+15 BONOS Now Orlander and Minnie were truly starstruck.
Winston Taylorâs daughter? THE Winston Taylor from Belbanks?
âYâYouâre Mr. Taylorâs daughter?â Orlander gasped, looking Alyssa up and down.
Behind Alyssa, Sean scowled just the slightest. âPeople usually whip out their credit cards, not their fathers.â
âYes. Mr. Javier and Mr. Beckett are aware of this as well.â Alyssa grinned. âWeâve met.â
Jasper looked away briefly, thinking, âWeâve met? Was that all?â
She spoke as if they were mere strangers.
âAh, so youâre all acquainted!â Orlander chuckled heartily. As someone experienced in politics, he knew just when to change his tune. âIâm terribly sorry for my ignorance, Ms. Alyssa!â
He then shook Alyssaâs hand.
âIâm sure Iâm just an equal business match as Mr. Javier, no?â Alyssaâs words sounded light on the surface but carried an imposing sense behind them.
Orlander blinked rapidly. He found it amazing how someone so young could already carry such an imposing air. Like father, like daughter, he thought.
Jasper gritted his teeth. Was Alyssa really playing this card now? Was this all some game to her? Even if it was, there were still rules and etiquette to abide by. Alyssa was clearly not doing that.
âWeâre very pleased to see you here today, Ms. Alyssa, but my business discussion with Mr.
Hodgson is of a private nature. Itâs not something an outsider could simply step into, including yourself.
So please,â Javier said courteously, though his eyes had long grown icy.
Betty wanted to express her contempt too, but was held back by her mother. Sophia believed her husband alone could handle Alyssa, so they could just sit back and watch.
âI am aware, Mr. Javier. But I wouldnât have come here if your discussion wasnât about the Verdane Valley project.â Alyssaâs tone never wavered. âAs for whether itâs none of my business, I beg to differ.
+15 BONOS âMy familyâs company is just as powerful, influential, and capable as yours, if not more. If you can handle this project, Iâm sure we can as well. Wouldnât it be better for Mr. Hodgson to have a choice of who he wishes to work with?â
Orlanderâs heart did a backflip. What a tenacious young woman!
Now, Javier and Sophia shared the same look of worry and shock.
âMs. Alyssa.â Jasper stepped up, breaking the tension. âWeâve come all the way here to reach an agreement with Mr. Hodgson about this project, even going so far as to settle on the technicalities and logistics. Donât you think your participation now is rude and unjust to the rules of fair play?â
Alyssa shot him a grin. âYou got the ârudeâ right.â
âAlyssa!â Jasper narrowed his eyes.
âAs for whether it usurps fair play, that is an allegation you cannot substantiate.â Alyssa stepped away from him.
She continued, âThe rules have always been set by the winners. If your family has already signed this business agreement, then yes, I wouldnât be playing fair. But have you?â
Her eyes turned into gleeful crescent moons. âThe ruleâmaker here is still uncertain.â
Jasper had no idea how to rebut her statements. She was right. They hadnât signed the contract.
with Orlander, so everything was still subject to change.
In all his years of being in this position, he had won so many battles and knocked out countless adversaries. He never imagined meeting an opponent so resilient one dayâin the form of his ex-
wife, too!
Unable to watch things spiral out of control, Sophia piped up, âIâm afraid Mr. Hodgson wouldnât be willing to work with you for this project, Ms. Alyssa. Our families go way back, and weâve partnered on several big projects up until now. Itâs not something that can so easily change.â