Even when they were on their way home, Ruby’s grating billingsgate never once stopped. She kept whining about how much trouble he had gotten themselves in, or why Zayn should have just let the thugs rearrange his face, or how irritating it was that Zayn chose to showboat his skills ‘just because it looked cool’, and now he had offended Skyler Moore and everything was going down to the drain.Her philippic against Zayn never once ceased. In fact, she kept arguing that Zayn should go back and apologized to Skyler right now. Regardless of his methods, Zayn was not supposed to drag the Carters into this feud.Zayn had gotten so chaffed by her endless vitriol that he finally snapped, “Mom, seriously—can you just shut up already? I’ve said I won’t drag the family into this, for crying out loud! What’s the point of your drivels if nothing of that sorts was gonna happen anyway?”Unfortunately, his retaliation only served to enrage her. “Oh, so this is what happened! You useless piece of tra
Four years ago, before the Larsons manufactured a calumny that ended up exiling him, Zayn used to be a well-known figure among the upper crusts of society. Only the most capable talents and minds could ever be privileged to be of Zayn’s acquaintance; one did not simply know him just because he was a pretty boy with some money to spare.“From what I heard, this William Brown fella wants you—and you specifically—to make coffee for him before signing that contract. Do you know him, Fifi?” Waine asked.Zayn’s ears perked up, his eyes darting towards Faye. “I thought Howard was the man behind this contract. Why would William want to ‘have a drink’ with Faye instead?” he asked, frowning.Ruby caught on to the suspicious undertone hidden behind the request. “Gotta admit, he’s right. Fifi, why should you need to make coffee for William? I hope this isn’t one of Howard’s many schemes again!”Faye shook her head. “Mom, you’re overthinking again. I’m one of the company's most valuable assets
Half an hour later, the pair reached a villa instead of an office, which prompted Faye to frown. “I thought we were supposed to discuss the terms of a contract. Why are we here instead?”Howard parked his car while answering, “The contract’s already finalized. The only thing that’s missing is his signature; we get that, and the contract is in effect. Mr. Brown’s here, so we have him sign it here. What’s so weird about any of this?”“Why would Mr. Brown choose to sign it here? If it’s an important, official business, shouldn’t he do it in his office?”“How should I know? This is Mr. Brown’s decision, not mine. He’s a guy who’s worth more than 150 million dollars—he can do whatever he likes and a plebeian like me would never understand why,” Howard replied before suddenly dropping his voice to a whisper as though he just remembered something, “By the way, once you’re in there, do not ever call him by his name. You can only ever refer to him as Mr. Brown, you got that?”Faye stayed qu
“Is he crazy? We’ve always just been friends back then. What reason does he have to even see me?” Faye said with a scowl.The smirk on Howard’s face said it all. “Oh ho, is that so? Cause I distinctly remembered you almost married him back then, did you not? You know, now that I think about it, you should have married him instead of that useless, good-for-nothing Zayn. You probably don’t know this, but Nathan is a really successful businessman now. If only you had married him back then—you would be living in luxury and splendor, not knowing a single day’s labor like what you’re doing as we speak! Am I right?”The whimsical inflexion in his tone betrayed the depth of schadenfreude he had towards her. It irked Faye so much that she erupted, “Howard Carter, if you spew a single word out of that disgusting mouth of yours one more time, then so help me, I’ll walk away and never turn back, if you beg!”Sensing genuine anger, Howard quickly forced out a smile as he tried to appease her. “O
“Mr. B-Brown….?” Faye’s muscles tightened as her attention zeroed in William and his unsettling grin.Truth be told, Faye already knew the real reason why she was asked to be here. She might have come this far into the plan, but it did not mean she could accept what was going to happen to her.William was rather good-looking, by all accounts. He looked youthful, fair, handsome, and was generally comely enough to rival young hunks in the entertainment business. Coupled that with his identity, and many women were unsurprisingly smitten by him. It would not be all too surprising if they would be willing to give it a go if they were given a chance to be intimate with someone this pleasing to the eyes, and some of them might even think they had just struck the jackpot.Not Faye, though. She could not accept this at all, no matter how hot William might be. Her heart would not beat for him, and in fact, she found every fiber in her being retching against the thought of William getting clos
Faye took a deep breath and walked back inside.William and Howard exchanged glances before yet another smile, loaded with implications, unfurled from their lips.“Really, Miss Carter. There’s no need to be afraid. I’m not a good guy,” William said through his smile.Faye had gone pale.“Ahahah! Oh, that was a joke. A gaffe. I’m not a bad guy. In fact, I’m the greatest guy you’ll ever meet! Just ask Howard if you don’t believe me,” he teased, winking playfully.Howard raised his hand immediately. “I can testify! Mr. Brown is a nice guy! Though he’s quite the coffee aficionado. You’re a whiz at coffee making, aren’t you? So don’t just stand there—go and brew Mr. Brown a nice pot!”“Oh, yes. Howard’s got a good point. I love me a pot of quality coffee, especially one mixed by a gorgeous lady like yourself, Miss Carter. My entire body will definitely enjoy it, guaranteed. Ha-ha-ha!”Faye nodded, though her face was blank and devoid of emotion. She turned to the counter and started
Faye was stunned when she saw the text. Her chaotic mind finally recovered some sense of clarity. Zayn was the one who had texted her.Staring at the words on the screen of her phone, Faye felt even more complicated. Zayn’s honest and good-natured face surfaced in her mind. What she was doing was going to hurt Zayn, was it not?William took two steps forward and turned back to ask with a smile when he saw her standing rooted, “Miss Carter, are you embarrassed even though we’ve come to this stage?”A flurry of thoughts and scenes flashed in Faye’s head. Finally, she looked up and replied, “Mr. Brown, your addition to the financing is too significant a matter. I can’t decide this on my own. It’s better for my grandfather to come personally and sign the contract with you.”William’s face sank at once. “Faye Carter, are you taking me for a fool?”Howard, who had reached the door, was agitated as well. He came back briskly and tugged at Faye angrily. “Faye, what are you trying to do?!”
Panic flashed across Faye’s features. She forced herself to keep her composure and told William straight in the eye, “Mr. Brown, this is a lawful society. There are cameras everywhere. You’d better not act impulsively and challenge the law.”“Hahaha…” William guffawed as though he had just heard the biggest joke. He looked scornful and amused as he asked Howard, “Are all you Carters so naïve?”“You have all sorts of people in this world, but it’s rare to see someone as naïve as her,” Howard answered.He then told Faye, “My advice is to stop playing dumb, Faye. Be good and sign the contract with Mr. Brown. You’re already here, so you won’t be able to escape. Save yourself the pain.”Faye panicked. “Howard Carter, are you still human? I’m your younger sister, but this is how you’re pushing me into the pits of hell?”“Ha, what are you talking about? I’m doing this for your sake. Mr. Brown is a successful businessman. You’d be better off with him than that trash, Zayn, at home.” Howar