Chapter 272 She Was Dragged into the Water
Pearl wondered why there was a pool here. Suddenly, she heard a splash.
Before she could react, water splashed all over her. She barely had time to shield her face.
When the splashing stopped, she saw a man swimming, who was tall, muscular, and clearly fit.
'Isn't the CEO of HarborView Holdings over fifty? This guy looks way too young,' she thought.
As he swam closer, she realized he looked familiar. When he emerged from the water, she was shocked. "You? What are you doing here?"
The man wiped his face and looked at her confidently. "Why not me?"
Pearl scanned the room, her expression turning serious. "Where's the CEO of HarborView Holdings?"
She was here for an interview, not to mess around.
Oscar smirked, leaned against the pool edge, and sipped some red wine.
Seeing his silence, Pearl pressed, "Why aren't you answering? I'm here for work, not games."
Without looking back, Oscar replied, "You always focus on work first, don't you?"
Pearl sensed something was off. "Wait a minute..."
The receptionist had said the CEO was inside. Maybe Oscar had bought HarborView Holdings.
"You're right. HarborView Holdings is mine now," Oscar confirmed. "I'm the one you need to interview."
Pearl's face fell. She had researched the CEO thoroughly, only to find out Oscar had taken over.
"Why did you do this? Are you messing with me?" she asked, confused.
"Business is business," Oscar said calmly. "It's about growth. You should know that by now."
Pearl struggled to process this. She hadn't expected Oscar to be the new CEO.
It made it hard for her to separate her personal life from her work. She shouldn't have thought that Oscar acquired the HarborView Holdings in order to make her come. But such an encounter was a bit of a fuss.
She tried to regain her composure. "Mr. Brown, I didn't know it was you."
Oscar replied, "If you had known, would you have come?"
She might have hesitated if she had known. She was focused on her career and needed to keep work and personal life separate.
Even if she avoided Oscar now, their paths would cross eventually as her career grew.
"Mr. Brown, you're overthinking. I always take my work seriously. If my boss sends me, I'll be there," she said coldly.
Oscar raised an eyebrow and called her out, "You were supposed to do the last interview, but you passed it off to someone else."
Pearl was taken aback.
"If I knew it was you, I would've given you the chance," Oscar said, turning to reveal his broad chest.
He was shirtless, hair wet, water dripping down his chiseled features. Even after seven years together, three as his wife, she still felt awkward seeing him like this.
She kept her cool but avoided his gaze. "That was the editor-in-chief's decision, not mine."
Oscar didn't push further. "What about this time?"
"I'm here, Mr. Brown. That shows my sincerity," Pearl replied, reminding herself they were no longer married. They never really were, just a piece of paper, no real happiness.
"Let's start the interview," Oscar said, still in the pool, making it an unusual setting.
"Mr. Brown, wouldn't it be easier if you got out and put on some clothes?" Pearl suggested.
"Ms. Harris, are you not up to the task?" Oscar challenged. "A journalist should be able to conduct an interview anytime, anywhere."
Pearl pressed her lips together. With anyone else, even a man in a pool, she wouldn't feel this awkward.
"Mr. Brown, I just joined Horizon Network. I'm not as experienced as others. I hope you can be considerate," she said politely.
Oscar placed his hands on the pool edge, his muscular arms and bulging veins on display. "Then come over here," he said, his deep eyes on her.
Pearl hesitated. "What are you doing?"
"Aren't you here to interview?" Oscar replied. "How can you do that from over there?"
Pearl hesitated on the spot. She didn't want to face him this way in the first place, let alone get too close to him. Oscar's eyes darkened, but he spoke like a leader. "If you can't handle this, go back. I'll have your boss find another journalist. I don't mind."
His casual tone made it clear it didn't matter if it was her or someone else. This made Pearl feel less awkward.
This was work, not personal. She needed to separate the two.
She came to her senses and raised her head to look at Oscar. She saw that he continued to turn his head away, with the back of his head facing her. Both his words and attitude were distant and indifferent.
That's fine. Oscar didn't even care, so why should she be so sensitive?
She composed herself, prepared her recorder, and clipped the microphone to her clothes. Treating Oscar like a piece of wood, she walked over.
"Mr. Brown, since you don't mind, let's start. I have a few questions..."
Suddenly, she fell into the pool.
Another splash. As she reached the edge, a long arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into the water.
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