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Chapter 19
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Not Your Second Choice Chapter 20
"Bryan, are you itching for trouble?"Benedict's voice remained as deep as ever, though now it carried a trace more anger, its indifference fading into something sharper.Deidre was directly pushed into the seat beside Benedict by Bryan. Her boss's voice, laced with a dangerous undertone, reached her ears and sent a chill running down her spine, a natural reflex to impending danger.This was a response from her body to the threat drawing near.After reading the thick stack of files on Benedict handed to her by George, Deidre had come to a conclusion: Benedict O'Reily was not someone to be trifled with, and certainly not someone to provoke.Perhaps it was the boldness of throwing someone into the pool at the business banquet that had attracted the heavens' swift lesson. Life, after all, was full of mysteries, and after overcoming one hurdle, another inevitably followed."Today's my birthday. Do you know how many people tried to organize a dinner for me? I turned them all down. A
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 21
Deidre was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected this at all. She was actually the first female assistant to work for Benedict."If you don't speak, no one will mistake you for mute."Benedict glanced at Bryan with a sharp look, his long hand reaching for the row of drinks on the table.The lights were bright now, and Deidre could see clearly. On the table in front of her, a row of Jägerbombs had been carefully prepared. Benedict reached out and picked up the first cup.In one swift motion, he downed the drink.His well-defined jawline and the elegant curve of his neck became even more striking as the Jägerbomb went down. Deidre blinked, watching as the Adam's apple moved with the swallow.Benedict placed the empty glass down without a change in expression, then reached for the second one.Bryan wasn't having it. With a smile, he tried to stop him. "Deidre, why aren't you stopping your boss here? I kindly invited him to my birthday, and now he's drinking like this. People wh
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 22
Bryan went from being excited to watch the show to being utterly dumbfounded as he watched Deidre effortlessly down eleven Jägerbombs. If it weren't for the fact that he had seen the drinks being prepared earlier, he might have suspected that Deidre was drinking plain water instead.For a man with a decent tolerance, finishing a single Jägerbomb without faltering was already considered impressive. Drinking three in a row was a remarkable feat. But Deidre managed to down eleven without so much as a change in her expression. The last time Bryan had seen such composure was with Benedict. Among men, he was the only one capable of pulling it off. Among women, Deidre was the first.This extraordinary woman had something to do with Benedict, though—she was his first female assistant.Bryan's gaze turned complex as he looked at Benedict, his heart filled with sympathy. 'Bro, your grandfather really did give you a tough assistant,' he thought, despite her being a woman.Benedict picked up
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 23
Bryan, seeing that Benedict was about to leave, quickly stood up and moved to block Benedict.Benedict glanced at him, his voice neither cold nor warm. "Did you forget? You called my assistant to come pick me up because I'd had too much to drink."Bryan was speechless.What a random excuse and absolutely fake excuse!He had used it earlier and now Benedict was throwing that back at him.Bryan stared at him, wanting to argue, but in front of Deidre, he couldn't bring himself to respond. That would be like admitting he had lied.Benedict swept his gaze over the room and saw Deidre rising to follow him. He said nothing, simply striding toward the door.As soon as Deidre stepped out of the room behind Benedict, Bryan's voice rang out behind them, "Deidre, next time I'm in Salve City, let's hang out. Teach me to drink!"She glanced up at Benedict. His lips were pressed together, and the corners of his eyes turned down, his face clearly impatient.Deidre opened her mouth to reply wi
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 24
Larry's foot paused over the accelerator. Through the rearview mirror, he saw his boss roll down the window."Get in."It was clear the words weren't meant for him.Larry frowned, looking toward the entrance of the Bealeys.Deidre was about to hail a cab when she heard Benedict's voice. She immediately turned her head.After a brief hesitation, she quickly stepped down the stairs and briskly walked toward the Maybach.It was the rule to listen to the new boss's words. A good subordinate followed orders.She smiled at Benedict, her expression respectful yet natural. "Thank you, Mr. O'Reily, for the ride."Of course, she wasn't going to sit in the back with him. She thanked him by the door and then moved quickly to the passenger seat, opening the door and settling inside.Larry hadn't really paid attention to Deidre before.Sure, she was over 1.6 meters tall, but his boss was over 1.8 meters, and just now, Deidre had been following Benedict, dressed in casual clothes. He hadn't
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 25
