Chapter 416 Nothing to Talk About
Emma wasn't naive; she could tell Maximilian was hinting at something.
Her expression darkened slightly.
"Mr. Hamilton and Ms. Manners seem to have a great relationship. Truly enviable."
Despite her darkened expression, Emma still wore her signature smile that she reserved for Maximilian.
Maximilian glanced at her coldly.
Seeing him look her way, Emma was pleased with his attention and quickly seized the moment.
"But isn't it a bit early for Mr. Hamilton to say such things?"
Anyone could tell Emma was trying to build up to something, with the emphasis clearly on her last sentence.
Maximilian's cold gaze turned icy.
"Not early."
As his words fell, Emma shivered inexplicably, suddenly feeling a chill around her.
Emma awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, trying to speak again, "Mr. Hamilton is..."
"Enough nonsense," Maximilian interrupted her, staring straight at her in warning, "What exactly do you want to discuss?"
Emma had used every excuse to see him before.
Work, collaboration, business, even studying—any reason that could be used as an excuse, Emma had tried.
But aside from the first time, when Emma's people had clashed with his company's security and he had met her alone, he hadn't given Emma any chance to get close to him.
During that initial meeting, Emma had even brazenly mentioned wanting to marry him.
But Maximilian hadn't cared at all.
To him, Emma was no different from any other stranger.
Her unique trait was her connection to the Kate family.
It was precisely because of this connection that he hadn't had her thrown out when she repeatedly showed up in front of him.
"Discuss what?" Emma rubbed her arms, ignoring the fear creeping up from her bones, and arrogantly said, "Of course, it's about mutual interests."
"Is that so? Then I have nothing to discuss with Ms. Kate."
Maximilian's voice, cold as a frozen lake, carried a hint of anger.
If his warning gaze could materialize, Emma would have been pierced by countless blades.
Even though she wasn't physically harmed, she could feel a strange fear crawling up from her marrow.
Yet this fear, which made her tremble, also excited her.
This was the feeling she had when she first saw Maximilian, the reason she became interested in him.
Maximilian's aura was utterly captivating to her.
She loved it.
Maximilian, however, paid no attention to Emma, continuing to speak indifferently, "Since there's nothing to discuss, we don't need to have this meal together."
Emma's thoughts were interrupted.
Seeing that Maximilian might leave or ask her to leave, she quickly remembered her plan from the car.
She said, "Mr. Hamilton, don't be angry. If you don't like it, I'll change the topic."
Desmond, equally tense, had been trying to minimize his presence.
Now, he looked at Maximilian with pleading eyes.
Though his gaze was full of supplication, he didn't dare speak.
Maximilian acted as if he didn't see Desmond, turning instead to Katniss.
Katniss was deep in thought.
She understood Maximilian's intention; he was respecting her, letting her make the decision.
Ignoring Desmond's gaze, she knew his actions wouldn't affect her decision, so there was no need to pay attention.
Though she disliked Emma, Katniss had to admit that sending Desmond back to Luminous City was the best way to keep Emma from bothering Maximilian again.
Her thoughts raced, but only a moment passed.
After thinking it through, she shook her head at Maximilian.
Maximilian understood her meaning, but Emma didn't have the same understanding.
Seeing Katniss shake her head, Emma thought she didn't want to have the meal either and became anxious.
Though she still wore a smile, her words were no longer as polite, "Mr. Hamilton, are you scared? It's just a conversation. Or is it Ms. Manners who doesn't want to?"
She arrogantly dragged both Maximilian and Katniss into her words.
Emma, used to speaking without restraint, felt relieved after saying this.
Previously, she had restrained herself and pretended to be understanding to leave a good impression on Maximilian.
Katniss didn't care about Emma's words, treating them like a buzzing fly, but she noticed that Maximilian was angry.
Surprised, she quickly held his hand, gently stroking the back of it to soothe him.
Maximilian's heart softened, and he saw Katniss's worried expression.
He whispered, "I'm fine. You weren't scared, were you?"
He was angry because of Emma's words about Katniss.
If Emma spoke about him, he might not care. But if she spoke about Katniss, he couldn't ignore it.
Katniss smiled gently, reassuring him, "I'm not a child. How could I be scared by this?"
She was worried about Maximilian's emotions.
Maximilian saw her concern, his tone calm but serious, "Then don't listen to her nonsense."
Katniss couldn't help but laugh.
Emma, across the table, saw the two whispering but couldn't hear them due to the distance and their lowered voices.
She gritted her teeth, annoyed at Katniss's faint smile.
The position Katniss held would be hers eventually!
Soon, the person beside Maximilian would be her!
"Mr. Hamilton?" Emma couldn't stand their closeness and called out loudly.
Maximilian ignored Emma, asking Katniss in a normal tone, "Katniss, do you still want to eat here?"
This meant letting Katniss decide whether to rescue Desmond now.
Desmond immediately looked at Katniss with burning eyes, risking Emma's wrath, and called out, "Katniss, save me."
Emma angrily stomped on Desmond's foot.
Desmond didn't dare speak further, continuing to look pitifully at Katniss.
At this moment, he couldn't care about dignity.
To him, Katniss was much easier to talk to than Maximilian.
While Desmond was eager, Emma had calmed down considerably.
Desmond looked at Katniss, but Emma kept her gaze fixed on Maximilian.
Katniss saw Emma's unwavering focus on Maximilian and said, "Why don't you tell us what you want to discuss with Maximilian first, Ms. Kate?"
Maximilian had given her enough confidence, so she had to respond in kind.
Emma felt disgusted by Katniss's question and was even more repulsed by her faint smile.
If Maximilian weren't sitting beside Katniss, looking particularly protective, she wouldn't have paid any attention to Katniss.
But Katniss's smug look wouldn't last long!
Her people were already following her instructions from the car.
Now, she just needed to stall and wait.
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