Chapter 279 Your Own Desires
I had been feeling restless for days, and after much thought, I decided to speak with Nicholas to get some clarity. Now that he had stepped back from his main role, it wouldn’t be easy to see him. However, after some inquiries, I learned that he might be visiting his usual club tonight. Since the birth of my daughter, Skylar, I hadn't had the chance to introduce her to Nicholas. After all, he's my godfather and, in a way, Skylar's grandfather. With that thought, I wasted no time and headed straight there with Skylar in my arms.
When I arrived at the entrance of the club, the lavish decorations and the laughter of well-dressed patrons made me, a woman hurriedly carrying a child, feel completely out of place.
Just as I was about to step inside, a security guard blocked my way. "Who are you? You can't just walk in here."
The guard looked at me with disdain and extended his hand to stop me. I tightened my hold on Skylar and urgently explained, "I'm Nicholas's goddaughter. I need to speak with him about something important. Please let me in."
The guard scoffed, "You think you can just see Mr. Jackson whenever you want? Everyone here wants a connection to him. Just because you have a child doesn’t mean you can break the rules."
I knew he had a point. Despite my growing frustration and anxiety, I tried to stay calm and replied, "I really do have something very important to discuss. Could you please just let him know I’m here?"
At that moment, a young woman dressed in lavish attire brushed past me. Hearing my conversation with the security guard, she wrinkled her nose and said to him, "What kind of standards do you have? Keep an eye on the door—don’t let just anyone in. That poor girl reeks of poverty and is seriously polluting the air!"
Although her words were directed at the guard, her gaze was fixated on me. The overpowering scent of her perfume made Skylar cough, prompting me to hold her even tighter.
The woman continued, "Look at you bringing a child here. You're not trying to claim Mr. Jackson as your relative, are you?"
Her companions burst into laughter, casting judgmental looks in my direction. A rush of blood surged to my head, and I glared at the woman confronting me. But with Skylar in my arms, I felt powerless to retaliate. I turned to the security guard with urgency, "I truly have something important to discuss; please, could you notify him?"
But no one paid attention to my plea. The woman unabashedly continued, "These days everyone thinks they can climb the social ladder. Holding a child and claiming to be Mr. Jackson's kin? Just take a good look at yourself!"
Of course, I was well aware of my appearance. Since becoming pregnant, I had made it a point to dress simply, avoiding perfume and cosmetics. Partly because I was confident in my natural beauty, believing it didn't need any embellishment to shine; but more importantly, to ensure the safety and health of my precious baby.
The manager opened the door for me and then hunched over as he exited. The room was dimly lit and filled with swirling smoke. Seated on the sofa was Nicholas, surrounded by several young women, one of whom—very much to my surprise—was the same woman who had confronted me at the entrance, now sitting in Nicholas's lap.
As I stepped inside, I tried to keep my voice steady. "Looks like you're enjoying yourself, hiding out here in such a nice place."
Nicholas glanced up, and a faintly uncomfortable smile crossed his face. He set down his drink and waved dismissively for the girls to leave. The woman on his lap was reluctant to go, playfully wrapping her arms around his neck. Nicholas's expression sharpened, and after pinching her cheek lightly a couple of times, she finally stood up with an air of reluctance.
"Close the door behind you," he commanded. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight. The young woman shot me an indignant look as she exited, huffing dismissively.
Once the door creaked shut, it was just Nicholas and me in the room. He rose and walked closer to me. "Diana, what brings you here with the child? Take a seat."
Ignoring his invitation, I stood my ground, directly asking, "I want to discuss your acquisition of the Howard Group."
Nicholas furrowed his brow but didn't respond right away. Instead, he let out a couple of cold laughs and retorted, "You traveled all this way, holding a baby, just for this little issue?"
"Is this a little matter? You've already drained the Howard Group dry. Why are you letting Lucas take over?" My anger flared, bubbling up to the surface.
Nicholas leisurely settled back onto the sofa, took a sip from his glass, and then spoke slowly. "Diana, you're still young; there's much to learn in the business world. Don't be so quick to judge the Howard Group. Although it appears to be a mess now, it still has its foundation. Reviving the Howard Group is not entirely out of reach for Lucas."
His casual tone made me frown instinctively as I retorted, "You know better than anyone why the Howard Group ended up like this. If it weren’t for you and Anne teaming up to hollow out its assets bit by bit, the Howard Group wouldn't be in this state. Now, you want Lucas to clean up this mess? He doesn’t understand business at all. Is that fair to him?"
A sly smile crept onto Nicholas's face. "Fairness? There's no such thing as 'fair' in business. What I'm doing is for Lucas's own good. Young people need to be toughened up to establish themselves in this arena, and the Howard Group could serve as practice for him."
I was shaking with anger, taking a step forward as I exclaimed, "You would destroy a perfectly good company for your own gain, treating your own son as a mere pawn! How ruthless you are!"
My voice had grown too loud, startling Skylar from her sleep, making her cry out. Nicholas's expression darkened in an instant, though it quickly returned to his earlier calm demeanor. "Diana, I understand your feelings, especially given your history with Edward. This child is Edward's, isn't it? But you have to realize that the business world is like a battlefield; sometimes, you have to employ certain tactics. Think about the bigger picture—I'm doing this for the sake of the entire industry."
I let out a cold laugh and said, "For the industry's development? You're just ambitious, trying to satisfy your own desires."
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