I nodded before slowly telling him about everything that had happened today while he listened quietly. As I spoke, I inadvertently blurted, “I miss you, Anthony Featherstone.”
The person on the other end was taken aback for a moment, and silence reigned for a long moment. Then, in a low voice, he murmured, “I miss you, too.”
“I don’t have much to do in K City, so can I go over to A City to look for you? I want to see you.” I actually wanted to tell him about my encounter with Marcus, but on second thought, it would only add to his troubles, so I decided not to do so.
At that, he paused for a moment before saying, “Holden is probably arriving in K City tomorrow, so don’t be in such a hurry to come to A City. Featherstone Corporation needs you and Joseph there. If you come over, I’ll worry about Featherstone Corporation instead. Armond will most likely seek you out for the sandalwood box, so stay at Moore Residence as much as possible. You’ll have a backup if anything happens.”
Upon hearing that, I pursed my lips. “Why is Armond still fixated on that sandalwood box? Even if the item in there could get him some money, it’ll be a mere pittance. So, why on earth is he obsessed about it?”
“The oil fields in Eastern Epea have been affected by the epidemic this year, so a huge amount of petroleum there can’t be exported. The Murphys run a petroleum company, and this is the best time to buy petroleum there at a low price. However, they don’t have a contract in hand. While that single piece of paper agreement doesn’t seem to be of any importance, Eastern Epea only acknowledges that piece of paper.
“As the Murphys have been operating on a small scale throughout the past few years, that piece of paper didn’t really matter. But now that they want to purchase in huge quantities, it’ll be a drop in the bucket without that piece of paper. Furthermore, Armond didn’t get anything useful in Moranta, and petroleum is the fastest way to generate profits for Murphy Corporation, so he’ll definitely seek you out for that sandalwood box.”
Bafflement gripped me after listening to him. Then, I hesitantly questioned, “So, should I give him that sandalwood box?” After all, I might not necessarily be able to hold onto that sandalwood box if Armond demanded it.
The truth of the matter was, I had indeed promised to give him the sandalwood box when I came back from Venria. But then, Anthony changed the sandalwood box when I gave it to him, and I didn’t continue pursuing the matter henceforth.
At that moment, Anthony went silent. After what seemed like an eternity, he admitted, “From my perspective, I don’t want you to give him the sandalwood box. He’s not an honest person, so no one can guarantee that he won’t continue targeting me when the Murphy family has stabilized. He has always wanted the business deal in Moranta, but he has no time to bother now that he’s all caught up in the affairs of the Murphy family.”
Indeed, that’s true.
He then paused for a moment before continuing, “Nevertheless, the Murphys is a domestic company, so the country will have sufficient petroleum reserves after they purchase the petroleum at a low price. It’s beneficial to everyone in the country since a huge supply of petroleum means a possible lowering of its price. Therefore, it’s a good thing to a certain extent.”
At that, I grew increasingly conflicted. “So, should I give it to him or otherwise?”
However, he didn’t answer me anymore. Instead, he abruptly hung up the phone. When I called him back, the line was busy. When the call was connected after a long time, we bypassed that topic.
The next day, I went straight to Featherstone Corporation.
Holden was late, so Joseph briefly informed me about the company’s recent condition before leaving the office. When Stella saw me in Anthony’s office, she was stunned for a moment. In the next second, she handed me some documents that were to be reviewed with a neutral expression. They were basically collaboration proposals from some small companies and some internal start-up plans. Anthony had previously left me instructions for these, so I had no problems handling them.
I was reviewing those documents in the office when Holden arrived. His method of making an entrance was truly different from others. A long-legged beauty with wavy curls sashayed beside him, and he wasn’t at all bothered about running his hands all over the woman in public.
As soon as he entered the office, he pulled the woman onto his lap and inserted his long and slender fingers between the woman’s thighs. Despite it being in the middle of winter, the woman was wearing flesh-colored leggings. He caressed her for a while, but he probably didn’t find it satisfying, for he asked the woman to remove it altogether. Hearing his request, the woman looked at him in mild embarrassment and murmured, “This isn’t quite appropriate, no, Mr. Taylor?”
“What’s inappropriate about it? As you said, you’re here to keep me company and make me happy. Why, are you going back on your word?” Holden’s roguish appearance then truly seemed as though he was itching for a beating.
The woman’s face was a mask of mortification, but Holden merely looked at her apathetically as though everything had nothing to do with him. While he didn’t show much of an expression, he vaguely emanated displeasure. Women working as escorts were naturally adept at reading someone’s moods, so after a moment’s hesitation, the woman bit her lip lightly.
Lowering her head, she mustered her courage to remove her leggings right there in the office. As I sat there at the table, I couldn’t help frowning. Staring at Holden, I suggested, “Mr. Taylor, how about I reserve a hotel room for you, and we’ll talk business when you’re done enjoying yourself?”
Holden leaned back against the sofa with a devilish expression on his face. “Don’t bother, for I’m pressed for time. But then, I also feel like enjoying myself, and I can’t help desiring to grope a woman, so I’ll just do it here.”
Argh! What a shameless man!
I pursed my lips and said nothing further.
After turning up the thermostat in the office, I watched as the woman removed her leggings while seated on Holden’s lap. Subsequently, the two of them started getting it on right there without any qualms.
Lifting a hand, I massaged my temples as I felt a headache coming on. Then, I made a video call to Anthony, and fortunately, he answered in mere seconds.
