Chapter 30 Dinner With Mr Hayes
“Hello, Mrs. Hartwell.”
“Mr. Hartwell, you sure are lucky! Married to such a young and pretty wife.”
With a polite smile, Shawn gracefully led me forward until we stood before Ethan.
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There was an empty seat beside Ethan, and Shawn, already seated, gestured for me to sit next to him.
“Tiffany, let me introduce you to Mr. Hayes. Our company often collaborates with him, so let’s get acquainted.” Shawn was wholly unaware that this “Mr. Hayes” and I already knew each other as he made the introduction in earnest.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hartwell.” Ethan was quite good with his pretense, putting on a sincere look as he extended his hand towards me.
I glanced at Shawn, but he showed no reaction. Without hesitation, I reached out and shook Ethan’s hand.
What I didn’t expect was that he didn’t let go immediately, and instead he held onto my hand while casually asking, “If you don’t mind me asking, what is your profession, Mrs. Hartwell?”
I was startled by his boldness. Shawn was sitting right there! Could he stop looking at me with such deep, lingering eyes?!
Shawn didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. Well, that was not unexpected of him. In his eyes, my world revolved around him. He was my everything, my one and only, my undeniable number one. No other man could take me away from him.
The thought sent a pang of bitterness through my heart.
They say good men aren’t up for grabs. Perhaps, in Shawn’s eyes, neither was I. I was just another off–the- market possession–one that would never change hands.
Shawn smiled and said, “My wife has been feeling bored at home lately, so she’s itching to look for something to do. I’m planning to hand over the Apex Hotel, which is under the Hartwells, for her to manage. Since everyone present is a well–respected figure in the business world, I hope you’ll lend her your support in the future.”
Upon hearing this, I couldn’t help but turn to look at him.
Is this the purpose of him bringing me to this dinner tonight?
To lay the groundwork for my connections?
“Of course, I’m happy to help. Mrs. Hartwell isn’t just beautiful. She’s got a sharp business sense too.”
Ethan chuckled, his voice low and soothing. “The Apex Hotel has been an established name for years. My company is currently looking for a suitable hotel for our corporate hospitality needs, and if I remember correctly, one of your hotels is quite close to my company.”
Hearing this, my gaze instinctively shifted toward Ethan.
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Chapter 30 Dinner With Mr Hayes
林雪 93%
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A subtle smile lingered at the corners of Ethan’s eyes. With a composed and courteous expression, he replied, “You’re too kind, Mr. Hartwell.”
I barely tasted the food throughout the meal because, time and again, whether intentionally or not, Ethan’s gaze would land on me. He was a handsome young man with a calm and reserved look in his eyes, but I could see that beneath that restraint hid an unyielding intensity.
He must have seen me as his benefactor, someone to be deeply grateful for. But I have no interest in being repaid.
Business dinners aren’t really about eating. It’s about achieving your objective. Once that’s done, the night naturally comes to an end.
Shawn was slightly intoxicated–he had drunk a little too much. He turned to me and signaled for me to support him.
Since he had spent the evening expanding my network, I wasn’t about to refuse him this small gesture.
I reached out and steadied his arm as he exchanged farewells. Shawn had also been drinking. A faint blush colored his striking features. His eyes, tinged with red, burned as they met mine.
“Mrs. Hartwell, do you need any help?” He walked over and asked.
I immediately shook my head. “No, thanks. The car’s already here.”
Right on cue, William pulled up beside us, bringing the car to a smooth stop.
Ethan strode forward and pulled the car door open for us. I let Shawn get in first, then followed. Just as I was about to sit down, a large hand suddenly appeared above me, shielding my head from bumping against the car frame.
“Drive safe,” Ethan said, his voice calm yet filled with quiet attentiveness, making my heart flutter.
I shot him a meaningful glare, but he merely curved his lips into a faint smile, unfazed. He waved at me casually before closing the door with a quiet click.
Inside the car, Shawn pressed his fingers against his brow, his expression slightly tense. The alcohol was starting to take its toll on him.
“Give Yuna a call and ask if she wants to come home to sleep.” Even in his drunken state, Shawn hadn’t forgotten to consider his daughter’s preference.
I immediately dialed Susanna. The background noise on her end was lively with sounds of cards shuffling and bursts of chatter. It sounded like she was in the middle of a spirited game night. She hurriedly said a few words before passing the phone over to Yuna.
“Mom, are you planning to apologize to me?” Yuna’s tone was that of a little adult, full of authority and pompousness. “Too bad, I’m not quite ready to forgive you yet.”
Her words were so direct and accusatory that they left a sense of heaviness that pressed against my chest.
“Your dad wants to know if you want to come home tonight. If you do, we’ll come and pick you up.”
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Chapter 30 Dinner With Mr Hayes
“Fine, it’s up to you.” With that, I ended the call.
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Yuna’s sharp and pompous attitude was a result of my overindulgence throughout the years. Now, as she spoke to me in such a disrespectful manner, I had no choice but to bear with it.
“Yuna’s not coming home?” Shawn asked, his brows knitting together.
“No, she’s not.” I let out a bone–deep sigh, exhausted and resigned, “She’s still mad at me.”
(11)
