22

Her fingers trembled as she gripped the contract tightly, causing her knuckles to turn white. She took the pen out of its packaging, signed her name at the bottom, and closed the bag. She was then prepared to go.

Clarence expressed satisfaction by raising his eyebrows. "Women who can be bought by money are so easy to deal with."

He frowned and looked up at her when she slapped the contract onto the desk the following second.

"You are not required to pay me. I have my own motives for remaining here. I appreciate that you didn't make me have an abortion, but it doesn't mean you can use money to make me feel inferior."

He scoffed. There was mockery in his eyes. "Don't women like you see money as the entire world?"

"You!" Her hands were clasped. She was just interested in arguing with him. But after a moment, she relaxed her grip and grinned. “Okay, so I guess I am that kind of person if that's how you see me. We only take from one another what we require. The contract is previously signed by me. Rest assured, I'll see myself out when the allotted time is up.” She needed to spend the next three months formulating a plan.

"Well, I'm looking forward to that day."

She turned and walked away. She left the check on the table without touching it.

His eyes grew narrow. She didn't even take a quick look at the money, which was a significant amount? Was it her true response, or was she merely acting that way because she didn't want money? Why had she married into the Conrad family in the first place if she didn't care about the money?

Her connection with him was bound by the terms of the contract she signed. Even if they would fight less, she would still report to work for the company and serve as his assistant because Mr. Greg had given the order.

She was intelligent and competent in her field. She would seize the chance to learn if it was presented to her.

In less than a week, Joseph already had different opinions about her. "Mr. Clarence, she's quite good."

Clarence merely shot back a sour laugh. "Is that so?"

Joseph gave a nod. "She did a good job doing what you asked her to do. She finished all you wanted her to do with perfection.”

"She's married to a Conrad, how can she be an idiot?"

Joseph was stunned by what he said. Without reply, he bowed his head to look at the schedule. "This evening is a party. Would you like to accompany Mrs. Conrad?”

"With her?" Clarence tapped the table with his finger, but his gaze remained fixed on the notebook.

"Do you want me to embarrass myself?" Clarence was afraid to say anything more. They continued to converse for some time. But just as Joseph was ready to leave the office, Clarence interrupted. "Send her in." "Okay."

With his mouth quivering, Joseph stepped outside.

He had spent most of the last few days speaking one thing and doing another. He had only just claimed that she had embarrassed him. He wanted her in his office right now. Was she going to be his date to the party?

Next door was Stella, who worked. She was tackling some papers when Joseph called. "I'll be there in two minutes."

"Are you seeking for death?" With seriousness, Joseph questioned her.

"If Mr. Conrad wants to see you now, you go and see him right now."

She was forced to set the file aside. She nodded after inhaling deeply. "Got it." She then made her way to the office.

Joseph stood at the door to listen in on their talk, not so subtly, as soon as she entered.

"Mr. Conrad, you wanted to see me?"

Clarence had requested that she keep their connection within the organization a secret. She served as his helper and nothing more. She had to be like everyone else and call him "Mr. Conrad " if she saw him.

Although Stella wasn't quite at ease with it at the moment, she had called him that so frequently that it would have been strange to say anything else.

Clarence extended her a golden invitation but said absolutely nothing. It took her a long moment to move forward and take it up.

She gave it a quick glance before looking up, perplexed. "Mr. Conrad, you want to go to the party?"

While she was contemplating, her brilliant eyes glinted with the potential. "From what I understand, Mr. Andrew of the Andrew Group is also invited. It's unlikely that he will attend the celebration as well. Mr. Moore, this is your chance to let him know that you want to work with him."

There was a moment of respect in Clarence’s eyes, but it vanished quickly. ‘This woman, I will add, has a good memory and a sharp mind.

"Okay."

"Then I'll do some preparations for you, Mr. Conrad."

"You're coming with me."

As she heard him calling out to her, she had turned to head back to her office. She froze in place, turned back to face him, and gave him a bewildered expression. "You mean me, Mr. Conrad?"

"I don't fancy talking business at parties, that'll be your job."

She nodded, understanding what he meant. "All right, I'll talk to Mr. Andrew then. If nothing else comes up, I'll be going back to work at that point."

"Actually, there is something else." He gave her a cold, hard look and she felt very uncomfortable. She straightened her posture on instinct.

He scowled. "Change your clothes."

She peered at her attire. She purchased the shoddy clothing before moving in with the Conrad family. Since they were comfy and Clarence had not commented on her attire, she had kept wearing them. She chewed the inside of her lower lip.

"Alright, I'll make sure to buy a new suit after work."

" Joseph!"

Joseph felt shivers run down his spine as he jumped, standing outside the door. How the hell about it?

Clarence asked how he had caught him listening in on them once more. He promised that he would never catch him again after doing so twice.

Joseph walked into the office, unwilling to spend any more time. "Mr. Conrad?"

Clarence gave him a chilly glance. Joseph tried to read his look to see how things stood. He guessed, recognizing a second later that there was nothing to be gained by doing so.

"Mr. Conrad, shall I show Ms. Radomil the evening gown for tonight's party?"

Clarence gave a consenting nod.

Joseph grinned, happy that he had made the correct choice. "I'll go call for the car."

*****

Three of them reached the shopping center thirty minutes later. She trailed behind Clarence and Joseph inside a posh boutique. The store had a posh interior and was playing soothing music on the speakers.

Clarence was seated in a wheelchair, but his ostentatious attire was still visible to the personnel. So they put on friendly grins and prepared to assist the customers.

"Welcome, sir."

Clarence didn't even glance at the salesperson, his demeanor so casual. Joseph, who was standing behind him, conversed with the employees instead.

"Find her some clothes for an important party."

Joseph had been her hiding place. She felt a little afraid. She had not visited a store of this caliber in a long time, and she found herself blinking at the bright lights.

Actually, before she married Shawn, she used to visit this kind of store very regularly with friends. The sales representative who had welcomed them remained cheerful. But her smile vanished as she spotted Stella. "For this lady?"

"Yes." Joseph gave a solemn nod. "Pick her out something good."

The saleswoman answered and swept her off her feet, "Yes, please follow me.”

Stella emerged from the dressing room wearing a black and white dress after what seemed like an eternity. The person she cared about the most was

Clarence, since it was he who took her to the store.

Clarence had a chilly look in his eyes. "Nope."

Her expression softened a little, and she proceeded to put on another. She appeared the following time in a black dress. Clarence scowled nonetheless.

She turned around, still holding her fist. Clarence scowled even more at the next few gowns. He had a way of frightening everyone in his vicinity.

Clarence slammed the magazine he was reading on the table when the store's salesperson led her out once more.

The noise startled Stella, and she bit her lip out of habit.

"I suppose we ought to call it a day now.

She dared not look up at Clarence, even though he was not staring at her. She was aware that dresses weren't her thing. There was none of her charm.

The opulent gowns appeared absurd on her.

Clarence surprised everyone by opening his mouth. "Don't dress her like an elderly person. She is not fifty, but thirty." Clarence gave the saleswoman a look as he finished speaking.

The salesperson tried not to lose her cool, and her face went pale. "Of course."