Deidre looked up at the airport entrance and saw a tall, elegant woman in a business dress waving at her, walking briskly toward her.It wasn't until Sandy Mallark stood before her that Deidre's eyes showed surprise, as if she couldn't recognize the woman in front of her. The person, dressed as a professional, was none other than the 23-year-old girl she had parted with three years ago, fresh and full of youth."I know what you're going to say," Sandy said, taking Deidre's suitcase. With a casual tone, she added, "It's not like I wanted to dress more maturely, but it's the only way I can command respect from the board of directors at my agency. Otherwise, they'd just call me a young girl and wonder how I could possibly run the entire company."Not all rich young women like to flaunt their wealth.Yes, Sandy was a low-key, rich heiress. Unpretentious, willing to work hard, and down-to-earth, she proved through her actions that she didn't rely on her family."You're right. It's rare
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 26
"Of course, I'll hold on to my big, strong friend, and never let go.""Tsk, tsk..."Sandy smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly. As they approached yet another red light, she slowed the car and shot a mock angry glare at Deidre. "You haven't changed a bit. Still sweet-talking your way through everything, huh?"They laughed, talking about everything and nothing, drifting between topics like two old friends. Before they knew it, they had arrived.Sandy had a vacant apartment nearby, close to where Deidre would be working. With her constant travels, she had prepared the place early, knowing that Deidre was returning to Rowanda to develop her career.The driver helped move their things into the apartment's living room."Alright. You can head back to the company," Sandy instructed the driver before turning to Deidre."Take a look around first. I've added some things, but if there's anything you're missing, just get it yourself."As soon as the door closed, Sandy collapsed lazily onto
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 27
The moment Deidre entered, she immediately noticed that the restaurant was much more spacious inside than it appeared from the outside. The place was busy, almost every table occupied. A friendly server approached her with a smile."Good evening, are you dining alone?" she asked."Yes, just me," Deidre replied with a nod.The server gestured for her to follow, guiding her to a table. Once seated, the server pointed to a QR code on the table."You can place your order online. If you need anything else, feel free to let us know," she added.Deidre nodded in understanding, then took out her phone and scanned the QR code. As she browsed the menu, she overheard a conversation from the next table, separated by an intricately carved partition."Did you hear? They're reopening bids for the Dobinsky project," one voice said."Really? I thought the bidding was already over. Why do they need a second round?" came the surprised reply."Well, if there's no second round, our company, Veiln
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Not Your Second Choice Chapter 100
"YOU!"Daisy watched the atmosphere between the two shift. As she saw Micah stand up, she put on a look of feigned concern and hurried over. After all, the president of the Landon Group had just been knocked down by the assistant of a competitor—certainly not a dignified event."Deidre, I finally found you! Mr. O'Reily called me earlier, said he had something urgent to discuss with you, but couldn't reach you."Daisy had only made up an excuse. When it came to Micah, using Benedict's name was the most legitimate tactic.Unexpectedly, as she spoke, Deidre's phone rang.Daisy's eyelids twitched and she instinctively looked over.And there it was...Caller ID: It really was Mr. O'Reily.Daisy turned speechless. She could probably win the lottery today, with this luck!With Daisy present, Micah knew he couldn't continue the conversation with Deidre.In fact, even without Daisy, the discussion wouldn't have gone anywhere.Micah's handsome face regained its calm demeanor. The prev
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 99
"I'm not drunk," Micah said.Deidre didn't reply. His face was serious, but his eyes—behind those frameless glasses—held a slight haze, as if they were blurring into a soft kind of fog.After spending two years with him, Deidre knew very well that Micah was, in fact, drunk. A sober person couldn't possibly argue with someone who was so clearly intoxicated, especially not over something so trivial as whether or not they were drunk.She glanced at the door to her room, which Micah was blocking, then turned away.On a luxurious yacht like this, it was ridiculous for all the rooms to be occupied. She could easily switch rooms. Even if they were all taken, she could squeeze in with Daisy for one night.In any case, Deidre had no intention of wasting another word on Micah."Don't go!"Micah, seeing her intention, stepped forward. His arm reached out and grabbed her wrist."Are you going to find Cameron?"With a forceful pull, he turned her back toward him, his hands gripping her s
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 98
Deidre paused for a moment, quickly tapped the send button on her phone, then shut off the screen and set it aside. She smiled at Daisy, signaling for her to sit beside her. "I know, I owe you one for helping me out with Mr. O'Reily on the dance floor."Daisy, still looking a bit shaken, leaned in close to Deidre's ear and whispered, "God knows, just dancing with Mr. O'Reily was enough to make my scalp tingle in shock. And then he had that cold, deathly stare... I mean, he's handsome, but I guess they don't call him 'The Godfather' for nothing. After just a short dance, I was practically shoved away."Deidre, ever considerate, gently patted Daisy's back to reassure her. "Once this seven-day yacht trip is over, I'll treat you to a big meal.""Not that I'm just looking to freeload off your dinner, Deidre!" Daisy laughed. "I mean, getting to dance with a handsome guy—can't complain."Daisy, a post-2000s girl, had the natural optimism and straightforwardness typical of her generation.
