Chapter 111 Making a Bet

"Are you even listening?" Dorothy pinched Ethan's ear lightly, her voice harsh in his ear.
Ethan casually removed her hand, replying indifferently, "Of course I'm listening. But what does it matter to me if he's a big shot? He's rich, but he's not going to share his wealth with me."
Dorothy's mouth twitched. She found Ethan's attitude and philosophy quite refreshing. At the very least, he seemed to live a stress-free life. She suspected that even if the country's leader stood before him, he wouldn't bother to exchange more than a few words with them.
After all, we were all human, with two shoulders supporting one head. The only difference between them might be a bit more power or wealth, but what was there to be in awe of?
"My foot still hurts. Rub it for me," Dorothy shifted her body, lifting her leg and resting it in Ethan's lap.
Then, she noticed that Ethan's calm demeanor faltered, which made her smirk. Everyone had something that could unsettle them.
Five minutes later, Max walked out looking dejected. Even after seeing Ethan massaging Dorothy's ankle, he didn't even have the energy to scold him.
Bull followed him out, his face darkening at the sight. The fact that Ethan could so naturally massage Dorothy's ankle showed how close their relationship had become. Especially since Ruben hadn't managed to help the Bush Group, this sight only made his heart sink further.
"What the hell are you doing?" He started, pointing at Ethan's nose.
"This is a high-end club. You're in public, behaving like this is disgraceful!"
"If people see, won't they laugh at us for bringing in a country bumpkin like you?"
Bull started berating Ethan. Max also frowned, "Dorothy, you're not a child anymore. Mind your image!"
Dorothy, slightly annoyed, put her leg down and asked, "Dad, did things not go well?"
"We still couldn't persuade Mr. Miller... He thinks our Bush Group is insignificant, and since this matter doesn't concern him, he doesn't want to get involved," Max said, his face gloomy and helpless.
"Mr. Bush, don't worry. I'll try to persuade my teacher again when I get back! His attitude will definitely change!" Bull added quickly.
Bull knew that his words were nothing more than a bluff. He didn't have the ability to change Ruben's mind, and his relationship with Ruben wasn't as close as he made it sound.
He had only happened to attend a few of Ruben's lectures, and while Ruben looked upon him a bit more favorably, they were far from a true teacher-student relationship.
Max said, "Then we'll have to trouble you. Although we weren't successful in persuading Mr. Miller today, it was an honor to meet him and have a five-minute conversation."
Ethan asked, "Do you consider this matter urgent, Mr. Bush? Is it necessary to have Ruben speak on your behalf?"
"Of course! Otherwise, everyone in the company will be in a panic. Who would have the mind to work?" Max replied irritably.
Bull, who was standing nearby, chimed in, "What do you, a mere prison guard, know about running a business? Ask fewer unnecessary questions!"
"Have you ever been to a club of this scale before?"
"Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll take you around to broaden your horizons."
However, Ethan just chuckled and shook his head, "Is it that hard to persuade Ruben? Wait here, I'll go in and talk to him."
Bull snorted, "You're overestimating yourself. Who do you think you are to be able to persuade my teacher?"
"Don't even mention persuading him; you won't even get to see him!"
"With your status and position, you’re like an insect to him. My teacher won't even see you."
Yet Ethan had already stood up and was walking towards the coffee room.
Max frowned, surprised that this young man was so reckless as to disturb Ruben. Wasn't he afraid of causing trouble?
Bull didn't even try to stop him; he just watched coldly. The coffee room wasn't only occupied by Ruben, but also his bodyguards.
If Ethan barged in like this, he'd probably be thrown out by the bodyguards within thirty seconds!
‘That's fine, I can't be bothered to dissuade such a presumptuous guy. Let the bodyguards throw him out after he goes in, that would be a real loss of face!’ Bull thought to himself; he was even looking forward to the spectacle.
After Ethan was thrown out by the bodyguards, he could ridicule him and show Dorothy the gap between them.
"Let's go. It won't be a pretty sight when he's thrown out by Mr. Miller's bodyguards. Let's save him some face." Max, being older and more measured, shook his head at Dorothy, preparing to leave.
Dorothy was stunned, "Mr. Miller's bodyguards will throw him out? Dad, stop joking... He'll definitely get Mr. Miller to help you!"
Max chuckled, "You're really taken in with him, aren't you? Where's your usual shrewdness?"
"Bull and I just said a lot to Mr. Miller, but he still coldly refused."
"Do you think, he, a prison guard, can pull this off?"
"Let's go. He's about to be thrown out. It won't look good if we're still here."
Bull added, "Mr. Bush is right. This guy is overestimating himself. He's asking for trouble. But, Dorothy, if you don't believe us, we can wait here for a minute or two. But by then... he'll have lost face!"
Dorothy smirked, "What if he pulls it off?!"
"He can't!" Bull and Max said in unison.
Max added, "Since you believe in him so much, I'll make a bet with you."
"If he's thrown out, you're not allowed to associate with this swindler anymore, to avoid trouble!"
"If he pulls it off, I won't interfere in your affairs anymore!"
"How about it?"
Dorothy's smile brightened, "Alright! If he can't do it, I'll immediately cut ties with him and even consider interacting more with Bull. But if he does, then, Dad, you must keep your promise!"
"From then on, no matter what decision I make, you can't stop me!"
Max agreed, "Alright!"
Bull was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Dorothy to make such a bet with Max. He couldn’t wait until Ethan was thrown out; his image in Dorothy's heart would be completely shattered.
"He told you the truth before, but you didn't believe him."
‘Don't blame me for not warning you when you're proven wrong!’ Dorothy thought to herself with a smile. Having made this bet with her dad, she wouldn't have to be bothered by anyone in the future.
Even if her dad knew about Ethan's relationship with the Smith family, he couldn't stop her from doing anything.
‘If I'm determined to win over Mr. McKellen, how could I not pave the way first?’ Dorothy planned in her heart as she gently rotated her ankle, inevitably feeling a bit smug.