Chapter 291 Might Need to Use It Again Next Time
Emory looked confused, and the phone's flash automatically adjusted to the light.
"I took a selfie," he said without changing his expression.
Ronnie wanted to say something, but was stopped by Katniss.
The flash doesn't go off when taking a selfie, but why bother investigating this?
As long as Emory was willing to sit down and discuss the project, a candid photo was just a candid photo.
Katniss placed the project proposal in front of Emory, "Mr. Buckner, please take a look."
She didn't understand much about the project; it was Ronnie who gave the comprehensive introduction, and she smoothly answered the occasional tricky question.
Tristan, who received the photo of Katniss, didn't notice anything wrong because it only showed her upper body, and the thick down jacket made her look bulky.
Her face was rosy, her eyebrows gentle, and the purple light in the private room added a touch of allure.
After Ronnie finished explaining the project details, Emory seemed somewhat interested.
"I don't have time today. Schedule a meeting with my secretary for tomorrow, and we'll discuss it at the company," he said, standing up and unbuttoning two buttons on his suit.
His gaze suddenly fell on Katniss, "You need to come too."
Ronnie was so excited that he almost flipped the table when he stood up.
Katniss quickly steadied the table and then calmly confirmed the meeting with Emory for the next day.
He had initially planned to leave empty-handed, but now he was suddenly thrilled.
Katniss didn't expect it to go so smoothly either. When she got home at eleven o'clock that night, Sophia nagged her for a while before she went to her room, but she didn't sleep.
It was afternoon in China, and Benjamin was still waiting to discuss a new project with her.
When she told him about tonight's events, Benjamin was particularly happy.
"Katniss, I think you've been a tremendous help to me. I never thought I could secure White Corporation so smoothly and stabilize it in such a short time."
Now, he had secured many projects, and none of the higher-ups at White Corporation dared to defy him.
"You don't need to be overly grateful to me. Our relationship is purely business, not personal. I got what I wanted too."
Katniss and Benjamin's relationship had always been purely about mutual benefits, never about personal feelings.
This somewhat disheartened Benjamin, but he understood that after experiencing a painful event, one would develop long-term vigilance against similar situations. He didn't know what she had gone through with the Forbes family.
She must have suffered and learned her lesson.
"I also have good news for you. I contacted Samuel as you suggested, and he seems willing to help me. However, he's been with The Astor Corporation for a long time, and it's not easy for him to leave."
Samuel had wanted to break free from Michael for a long time.
But without a suitable new employer, he couldn't make a move. Katniss had seen this coming.
"However, I heard from him that recently Michael has suddenly started focusing on investigating Bella's illness, leaving many company matters to him. It seems something has happened."
Benjamin didn't understand the reason behind it.
"Previously, there were rumors about Michael and Isla, which greatly affected The Astor Corporation. Someone invested in The Astor Corporation and took a significant share, so Michael no longer has the final say. Recently, he has been neglecting The Astor Corporation to help Eudora. If the new shareholders are even slightly dissatisfied, The Astor Corporation could face a change in leadership."
Katniss analyzed the situation thoroughly, watching coldly as Michael led The Astor Corporation towards its downfall.
As for Bella's situation, she had no interest in knowing.
"If you want Samuel to switch jobs quickly, you need to offer him a suitable position. The Astor Corporation is on the brink of collapse, and he can't leave until it falls. But given its current precarious state, others would understand if he switched jobs. However, you must give up on The Astor Corporation's projects in the future if you want Samuel. You have to sacrifice something."
She understood Samuel well. If he switched jobs now and White Corporation later competed for The Astor Corporation's projects, people would suspect that Samuel had brought over The Astor Corporation's secrets.
Samuel's professional ethics would be questioned.
If Benjamin wanted Samuel now, he had to sacrifice The Astor Corporation's projects in the future to protect Samuel's reputation, so he would decisively switch jobs.
Benjamin knew this but didn't understand Samuel well enough to know how to proceed.
With Katniss's guidance, after discussing the project, he hung up the video call and called Samuel, straightforwardly discussing the matter.
Samuel thought for a long time and then asked, "Benjamin, is Katniss the person behind you?"
"No," Benjamin quickly denied.
"No need to hide it from me. I understand her better than anyone else." Samuel knew his weakness, which was not leaving himself a way out.
He used to like Katniss. If he had given up his position as Michael's assistant and followed Katniss to Nightfall City, they might have been together by now.
But he didn't dare, afraid of losing his job and not ending up with Katniss.
The result was obvious: no effort, no outcome.
"If you hadn't come to find me, I wouldn't be sure that the person behind you was her."
After all, those decisive actions didn't seem like the Katniss he knew.
