Chapter 470:
ð ð ð ð ð
If she could secure Charisma Companyâs backing, Greenfield might just weather the storm. Her pulse quickened at the thoughtâeverything was falling into place, and soon, sheâd have Kellan back in her orbit.
But Carole wasnât a fool. She knew business favors rarely came without strings attached. Her smile took on a playful edge as she ventured, âSo, Kellan, what do you want in return?â
A teasing note crept into her voice. âPerhaps⦠an offer of marriage?â
Kellan scoffed, his gaze hardening as he finally met her eyes.
âCarole, donât get ahead of yourself.â
The document snapped shut in his hands as he fixed her with a cutting stare. âI donât need any repayment. Consider this collaboration repaymentâfor the debt I owe to my grandmother.â The chill in his voice froze her smile, and Caroleâs heart dropped.
Of course, she thought bitterly. She knew the history between their families.
It was only because of that old debtâa life-saving favor her parents had done for his grandmotherâthat Kellan was even entertaining this conversation.
Now, with her last advantage gone, Carole felt herself deflate, resentment simmering beneath her composed exterior. She clenched her hands tightly, forcing herself to maintain a level tone.
âThatâs not what I meant, Kellan. I onlyââ
âIt doesnât matter,â Kellan cut her off.
He didnât spare her another glance as he pushed the document back across the desk. âMy assistants will handle the details from here. If thatâs all, youâre free to go.â
Sheâd hoped to rekindle something, however faint, between them. But with a single look, he reminded her just how distant they now were. There was nothing left to say.
Caroleâs face twisted as she fought to gather her words, her voice barely escaping her lips. âThen⦠Iâll be leaving first.â
Humiliation simmered under her skin like a slow burn. She had never felt so disgraced.
The vast office fell silent, a heavy, loaded stillness filling the space.
Kellanâs gaze drifted up from the stack of documents before him, his fingers absently gripping a sleek black pen. Ink oozed from its tip, spreading darkly on the page until it pooled into an inky stain.
But his attention remained unfazed, fixed instead on the distant cityscape visible through his office window. The memory of Ferdinandâs words pricked at his mind. âCome on, whatâs the harm in giving it a shot? Youâre running out of options, arenât you? Listen to me, just keep Ms. Clarke interested. Make her want moreâ¦â
He felt even more irritated at the thought. Tossing the now-useless pen into the trash with a flick of his wrist, he pushed back his chair and headed out. He had a new product launch to oversee.
If his instincts were right, Allison would be there too. The conference hall buzzed with quiet murmurs, heads turning as he stepped inside.
.
.
.
Message from Noah: Hi dear readers! Hope you liked the chapters. God bless you, and Noa is sending you all the best. (ÉOâ¿=)É â¥
.