Chapter 617
“If Mr. Clements makes a move on Ms. Brielle, what then? You know how protective he is of Ms. Tessa. He never wants her to face the slightest hardship.”
“I don’t see Brielle coming out on the losing end.”
Even if she faced Andrew, she might not lose. Brielle wasn’t the kind to clash head–on without thinking; she had a knack for finding people’s Achilles‘ heel and exploiting it.
What was Andrew’s Achilles‘ heel? Perhaps even Andrew himself didn’t know that his vulnerability wasn’t limited to Tessa.
Patrick fell silent and then stood off to the side quietly.
Max coughed a few times and raised a hand to his forehead, which seemed feverish. He closed his eyes again for a moment and spoke with a hoarse voice, “Let’s wrap up the unfinished meetings in the next couple of days.”
“Sir, you can’t keep this up. It’ll take its toll on your health.”
Of course, Max was aware of his deteriorating condition. He almost wished he would pass out if only to garner a speck of Brielle’s attention.
He pressed a hand to his temple and muttered, “It’s fine. I want to conclude all the remaining overseas conferences, including the domestic ones, as soon as possible.”
Unable to sway him, Patrick reluctantly reached out to the overseas contacts to reschedule the remaining meetings as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Brielle continued her conversation with Mason, who updated her.
“The Rowland family’s land purchase has been approved. The government has made the announcement. They were in such a rush to offload that plot that it hit the papers in less than a month. The Rowlands are celebrating as we speak, Brielle. What’s our next move?”
A sly smile curled on Brielle’s lips. The news in the papers meant the Rowland family’s whopping three hundred million had already been wired abroad. Regret was pointless now. The money was gone.
Thirty billion for a worthless plot of land was enough to weigh them down. With such a blow to their cash flow, none of the Rowlands would sleep well tonight.
“Mason, there’s nothing more for you to do. The Rowland folks will get the news soon enough.” The Rowland family was on cloud nine, having snagged the most coveted piece of real estate abroad. This deal had been orchestrated by Tessa herself, currently the most pivotal figure in the Rowland household. Such a significant move naturally required her blessing.
Now, assisted by Sophia, Tessa was settling down gracefully in the center of the grand hall. The other Rowlands were busy buttering her up.
12:01
Chapter 6
“Indeed, we’ve plunged thirty billion into this venture, but we might just recoup a hundred billon in the coming years. It’s a savvy investment.”
Tessa’s lips curled up in pride. After trampling over kubree and taking down Brielle, she feed a massive professional win and felt positively elated.
She cleared her throat, glancing at Andrew beside her. “What do you think, Andrew?
Andrew seemed a million miles away, feeling stifled ever since being startled aviake the night before. With his chiseled features and a commanding presence, his mood could overshadow everyone in the room. Right now, his silence was making tessa nervous. “Andrew, what’s on your mind?”
He looked up, his voice gravelly. “What did you say?”
Unaware of his distraction, Tessa patiently recounted her recent overseas triumph.
“Well done,” he said, a smile touching his lips. However, he felt removed from the festivis, if only his body was present and his mind was elsewhere.
Austin caught the dynamic between them. He knew how Andrew had been taking care of Tessa in the Rowland family and had a thought.
“Since we’re all here, why don’t you and Andrew tie the knot?”
“Exactly. You two have known each other for years, and Tessa, you’re on the mend.”
“Let’s pay a visit to the Clements today and settle everything once and for all.”
Tessa’s smug smile broadened. If Andrew dared to refuse, she’d leak Aubree’s video online, leaving her nowhere to hide.
The crowd began to buzz with talk.
“Sophia’s already got her marriage license with Spencer. As the elder sister, it’s your turn to make a move.”
“Right; how often does the younger sister marry before the older one?”
Sophia, catching the remark, flashed a scornful look. Her marriage to Spencer was a sham at best. Now an outcast from the Dorsey family, he couldn’t even support himself.
Michael felt guilty and transferred all of Spencer’s properties into her name. She’d never run out of money, but the life arranged by the Rowlands still rankled her.
The murmurs grew louder as if a visit to the Clements to discuss wedding plans was imminent. All eyes turned to Andrew. Tessa clung to his arm, her eyes filled with hope.
