Chapter 299
The car window slid down, and there was Felix, looking all serious and stuff.
Felix goes, "Just wanted to make sure you got home safe, then I'm out."
Gianna shot back, "No need, we're done. My safety ain't your problem."
"Gianna!" Felix's eyes got all icy. "I know you're still mad. I won't mess with your life anymore, but I ain't budging on your safety."
Gianna was about to snap back when Felix just drove off.
Back home, Gianna was still fuming.
She knew she was starting to soften towards Felix, and that was bad news.
After stewing over it all night, she decided to go along with Raymond's plan.
First, she could pay him back, and second, it would show Felix she was done with him.
Soon, word got out that Gianna and Raymond were a thing all over Dawnridge.
Faith was floored, her jaw practically on the ground, when she saw Raymond picking Gianna up from work.
Faith blurted out, "Gianna, am I seeing things? Are you really with Raymond?!"
Gianna just pressed her lips together and mumbled, "I'll explain later."
Once in the car, Raymond's smooth voice asked, "What do you wanna eat tonight?"
Gianna looked at him, "Mr. Musk, this isn't what we agreed on. Weren't we just pretending?"
Raymond chuckled, "Yeah, but couples have dinner together. If we don't hang out, who's gonna buy it?"
Seeing Raymond so chill, Gianna wondered if she was overthinking.
Raymond said, "Just focus on what you wanna eat tonight."
Gianna shrugged, "I'm easy, whatever you like."
Raymond raised an eyebrow, "You sure?"
"Yep." Gianna nodded.
Half an hour later, they were at a barbecue joint.
Gianna frowned, "You don't have to eat this for me."
Raymond wiped her chair and poured her water, "You like BBQ too? I love it. Used to come here with my college buddies, but now, not so much."
Gianna said, "Yeah, didn't think you'd be into it. Surprising."
Raymond handed her the menu, "Pick what you want."
Gianna ordered a few things and passed it back, "Add whatever you want."
Raymond quickly picked his favorites.
Seeing how he ordered, she finally believed he really liked it.
After dinner, they strolled down the road.
Talking, Gianna found they had a lot in common, like their love for Van Gogh, and Raymond had some cool insights.
Before they knew it, it was past ten, and they were miles from the car.
Walking back was a no-go, and Raymond looked a bit sheepish, "I'll call a cab."
"What about your car?" Gianna asked.
"My assistant will get it tomorrow." Raymond replied.
Gianna nodded, "Okay."
Just as they were about to call a cab, a black Maybach pulled up.
The driver's door swung open, and out stepped Felix, looking all icy as he made a beeline for Gianna.
"Gianna, come back with me," Felix demanded.
Gianna's eyes flashed with annoyance, but before she could say anything, Raymond stepped in front of her.
"Felix, Gianna's my girl now. Back off," Raymond said, his voice cold.
Felix let out a bitter laugh, glaring at Raymond with barely concealed rage.
"Raymond, you really wanna throw away our decades-long friendship over this?" Felix challenged.
Raymond didn't say a word, just stared him down, his silence speaking volumes.
"Fine, from now on, we're done. Strangers if we meet again!"
Hearing what Felix had said, Gianna frowned but kept quiet.
"Fine." As soon as Raymond's words dropped, the air around them seemed to freeze.
Felix turned his icy gaze to Gianna, "Come back with me!"
Gianna pressed her lips together, meeting his cold, angry eyes, "Mr. Clinton, my boyfriend will take me home."
Felix's eyes were like ice as he said, "Are you sure you want to bankrupt the Musk Group over this?"
Raymond's face hardened, "Felix, the Musk Group isn't that weak; it won't go down that easy."
"Then go ahead and try!" Felix sneered.
The two men stared each other down, neither willing to back off.
"Enough! Besides threats, what else can you do?" Gianna took a deep breath, her voice filled with disappointment, "I won't be bullied by you anymore. If you push it, I'll sell MY FASHION to save the Musk Group, and I'll dump all my ten percent shares in the Clinton Group to them!"
Felix hadn't expected the shares he gave back to her would be used against him like this.
"Gianna! You're just banking on the fact that I like you, so you dare to act this way!" Felix shouted.
"Yeah! So if you know that, you can choose not to like me. It's better than us torturing each other!" Gianna's eyes were red as she stared him down.
Felix was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "Gianna, it doesn't have to be you!"
He turned and left, the Maybach speeding off and disappearing from sight.
Raymond turned to Gianna, his voice soft, "I'll take you home."
Gianna lowered her eyes, her emotions hidden.
"No need, I'll grab a cab."
With that, Gianna hailed a taxi and left.
In the days that followed, Felix didn't show up, but rumors of him dating again spread through Dawnridge, along with his dating requirements:
1. No one with the last name Redstone.
2. No one with long hair.
3. No one who is 23 years old.
After reading those, Faith nearly burst out laughing and immediately called Gianna.
"Gianna, Felix's dating requirements might as well have your name on them. Is he doing this just to mess with you?"
Gianna frowned, her voice cold, "If you love gossip so much, why don't I set up a special group for you to chat about it every day?"
"Hahaha, no thanks. But seriously, a lot of socialites are chopping their hair off because of this. The hair salons in Dawnridge are packed."
"Alright, I have stuff to do. Talk later."
After hanging up, Gianna tossed her phone aside, not sure what she was feeling inside.
