Chapter 100
3
"No need," Corey said as he walked over to the desk and sat down.
He clasped his hands in front of him, a smile lingering in his eyes. "This request is a gift from me to you, simply because I admire you. Miss Rowland, you can tell me now what you want to do and who you want to target. I hope it's not someone too esteemed, or it could cau Thea smirked slightly, naturally unwilling to believe Corey's flattering words.
She mentioned Emmalie's name.
Corey looked at her with surprise. "Emmalie? That could be a bit tricky. I've heard her reputation is quite solid both domestically and internationally. Her fans could easily drown us in a sea of criticism."
Thea was almost amused. "Are you afraid of that?"
Corey crossed his legs, adopting a more relaxed posture, yet maintaining an air of noble elegance.
He resembled a gentleman from the last century, distinct from the current generation of wealthy youths, but his gaze was too dark.
After holding eye contact for too long, Thea felt a cold, sticky sensation as if a venomous snake had locked its eyes on her. but your words today have been a wake-
up call for me. I've noticed my recent business has been "I personally don't care, dwindling, and it turns out I hadn't considered the existence of negative reviews. Our organization really needs to be mindful of its reputation," he said. Thea suddenly stood up. "Then that's fine. If we can't reach an agreement, I won't proceed with this."
Seeing her so resolute and lacking any hesitation, Corey couldn't help but ask, "Did you really look into us before you came?"
Thea nodded, her expression serious. "Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come alone."
'I'm not a fool,' she thought.
Corey's gaze turned even stranger. "So you don't know our rules?"
Thea smiled. "Of course I do. I know that if I approach you for a deal and
we can't agree, I can't come back in the future for confidentiality reasons. You'll blacklist me. If someone later wants to target me, you might go to great lengths to do so. I've already seen how petty your organization can be." Her words were pointed, and Corey's face stiffened slightly.
Previously, he had thought this rule saved him a lot of trouble by keeping most indecisive people at bay.
He never imagined Thea would twist it into something petty.
It seemed she was genuinely here out of curiosity and impulsé.
Corey began to believe this woman had her own methods, perhaps thinking it would be more convenient to approach them for help, or for other reasons.
The discomfort of being unable to control someone else and instead being led by them was quite unsettling.
Corey's eyes flickered with a shadowy light. "Miss Rowland, I think we can still discuss this. After all, I admire you, so my request isn't too demanding. We can sit down and talk this through calmly."
Thea couldn't help but think, "This should have happened earlier
Corey noticed she sat back down, finding it somewhat amusing.
'It seems she prefers gentle persuasion over force,' he wondered.
"I've seen your driving skills. Though a bit rusty, I know you're quite talented. How about you compete for me? In return, I'll fulfill three of your requests," he offered.
Thea was taken aback. "Just compete?"
It was clear to her that something felt off.
"Yes, just a competition. No other demands, Even if you lose, it won't matter. Of course, I believe in your abilities. You won't let me down, will you?" he said.
Thea leaned back slightly, ensuring she didn't feel overpowered by Corey's presence.
She continued, "Today was just a whim. I'm
no longer a professional racer. You have far better choices; there's no need to pick me. Moreover, my identity is unique. If things go wrong, it might not be good for you."
Corey yawned, tears glistening on his eyelashes, enhancing his striking appearance. "Don't worry about other matters. Just tell me if you're willing to accept. There's only one opportunity, and the choice is yours." Thea almost lost her balance, her eyes narrowing sharply at him.
A group of burly men in suits surrounded someone in the center. They all wore expressions that suggested they were not to be trifled with.
In the middle was a woman.
Strange glances were thrown her way.
Thea didn't want to attract attention, so she forcefully swallowed the anger that nearly escaped her lips.
After stepping aside, she finally examined the person in the center.Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.
It was a slender woman with long, cascading hair draped over her shoulders. She had delicate skin, wearing a mask and sunglasses, and looked somewhat familiar.
A casual gesture of flipping her hair allowed Thea to recognize her
It was Stephanie, the woman Thea had been keeping an eye on a few days ago.
Thea had even memorized Stephanie's distinctive features.
There was a red mole on Stephanie's neck.
Stephanie seemed to notice Thea's gaze, lifting her head only to find the space empty, with nothing there.
Relieved, Stephanie thought that since she didn't have many fans in Reasnatan, she truly didn't want to be recognized in such a setting.
Once the group departed, Thea emerged from around the corner, puzzled as she watched the direction they left.
'Why is she here? Is she also looking for Corey?' Thea wondered.
Thea pulled out her phone, opened the chat with Nicolas, and paused before typing.
B.
"This is his business and has nothing to do with me. I might as well pretend nothing happened and just go back, she thought.
She couldn't stay at the hotel forever, so Thea packed her things and returned to Elysian Abode.
However, any lingering hope vanished when she saw Nicolas sitting on the sofa in the living room. Hearing the noise, Nicolas looked up, and their eyes met, that strange emotion bubbling up again. Thea opened her mouth but felt there was nothing to say.
She nodded slightly, grabbed her belongings, and returned to her room.
The atmosphere was deathly silent.
Yet Thea felt uncomfortable inside.
After a moment, she decided to maintain
facade of politeness:
Thea stepped out of her room again, noticing Nicolas lighting a cigarette.
She knew he smoked but was always extremely disciplined, rarely doing so in front of her, preferring the balcony or hallway instead.
Keeping her expression neutral, Thea sat on the small sofa beside him, her tone polite yet distant. "Mr. Hendrix, you didn't show up at the last family gathering. Stefan was quite displeased. I made an excuse for you, thinking it's better to communicate about this in case he "Is that so?" Nicolas raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone cool. "You don't need to worry. The butler has informed me of the specifics. I had an urgent matter last time and forgot to let you know in advance. I apologize."
This communication followed their usual pattern.
Yet Thea could clearly feel the coldness radiating from Nicolas.
Her heart tightened. "May I ask what the important matter was? Don't misunderstand. If Stefan brings it up next time, I can respond."