Chapter 54

“Uncle Max, with the Hartley Group and Infinity Brilliance being the two most formidable financial powerhouses in North America, they’re both set to make a splash at the auction. Now that Infinity Brilliance is teaming up with the Clements Corporation, does that mean someone from the Clements clan will show?”

The room was dimly lit, the air tinged with the scent of whiskey.

Max approached, noticing the Infinity Brilliance dossier displayed on the laptop screen. beside her.

“Andrew will be there.”

He sat down, wrapping his arms gently around her from behind, “Scared of him?”

Indeed she was, but because of Aubree, she wanted to understand what kind of Andrew was.

person “The Clements family is cooperating with Infinity Brilliance, and with that, no one can replace Andrew’s position in the Clements family, right?”

If the Clements family ever came after Aubree, she hoped Andrew would keep her safe.

Max didn’t respond, just held her on the window-side daybed.

Brielle tried to ignore the warmth spreading through her heart. This was not a good sign.

She hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, yet her skin tingled as if fingertips danced upon it, slightly intoxicating. Her mind went blank for a moment until she felt a tickle on her neck. His lips grazed her skin, not painful, almost tender. He must be tipsy.

Brielle’s eyelashes fluttered, and she instinctively pulled away, “Uncle Max, the Hartley Group’s dealings with Dorsey International don’t overlap. Dorsey International broke into international markets the year you took over. Logically, this partnership seems unnecessary. Is it because of Mr. Hartley? I saw he’s also a Harvard grad, a friend of yours, Uncle Max? Mmm, be gentle.”

A low chuckle came from the man as he lifted her in his arms, heading for the bathroom.

“Brielle, are you sure you want to keep talking business?”

Brielle bit her lip, fearful of this seductive dance he was leading. It was disorienting, intoxicating.

“Mr. Dorsey, you provided the info, so of course, I have to do my due diligence. Among the Hartley Group’s core businesses, the only one that seems to connect with Dorsey International is MarketPlace.

Is Dorsey International planning to list its subsidiaries’ products there? If so, it could leverage the Hartley Group’s logistics network, saving a pretty penny.”

She was now seated on the vanity, facing a mirror a meter in diameter that reflected both of them.

Brielle closed her eyes, unable to bear the provocative image.

“Or maybe I’m wrong, and Dorsey International isn’t aiming to integrate with MarketPlace. The latest data suggests the Hartley Group intends to develop a state-of-the-art. automated grocery chain. The crux of such stores is the ceiling sensors that cover the entire space, necessitating Al technology, which Dorsey International happens to excel in. Mr. Dorsey, your foresight had you fund sensor research two years ago. Now, you could potentially sell this tech to the Hartley Group, with its extensive North American storage and logistics system, though they lack Al research.

The sounds in the bathroom made her blush, her eyelids squeezed shut, forcing her to tilt her head back.

Just then, the icily composed man paused, pinching her chin. “Go orr.”

Brielle w was drained of strength, trying to stay lucid, but her voice faltered.

“As for the upfront costs for an automated grocery, be it Al, machine learning, or big data, Dorsey International has more expertise than the Hartley Group. If Dorsey International sells this entire suite of tech to them, then they could-”

“Could what?”

She couldn’t speak anymore. Overwhelmed, yet he pressed on, seemingly reveling in her confusion.

How wicked.

But ultimately, Brielle succumbed, her eyes reddening as she clawed at his back in frustration and surrender.

If there were two kinds of sin in this world, Max clothed was one, Max unclothed was another. Brielle watched herself fall with crystal clarity. She remembered Tiffanie’s words one night to win Max, a lifetime to love him.

Such agony. But then again, he was Max.