Chapter 237 He Likes Nora
Nora looked at the message she had received, licking her red lips with a sense of anticipation of possibly playing the matchmaker. She was about to go meet Quinn for dinner, but she knew she had to check in with Aaron first.
She dialed Aaron's number and patiently waited for him to answer her call.
"Thomas, did the kids get picked up?"
"They're over at Jacob's place again," Aaron said, his voice warm with amusement as he sat back in his executive chair at the office. Jacob adored his grandchildren greatly, and Nora suspected it wouldn't be long before they had completely won over his heart.
Nora couldn't help but laugh lightly, "They went over to someone else's house again? That kind of imposition isn't exactly ideal, is it?"
Aaron's grin and amusement were audible through the phone. "Who says they're imposing? Maybe they're keeping him company. Jacob probably doesn't have many family members around if he is fond of our kids."
'Our kids?' The thought alone caused a brief pause in Nora's smile. 'If only those three kids were truly his, that would be incredible.'
"Are you heading home now?" Aaron asked, shifting the conversation.
Nora, snapping back to reality with a dry chuckle, replied, "I actually, wanted to talk to you about that. Quinn has invited me to dinner."
Aaron's brows knit together slightly. "Her again? I don't approve of it."
As Nora had predicted, Aaron flatly rejected the idea.
But Nora quickly explained, "Listen, it's not just me she invited. Baldwin is going, too. And isn’t she looking for a boyfriend? What if we play ‘matchmaker’ for them? They seem like they would make a good-looking couple, don't they?"
Contemplating her words, Aaron fell silent for a moment. "Do you know what kind of boyfriend Quinn is looking for?"
Nora thought it over, "Someone with a good background who is also loyal in a relationship."
"Does Baldwin have that kind of background?" he asked.
Coming from very humble beginnings, Baldwin certainly did not have an impressive background.
"True, Baldwin doesn't come from a notable background, but his career is taking off. He's set for success, like a stock with huge growth potential."
Aaron's silence hung in the air briefly before he finally spoke up, "Send me the address."
Nora was ready for a second objection from him but was pleasantly surprised by his request for the address.
"You're coming too?" she inquired, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"I'll come pick you up later." His magnetic voice resonated with a concern that softened Nora's heart.
"Okay," she gently agreed, even though she thought to herself that Frederick would be there and Aaron's presence wasn't really necessary. But since he had offered, she didn't want to squash his enthusiasm. He rarely listened to her objections anyway.
Nora asked Frederick to drive her to a place called the Nobility Club.
Once she found the private room Quinn had informed her of, Nora pushed the door open and saw that Quinn and Baldwin were already there, along with Baldwin’s agent.
“Nora, you made it,” Quinn giggled, motioning for her to come over with a wave, “Come sit with me."
"Sure," Nora smiled playfully and walked over.
Baldwin, with a gentle look in his eyes, stood up and pulled out a chair for her.
Recounting Baldwin’s earlier events, when he was on his way home, he received a direct call from his agent, who told him to come to the dinner party. Initially, he was reluctant but changed his mind after he learned that Quinn wanted to hire him as a brand ambassador for their company.
The idea of it being Quinn's dinner party made him want to refuse even more. However, when he heard that Nora was also invited, he didn't refuse and had his driver take him there.
Quinn noticed the warmth in Baldwin's eyes and squinted with her lovely gaze. A while ago. when Nora wasn't around, he had seemed so indifferent. And yet now he was suddenly all gentle and tender? Could it be that he had feelings for Nora? Interesting!
Quinn lifted her glass, pouring drinks for them both.
"Thank you both for your help today. Here's to you," she said, offering a toast before downing her glass with gusto.
Nora looked at the sparkling liquid with a sense of apology, "Quinn, I'm not good at drinking." If she drank as boldly as Quinn, she'd be drunk in no time.
Baldwin spoke softly, "Nora, just a little sip is fine."
Taking his suggestion to heart, Nora took a tiny sip, as did Baldwin, with a smile flickering in his eyes.