I turned the camera to face Holden, whereupon Anthony’s brows furrowed. In a terse voice, he drawled, “You came to my office to have fun, Mr. Taylor?” The moment his voice fell, the two people who were initially a tangle of limbs sprang apart.
Raising a hand, Holden wiped the lipstick off his lips before he swung his gaze at me with a frown. “What are you doing, Sienna?”
I merely shrugged in response. “I think it’s more appropriate for my husband to discuss business with you.”
At that, his brows creased slightly. He then pushed the woman off him and snapped coldly, “Take the money and leave!” In the next moment, he took out a check from his wallet and threw it at her. After picking up the check, the woman quickly left.
Thus, it was only Holden and me in the office then. Glimpsing that Anthony was in the car, I couldn’t help asking, “Where are you going?”
“I went to prison to pay Brandon and Abe a visit.”
Hearing that, I nodded in acknowledgment. Now that Holden was back to normal, I ended the call with Anthony. I then looked at Holden and said, “Can we talk business now, Mr. Taylor?”
It was clear as day that he was rather chagrined. Pursing his lips, he sprawled on the sofa as though he was boneless as he groused in a weak and languid voice, “I didn’t eat breakfast when I came out in the morning, so I’m starving and don’t have any energy to talk.”
Nodding with a faint smile, I dialed the secretary’s external line. In no time, Stella picked up the call. “Hello, Mrs. Featherstone, this is Stella here. Is there anything I can assist you with?”
“Please order a bountiful breakfast spread. I’d like an American breakfast and a set of continental breakfast. Thank you.” After I had finished speaking, Stella was noticeably taken aback, but she promptly concurred, “Sure. I’ll get right to it.”
When I hung up the phone, Holden closed his eyes while reclining on the sofa. I wasn’t in a hurry either, merely continuing to review the documents in hand with my head lowered, scanning through all those that needed to be approved, one by one.
Stella’s efficiency was exceedingly impressive, for she delivered the breakfast over not long after. It was a very lavish spread. After placing it on the table, she cast Holden a perplexed look before leaving.
At the sight of the breakfast on the table, Holden didn’t continue picking trouble with me. Instead, he stared at me and offered, “Why don’t we eat together?”
Flashing him a faint smile, I declined, “No, thanks. I’ve already had breakfast, so please help yourself, Mr. Taylor.”
The man’s elegance seemed as though it was in his blood, for even his movements as he enjoyed breakfast were extremely elegant. After taking a few bites, he stopped eating and pinned his eyes on me while sitting on the sofa.
Sensing his gaze, I lifted my eyes and looked at him with a faint smile. “You’re done eating, Mr. Taylor?”
In turn, he arched an eyebrow. “You’re much more patient than Anthony Featherstone, thus less irritating.”
At that, I frowned slightly. “Mr. Taylor, this isn’t the first time Featherstone Corporation is collaborating with the Taylor family, so you actually didn’t have to go to such lengths.”
Nonetheless, he chuckled at my remark. “You and your husband are truly interesting. Okay, let’s go and take a look at the factory as well as the processing materials. If there’s no problem, then this matter is settled.”
Unbidden, I breathed a sigh of relief. Phew! Thank God this guy isn’t making trouble anymore. If he were to continue with his ridiculous act, I might have truly gone crazy!
After putting everything away, I left the office with him. Stella was right outside the door, so she greeted us when she saw us exiting the office. Thereafter, I ordered, “Later, go in and clear the table. Then, reserve a hotel room for Mr. Taylor and arrange dinner for him. Mr. Taylor is from Moranta, so take note of that.”
I uttered those words in a mere whisper, so Stella nodded imperceptibly. Cautiously stealing a peek at Holden, she then nodded and replied, “Okay, will do.”
While we were waiting for the elevator, Holden looked at me with a frown. “From what I remember, we’re considered friends, so why are you so distant with me? Have I done something unreasonable? Or do you feel that you don’t know me anymore after having not seen me in such a long time?”
Huh? This man is really childish.
Staring at him, I answered in exasperation, “Of course we’re friends, Mr. Taylor. However, I don’t think you have considered me as a friend today. Otherwise, why would you have brought a beautiful woman to my office and started getting it on with her in front of me? If you’d regarded me as a friend, shouldn’t you have greeted me right away before discussing business as a matter of course?”
Upon hearing that, he lifted a hand and rubbed his nose in slight embarrassment. Chortling, he then countered, “I just wanted to meet you again in a unique way after so long. That was just a trifling intrusion earlier, so don’t take it to heart.”
I merely shrugged. “Of course not. As you said, Mr. Taylor, we’re friends. Since we’re friends, I naturally won’t take that to heart. But to be honest, Mr. Taylor, you don’t have to go so far when you choose a woman next time. That woman is stunning, but I don’t think she’s your cup of tea.”
Giving a light cough, Holden stared at me and drawled, “Don’t you think it’s rather inappropriate for you to discuss women with me so blatantly? Do you talk to Mr. Featherstone in such a manner as well?”
I shook my head in response. “Of course not. He doesn’t parade women in front of me so blatantly. Besides, I have some say in the kind of woman he likes. Furthermore, judging from his current demeanor, I think he probably won’t be like you for the time being.”
Upon hearing that, his brows furrowed slightly. “For the time being? So, you don’t trust Anthony Featherstone all that much either!”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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