Chapter 347: Choose a side before it’s too late

"Patricia, nice to see you too." Nina’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "It’s been a while."

"It has been!" Patricia, now a beautiful woman, flipped her shiny hair as she casually invited herself to Nina’s table. "How nice, meeting you here!"

Nina smiled, staring at the spot where Patricia had sat down. "Someone is seated there."

"Oh? Are you with a friend?" Patricia furrowed her brows. "Or is it a client? Don’t tell me it’s your fiancé?"

"Patricia." Nina forced herself to maintain a smile. "Please, not here?"

"Not here? What do you mean?" Patricia tilted her head to the side. "If you’re with a client, then I’ll just hire you. That way, I’m a client now. Isn’t that better?"

The corners of her lips curled up as her eyes sharpened a little, while Nina maintained her poise.

Ever since what happened when they were children, there was nothing that could repair their friendship. Nina had reached out to Patricia before and apologized, but all she got in return was a slap on the face and a lot of harsh words from her.

Nina took it.

She took everything because she knew it was her fault. It was Nina who betrayed Patricia and ruined their beautiful friendship. Therefore, she didn’t complain and moved on with regret in her heart.

Many years later, when they started attending university, they met again. Since then, Patricia never left her alone and often picked on her. Even as adults, it was the same whenever they crossed paths. Today wouldn’t be any different.

"Patricia." Nina breathed out calmly. "What do you want now?"

"What do I want? Nina, why do you always sound like I am following you just to harass you?" Patricia arched a brow. "Meeting you here is a coincidence! I came here to meet my friends, but I arrived first."

"They must be very important friends for you to come in early."

"Of course," Patricia smirked proudly. "They’re not just anyone. I mean, my circle of friends isn’t just any nobodies. I choose my people now, you know? I have to be careful because if I don’t, I might get stabbed in the back by a jealous fraud."

"..." At this point, Nina shouldn’t be affected by such innuendos because it wasn’t the first time she had heard something like this. However, she couldn’t help it. Even so, she squashed down the rising displeasure in her heart with a smile.

"Is that so?" she replied, smiling. "Good for you, then."

"Anyway, weren’t you an interior designer?" Patricia comfortably leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. "I might need your help with something."

"If you have any inquiries, you can always contact our office —"

"And why would I do that?" Patricia tilted her head to the side. "You’re already here, and I am your client. Didn’t we establish that just now?"

"Patricia, I can’t just toss aside my client because another one came in." Nina maintained a calm demeanor while reasoning with her. "That’s not how it works."

Patricia arched a brow. "Not how it works? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I’m sorry." Though gentle, Nina remained adamant. "Send me an email, and I’ll gladly get back to you with a proposal. Right now, my hands are tied..."

"You’re going to regret it."

"Huh?"

Patricia snorted, her eyes swirling with ridicule. "Nina, do you think I’m asking for a favor? Haha. No, I’m doing you a favor — for old times’ sake."

’What nonsense is she blabbering about now?’

"My, my... well, I can’t blame you. I mean, you used to be the fraud of the Bennets. It’s a good thing they kicked you out of the family registry because it’s shameful for them to have someone who carried such a criminal mind."

"Patricia." This time, Nina’s voice sounded firm. "Please. Let’s not go there."

"Why not?" Patricia snorted. "You did it, and you admit it — you confessed. You tried to kill Penny before and framed me. Do you think because it’s been many years, everyone has forgotten about that? Nina, no one will forget something like that."

Nina slowly clasped her hands into tight fists, her jaw tightening.

"You should put that up in your ads, you know? I mean, your clients should know what kind of person they are dealing with! Who knows? You might do that to them as well." Patricia continued with a shrug. "Moreover, you should be thankful that I am showing you my tiniest interest. After all, in the future, I will become someone you could only watch from afar."

"Oh?" Nina let out a laugh, rendered speechless at this.

Patricia smirked. "In the future, you’d be grateful that you tossed your client aside and heeded my request. Nina, you should know who to curry favor with, you know?"

"Thank you for thinking of me, Patricia." Nina smiled forcibly. "But no thank you. I don’t know why you are saying such things, but I have a reputation to uphold. Like I said, if you need me for anything, you can contact my office. Otherwise, please leave. I have a very important client with me, and —"

"Is this client more important than the next matriarch of the Pierson Corporation?"

Nina halted, almost biting her tongue upon hearing what Patricia said. "What?"

"Haha." Patricia shook her head and sighed, looking at Nina pitifully. "Oh, Nina. You only became a Reed, and yet, you don’t follow current news affairs anymore. Well, I do not want to say this, but because you’re an old friend, I’ll let you in on a secret..."

Patricia slowly leaned forward and drawled out her next words, "... Zoren Pierson is someone on my side. You’re engaged to Finn, aren’t you? He’s a lackey of the Piersons, so I’m sure you know how important this is for the two of you."

Shock slowly spread across Nina’s face as she stared at the proud smirk on Patricia’s face. Although Nina wasn’t directly involved with Finn’s business, she was slightly familiar with it. Therefore, the name Zoren Pierson rang a bell.

"Zoren Pierson and you..." she trailed off as Patricia’s smirk stretched while she pushed herself away from the table.

"Anyway, if you’re interested, call me," said Patricia, standing up and gazing down at Nina. "But I have to tell you that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... out of the goodness of my heart. Choose a side early before it’s too late."

The corner of her mouth hooked up. "See you."

Having said that, Patricia turned to walk away. But just as she turned, she flinched when she saw Penny standing in front of her.

"Pe — Penny?"