Chapter 208 Hard to Refuse Such Hospitality
After we sat down, Nicholas gave us a quick look and said, "Since you two already know each other, no need for introductions." Then he turned to Orval and said, "Orval, fill Diana in on the program."
With a grin that was a bit too eager, Orval started, "Ms. Cooper, our program is all about young entrepreneurs. We pick the best teams from different industries and have them compete. The team that does the best gets a big financial boost from us."
He slid a project proposal over to me and asked, "Ms. Cooper, does this program interest you at all?"
I frowned a bit and didn't answer right away. Instead, I picked up the proposal and started reading.
On the surface, the program seemed to encourage young people to start their own businesses, which was great. But I had a feeling the financial support Orval mentioned wasn't just from the program; there might be some big money moving behind the scenes.
Seeing I wasn't responding, Orval forced a smile and said, "Ms. Cooper, you don't need to worry. As long as the business is legal, we won't interfere with their strategies."
I nodded slightly, looked at him calmly, and said, "Mr. Montes, to be honest, our law firm has been targeted by another firm recently. They've been undercutting us and stealing our clients."
I gave a helpless smile.
Nicholas's face darkened, and he slammed his cup on the table, shouting, "Who dares to act so arrogantly? Diana, tell me who it is, and I'll make them pay!"
I didn't want Nicholas to know about my conflict with Aria, so I shook my head and said, "Godfather, don't worry about it. It's just a minor issue and doesn't affect our operations."
Nicholas took a sip of water, his expression softened, and he smiled. "Handle it as you see fit," he said.
Orval leaned in closer, speaking passionately, "Ms. Cooper, this program has huge potential. Working with us will definitely make you shine."
The more he talked, the more I felt he had some hidden agenda. I looked to Nicholas for help.
But Nicholas just smiled and said, "Diana, this is your career. Even though you're my goddaughter and I want the best for you, the decision is yours."
Orval was still waiting for my answer, but his enthusiasm was making me uncomfortable. I just wanted to leave.
So I gave Orval a polite smile and said, "Mr. Montes, I'm just an online streamer sharing legal knowledge. I only got involved with the law firm because of a friend."
I put the proposal in my bag and said, "Whether their team participates in the program is up to the law firm's boss. She'll make the final decision."
Orval, though clearly not happy, got the hint that it wasn't the right time to push. He adjusted his collar, took a step forward, and with a forced gentlemanly bow, extended his hand to me, saying in an overly sweet tone, "Ms. Cooper, let's forget about work for a bit. There's a dance party downstairs. How about we go and unwind?"
Seeing his awkward attempt at being a gentleman, I couldn't help but think of Edward's genuine charm. I quickly decided to dodge this unexpected invite.
But out of respect for Nicholas, I kept a polite smile and said calmly, "Mr. Montes, I'm really not much of a dancer. Plus, I need to think about the program and report back to my boss ASAP, so I can't join you."
I stood up gracefully, grabbed my handbag, and headed for the door, saying, "Godfather, I'll be on my way now."
Nicholas nodded and said softly, "Diana, go ahead. Be careful on your way."
But Orval wasn't ready to give up. He quickly moved around the chair and chased after me.
He reached out, trying to stop me, and said urgently, "Ms. Cooper, don't rush off. We can talk work anytime. This dance won't take long."
As he reached for my arm, I felt a tightness in my chest and quickly stepped aside to avoid his grasp. In my haste, I accidentally bumped into a man coming out of the next room.
The collision made me lose my balance, and I had to stop to steady myself.
Taking advantage of the brief chaos, Orval stepped forward and grabbed my wrist tightly, causing me pain.
At the same time, Orval's gaze went past me, and he saw the man I had bumped into. His face instantly showed panic, and he quickly let go of my hand as if he'd been shocked, his voice trembling. "Mr. Howard."
I realized the man I had bumped into was Edward. I was flustered and couldn't read the emotions in his deep eyes.
Sweat trickled down Orval's forehead, and he stammered, "Mr. Howard, don't misunderstand, I was just trying to..."
Edward slightly raised his chin, his eyes showing a hint of displeasure and authority. He waved his hand lightly, cutting off Orval's explanation.
Then, his thin lips parted, and he said coldly, "If you don't want your hand, you can give it to someone who needs it."
Edward's deep, icy voice made the air around us feel a few degrees colder.
With a blank expression, Edward slowly took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently brushed it over the spot on my arm where Orval had grabbed me. Then, without a word, he pulled me along and strode towards the other end of the corridor.
Instinctively, I glanced in the direction of the room Edward had come from, and what I saw shocked me: Aria was sitting boldly on a producer's lap, clinking glasses with him with a big smile.
I widened my eyes in surprise and couldn't help but exclaim, "This is so wild! Aria really knows how to have fun!"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
