âDing!â The elevator stopped.
One bodyguard dared to ask, âMr.
Schultz, are we getting off?â
âOut!â Jarrodâs shout was full of anger.
The bodyguards quickly went out.
Nicole and Jarrod were left alone in the elevator, with Nicole still without her phone.
As the doors shut again, Jarrod pressed Nicole against the mirror, his breath cold, his voice low.
âYou seem unhappy.
Perhaps we should âpracticeâ now.
â
âs BunnyBookery âIâd rather not.
My experiences with you have left a bitter taste.
Now, I seek joy instead.
â Nicole laughed, her beauty shining through.
âThe young men there treated me like a queen, serving me on their knees.
Can you do that, Mr.
Schultz?â
Jarrodâs mood darkened, but Nicole stood her ground.
Todayâs gathering was a magnet for the elite of the business world, drawing in the traditional Hampton family among others.
Given the longstanding alliance between the Hampton family and the Schultze family, Nicole found a direct approach to the Hamptons blocked.
She chose Jarrod as her point of entry instead.
Challenging him, despite the risks, seemed the quickest route.
Nicole aimed to incite a spectacle from Jarrod, hoping to tarnish his reputation to the point of being shunned.
Should the time come to choose sides, a temperamental CEO Like Jarrod would surely tip the scales against a partnership.
Amid a heavy silence, Nicole braced for a dramatic reaction from Jarrod.
Yet, what she got was his deep voice asking, âHow should I kneel?â
Nicole was visibly shocked by Jarrodâs declaration, pausing in astonishment.
Jarrod was dead serious, not cracking a smile.
Struggling to express herself, Nicole found humor in the moment.
âMr.
Schultz, donât you know that women these days look for someone whoâs got skills? Given your past with numerous women, even if you were to begâ¦â
She playfully straightened Jarrodâs tie, taunting him, âI wouldnât give you a second glance.
â
Jarrod couldnât believe he was being mocked by a woman in such a way.
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If it were someone else, he would have banished that culprit from Ardlens for good, considering his notorious temperament.
Yet, with Nicole, he was at a loss for words, swallowing his fury.
Nicoleâs eyes, brimming with sarcasm, seemed to remind him of a past embarrassment he had caused her.
âNicole, I know you donât mean any of that,â Jarrod said, his gaze icy, hiding his feelings.
âFind another way to get back at me.
This isnât going to rile me up.
â
âMr.
Schultz, what makes you think Iâm seeking revenge?â Taking advantage of his momentary speechlessness, Nicole snatched her phone back, her smile dripping with sarcasm.
âIf youâre so keen on seeing the video, I can send it your way.