Quinn watched their interaction, her eyebrows arching gracefully, her delicate fingers playing with the glass.
"A woman's toast is worth three," she taunted. "Look at me. I've finished mine. And you, just a tiny sip? Are you even a man?" Her voice was naturally seductive, now tinged with a hint of mockery.
Baldwin glanced at her, his eyes returning to their usual haughtiness, "You're the one who invited me here for dinner."
As if he came eagerly just for the meal. If it wasn’t for Nora’s presence, he would not have bothered to come.
Quinn stared at him for a few seconds, then leaned back slightly with a light scoff, "If you're so reluctant, just leave now. We can always find another celebrity to endorse us."
At these words, Baldwin's agent became anxious and hastily signaled to Baldwin. "Baldwin, it's just a drink. Don't be so fussy!"
Despite Quinn's complex reputation, the influence and wealth of the Johnson Group couldn't simply be ignored.
‘Star Rising’
Despite being a celebrity, Baldwin had only recently come into the limelight. There were plenty of stars shining bright in Hollywood—competition was fierce. So naturally, he couldn't afford to miss out on this endorsement opportunity. Landing a deal with the Johnson Group could lead to more prestigious endorsements in the future.
Baldwin glanced at his agent, fell silent for a moment, but decided not to embarrass her. He picked up his glass and downed the drink in one go.
Quinn, sitting across from him with her crimson lips curved in a lazy smile, teased, "Just one drink to send me on my way? Baldwin, if you're a real man, you'll have three."
A slight frown creased Baldwin's brow as he looked at Quinn without a word. Her provocations were getting under his skin, truly testing his patience.
He responded coolly, "Is provocation all you've got?"
"Well, are you going to drink or not?" Quinn's eyes glistened flirtatiously as she asked in a soft voice.
Baldwin's face remained expressionless, and his agent was frantically signaling to him from the sidelines. After a long sigh, he poured himself two more drinks and finished them swiftly.
Nora, watching the exchange, rubbed her forehead. Was there a sense of unspoken conflict between the two? Was this truly the path to a budding partnership?
After Baldwin finished the second round of drinks, he placed his glass upside down on the table. Quinn applauded him insincerely. "I take back what I said. You are man enough."
Baldwin gave a cold smile and chose not to respond, turning to speak to Nora instead. Quinn watched with a face full of amusement.
The group began to eat, and after a few bites, the agent raised a toast to Quinn and started discussing the contract with her.
Quinn glanced at Baldwin. "No rush. It depends on his performance."
‘His performance? What kind of performance?’ Baldwin's brow furrowed. Wasn't it she who had actively approached him to discuss the endorsement deal?
A horrible thought crossed his mind, did she expect him to trade his body for the contract? Baldwin's demeanor cooled.
"You know that I've always been above board," he said, implying he had principles and talent to offer, not his body.
His agent understood the subtext and looked towards Quinn with an apologetic smile.
Quinn seemed startled at first, but then her interest seemed to intensify. She examined Baldwin. "You're not still a virgin, are you?"
Baldwin, who had been drinking water, nearly choked, nearly spraying it out. The audacity of this woman! As Baldwin's ears turned red, Quinn's smile widened.
"In the entertainment industry, it's rare to find a man as pure-hearted as you!" she said with clear admiration. But to Baldwin, it sounded like sarcasm.
He had his pride, after all. So, he lied with a stiff neck, "Of course, I keep myself clean and wouldn't mess around like some people."
'Mess around? Is he talking about herself?' Quinn's smile faded slightly.
"People say folks in the entertainment industry aren't too cultured, and looking at you, I'm starting to believe it," she countered.
That was a dig at his lack of culture. Baldwin frowned and objected, "Are you mocking me? How am I not cultured?"
"You just follow the crowd, believing whatever you hear. Isn't that the definition of uncultured?" Quinn replied coolly, sipping her drink.
As the alcohol set in, Baldwin found the woman before him increasingly irritating.
Nora, seeing the tension between them, quickly intervened. "Let's not argue. The food is getting cold. Why don't we eat and talk?"
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