Chapter 69
Standing in front of the desk with his back to her, Christian picked up his cup of tea and held it to his
lips as a dark glint flickered in his eyes. âThereâs no fun in punishing you.â
Does he mean that heâs not gonna let Vincent off?! Victoria stood up with a frown before forcing herself
to sit down again. Trying to maintain her composure as much as possible, she asked, âIâm not as smart
as Miss Spritz is. Mr. Thatcher, could you make yourself clear?â
Christian replied, âDelta Clubâs hall has been smashed up. Thereâs no way you could afford to pay for it
in your lifetime with your current salary.â The vases Vincent had smashed were basically antiques.
âYou donât have to worry about this. My brother will compensate for financial losses,â Victoria replied.
Christian put down his teacup and turned around to look at her before putting his hands on the desk
behind him for support. âIs he gonna pay me the original price for the things he smashed? That means
Iâll only get 100 for every 100 that Iâve lent out. It counts as a loss of money for me.â
âYou can tell my brother how much you think he should pay as compensation. He wonât bargain over
the price.â Victoria was somewhat relieved. Since he mentions money, thereâs probably room for
maneuver with this.
âI donât need him to pay me money.â An inscrutable look flashed across Christianâs eyes as his gaze fell
upon her swollen cheek. âIâm very interested in the land that the Coleman Group bid for in Gloganâs
newly developed area.â
Victoria fell silent. She had no say in the Coleman Groupâs affairs both in the past and the present.
âYouâre reluctant to give up the land? Never mind then,â Christian said nonchalantly.
âNo, Iâm not reluctant!â Victoria said before realizing that she had gotten too emotional. After collecting
herself, she said, âItâs just that I canât make any decisions about this. I have to let my brother discuss it
with his family.â
Christian smiled as her figure was reflected in his pupils. âYouâd better hurry up, then. My patience is
limited.â
Victoria nodded before walking to the door with a frown. Her family was already very displeased with
her after she went to jail two years ago for running Bella over with a car. Now that Vincent had gotten
into trouble and had to lose a piece of land because of her, her parents would probably hate her even
more.
She had just placed her hand on the doorknob when Christian called out to her. âWait a minute.â
Victoria turned around with her head down, asking, âMr. Thatcher, is there anything else you want to
talk to me about?â
Christian picked up his cup of tea and held it to his lips, but he then turned to look at her instead of
drinking from it. âLucas will be getting engaged on National Day. They reminded me to not let you stir
up trouble at the engagement ceremony.â
Stunned, Victoria looked up and mumbled, âUh-huh,â with a clouded expression. There were many in
their circle who had a promiscuous lifestyle, but sheâd always thought that Lucas was an exception.
Little did she think that heâd mess with her now that he was about to get engaged to Scarlett. This filled
her with disgust.
Seeing her response, Christian let out a snort and placed down his teacup on his desk with an almost
imperceptible frown. Is she upset because I forbid her to attend Lucasâ engagement ceremony?
Victoria walked out of the presidentâs office in a daze as her mind was preoccupied.
Ding! The elevator arrived on the ground floor.
âHey! I didnât expect to see you here.â Janice stood outside the elevator with a look of surprise on her
face. âWeâve met twice in a day. This has to be the work of fate, no?â
Victoria stepped out of the elevator while managing a smile. âYeah, itâs quite a coincidence.â
Matthew gave her a slight nod. Then, grabbing Janice by the back of her collar, he entered the elevator
and pressed the button to close the elevator door.
âWhat are you doing, Mr. Buckley?â Janice glared at him with her hands on her hips. âI still have a
couple of things to ask her about!â
Matthew pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose with a standard smile on his handsome face. âIt
doesnât make a difference no matter whether you ask her about it or not. Itâs just pure gossip.â
Janice rolled her eyes in a beautiful way. She muttered, âWhat a dictaââ
âWhat did you say?â Matthew asked while placing his right hand on her shoulder.
