Chapter 435 I'm Giving Myself a Break
Seeing Seb give James cash, Susan lunged forward to snatch it back. But James, already clutching the dough, wasn't about to let go. With a quick flick, he stuffed the wad into his jacket.
"Don't give him money!" Susan snapped, clearly pissed.
James, feeling all smug, shot back, "This is from my son-in-law. I really raised you for nothing; Seb's way better!"
"Right, Seb?" James was practically kissing up to Seb.
Seb, stone-faced, replied, "From now on, don't bug Susan. If you need anything, come to Prosperity Group and find me."
"Sure thing, I'll definitely swing by your big company," James said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Seeing this, Susan turned away, arms crossed, fuming.
"You can leave now," Seb said to James, sounding a bit fed up.
"Goodbye, Seb," James chirped as he bounced out with the cash.
After James left, Susan was ready to blow a gasket, but with so many eyes on her, she held it in. Still seething, she stormed into her office.
Susan plopped down on the couch, still fuming, and Seb followed her in.
Seeing her pissed-off face, Seb turned and shut the office door.
As Seb got closer, Susan spun around and questioned, "Why'd you give him money? Don't you know he's a total scumbag?"
Seb sat down and calmly explained, "No matter what, he's still your dad. Now that you're running a business, these scandals can mess up your image and the company's future."
But Susan wasn't having it. With tears welling up, she cried, "Do you know how tough it was for Dorothy and me growing up? I remember once I couldn't pay my tuition and had to ask him for money. But what did he do? He was out partying with Sophia's kid. I asked for just a hundred bucks, and he wouldn't give it to me. Instead, he slapped me and said he wasn't my dad. From that moment on, I told myself my dad was dead, and I'd never acknowledge him again!"
Seeing Susan so torn up, Seb frowned and gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
Once Susan calmed down a bit, Seb said, "I'm not asking you to acknowledge him, just to give him some money to keep him off your back."
"I'd rather ditch the business altogether than give him a single dollar. You don't get it. James is greedy. If you give him two grand today, he'll come back for more tomorrow!" Susan said, stubborn as ever.
Seb held Susan's shoulders. "From now on, leave everything about James to me. I won't let him bother you."
Hearing this, Susan felt a wave of emotion and leaned on Seb's shoulder.
"Why's my life such a mess? Everyone else has these perfect families, parents who actually care, but I get stuck with a dad like this. He didn't give a damn about us growing up, and now he's just a walking disaster," Susan finally let herself vent in front of Seb.
Seeing her so torn up, Seb's brow furrowed, and his heart ached.
He patted her back and said with a grin, "You've always been tough as nails. Never seen you feeling sorry for yourself like this."
Hearing that, Susan snatched the handkerchief from him, wiped her tears, and said, "I'm a woman. I can be fragile too, you know. Don't always think I'm made of steel; I need some TLC sometimes."
Seb knew she was starting to feel better. He playfully pinched her nose and said, "I thought you were like a weed by the roadside, tough as nails, thriving no matter what."
Susan shot him a teary glare. "Who in their right mind prefers weeds over beautiful flowers?"
Seb raised an eyebrow and teased, "Maybe someone who's seen and smelled all kinds of flowers and finds the weeds more interesting."
Susan, fuming, grabbed his tie and yanked him close. "What did you say? You've smelled all kinds of flowers? Spill it, or you're in big trouble!"
"I've smelled them all. What's the point of telling you now? You're already my wife," Seb said, spreading his hands with a mischievous grin.
Susan shoved him, annoyed. "No wonder you were so eager to get hitched!"
With that, she lunged at him, ready to smack him.
But Seb quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, causing her to lose her balance and fall onto his lap.
Seb held her tight, grinning cheekily, and Susan couldn't get up.
Seeing him holding her so firmly, Susan said sternly, "Let go of me!"
"Nope," Seb said, smiling at her, refusing to let go.
"Let go, they're all outside!" Susan's face turned crimson.
"They know we have important stuff to discuss, so they won't come in," Seb said seriously, his smile fading.
Realizing she couldn't win this, Susan softened her tone. "It's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading to work?"
"No worries, I'm the CEO. I'm giving myself an hour off today," Seb said nonchalantly.
Hearing this, Susan was so flustered she didn't know what to do.
At that moment, he suddenly flipped her onto the couch.
Susan let out a small cry, and then her mouth was sealed by his.
'Oh my God, he's doing this here, in my office! Isabella and Leon are outside. What if someone comes in and sees? Even if no one comes in, people outside will guess we're being intimate in here,' she thought.
Susan naturally tried to push him away, but he was unmoved. The more she pushed, the more excited he became. Eventually, Susan didn't dare to move because the noise was too loud, and she was afraid people outside would hear.
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