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Chapter 74
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Not Your Second Choice Chapter 75
Reserved women often reveal surprising contrasts in bed—something Damon relished."You're right, Deidre. I didn't think this through. We should indeed follow our local customs," Damon said, with a touch of flattery in his tone.'What a shameless man,' Linda thought, suppressing a sneer. 'All men are the same—fickle and easily distracted. Disgusting.'Watching Damon buttering up to Deidre, Linda cursed him silently while keeping a polite smile on her face. "Shall we eat? It's time for dinner," she said smoothly.The three of them moved toward the dining table."Damon, I've looked over the materials you sent earlier today," Deidre began, her tone measured and neutral.Though she felt an instinctive aversion to the man, she understood the unspoken rules of adulthood. Especially in the workplace, dealing with all manner of unsavory characters was inevitable.Her expression was serene, her smile disarmingly harmless. "This dinner was thoughtfully arranged by Linda. Thanks to her, I f
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 76
"Damon, you might not know this, but I'm tone-deaf when it comes to singing. It's not that I don't want to sing with you; I'm just terrible at it. Since we're here to enjoy ourselves, why not try something else? There's a set of dice over there, isn't there?"Damon frowned, following Deidre's gaze toward the coffee table in the middle of the private room. Sure enough, several dice cups were scattered across the glass surface.Dice games—now that was a familiar playground for someone like Damon, who had spent countless nights in places like this. A spark of excitement flickered in his eyes, and he couldn't help but grin.Singing love songs might have been a convenient excuse to get close, perhaps even steal a touch here or there, but dice games? Dice games and alcohol could pave a much faster road to conquest. Deidre seemed sharp on the surface, but deep down, wasn't she just a naive woman with more hair than wit?"Okay then. How do you propose we play with the dice?" Damon's grin w
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 77
Damon's gaze lingered on Deidre as she began removing her jacket. He had imagined she might be wearing a camisole or something equally alluring underneath, but what appeared instead was an unassuming short-sleeved T-shirt.It was no different from her earlier look with the blazer on.Though a wave of disappointment rippled through him, Damon maintained his enthusiastic smile. "Deidre, don't let it get to you. It's just a game—sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Let's go another round."Deidre shook her head with a faint smile. "I'll sit this one out. Linda can take my place."Linda opened her mouth to decline, but caught the subtle look Damon gave her. She understood immediately. "Fine, I'll play a round," she said.Linda knew Damon well enough.Damon was always the master of such games, his expertise unrivaled. If he was signaling her now, it must mean he had a plan. Refusing him would only make her seem uncooperative.And so, the second round began.Deidre sat quietly to t
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 78
"Deidre, maybe we should skip this round," Linda interjected hastily, trying to mediate on Damon's behalf.It was no joke—if Damon really had to strip off his singlet, baring his chest, it wouldn't just blind everyone present. More importantly, it would shred whatever dignity he had left.Deidre's smile didn't waver. She picked up her wine glass, swirling the liquid leisurely, her voice calm yet pointed. "A bet is a bet. If we women can handle it, surely Damon, as a man, wouldn't back down? Imagine what people would say—it wouldn't sound good at all."Damon's face darkened like an overcast sky about to burst into a storm.The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off. Deidre's winning streak—there was something deliberate about it, something almost predatory. Like a tiger masquerading as a lamb.Especially after she introduced those new game rules. That's when everything started shifting."Deidre! You played me!" Damon's voice erupted with indignation as his ha
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 79
Just as Damon shoved Linda out, he locked the private room's door firmly behind her.Unlike earlier, when Linda had stepped out on her own and left the door ajar, allowing the sounds inside to filter out, this time the door shut tight, sealing everything away. The room's soundproofing was so effective that not even a whisper reached her ears.Furious, Linda wanted to curse. She turned toward the door, only for it to swing open suddenly. The unexpected movement caught her off guard, and she stumbled forward, into the room.Deidre sidestepped deftly, avoiding her completely. Linda, left unbalanced, staggered several more steps forward. Her high heels betrayed her footing, and she fell hard onto the floor. Pain flared up her ankle—a sharp, cutting sensation that grew worse as she tried to stand. It felt like someone had slashed at her with a knife.Damn it. She'd twisted her ankle.Turning her head, Linda glared at Deidre. If Deidre hadn't dodged just now, Linda wouldn't have falle
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 80
Benedict frowned as he glanced at Bryan. His dark eyes carried a trace of impatience, clearly not expecting Bryan to bring this up."I think I'll pass. I didn't know it was your birthday and didn't prepare a gift. Mr. O'Reily, let me just wish you a happy birthday here."It was apparent Benedict didn't really want her to attend. Deidre, understanding the situation, took the hint and found an excuse to bow out gracefully."That won't do! You have to come!" Bryan, unwilling to let Deidre escape so easily, quickly interjected. "You're already here, and now you know it's your boss's birthday. Sure, you didn't bring a gift, but skipping it entirely? That's unacceptable. Birthdays are supposed to be lively and fun, and the more people, the better!"Before Deidre could utter another word, Bryan stepped out of the elevator and gave her a gentle nudge back inside.Noticing Benedict's cold gaze turning toward them, Bryan grinned mischievously, unfazed. "If you don't want Deidre to attend as
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 81
Bryan guided Deidre to the sofa, gently nudging her into the seat opposite Benedict. With a smile, he turned to the man chatting with Benedict. "You claimed to be on a business trip for my birthday, but for Benedict's, you made it?"Deidre caught the name "Finn" and there was a flicker of something in her eyes.The man, Finn Decker, laughed softly. "Bryan, we've got twelve months in a year, and half of them are your birthdays. How could I keep up?""But Benedict's different," Finn continued. "He only celebrates his birthday on a special date—just once a year, and properly so.""Really?" Bryan snorted. "So that grand birthday banquet the O'Reily family threw last month, what was that? Some random guy with the same name?"Finn's smile deepened. "If you're asking me, you're barking up the wrong tree. I didn't even attend.""Fine, fine!" Bryan waved a hand, clearly uninterested in debating further. He turned to Deidre, gesturing toward Finn. "Deidre, let me introduce you—this is Fi
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 82
Bryan wore an easygoing smile. "Benedict, how about this? If I lose, I'll give you that nameless island I bought last month. But if you lose, I don't want much—just my private yacht back, and maybe a song from you. A love song. Something heartfelt. None of that 'the-world-owes-me-money' look you're wearing right now."Benedict singing? A love song, at that?Deidre couldn't imagine it. She glanced at Benedict's cold, expressionless face, and the thought of him singing anything remotely emotional seemed almost laughable."Curious, aren't you, Deidre?"Bryan's voice came from beside her, startling her out of her thoughts. She quickly masked her expression with a polite smile, refusing to respond.Only a fool would join Bryan in digging their own grave, she thought. She had worked too hard to earn Benedict's reluctant acknowledgment of her as his assistant. No way was she going to risk that now.Seeing her unyielding demeanor, Bryan leaned closer and lowered his voice. "You don't kno
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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