âAha!â A big smile spread across Janiceâs face. âIâm saying that you look especially handsome in this
suit today. In fact, you look much more handsome than usual. Youâre stunningly handsome.â
Matthew squeezed her hair bun. âWhy waste your breath saying something that we already know is
true?â
Janice was rendered speechless.
The pair stepped out of the elevator on the 36th floor. Janice followed behind Matthew, but when she
saw the words âPresidentâs Office,â she began to flinch. âMr. Buckley, my tummy hurts. It seems like Iâm
having my period. I gotta go first!â
âGetting cold feet?â Matthew grabbed the back of her collar and dragged her back. âChristian doesnât
eat people.â
Janice clutched her stomach with a pained expression. âItâs not about cold feet. Itâs that Iâm having my
period and have to change my sanitary pads!â
Matthew released his grip on her collar and looked down at her with a smile. âIf my memory serves me
well, this is your third time having your period in a month.â
Janice wished she were dead.
âDo you really not want to go with me?â Matthew raised his eyebrows slightly. Seeing how she nodded
vigorously, he got so angry that he laughed instead. âGreat. Weâve got a new case today. Go back and
sort out the files about the parties concerned first.â
âThank you so much, Mr. Buckley! I love youââ By the time she uttered the last syllable, Janice had
run into the elevator.
Matthew let out a sigh while massaging the aching space between his eyebrows. Then, he walked up
to the presidentâs office and knocked on the door.
âCome in.â A chilly voice sounded from the inside.
As soon as Matthew pushed the door open, the faint smell of tobacco instantly overwhelmed his sense
of smell. Looking at the tall figure standing in front of the French window, he asked, âYouâve got
something on your mind?â
âUh-huh. Iâm poor.â Christian turned to look at him before stubbing out his half-smoked cigarette and
tossing it into the ashtray.
Matthew took off his gold-rimmed glasses and tossed them onto the coffee table. âIf youâre poor, then
what am I? Impoverished?â
âCare for a cup of tea?â Christian poured a cup of tea and put it on the coffee table.
Matthew darted a look at him in disgust with no intention of drinking the cup of tea at all. âAre you doing
this on purpose? How many times have I told you that I only drink coffee instead of tea?â
âIâm just putting on an act for formalitiesâ sake. Donât be too serious about it.â Christian picked up the
cup of tea he had just poured and took a sip from it before putting it back onto the conovelxo.com fast
updateffee table.
âHa ha.â Matthew let out a sneer before putting the file envelope and his suitcase onto the table. âIâm
not gonna take on Vincentâs case.â
âAre you angry because of what I said? Thatâs too petty of you.â Christian darted a look at him before
sitting down beside him.
Matthew stopped talking nonsense with him. He explained with a straight face, âMrs. Coleman is
friends with my parents, who made a special effort to call me and forbid me to take on this case.â
âUh-huh,â Christian mumbled in response with no change in his expression.
Matthew stood up and went to fetch some coffee powder to brew coffee for himself. âI thought youâd
scold me. This is about your darling, after all.â
âIâm not letting myself sink to the likes of animals.â Christian leaned back against the sofa while looking
leisurely at the man who was making coffee in all seriousness. âAlso, sheâs not my darling. Sheâs just
someone I might get married to.â
Matthew stopped brewing his coffee and turned around to look at him. âSheâs someone you might get
married to? Then why would you break Victoriaâs leg for her sake two years ago?â For a time, he even
forgot to make a fuss with Christian over how the latter called him an animal.
Christian frowned for a moment. The next instant, his brow cleared, and he resumed his usual
expression. âThatâs the punishment Victoria deserves. It has nothing to do with Bella.â
âTsk.â Matthew walked up to the coffee table and sat down with a cup of coffee in his hand. âMiss Spritz
lost her leg for your sake, but you only treat her as one of the ladies you might get married to⦠Youâre
quite heartless.â