Chapter 628 Unworthy Of Comparison With My Wife

The instant Wesley heard Alexander’s request, his expression changed imperceptibly. “Uh...”

“My wife is pregnant, so she can’t be exposed to cigarette smoke, Mr. Ford.”

Alexander’s voice was even, and he did not sound livid. Yet, Wesley still broke into a cold sweat.

Not daring to say anything further, he nodded fervently. “Got it, Mr. Xenos. I’ll have someone arrange for another private room right away!”

After saying that, he whirled around and went into the private room. Then, he came out and looked for the hotel’s manager to ask for a different room.

Alexander stood at the side and watched it all expressionlessly.

It’s impossible for him to have failed to perceive that Sophia is pregnant. But still, he had someone arrange a room that isn’t non-

smoking. He’s clearly not attentive enough. Sure enough, he’s overestimating his importance now because he has been the local despot for too long a time.

Tilting her head sideways, Sophia looked at the man. Seeing that he remained silent, she reached out and tugged at the hem of his shirt. “Is this really okay?”

Alexander gazed down at her. “Why is it not okay? You’re pregnant and can’t be exposed to cigarette smoke.”

In the past, he smoked occasionally, but ever since Sophia fell pregnant, he had already quit the habit. At present, he did not like the stench of secondhand smoke either.

Since he had said so much, Sophia did not say anything further.

Oh well, what’s there to complain about my own husband loving me too much? Besides, he’s been germophobic since years ago. If Felix were in charge, the interior of the private room would’ve been sparkling clean without a hint of cigarette smoke. This Wesley guy is just too sloppy. I wonder if it’s because Alexander hasn’t flexed his power for too long a time that he doesn’t take him seriously or if he’s been the local autocrat for too long and truly thinks that Odyssey’s headquarters are too far for its influence to reach him.

The ventilation in the hotel’s private rooms was poor in the first place. Worse still, it was winter then, and the indoor heating was turned on.

If one could not curb the urge to smoke, one could have left the private room and satiated one’s addiction in the corridor. No one would have blamed him.

However, those in that private room did not bother budging and smoked in their seats instead.

Sophia was pregnant, and her stomach was exceedingly sensitive, making her prone to nausea. Alexander had already given an obvious hint when he took exception to the stench of cigarette smoke earlier. Even then, Wesley ignored that and balked at changing rooms.

Sophia glanced down at her hand in Alexander’s. Just when she wanted to tease him and ease his anger, the door to the private room swung open once more.

“Mr. Lindbeck!”

Unexpectedly, the man who stepped out this time was not Wesley.

Wesley followed behind Lionel Lindbeck with a grim look on his face. As he cast his gaze at Alexander, his expression was rather complex.

“What’s the meaning of this, Mr. Xenos?”

The first words out of Lionel’s mouth were an accusation toward Alexander, and chagrin was written all over his face.

By sheer luck, he made some money more than ten years ago. Later, he happened to have a good eye for trends, and his investment projects profited perpetually. The domestic economic growth had been improving in the past few years, so he made increasingly more. Gradually, he started getting full of himself.

He had some status in the business circle and had been a smoker for over thirty years. Everyone knew about his fondness for cigarettes. But a moment ago, Wesley mentioned that the stench of cigarette smoke in the private room was too pervasive, and Sophia could not be exposed to it.

Thus, he felt that the comment targeted him explicitly.

He had five kids, and he had been smoking in front of his women when they were pregnant. None had ever had any problems with it.

Yet, Alexander did not bother affording him any respect and wanted him to compromise for the sake of his wife.

Naturally, he could not take it lying down. In his opinion, women were not worthy of such care.

Alexander pulled Sophia to his back before glowering down at the man before him. “What do you think, Mr. Lindbeck?”