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 97
"I can tell, Bobby, that your company is sincere in wanting to collaborate with us on this project. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation."Benedict's deep voice broke the silence, pulling the conversation back to the matter at hand. "Bobby, you know, of course, that the Dobinsky project is intended for our technology city. Now, as for the five percent price increase you proposed, I will say this clearly: Such a concession agreement is not something we can sign."Upon hearing this, Bobby's heart sank, though he maintained his composure on the surface. "Benedict, wouldn't you reconsider? After all, the returns from the technology city once it's completed will be substantial."In business negotiations, attention to detail is key, especially when it comes to reading the room. Both Benedict and Deidre had picked up on the subtle shift in Bobby's demeanor. The calm confidence he had initially shown was now replaced by a quiet sense of urgency.Once the defensive line begi
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 96
Benedict swirled the wine glass in his hand, his gaze not meeting Bobby's. His voice was cool. "I can tell, Bobby, there's more to your words than what you're letting on.""Benedict, as expected of you," Bobby's smile deepened. "You must know, when the Dobinsky project first went to bid, Veilner Corp didn't make the cut. The Landon Group took the lead. Now, as we approach the second round of bidding, although your company's proposal is the best, it's a bit tricky for us."In business, there are ways to say things. Sometimes, the true meaning lies not in the direct words, but in the subtle layers beneath them. Bobby's words were clear enough. He was asking if Veilner could increase its offer, especially in terms of the price.Deidre's eyes glinted as she glanced at Benedict.His fingers tapped softly on the armrest of the sofa, his expression unchanged, but the faintest sound of his knuckles brushing against the wood seemed to fill the air. His voice remained calm and measured. "T
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 95
The tempo slowed and finally returned to silence as the dance came to an end. The men and women in the ballroom nodded to each other in mutual respect.Benedict, with a cold and composed expression on his handsome face, stepped out of the dance floor without a word.Deidre raised an eyebrow and was about to follow him when she heard Micah's voice from behind. "Do you hate me?"She turned back to see Micah looking at her with a deep gaze. The question struck her as absurd. "Mr. Landon, you have quite the short memory. Who was it that looked at me with disdain at the wedding, dropped me without a word, and walked away without a second glance? And now you're asking me this?"Some things, Deidre thought, if left untouched, would fade away with time. She was certain that given enough time, everything, even the most painful memories, would eventually be forgotten. Yet, there were always people who took great pleasure in reminding her of the moments she wished to forget.Especially when
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 94
Deidre smiled wryly to herself. The music lifted in tempo once again, forcing her, though unwilling, to raise her hand and follow the rhythm in a solitary spin.As she twirled, her eyes quickly flicked toward Cameron.Cameron was waiting for the beat, planning to reclaim his partner.Micah maintained his gentle, composed smile, but there was a chill in his eyes. He hadn't missed the subtle exchange of glances between Deidre and Cameron. No, he had been watching closely, noting exactly where Deidre's gaze had lingered.She was flirting with him again, right in front of him.So she wanted to switch back?A sliver of coldness flashed in Micah's eyes.He knew very well—he didn't want her to switch back.As Cameron neared them, preparing to take Deidre away, Micah intentionally took a misstep, stepping into Cameron's path.Both Deidre and Cameron understood immediately what this meant.Deidre's smile remained, her tone gentle, but her eyes burned with a cold gleam.She couldn't w
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 93
The waltz gradually shifted from its gentle rhythm to an upbeat tempo, unveiling its inherent charm and complexity.Micah's gaze didn't linger on Natalie. He maintained perfect synchronization with her steps, seamlessly adapting to the beat, while his eyes discreetly swept toward Deidre again. Around them, most dancers had begun showcasing their partners, spinning them gracefully across the floor.Matching the tempo, Micah maneuvered with subtle precision, guiding Natalie closer to Deidre and Cameron without breaking stride.Deidre, no fool, couldn't possibly miss Micah's frequent glances in her direction. She smirked inwardly, instantly grasping his intent. He was moving their way.The music surged, and following Cameron's lead, Deidre executed an elegant pirouette. Her red evening gown, delicate as butterfly wings, flared into cascading waves of crimson, drawing all eyes to her. Her movement was mesmerizing, a perfect harmony of grace and poise.Cameron's face held its usual g
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 92
"Ah…" Natalie gasped softly as her hand was enveloped by Micah's warm, steady grasp. Her cheeks flushed, her heartbeat quickening like a drumroll, as she followed him into the dance floor.Within the crowd, Deidre stood out effortlessly in a custom-made crimson gown. Her movements flowed seamlessly with the rhythm, rising and falling with the melody, her figure spinning gracefully like a fiery phoenix in flight. Opposite her, Cameron, equally striking with his sharp features and composed demeanor, lifted his long, elegant hand to guide Deidre through a perfect turn. A gentle, unguarded smile lingered in his eyes."I remember back in school dances, you always attended with Sandy," Cameron remarked, his deep voice carrying an air of teasing admiration. "But I don't recall ever seeing you dance. Seems like you've been keeping this talent hidden all along."A faint smile curved Deidre's lips. "If you keep looking at me with such a gentle expression, I'm afraid I might misstep." She fi
