The Lancaster Group's office building was a little out of the way. It was a place they rented.Their old stomping grounds back in the central business district had become unsustainable a year ago and had been sold off. There was now only one cafe downstairs.Calista looked up and immediately spotted Jordan sitting by the window. At least she wouldn't have to go searching for him. Oliver was also around."Ms. Everhart."She nodded and sat down across from Jordan. She casually set her shopping bags aside. Jordan glanced at his watch and then at the logo on the bag. It was a men's clothing brand."It seems you're not paying much attention to the competitive tender, Ms. Everhart. How do you still have time to go shopping?"He tapped his fingers against the surface."You're late."Calista had gotten here from the Northwood Corporation as quickly as she could."I apologize. I happened to be at the mall. It's just a casual thing, really …"Addressing him as "Mr. Lancaster" felt a li
David waited until Jordan left before making his way upstairs. Earlier, Calista had asked David to wait downstairs, so he spent the time in his car."Madam Calista, Mr. Lancaster didn't look too pleased when he left. Did you say something that upset him?" David asked.Calista appeared tired as she remained seated. The waiter had tidied up the once messy table."Why would he be upset? I came here to end the long-standing feud between the two families and even gave him a small gift as a goodwill gesture. He probably didn't expect it and must be thrilled."David remained silent, not convinced by Calista's explanation.Suddenly, he broke the silence and asked, "So, what's Mr. Lancaster's stance on the bidding?"Calista replied, "He's committed to seeing it through."David looked at her with a questioning gaze and continued, "Are you certain that Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Northwood aren't the same? Even though they had different vibes, styles, and ways of doing things, Mr. Lancaster seem
Calista recognized the voice, having heard it earlier that afternoon. She was confident it belonged to Jordan."Jordan?"Calista focused on the direction of the sound and called out. Moments later, a man wearing casual, light-colored clothing and sporting a stylish heart-shaped fringe appeared from around the corner.Amidst the gentle glow of soft lighting, his delicate features became even more pronounced. The man was undoubtedly Jordan.While Calista remained uncertain whether Jordan was truly Lucian, his appearance no longer startled her.Meanwhile, Paul, meeting Jordan for the first time, couldn't conceal his astonishment and blurted out, 'Lucian?'Jordan nodded and extended a polite hand to Paul."Mr. Baker, I'm Jordan Lancaster. It's a pleasure to meet you.""Jordan Lancaster?"Paul was puzzled. He had heard of this name, who had suddenly gained prominence in the thriving realm of Capeton's business, seemingly from nowhere.However, the mysterious man remained shrouded
After parting ways with Paul, Jordan left La Boucherie. Oliver occasionally glanced at Jordan's expression in the rearview mirror as he drove.Jordan had his eyes closed, his expression devoid of emotion, making it unclear whether he was asleep or simply lost in thought.In a probing tone, Oliver remarked, "Mr. Lancaster, today is Mr. Baker's birthday, right? The underwear Ms. Everhart bought should have been intended as a birthday gift for him."There was no immediate response from the back seat.After a while, Jordan slowly opened his eyes and retorted, "Do you give lingerie as a birthday gift to a woman without wrapping it? Are you a pervert?"Jordan's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he continued, "I'm not interested in Ms. Everhart.""Please get in touch with the folks from Northwood Corporation and inform them that we won't engage in any underhanded discussions about the bidding event. Let the best proposal win on its own merits. We're above playing these manipulati
Calista knew about the annual pool party held at the Oceanus Club. While it was marketed as a party, in reality, it served as a matchmaking event, with invitations extended to the sons of affluent families."So, I'm supposed to show up with an invitation and ask him to take a dip with me? He might get the wrong idea and think I'm some kind of creep with a thing for his body," Calista sighed.Yara remained determined and replied, "Why not? Just think about it. You might even score some eye candy. And hey, your main objective is to check out his scar, right?""Although it's a pool party, not everyone will be wearing swimwear. First, come up with a plausible excuse to lure him over, and when the opportunity strikes, give him a gentle nudge into the pool. That's your chance to peek at the scar on his butt. And if everything else fails, just go for it and touch it."Yara's elaborate plan dumbfounded Calista."Is that how you and Mr. Howard got together?"Yara, who hadn't rested well t
Calista was unaware of the fate of the invitation letter. On the day of the party, Yara came to pick her up."Here's the deal for the party. We're gonna have a two-minute blackout. During that time, just give Jordan a friendly push into the pool and discreetly touch his butt to see if there's a scar. If he's not Lucian, no worries – it's dark, and he won't notice who pushed him."Calista hesitated and replied, "His scar is flat and not tactile. You can only spot it."Yara shrugged."Oh, then forget it. Don't go into the water. Find a chance to get him into a room and remove his pants.""Is the party that wild?"Calista had never attended one and was starting to feel a bit apprehensive. Her original plan was simply to obtain a hair from Jordan, and she hadn't anticipated getting involved in the festivities."Some go wild, some don't. The guests are divided into two groups: those rocking swimwear to take a dip and those without who prefer to stay out of the water. You don't need t
The two stood face to face, and Calista noticed a faint cologne on Jordan, contrasting Lucian's natural sandalwood scent emanating from his incense-infused wardrobe. Lucian had never used a cologne.Calista looked up and found herself meeting Jordan's gaze, who was standing taller. As Calista studied Jordan closely, she couldn't help but gasp at how much Jordan looked like Lucian.The similarity was remarkable, aside from their differences in style or attitude. She reached out to brush aside the hair covering his forehead, but Jordan firmly held her hand before she could make contact."I'm Jordan, Ms. Everhart," he retorted in a deep, husky voice.Calista's affectionate gaze transformed into sadness as she heard his response. Her once radiant eyes now appeared clouded, imbuing her expression with a hint of loss and desolation."I get that I share a certain resemblance with the late Mr. Northwood, and it's understandable for you to confuse me for him, Ms. Everhart. But I'm not Luci
Worried that Calista might refuse, the male model added, "The organizers mentioned that the more connections you establish today, the greater the potential rewards. There's even a chance to win an overseas trip!"Despite their similar height, Jordan exuded an air of superiority with his presence alone.Jordan sneered, "I'd rather not. I stay informed with the news, and I'm well aware of the risks of human trafficking. If you're up for it and have extra lives to spare, go ahead."Calista was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the male model sized up Jordan, examining him from head to toe. He then fixated on Jordan's midsection before hurling an insult at him."Ms. Everhart, I've got my reservations about this guy. He doesn't seem all that reliable, and I don't think he's hitting the gym anytime soon.""Chilling with him might not give you the best sense of security. If things get dicey and you find yourself in a tough spot, you might just end up being the one on the frontlines, playin