Compared to Lionel’s aggressive questioning, Alexander’s voice was mild yet carried an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

Swinging his gaze over, Lionel was surprised by the look in the man’s eyes. Nonetheless, he had been in the business world for many years, so he quickly recomposed himself. “Your sincerity is lacking, Mr. Xenos. Not only were you late today, but now you expect all of us to accommodate you by—”

“Mr. Lindbeck, we should indeed be considerate since Mrs. Xenos is pregnant!”

Someone wanted to try smoothing things over, but Lionel grew increasingly complacent as he spoke. “You want us to change rooms? Is your wife more precious than the few of us?”

That question was obviously inviting humiliation. Hearing that, even Wesley felt mortified on his behalf.

Who’s more important between Mrs. Xenos and the few of them old coots? Hah! I applaud him for having the nerve to ask such a question!

Alexander’s ebony eyes flickered, and his gaze slowly turned chilly. “To me, you’re unworthy of comparison with my wife, Mr.

Lindbeck.”

While saying that, he lowered his head slightly and stared straight into Lionel’s eyes.

His ebony eyes carried menace and frost. That single look struck such terror into Lionel that he instinctively backed up a step.

“How audacious! I don’t think you’re interested in a collaboration! In that case, Mr. Xenos, let’s not waste our time anymore.”

“You’re right, Mr. Lindbeck. I’m indeed not that interested in a collaboration.”

As he spoke, he no longer bothered to look at Lionel. Instead, he glanced back over his shoulder at Sophia. “What would you like for dinner?”

Stealing a peek at the furious Lionel, Sophia smiled and played along with him. “Let’s just eat here instead of going elsewhere.”

“Okay,” Alexander murmured.

Subsequently, he turned his gaze to Wesley. “Which private room is unoccupied, Mr. Ford?”

Wesley froze for a moment. On the heels of that, he hastily pointed at the private room diagonally across from them. “T-This one.”

Back then, he reserved two private rooms for fear that something might go wrong. Unexpectedly, the extra one ended up coming in handy.

Taking Sophia’s hand, Alexander spun around and headed toward the private room diagonally across from them.

The door was a touch heavy, so he held it open with a hand to allow Sophia to enter ahead of him.

That twist of events transpired so fast that even Lionel, who was wearing a self-righteous expression on his face a while ago, was stunned. His face flushed bright red in rage as he watched Alexander disappear into the private room. “H-He really left just like that?”

The door to the private room slammed shut. Alexander and Sophia closed them all out, paying their conversation no mind.

Meanwhile, Wesley’s heart leaped to his throat, as the disapproving glare Alexander had given him earlier still haunted his thoughts.

Feeling a pounding headache, he wiped his face before shifting his gaze to the three big shots in front of him with a pounding headache. “Mr. Lindbeck, Mr. Whitham, Mr. Zanardi, even though the collaboration fell through, let’s still have a meal together.

It’s my treat this time, as a gesture of apology for making this trip in vain!”

Wilbur Whitham tugged at Lionel. “You’ll regret this! Do you even know the vast resources Alexander has at his disposal? Have you considered Odyssey’s status and reputation in the country? Just a few days ago, there were rumors that Fortuna from overseas was interested in collaborating with Odyssey. Do you honestly think we can still measure up to Odyssey’s standards?”

“Um... So what? We’ll collaborate with someone else since he isn’t interested in doing so with us! Odyssey isn’t the only company in the world!”

At that, Zephyr Zanardi sneered, “You probably aren’t aware of the company in which Alexander invested in Alenvista, huh? He has a dozen companies, but none are listed. Do you think he’s really a nobody? How foolish!”

No three-year-old kid, Lionel understood the implicit meaning of it upon hearing that. He promptly paled and did not dare argue further. “Should I go and apologize, then?”

It was clear that Wilbur did not want to give up on someone profitable like Alexander. He turned to Wesley. “We’re in the wrong today, and we’ve realized our mistakes, Mr. Ford. Can we go and apologize to Mr. Xenos?”

Wesley wavered for a while. “I’ll go and ask him, then.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ford!”

Wesley attempted to flash Wilbur a smile, but he couldn’t even force one. He felt that his performance that day was no better than theirs.