Thinking it over, Zoe Lancaster figured he meant that the medicine prepared by her grandmother wasn’t his idea. But since it was from an elder, and Florence Finch was known for her unyielding nature, there was no need to bring unnecessary trouble upon herself. She simply stopped asking.
After washing her hands, she finally looked at him. "I won’t cause you any trouble, okay?"
Simon Hawthorne pressed his pale lips tighter together. After a moment, he uttered, "You better mean what you say."
Zoe couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. Being married for money indeed felt like living under someone else’s roof. She ought to be self-aware; throwing a tantrum would be inappropriate.
The phone in her pocket buzzed. Ignoring the man beside her, Zoe answered it right in front of him.
"Zoe Lancaster? Miss Lancaster, correct?" the person on the other end asked.
"That’s me."
"Congratulations. You’ve officially passed the Lance Langley interview. You start work on Monday."
Zoe’s face lit up with joy, her eyes crinkling into crescents. "Great, thank you."
She had felt pretty confident about it after the interview. Her personal skills were strong, and during college, she had participated in several planning competitions and won awards. Those were proposals that could be successfully implemented in any company. Combined with her two-year resume in the Hawthorne Group’s public relations department, her track record both inside and outside of school was stellar.
Because they were standing so close, Simon naturally heard what the caller said.
His dark, cold peach-blossom eyes observed the woman in front of him. Her hair cascaded like a black waterfall, making her fair face look even more snow-white and beautiful. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, and a faint blush dusted her cheeks from the excitement. She was a feast for the eyes.
He wondered if she was this happy because she got the job at Lance Langley, or because she could finally get away from him. But he figured asking wouldn’t yield an honest answer anyway. After all, she had always been a smooth talker with hidden motives.
Immersed in her joy, Zoe didn’t notice Simon’s train of thought. She looked up with a bright smile and took the opportunity to ask, "I start work on Monday, and I’ve already terminated the lease on my apartment. I’m planning to find a new place to live. Where is Heartbreaker? Can I bring him back now?"
He had told her the dog was given to someone responsible to care for.
She didn’t think Simon was the type to string her along. Cecilia Sloan and her son’s matter had already come to an end. Now that the storm had passed, shouldn’t she be able to get her pet back?
For some inexplicable reason, Simon’s mood soured. "I threw him out," he said coldly.
The smile on Zoe’s face vanished instantly. "Don’t joke with me! You know how important Heartbreaker is to me."
"I know."
His expression frigid, he walked out, seemingly unwilling to argue with Zoe any further. It was precisely because he knew. That made the dog even more of an eyesore.
Zoe’s expression tightened, her heart burning with anxiety. "Mr. Hawthorne, our contract never stated that you could dispose of my belongings as you please. Kindly show me some respect!"
"Respect?" Simon stopped and turned to look at her. "What do you think that one billion bought back then? You sold yourself, and now you want to talk to me about personal dignity? Zoe, I suggest you think long and hard about what you should be prioritizing right now."
He left. It was quite heartless.
Zoe’s chest heaved with uneven breaths. She couldn’t understand why Simon was holding such a grudge against a dog! But she would never give up on Heartbreaker.
Monday.
Zoe drove to the vicinity of the Global Trade Concourse. Within the CBD Financial District sat several of the country’s top enterprises, with very clear dividing lines. Radiating outward from the Hawthorne Group tower at the very center, Lance Langley was barely two kilometers away from Hawthorne.
Lance Langley had only entered the mainland market a few years ago. Backed by the Yates family of Portellis, its foundation was now stable and its development unstoppable. The financial circle was never black and white. Even if various companies fought tooth and nail over lucrative bids, they would still greet each other with smiles when it was time to cooperate, acting as if no bad blood ever existed. No one would hold a grudge against money.
Upon arriving at the Project Department, she saw that everyone was rushed off their feet, thoroughly engrossed in their own tasks. Only the Project Department Director, Felix Jennings, came out to brief her on a few protocols and the key points she needed to learn quickly.
Zoe was a fast learner and digested the information easily. It was evident that Felix appreciated her quite a bit. After all, a resume like hers was rare for young people her age, so he naturally offered a few extra pointers.
She spent the day settling in. In the afternoon, Felix assigned Zoe a task. "I’m swamped right now. I saw on your resume that you previously worked in public relations. You should be quite adept at handling interpersonal relations and social engagements. As it happens, President Yates is meeting with Delphi Planning at seven tonight. I want you to accompany him."
Zoe was surprised. She wondered if this President Yates was the rumored Miles Yates.
"Are you sure you want me to go? Given my level..." It wasn’t that she was underestimating herself, but rather that the company had strict regulations. Only upper management typically qualified to accompany President Yates.
Felix waved a hand. "I know. But we’re tied up with a project here and can’t spare anyone else. You won’t need to do much. President Yates will handle the negotiations. You just need to step in and help take a few drinks for him if necessary."
Understanding the situation, Zoe nodded. "I’ll get it done. Don’t worry, Director."
At a quarter past six, knowing she would be drinking that night, Zoe decided not to drive and took the subway straight to the destination.
When she arrived at the designated private room, she noticed the guests who had already gathered—many of them were giants in the industry. However, the most eye-catching figure was the man in the center, who was subtly being fawned over by the others.
Seeing him, Zoe was taken aback for a moment. She wondered, "Is it him?"
The man didn’t show any strange reaction upon seeing her. He calmly beckoned her over. "Come here and meet President Miller."
Zoe hurriedly walked over.
Miles Yates tilted his head, glancing at the woman whose hair was slightly messy from her hurried commute, and introduced her to the person beside him. "This is Zoe Lancaster. She works in the Project Department. She’s quite capable."
Given that Miles had personally introduced her, President Miller gave Zoe a second look. Anyone singled out by Miles Yates was certainly not ordinary. He acknowledged her with a smile.
Zoe’s heart pounded wildly. The man she had encountered in the elevator last time was actually the boss of Lance Langley, Miles Yates!
Having previously handled a PR crisis between Hawthorne Group and Lance Langley, she knew a bit about this Miles Yates. Rumor had it that he was an enigmatic and ruthless figure. Yet, based on their previous encounter and the current situation, he didn’t seem to match the rumors at all.
Liquor was inevitable at social engagements. As the central figure of the night, Miles received numerous toasts from people hoping for the green light on business dealings. He curved his lips in a faint smile, handling everything with unfailing composure and gentlemanly grace.
Zoe kept Felix’s instructions in mind. She stood up, smiled, and took the glass of alcohol. "President Yates drove here tonight, President Miller. I hope I can have the honor of sharing a drink with you instead."
President Miller cast a meaningful glance at Miles, who merely smiled without a word. "President Yates, this young lady is quite a gem."
Glass after glass of liquor went down. Zoe didn’t allow a single trace of discomfort to show on her face.
Beside her, Miles stared thoughtfully at her slightly flushed profile. After a moment, he raised his hand and rested it lightly on her arm. Applying a bit of downward pressure, he gently forced Zoe to sit back down in her chair. She looked at the man next to her in dazed confusion.
Miles leaned over and took the wine glass from her hand.
His voice was mild and deep, offering a powerful sense of reassurance. "If a business deal requires a woman to drink herself under the table to seal the deal, then it’s not a deal worth making."