Chapter 4. A deal with the Billionaire

"Mr. Hurlington told you to wait for him inside, Miss." A middle-aged woman dressed in full formal attire, who she guessed was the butler of this luxurious mansion, guided and informed Victoria.

Victoria smiled and nodded as she expressed her gratitude. "Thank you very much."

After the butler left, Victoria opened that sizeable wooden door. She entered and sat on the sofa in the room, which looked like her father's workroom at home. For a long time, Victoria waited in the room where she was bored. Until the wooden door finally opened again. This time, a man dressed in a full suit walked in.

"Good morning, Mr. Hurlington." Victoria naturally stood up and greeted the room's owner for her politeness. 

Maverick walked towards his desk after only a brief nod in response to Victoria's greeting. The man stood behind his desk, filling a shelf with matching dark blue folders. He picked up one of the folders and joined Victoria on the sofa. 

It seemed that the folder Maverick was carrying was their agreement. The man had been making it for some time as if knowing that this was the decision Victoria would make. He opened the folder and showed it to Victoria.

"I have arranged all the articles and rules in the agreement so that it is balanced between the two of us. My only requirement is that there must be no love in this relationship," he explained and continued, "Read it first and tell me if there is anything you would like to propose as a condition."

Victoria took the paper and read the agreement. It was pretty detailed, and there were no points against her—except that they had to act out publicly to make the relationship look real. Victoria hesitated to say her objection.

"Mr. Hurlington, I think article number 2 is unnecessary?"

"If you want to get back at that bastard, you have to show that you can find a man who is more than him. Then, it's necessary to make him regret it. I also want this relationship to be seen as something other than just a contract. It will tarnish my good name and cause bad rumors."

Victoria knew that very well but was unsure she could do it. Realizing her hesitation, Maverick opened his voice to convince Victoria or provoke her as he had at the party last night. "Are you afraid you'll break the conditions if you do the charade?"

Victoria gasped, but that was not why she hesitated. She was so sure and confident in her feelings that she would never open up to any man again, especially a cold and arrogant man like Maverick Hurlington. Besides, the wounds left by Alden were more than enough to make Victoria not want to start a relationship again.

"Of course not," Victoria said in a slightly annoyed tone. She took a pen and affixed her signature.

Then, it was Maverick's turn to sign the letter. After finishing, he slightly grinned, indicating satisfaction with this agreement. He extended his hand to Victoria and said, "Let's work well together for the future.” 

"With my pleasure, Mr. Hurlington." Victoria steadily returned the handshake.

"Call me Maverick, and start getting used to us talking casually to each other. We won't be able to start the plan if you still have that engagement. What are you going to do?" Maverick released their handshake first, throwing out a question to hear Victoria's opinion.

Victoria remained silent for a while and then said, "I don't intend to prolong the relationship, but it would be better if we didn't expose our wedding plans too hastily. I will reveal their affair first. That way, I can use it as an excuse to break off the engagement. I won't let myself be seen as the perpetrator while I am the victim."

Maverick agreed with Victoria. It was an excellent first step, without him even bothering to say it first. Instead of breaking off the relationship suddenly, especially without an apparent reason, it would be more beneficial for Victoria. It was also the first step to destroying Alden Benedict through his public image.

"And how would you make their secret public?" he asked again.

"I would make them confess their infidelity," Victoria said her plan very confidently as if it would work. She was sure she would manifest what she said because it had to happen.

"That's a good first step to destroying their image." Maverick nodded, just about to continue, when someone suddenly walked in and interrupted their conversation.

"Brother!" Karina was no less surprised than Victoria, who made eye contact with her. "Sister?”

"I've often said you should knock before entering my room!" Maverick exclaimed. The man was annoyed by his sister's arrival.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know Sister Victoria was here."

Karina apologized, but her tone did not sound remorseful. Instead, she was still staring at Victoria with a clear question mark. Of course, it was because Victoria and her brother’s relationship was not very close before this. It didn't even seem like they knew each other to be sitting and chatting in a private room. 

Victoria realized it and tried hard to find an excuse before Karina said anything to Emberly. She finally opened her mouth to explain, "I came here to get my stuff that your brother found yesterday. I'm sorry if I took up his time to meet with you."

"No, Sis, I'm here because he promised to drive me to campus." Maverick frowned and looked sharply at Karina. "When did I say that promise?"

Karina chuckled at being caught lying. "My car is in the repair shop, and we're in the same direction anyway."

"Then what are you here for instead of going to your campus?" Maverick was getting annoyed and looked like he would insist on rejecting Karina.

"Taxis are quite expensive to get to campus, so I came here. Victoria also goes to the campus, so drop us off while you go to work. It's a good time."

"Y-yes, I was going to the campus, but..."

"Did you hear? Hurry up and drop us off before it's too late." Karina cut her off before Victoria could finish her sentence and returned to talking.

Although annoyed and displeased, Maverick complied with his sister's wishes. He looked cold and arrogant on the outside but was different from his family. They seemed to dislike each other, but instead, they seemed close. Moreover, Karina was Maverick Hurlington's sister. There was no way she didn't have enough money to pay for a taxi.

In the end, despite the confusion, Victoria went with them, even though her schedule was already late. She and Maverick still hadn't finished their conversation because of Karina. No one opened their voices throughout the journey, and Victoria was very used to this silence.

After a few minutes, they arrived at the same parking lot Victoria had left last time. Maverick's car sped away from the campus area once after she and Karina got out. Victoria was grateful that Maverick didn't have to show his face. However, her company with Karina would lead to another rumor. She was about to leave immediately when her voice made Victoria undo her intention.

"Sister, I have a question to ask you." Victoria turned around again and asked calmly, "What is it?"

"Is that all you have to do with my brother?"