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Arthur’s expression hardened as he stood still for a moment, seemingly processing everything. Without another word, he grabbed Bella’s arm and left the hall.
When they re–entered the venue some time later, his face was visibly cold, his expression tight with suppressed emotion. It didn’t take much to guess–he must have reviewed the surveillance footage.
Though there was no definitive victory or defeat in my confrontation with Arthur and Bella, I had achieved my goal: I‘ d
captured their attention. From this point onward, my existence would be impossible for them to ignore.
Shortly after that night, Meyer Group and Findley Group reached an official agreement to jointly develop the lucrative northern suburban land. Per the terms of the contract, both parties would contribute equally to the development costs and split
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the future profits evenly.
The deal had the potential to generate massive financial returns and Arthur was clearly satisfied. The smooth collaboration between our companies only deepened his trust in Meyer Group‘ s strength and credibility. Capitalizing on this
momentum, we secured additional high- stakes projects with equally promising
returns.
As the projects progressed, my interactions. with Arthur naturally increased. During one such occasion, after inspecting at construction site, Daniel excused himself to meet other clients, leaving me alone. with Arthur. Seizing the moment, he invited me to dinner. I accepted, knowing full well where this could lead.
The upscale restaurant was bathed in soft, golden light, creating an intimate ambiance. Over the course of the evening, Arthur’s demeanor shifted–his gaze lingered longer, his words became more
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unguarded and the flush of alcohol colored
his cheeks.
Suddenly, without warning, he reached across the table, pulled me close and kissed.
- me.
The sharp crack of my slap echoed through the room.
“Mr. Arthur, control yourself!” I snapped, my voice icy with anger. “We are business partners–nothing more! Don’t forget, I have a fiancé and you have a fiancée!”
But Arthur wasn’t deterred. He shook his head, his breath ragged, his eyes blazing with something primal and desperate.
“You‘ re not Sheren,” he said, his voice. trembling. “You‘ re Lilly, aren’t you?!”
My heart clenched, but I forced my face to remain impassive.
“Mr. Arthur, you‘ re clearly drunk,” I said, standing abruptly. “I don’t know this Lilly you’re talking about. Stop this
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nonsense and get a hold of yourself.”
He stood as well, his voice rising in intensity. “Don’t lie to me, Lilly! I don‘ t know why you‘ ve changed, but your eyes -they’re the same! I knew it was you the moment I saw you! Tell me, why are you pretending to be Sheren? What happened to you?!”
I refused to answer. Instead, I stepped back, my expression one of cold disdain.
“You’ve had too much to drink, Mr. Arthur. Go home and sober up. Don‘ t
cause a scene her
Without another glance, I walked out of the
private room. Outside, I spotted his
assistant waiting by the door.
“Your boss is drunk,” I said curtly. “Make sure he gets home safely.”
The next morning, my phone rang. It was Arthur.
He apologized profusely, claiming he‘ d been drunk and mistaken me for someone
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else. I accepted his apology with an air of indifference, warning him to ensure such behavior wouldn’t happen again.
As I hung up, Daniel entered my office, hist eyes scanning my face intently.
“The net has been cast,” he said, his voice calm but with an edge of finality.
“It’s time to reel it in.”
I nodded, my expression hardening as a glint of cold resolve flickered in my eyes.
The following day, chaos erupted within the Findley Group. Allegations surfaced accusing their hotels of engaging in illegal activities. Reports also emerged that several real estate projects had used substandard building materials and failed to pay wages to migrant workers.
The news spread like wildfire and almost overnight, the Findley Group’s stock price plummeted. The negative publicity
triggered a domino effect–partners and suppliers began demanding early payment
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settlements, further destabilizing the
company’s finances.
Desperate to plug the mounting holes, Arthur scrambled to secure funds. It was then that Meyer Group swooped in, offering a generous loan of five billion pounds to stabilize the situation. On the surface, it was an act of goodwill, but beneath it lay a meticulously crafted trap.
Just as the Findley Group began to recover, another scandal erupted. Their financial vice president, likely pressured or bribed, submitted evidence of a decade–long tax evasion scheme to the authorities. This revelation led to the company’s accounts. being frozen and an order to suspend operations temporarily.
Amidst the chaos, Arthur was drowning, fighting to stay afloat.
And yet, despite the storm raging around him, his frequent interactions with me didn’t go unnoticed. Bella‘ s jealousy bubbled over, threatening to explode.
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The stage was set. The players were in place.
It was only a matter of time before
everything came crashing down.
