Chapter 370 Might Invite Trouble
Kirk raised an eyebrow at her. "I didn't walk you home. It just so happens my way home is the same as yours. Just because you're walking this way doesn't mean others can't, right?"
Ariana frowned but couldn't argue with him.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, she turned and walked away.
Kirk kept his distance, trailing her with a ten-foot gap.
Ariana felt a bit annoyed and picked up her pace, hoping to lose Kirk. But it didn't work. He kept following her until she entered her apartment building.
Back home, Ariana kicked off her shoes and tiredly flopped onto the sofa. Her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Sharon: [Ariana, you seemed off today. If something's bothering you, please tell me. I'll help you out. Stay strong!]
Ariana stared at the message for a while before replying: [Okay.]
At a popular seafood joint in Metropolis, Sharon waited for a bit. Seeing Ariana's reply, she felt a twinge of disappointment and placed her phone face down on the table.
Noticing her mood, Seb handed her a plate of freshly picked crab meat. "Eat up. What's wrong with you tonight? Why so distracted?"
Sharon took the plate from him, debating whether to tell Seb about Ariana, when a familiar voice chimed in.
"Sharon, Mr. Smith, you're here for dinner too?" Sophie said, walking up to their table.
Sharon turned and saw Sophie, looking surprised. "Sophie, you're here too? Who's this with you?"
Sophie smiled and nodded. "Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Dwayne Carr."
"Your boyfriend?" Sharon was shocked. She remembered Randy was chasing Sophie not too long ago, and Sophie didn't seem uninterested. How did she get a boyfriend so fast?
"Yeah, we just got together recently. We planned to tell you once things were more stable, but we ran into you here today," Sophie explained.
Sophie looked calm, showing no signs of being in a passionate relationship.
Sharon was puzzled but knew it wasn't the right time to ask. She looked at Dwayne. "Mr. Carr, nice to meet you."
Dwayne's expression was gentle as he said, "Ms. Roach, Mr. Smith, good evening."
Seb narrowed his eyes slightly and calmly said, "Mr. Carr, long time no see."
After exchanging greetings, Sophie turned to Sharon. "Sharon, we have something to do later, so we won't disturb your dinner. Let's catch up another time."
Seeing Sharon nod, Sophie looked down at Demetrius. "Demetrius, what gift would you like? I'll bring it next time."
Demetrius shook his head. "No need, Ms. Lee. Seeing you already makes me happy."
Sophie pinched Demetrius's cheek, grinning. "You're so good with words at such a young age, even better than your dad. You'll be very popular with girls in the future."
Seb remained silent.
Seeing Seb's darkened face, Sharon wanted to laugh, guessing he didn't expect to be outdone by Demetrius.
Sophie quickly left with Dwayne. After they disappeared from the restaurant entrance, Sharon looked at Seb. "Isn't Randy pursuing Sophie? How could Sophie be with Dwayne? And Sophie doesn't seem to have romantic feelings for Dwayne."
Having known Sophie for years, Sharon could tell Sophie had no feelings for Dwayne. When Sophie stood with Dwayne, she deliberately kept a distance. If she really liked him, she would unconsciously get closer to him.
"The Lee Group's having some business issues. Randy's six years younger than Sophie," Seb explained.
Randy, just a general manager at the Smith Group, didn't have much decision-making power, let alone the ability to use the company's resources to save the Lee family. Unless he sold his shares, which would mean giving up his chance to lead the company. Randy had to decide what was more important: the Smith Group or Sophie.
Sharon nodded. "So Sophie and Dwayne are in a marriage of convenience?"
"Dwayne might not necessarily marry Sophie," Seb said.
Seb had dealt with Dwayne a few times and knew that, despite his friendly facade, Dwayne was actually quite devious and only acted in his own interest. He might be with Sophie not just for her looks, but possibly for other reasons as well. He might be after the Lee Group.
With this thought, Seb frowned.
Sharon's focus was entirely different. Hearing Seb's words, she frowned. "What do you mean? Is Dwayne a jerk?"
Seb didn't expect her to put it that way and found it amusing, but she wasn't entirely wrong. He said, "Pretty much. Sophie is probably trying to use marriage to help the Lee Group out of its predicament, but she might be inviting trouble."
"Should I warn Sophie about this?" Sharon asked.
If Dwayne was really a bad person, she couldn't just watch Sophie get into trouble.
Seb glanced at her and said, "Even if you warn her, Sophie might not listen. Right now, Dwayne is her best option."
When someone had no choice, they wouldn't listen to others no matter what they said.
Sharon bit her lip and looked up at him. "Is there really no other way to save the Lee Group?"
"There is, but it requires a lot of money and might not succeed. The main reason Sophie is with Dwayne is that the Lee Group's products are exactly what the Carr Group needs. If the two groups form a deep partnership, the Lee Group can develop normally," Seb explained.
Seb added, "But for Dwayne, it's easier to take over the Lee Group than to save it."
The more Sharon listened, the worse her expression became. She didn't expect the Lee Group to be in such a difficult situation, needing the Carr Group's orders to barely operate.
Seeing her silent, Seb said softly, "Don't worry too much. There might still be a turning point."
Sharon lowered her eyes, not sure if she heard him.
Seb also wanted to know whether the Smith Group or Sophie was more important to Randy.
Then Sharon felt the meal was tasteless. On the way back, she kept looking out the window, lost in thought.
When they got home, Dana took Demetrius for a bath, and Sharon went to her room.
Sharon thought for a long time and decided to meet Sophie. She picked up her phone and started typing a message.
Downstairs in the study, Seb dialed Randy's number. "You know Sophie is with Dwayne, right? Selling your shares in the Smith Group could save the Lee Group, but you'd lose your opportunity to lead the Smith Group. With your current skills, it will take at least four or five more years to take charge of the Smith Group. Consider what's more important to you: the Smith Group or Sophie."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
