Grayson shared something that left me anxious. His tone was solemn, and I could sense danger, "Chloe, someone’s investigating Hartz Construction.""When did this happen?" I asked."Just a moment ago. Someone tried to infiltrate Hartz Construction's system, but we detected it and reinforced the security. They can't make any further attempts now. But from this, we can confirm someone wants to investigate the company," Grayson stated with certainty."Can't we find out who it is?" I asked, wondering who was snooping around Hartz Construction so suddenly."They withdrew too quickly, and we couldn't catch any leads in time," Grayson regretfully said.I didn’t know how the person became aware of Hartz Construction. I felt uneasy because only a few knew about it. Excluding them meant that everyone was a potential threat. Moreover, it was not the right time to reveal that company."Oh, I encountered a man when I removed my cast today. If I'm not mistaken, he was involved in my kidnapping,
Neither ATL Empire nor Echelon Group was within my sphere of influence.No matter which company won the bid, I suspected either of these two might deliver the interior design project to me.Firstly, ATL Empire had made us responsible for interior design, meaning we would automatically secure the development rights.As for Echelon Group, Atticus might also entrust me with this responsibility. After all, we had an excellent work relationship. I believed we had already established an unspoken understanding. If I had no chance in development, I could pursue the next big thing by establishing an interior design company.With designers like Hana on our team, building upon her foundation and recruiting a few renowned designers would be our winning formula.My thoughts gave me a direction. I proposed this idea to the business planners, which surprisingly helped us clarify many issues. Our qualifications, experience, and funds would become more convincing.I received praise from Joyce, wh
"That just proves he’s not your true partner! A true partner can give you everything you want and also protect you. He can’t give you anything but trouble." My words were harsh, but Ivanna didn’t argue. After a long pause, she murmured, “Actually, I’ve struggled with it, too. But I can’t bear the pain of leaving him... I’d rather face death head-on.”I fell silent since I understood what Ivanna was saying. How could I break my addiction to Atlas? Perhaps, like our current situation, the best way was for him to have a change of heart.“How did you two meet?” I asked Ivanna.She sat motionless on the sofa, her voice soft and distant as she recounted the story.“It was coincidental. It was about one of my artists, Vanessa Oakley. She was taken to Emgrand Nightclub and caught the eye of some playboys there. Coincidentally, Vanessa was a promising new talent I had high hopes for.”I sat next to her, listening intently.“The day things went south, she called me. So I rushed to Em
After some silence, Ivanna said, "I was supposed to plan for my artists' best interests. I couldn't let the one I'm responsible for get hurt, right? Things would’ve been different if she had called me."I knew Ivanna was a woman of principle. I felt guilty when I initially suspected her of being involved with Matthew. Even though she never held it against me, it weighed heavily on my conscience.Ivanna missed my wandering thoughts and continued, "Back then, I just wanted to get Vanessa out of there. She had just started her career and showed great potential. Venessa was willing to work hard and wasn't interested in vanity.“She was much more valuable than Harmony. What could I do? Stand by and watch someone destroy her life and future?"I nodded in agreement.Ivann’s tone turned severe, "Also, Eloise introduced Vanessa to Emgrand Nightclub. She lied to Vanessa, saying she was arranging an endorsement deal for her.""Eloise is a menace. Why would your company continue to employ so
I needed to find a way to meet Jared. Given the situation, he either had a hidden agenda or treated Ivanna as another fling. Both would be devastating to Ivanna. I couldn’t stand aside and watch my friend crumble.I thought Trinity didn't care about him or ignored his affairs, but those were slim chances. A woman who commanded such respect wouldn't tolerate sharing her man. When I saw them together, their chemistry was unmistakable.I felt an increasing dread. Still, Ivanna seemed prepared for the worst."There are no unyielding principles regarding emotions. Once you’re in it, you can’t resist, right? We're only human, not gods. The heart wants what it wants." Ivanna was conflicted, and her words left me uneasy.Though I understood her, bittersweet love was something only few could grasp.It was late, so I prepared to leave. Ivanna said, "Why don’t you stay the night?"I shook my head. "I'd rather go home. We both could sleep here, but I have something important to do tomorrow.
Atlas grew greedier as we kissed. He cradled my head and prevented me from pulling away. Finally, he released me and looked at me affectionately."Are you still jealous?" His husky voice returned me to my senses, and I met his eyes.I stared at him dumbfounded as he touched my lips. He tenderly said, "Your body is more honest than your attitude. It shows how much you crave me."Atlas’s shameless words resembled a thorn in my side."Stop spouting nonsense!" I retorted."You're not being honest. If you genuinely despised me, as your expression suggests, you would’ve pushed me away earlier. But you enjoyed it and craved it even more. Your eyes are still sparkling. It just proves how much you want me. Am I wrong?" He smirked. "Would you like to try again?"I pushed him away and cursed, "You’re shameless!"Then I reached for the car door, got out, and slammed it shut. His words angered me because I knew he was playing with me. He just dropped off one girl and came to flirt with me.
Lauren agreed when she heard my request. "Okay, wait for my update. I'll do it as soon as possible."Grayson was waiting for me in my office, which surprised me. I said, "It's so early. What's up?"He stood up and handed me several papers. "These are the files on Jared and Trinity you asked for. Also, they met an elderly man at Alvatraz last night. The strange thing is, I couldn't find out who he was."I nodded, pondering. People like Jared and Trinity always had secrets, so the mystery wasn't surprising. I couldn't wait to go through the information Grayson provided.Suddenly, I remembered someone investigating Hartz Construction’s case and asked Grayson, "Did you find out who was looking into Hartz Construction?"Grayson answered, "Not yet. The person disappeared before I could intercept their code. It seems they’re a rare talent to exit so swiftly. The person looking into us is formidable.”"Keep looking. Whoever is targeting our company's system is not an ordinary person. It
My eyes widened as I looked at Grayson's phone. The photo showed a boy and girl with distinct features, around ten years old.I couldn’t stop looking at the little girl's delicate and beautiful face. She had large eyes, thin lips, and, most notably, a small dimple below her mouth. She had two long pigtails with strawberry-shaped hairpins and wore a light pink dress.She looked incredibly familiar, and I wondered why she resembled Ava.The handsome boy beside the girl wore a white shirt and plaid shorts. He had one hand in his pocket and the other resting on a chair. The little girl leaned on the chair with a basketball placed on it.The boy had striking features and an aloof smile. He appeared less cheerful than the girl but had an air of sophistication. I knew it was a young Atlas."Is this... Is this a photo of Atlas when he was young?" My heart pounded, and my mind raced."Yes, it's Atlas and the real Stella during childhood," Grayson confirmed. "Now, look at the next picture.