouttohiminasoftyetaudiblevoice.Then ,liftingthehemofherdressslightly,shehurried overtohim.Nicolas.areyouheretoseelanaswell ? 鱼