James replied helplessly, "What kind of thoughts are running through your head?"
Avril continued her act,
"Uncle, I heard you don't have children. My parents are still alive, but it's almost as if they're not. If you don't mind, I'd like to take care of you in your old age."
She half-knelt in the car, her performance full of genuine emotion. Her shy yet hopeful gaze was practically a blatant seduction.
Having some self-control, James suppressed any improper thoughts.
He patted her head gently and smiled warmly.
"At most, I can consider you a little sister. You don't need to worry about taking care of me when I'm old; I'll take care of you instead."
His words suddenly made their relationship more delicate.
Avril initially meant it as a joke, but seeing him so serious, she started feeling differently.
Especially when his hand rested on her head, she felt a sudden sense of happiness she could rely on.
Wandering alone outside for so long, she hadn't felt this way in a long time.
She squinted her eyes, enjoying the moment, and then said lightly,
"So, Uncle likes being called brother, huh?"
"I'm a rather traditional man; I can't accept those weird terms from the entertainment world," James replied.
"How unromantic, Uncle," she teased.
James glared at her in annoyance.
Avril giggled and leaned on his shoulder.
[System message: Avril's favorability +20]
James was puzzled. He couldn't quite understand this girl.
However, he had gained 35 points in favorability without spending any money yet, so he was content with the progress.
On the way back, James kept saying all sorts of sweet lies to the girl, promising that she could do whatever she wanted in the future. Even if she wanted to fly to the sky, he would help her.
However, Avril didn't add any more favorability points.
Winnie Morgan, listening to her boss charming the girl, couldn't help but rub her arms against the goosebumps.
The heartfelt words of a wealthy man were hard to resist, even for a woman in her forties.
If she were twenty years younger, she might have been able to have a sweet romance with the boss.
Back then, she was still full of youth and beauty and even named the campus belle.
Oh, the tricks of destiny.
The car smoothly arrived at the Love Lake community in New York City, parking in the lot.
All three went up to the 18th floor and entered James's home.
After admiring the luxurious 480-square-meter flat, feeling envious for about three seconds,
Winnie Morgan immediately pulled out her laptop and started drafting the contracts.
After confirming repeatedly with James that there would be no penalty clauses, she had her lawyer friend verify everything and then printed out the contracts.
With the help of the sales office assistant, she got a red ink pad.
Both parties signed and sealed the contract on the spot, with Winnie Morgan stamping it to make it official.
Then she turned around and left, as time was extremely tight and the company's affairs were piling up, waiting for her to sort them out.
James had promised her the role of CEO, motivating her to work hard.
With three billion in the company's account, she was now essentially driven by money, forced to seize every moment to work.
Once Winnie Morgan left, only James and Avril remained in the room. The two sat in silence for a while, neither speaking.
After signing the contract, Avril felt quite emotional. She had never seen such an unbelievable contract in her life and was unsure if this rich man was serious.
Without seeing the actual money, she couldn't help but feel insecure.
James, on the other hand, was thinking about how to win over this cunning girl. Given her slippery attitude, conventional methods might not work.
Only sincerity could touch such a sly girl.
After a few minutes of silence, James went to the fridge to get a drink and asked,
"What would you like?"
"Coke, please," Avril replied.
Alone with a man in his house, Avril behaved more demurely, no longer making bold jokes.
Facing the possibility of what might happen next, she mentally prepared herself.
The man's house, car, driver, secretary, and the casual ten thousand dollars he handed to the director all signaled that he was indeed wealthy.
If she could win his favor today, the three-billion investment seemed very likely.
Although she would ultimately have to trade her body for the glamorous life, this handsome, gentle man was someone she could accept.
"Here, your bottled water," James said, opening his Coke and taking a long swig.
Avril's eyes went wide.
"Wasn't that Coke for me?"
"I just remembered; when Jingjing left, she told me you shouldn't have any more sugary drinks today," James explained.
"Seriously, Uncle? You're such a wealthy man, and you're taking orders from a young assistant?"
"Yes, she said your blood sugar is high," James replied.
"..."
"That silly girl tells you everything. When I get back, I'm going to rip her mouth off," Avril grumbled.
James said lightly, "Just stick to water for now."
Avril took the bottle of water, feeling a bit conflicted inside. She was both touched by the care and annoyed that he drank the Coke in front of her. It took her a moment to calm down.
As she watched James's Adam's apple move while he drank, a strange thought arose in her mind.
"Hey, Uncle, take it easy later. I'm a first-timer."
"PUFF!"
James nearly spat his Coke all over her but managed to turn his head just in time.
This was the first time he had met a girl so bold, casually saying such a thing.
And from her tone, it didn't sound like she was joking.
If he took advantage of her now, their relationship would be reduced to nothing but a transaction. It would make it much harder to increase her favorability in the future.
Now was not the time to show his hand.
James decided to endure.
"Don't overthink things. I have no such intentions," James said seriously.
Avril stood up, walking gracefully toward him with the seductive gait she had practiced all morning.
She stopped in front of him, her eyes teasing and sultry.
"Don't pretend, Uncle. It's just the two of us here. You can do whatever you want."
Her flirtatious smile and suggestive tone were more playful than seductive.
James finally understood why the director had yelled "cut" so many times on set. She didn't look seductive; she looked like she was the one teasing him.
James quickly took two steps back, widening the distance, and said seriously,
"Young lady, please behave. Didn't you just say you wanted to take care of me in my old age?"
Avril hadn't expected him to refuse her.
She looked genuinely flustered, hesitating before saying,
"That was just an act!"
Her shy demeanor, far more effective than her earlier attempt at seduction, caught James off guard.
Her petite, delicate frame stood there like a lotus bud about to bloom.
What a truly alluring sight.
James awkwardly sat down on the couch.
"Avril, I think we need to have a proper conversationâ"
"Uncle Come on"
Avril leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck and kneeling on the couch with one leg.
James realized he needed to put her in her place.
As she closed her eyes, leaning in for a kiss, his hand came down hardâ
SMACK!
The sharp sound echoed in the room as Avril yelped and jumped up.
"OW! Are you serious?!"
She turned to check her back, finding a bright red mark on her skin where he'd hit her.
The area further back had finger marks that were impossible to see.
Avril spun around and glared at James, her face full of anger.
"Don't think just because I'm easygoing, I won't hit back," James said calmly.
"You..."
Avril was furious.
For the first time, she had put her pride aside, lowered herself, and offered herself to someoneâonly to be flat-out rejected.
Who would believe this?!
Was she that unattractive?
Or did this man genuinely have no interest in her body?
Tears welled up in Avril's eyes. She was on the verge of crying.