Chapter 96



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“He’s a producer for Ray-Trace Media, Leonard Keith.” Magnus stood up straight. He looked apprehensive as he stood in front of Joseph’s desk.

“Recently, the travel show launched by Hotel ST in cooperation with Ray-Trace Media just aired a trailer. It is already on the most frequently searched list on the internet, especially Freddie and Stella’s group. Fans love the interaction between male artists and children. That’s why Ray-Trace Media wants to sign Stella as a child star and cultivate her.”

“Is that so?” Joseph furrowed his eyebrows slightly, unable to differentiate whether he was happy or angry about it.

“Yes, Leonard came in today to talk about the plan to launch an entire program series based on this current show. He discussed it with the investment department and I guess he wanted to take Miss Downey into his company because he saw her excellent job performance. After all, this program was initially her idea.”

At these words, Joseph clenched the pen in his hand and looked up from the contract papers. “Did she agree?”

“About that… I’m not sure.” Magnus’s tone was a little apprehensive. Lately, the boss’s mood was somber and unpredictable. It was hard to predict his thoughts.

Joseph did not speak for a while, so Magnus cautiously reminded him, “Mr. Beckham, the meeting will start in a moment, and representatives from several hotels have already arrived.”

There were ST Group hotels planning to make a chain of youth hostels to facilitate the tourism company’s product line. Hence, representatives of all the ST Group hotels that were in N City met to discuss the matter.

Hayden had also attended to discuss this matter.

Joseph put aside his pen and said in a gravelly voice, “Let’s go.”

The meeting room was full of people and Hayden was sitting in a corner at the back since she was a junior.

“The ST Group started out as a high-end hotel, so we didn’t dabble in the low-end product line. This time we plan to do a chain of youth hostels, so we have to do marketing studies.”

After someone raised this opinion, Joseph, who had been quiet the whole time, opened his mouth: “Market research is really necessary, but the information from market research companies is not very reliable. Therefore, I don’t think it is necessary to entrust it to a consultant this time. Each hotel will choose a representative to go out in the field to research in person.”

Hayden was busy writing her notes, so she didn’t notice that Joseph had been watching her.

“After the anniversary celebration, Miss Downey seems to be quite free, how about you take care of this matter.”

Hayden was stunned to hear this. He lifted his head immediately and said, “Me? Go into the field and investigate in person?”

From Joseph’s serious look he got an affirmative answer, “No one else?”.

Every day she had to take care of her daughter, take her to and from Kindergarten. Therefore, she could not go on business trips for long periods of time.

Joseph’s expression was very cold. He knew her difficulties, but he still asked her intentionally, “Why, is there some difficulty, or do you just not want to go?”

Since he had returned from the Maldives, he had not treated Joseph politely. She knew clearly that if she told him the reasons why she didn’t want to go, she would only succeed in offending him or have it become an excuse to make fun of her. Therefore, she gritted her teeth and agreed, “It’s okay, I can go.”

Joseph glanced at her, seeing her look of concern, he regretted it a little.

After the meeting, everyone got up and left the room. Hayden was in a hurry to leave as well, but he didn’t expect to run into Joseph’s housekeeper, who was leading Noah by the hand as he left the room.

When he saw Hayden, Noah’s eyes lit up. He let go of the housekeeper’s hand and lunged at her. Hayden froze for a moment and then hurriedly ducked down, “Noah, why didn’t you go to school today?”

Noah hugged her without saying anything, his silence was so heartbreaking.

The housekeeper, who was standing next to Noah, explained, “Little Noah has been a little under the weather the last couple of days. He kept coughing, so the master let him rest at home. Today he’s better and didn’t want to stay home anymore, so he made a fuss to go out.”

“Coughing?” Hayden unconsciously touched Noah’s forehead. Fortunately, he didn’t have a fever, “Are you feeling sick?”

Noah shook his head, but he looked so distraught, like he was about to cry.

“What’s the matter, who bothered you?”.

Noah nodded a little, turned around and picked up his tablet that the housekeeper had. He wrote [dad] on the board.

“What’s wrong with daddy, has daddy been bothering you?”. Hayden was puzzled.

Noah wrote again, “[He won’t let me look for you].”

Hayden’s heart filled with mixed feelings at this. His nose ached and tears welled up in his eyes.

“[I want to be with you].” Noah wrote again, then tugged on Hayden’s hand and let her read it.

Hayden felt her heart break more and more as she read the words.

“Noah, come here.” Joseph’s voice came suddenly from behind her, with a hint of distaste.

Noah suddenly grabbed at Hayden’s pants.

Hayden looked down and sniffled, forcing herself to hold back tears.

“Noah, I have to go to work now, so I can’t play with you. Now go with Daddy, next time I’ll come and join you.”

Noah clutched at his pants and wouldn’t let go, his face full of stubbornness.

Joseph looked at the housekeeper and said in a cold voice, “Why are you still standing there? Take Noah to the office.”

The housekeeper had to obey and pulled Noah away from Hayden and then forcibly lifted him up.

Hayden was afraid he couldn’t take any more, so he quickly got up and left.

Noah struggled and suddenly yelled to Hayden, “Mom!”.

It was the first time Hayden had ever heard Noah speak, her feet stopped instantly. She turned in disbelief to look at the little boy, who was still crying in the housekeeper’s arms.

“She’s not your mommy!” That was Joseph’s voice. His words were like a bucket of ice water falling from his head. In that instant, Hayden’s heart, which was burning with feelings, turned cold at those words. It made his heart fill with mixed feelings.

Joseph asked his housekeeper to take Noah to his office, then walked over to Hayden. His face was somewhat sullen and cold.

Magnus saw and understood what was happening. He quickly instructed the people in the hallway to leave instantly. Consequently, the hallway fell silent, leaving the two of them alone.

“Mr. Beckham.” Hayden lowered his eyelids to hide the shocked expression in his eyes.

“Hayden Downey, what do you want?” Joseph asked.

Hayden frowned, “Mr. Beckham, I don’t understand what you mean.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a sudden pressure on his shoulder. Her feet stumbled and she cried out in shock. The next moment, her back was pressed against the wall by Joseph. His voice was extremely close, but clearly cold.

“You’ve rejected me, but you’re still showing your motherly love to Noah. Are you trying to play hard to get?”

“You’re thinking too much.” Hayden struggled, but couldn’t move. His eyebrows were drawn tightly together, “I just think Noah is so cute.”

“You think I’d believe such nonsense?”

The strength in Joseph’s hand was heavier than before, and his eyes were cold. “If you’re trying to use these kinds of tricks to make me believe that you’re so important to Noah, and that I have no choice but to choose you, then I’ll tell you now. I’m never threatened by anyone; your tricks are useless with me.”

Hayden’s shoulder was almost crushed by it, his face was as pale as a sheet. She said painfully, “You really think too much. I have no intention of playing tricks on you. All I have is only respect as a subordinate, Mr. Beckham, please have some self-respect.”

The expression ‘self-respect’ kept echoing in Joseph’s mind. It made him even more enraged, as if pouring oil on the fire in his heart, which made his eyes bleed with anger.

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