Since he had already guessed, Benjamin neither confirmed nor denied it, "Let's talk about you. Come with me. White Corporation currently lacks someone like you whom I can trust. Sign the agreement, and I guarantee I won't touch The Astor Corporation's projects, so you won't be in a difficult position."
"One month. I'll complete the resignation process at The Astor Corporation and then join you," Samuel agreed readily.
After hanging up the phone, Benjamin looked at the sunlight outside the window and suddenly felt that the future was bright.
Suddenly, he received an anonymous email.
When he opened it, his expression changed dramatically. It was all the confidential documents of Synergy Global Corporation for the next six months, including the bids for upcoming or already decided projects.
These documents all had Tristan's signature, proving their authenticity.
With these, he could secure all of Synergy Global Corporation's projects for the next six months.
But who sent these to him?
Before he could figure it out, the office door was suddenly pushed open.
Hazel, dressed in a cleaning uniform, came in and quickly locked the door behind her.
His eyes narrowed as he watched her walk over.
"Benjamin, why are you avoiding me?"
Benjamin's eyes were cold, his hand resting on his leg clenched into a fist, his face deliberately masked with a lazy expression.
"Avoiding you? It's just that our statuses are now worlds apart, and I have no reason to see you."
"I don't believe." Hazel's small face was full of stubbornness, her youthful face showing no hesitation, "You promised that after I graduated, I could follow you and you would protect me for life."
"You believed that?" Benjamin stood up, casually lighting a cigarette. He was much older than Hazel.
Perhaps because of his experiences, he appeared mature and steady, making Hazel seem even younger by comparison.
He was like a big bad wolf, and she was like an innocent little rabbit unaware of danger.
"After we had sex, I never said those things again, Can't you tell those were just sweet lies to get you into bed?" He said indifferently.
Hazel had to tilt her head up to look him in the eye, her eyes red. She had gone through great lengths to see him.
Recently, he had used such hurtful words to wound her every time they met.
"If you say you'll do something, you must follow through, or I'll cling to you forever."
"You're clinging to my money, right?" Benjamin exhaled a smoke ring, his hand with clear veins crushing the cigarette.
"How much do you want? Name a price, and I'll give it to you. I don't like trouble. Take the money and don't come looking for me again."
Hazel turned her head away, "I don't want any money. I just want to be with you."
Benjamin frowned tightly, turning to her, her stubbornness irritating him.
His heart tightened, and he felt a suffocating sense of breathlessness.
After a long while, he sneered, "You're so clever. You see I've taken over White Corporation and want to be the boss's wife? But your status doesn't match. If you insist on coming here, don't blame me for not treating you like a person."
He strode over, grabbed her slender wrist, and dragged her into the lounge.
She fell hard onto the bed, looking at him in terror and surprise as he walked in. Through the slightly open door, she could barely see his figure.
His hands, with distinct knuckles, were undressing, impatiently tearing open his shirt, and the sound of his belt being unbuckled was followed by his pants hitting the floor.
His strong physique was fully revealed, making her blush deeply, her ears turning red.
The last time was an accident; she wasn't fully conscious.
But this time, she was completely sober, yet he was in a state of rage.
Her clothes were torn off, accompanied by her resisting voice, "Benjamin! You're not like this. Don't think that by doing this, I'll leave. What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong?" Benjamin's mocking voice poured down from above her, "A freebie shouldn't be wasted. Last time, you felt pretty good. You should be grateful I'm still interested in your body."
Hazel had a youthful face but a hot figure.
Benjamin's hand was almost twice the size of hers, yet he couldn't fully grasp her chest with one hand.
It made him addicted to having sex with her. He was partly doing it on purpose and partly losing control, recklessly hurting her.
Hazel confidently said he wasn't like this before, gradually breaking into sobs, "Benjamin, stop. Let go of me."
"Regretting now?" Benjamin pinched her chin, looking at her tear-streaked face, his heart aching intensely, "Too late. Isn't this what you wanted? Begging won't work. Think about how to please me, okay?"
He switched between being a gentleman and a scoundrel seamlessly.
Under the gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes were slightly red, partly from uncontrollable emotions and partly from suppressed heartache.
Hazel whimpered in pain, not opening her eyes, missing the emotions in his eyes, crying as she endured the pain he inflicted.
She was incredibly tight, and he was extremely rough, which resulted in him having to call a private doctor to treat her vaginal tears.
Knowing she would be embarrassed, he called a female doctor, who was shocked, "What did you do? Couldn't you be gentler? How old is she? Is she even of age?"
"She's of age." Benjamin stood by the window, rolling up his sleeves, glancing at Hazel's trembling eyelashes, adding, "She is better than other women. I lost control. Although she was willing, out of decency, I have to treat her wounds, right? After all, I might need her again next time."
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