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Chapter 79
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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
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 83
Deidre knew the topic at hand was one she really couldn't participate in. Benedict, her boss, was still evidently evaluating her in her role as his assistant.If she teamed up with Bryan, she'd certainly struggle to beat Benedict. It wasn't that she lacked the ability, but even if she did, Deidre didn't believe that a bowling match's outcome would outweigh the importance of her job.Though, she did wonder what it would be like to see Benedict sing love songs."Deidre, do you know how to play darts?"Finn chuckled, easing the situation with a well-timed comment. The opportunity to shift the focus was there, and he took it."A little."With the opening provided, Deidre, knowing when to seize the moment, quickly took the bait. Her eyes followed Finn's gesture to the dartboard. "I didn't have time to practice much after that. I haven't had the chance.""Today's a good opportunity."Of course, Bryan overheard the exchange between Finn and Deidre. He shot a challenging glance at Bene
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 84
Deidre's vision was sharp. She could see her first dart as it left her hand, spiraling through the air before striking the board. It didn't hit the bullseye, landing instead on the eighth ring.Finn, watching from the side, said nothing. A faint smile played on his lips as his eyes gestured for her to continue.Without hesitation, Deidre threw the remaining two darts in quick succession. All three found their mark, steady and precise, piercing the eighth ring.She smiled softly, a calm satisfaction spreading across her face. The outcome was exactly as she had envisioned.The sound of applause reached her ears, measured and deliberate. Startled, she turned to see Finn's gaze fixed on the dartboard three meters away. His tone carried a note of admiration. "Deidre, you seem to know your way around a dartboard.""But none of my throws hit the bullseye," she replied evenly. "Not even the ninth ring.""It's better than bowling," she added, a casual shrug accompanying her words.Finn n
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 85
A few minutes earlier, Benedict had already taken a seat. He was quietly sipping his drink when Deidre followed Bryan into the room. Benedict picked up his glass, drinking without a word."What's the fun in drinking alone?" Bryan interrupted, snatching the glass from Benedict's hand and setting it firmly on the long glass table before him. He slid a few dice cups across the table. "Let's play a few rounds. Guess the numbers. Loser drinks!"Deidre expected Benedict to retort, just as he had at the bowling alley earlier. This time, however, Benedict merely gave Bryan a glance, reached out with his fingers, and casually took one of the dice cups. "Fine," he said simply."Hey!" Bryan's eyes lit up, clearly surprised by Benedict's unexpected compliance. "No snarky comeback? Looks like winning that island's put you in a good mood. You don't look happy, but at least your tone's improved."Benedict frowned, a trace of impatience crossing his face. "Are we playing or not?""Of course we'
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 86
Bryan downed another shot of liquor and slammed the dice cup onto the long glass table. "Who cares? I'm done!" he declared, his tone dripping with irritation.Benedict watched Bryan with a faintly exasperated look, as if observing someone making a fool of themselves while drunk.To be fair, Bryan was drunk enough to qualify as being unruly.Finn, however, still seemed in the mood for more. "Benedict, let's keep going."Benedict didn't respond verbally but rested his hand on his dice cup, a silent agreement to continue."Deidre, will you keep playing?"By now, after dozens of rounds, Deidre had already gone through two or three bottles of red wine. She wasn't drunk, but the sheer monotony of the game had worn her out. "Mr. O'Reily, Mr. Decker, please continue. I'll take a break," she said lightly.Benedict glanced at her, his gaze sweeping over the row of empty wine bottles lined up on the table before her. He said nothing, tacitly accepting her withdrawal from the game.Suddenl
Not Your Second Choice Chapter 87
It was clear that Lady Luck had turned her back on Deidre tonight. Or perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, Benedict had already lost so much in the beginning that fortune finally decided to favor him now.Whatever the case, Deidre failed in her mission to get Benedict drunk. Instead, she ended up with her own head swimming, teetering at the edge of being thoroughly intoxicated. With a sliver of clarity still clinging to her, she raised her hand in surrender, a lopsided grin on her lips. "Mr. O'Reily, I can't drink anymore. I admit defeat."Benedict's eyes drifted to the glass table between them, now littered with six empty bottles of red wine, two drained vodka bottles, and a dozen beer bottles scattered like fallen soldiers. His gaze deepened slightly.He had to admit, the woman could hold her liquor.The room, once lively with music from the karaoke playlist queued by the hostesses, had fallen into silence. Even the stripped-down instrumentals had ceased, leaving only the
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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
