Chapter 179
“Ms. Clark! As long as it helps the company get through Series A, Paul will agree to anything”
Serena nudged him, dropping her voice with a grin. “What are you hesitating for?”
Paul didn’t respond. He followed them into the private room.
Once seated, Serena handed over Stride Commerce’s internal reports. But Jocelyn barely skimmed through them. It was clear she already knew everything worth knowing.
She flipped a few pages and then set the file aside.
“Stride Commerce’s past performance is average. The two promising projects are still in the early stages. Frankly, the odds don’t look great.” Her voice was calm, the kind that didn’t need to be loud to be firm.
Still, Serena smiled politely. “With your help, Ms. Clark, we’ll find a way.”
Jocelyn nodded, then turned to Paul. “And I am willing to help…”
He offered her a cigarette, but she declined.
He lit one for himself, took a drag, and then said evenly, “Let’s be direct. What do you want?”
She smiled. “I want Audrey.”
His hand paused midair. Smoke curled between his fingers. His gaze lifted, deep and cold.
Serena jumped in. “She’s managing both key projects. If she leaves, the whole thing might fall apart.”
She glanced at Paul, the implication in her eyes unspoken but clear.
Paul leaned back, resting against the chair with a lazy slouch.
The message was clear. He knew she’d been in on it from the start.
He thought, ‘So why bother pretending?‘
“And if I say no?” His voice was light, almost amused.
But Jocelyn didn’t flinch. She kept smiling, calm and composed. “You started your own venture to prove your father wrong, didn’t you? To show him you’re not the disappointment he thinks you are.
“A smart man plays the long game. Once you succeed, you can have any woman you want.”
Paul didn’t answer. He smoked in silence, the room thick with tension.
Serena leaned closer, anxious. “She’s not asking for Audrey’s life. Just her talent. Maybe she’d agree to go. You don’t know unless you ask.”
His sharp glance made her fall instantly silent.
“I’ll give you some time to think it over,” Jocelyn/said as she stood. “I’ve got friends next door. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Serena walked her to the door. Once it closed/she spun around, frustration bubbling over. “Do you know what you just threw away? This kind of opportunity? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!”
Her voice caught in her throat as a coffee cup shattered at her feet.
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Chapter 179
Serena’s face was cold. Her hands clenched, but her voice was calm. “You dollars. What exactly are you weighing here?!”
He stubbed out the cigarette hard in the ashtray and stood up.
“I said no.”
still claim you don’t like her? She’s just a secretary. We’re talking 15 million
“Paul!”
She grabbed his arm. “Your father already promised ten percent to that bastard son. If you keep dragging your feet, the whole company, your mother’s legacy will be theirs!”
His gaze turned ice cold. He pointed at her, furious. “Don’t push me!”
“I will, even if you hit me!” she yelled. “Your mother poured her life into that company. And now you’ll let them take it? For what? A secretary? You think she’ll save your reputation with your father?!”
His hand flew up, and Serena flinched, shielding her face.
But the blow never came.
She peeked at him, tears in her eyes. “I’m only doing this for your sake…”
Paul slowly lowered his arm and braced it against the wall behind her.
He leaned in close, voice low and chilling.
“If getting ahead means selling out a woman, I’m no different from the men I despise.”
Serena’s body stiffened. Her face was pale with fear.
She knew she’d gone too far. No matter how unwilling, she didn’t dare say another word.
Paul straightened up again, that sharp edge giving way to a mocking calm. He rolled his neck, two sharp cracks breaking the silence.
“You brought her. You show her out!” He opened the door and walked out without looking back.
At that moment, the door of the next room opened as well.
Jocelyn stood at the threshold, smiling as she watched him disappear down the hallway.
Paul slid back into the car. Just as he fastened his seatbelt, his phone rang.
It was Tiffany.
“Mr. Gibson, StrideVestment got back to us. They’d like to meet.”
“Send me the address.” He wouldn’t miss any chance/no matter how small, especially after meeting Jocelyn. That encounter had left a weight in his chest, something he needed to get out from under.
Behind him, Serena rushed out just in time to see his car turn and speed away.
“Paul!” she yelled after him, but he didn’t even glance in the rearview mirror.
“Ms. Henderson, are you busy right now?” Jessica’s voice came through just as Audrey was wrapping up for the day.
“Not at all,” she replied, phone wedged between her ear and shoulder as she gathered the last of her papers. “What’s up?”
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“School’s about to start. We’d like to take you out for dinner.”
Audrey chuckled. “Let me pick the restaurant.”
“No need, it’s all set. I’ll send you the location,” Jessica said, clearly excited.
“Alright. See you soon.” She hung up, finished closing things out, and headed over.
Once at the restaurant, she first left her card at the bar. No way she was letting the students pay.
When she entered the private room, the three of them immediately stood up. “Ms. Henderson!”
She naturally took the seat at the head of the table. without being asked.
“Are you all staying on campus?” she asked, taking a sip.
and Elise sat to her left, Ivan to her right. Ivan, ever thoughtful, poured her a glass of juice
“Ivan is. Dorm space was tight, so Elise and I got an apartment near school. We can help him study in our spare time,” Jessica explained, giving Elise a quick look.
Elise, quiet by nature, had known Audrey as long as Jessica had but still didn’t speak much. She just kept sipping water.
Audrey ordered a few of their favorites, then turned back to Jessica about the lawsuit?”
“She’s trying to let it go. But my dad won’t,” Jessica said, wrinkling her nose.
After Clayton got caught up in legal troubles and could no longer protect Riley, even Wyatt stopped holding Jessica responsible for staying silent.
But Gabriel wasn’t about to drop it. He filed a report with Wyatt’s superior, got him transferred to a powerless position, and then went straight to the school board to demand accountability.
Legally, they couldn’t expel Riley, but with everything exposed and public pressure mounting, the Patel family had no choice but to withdraw her.
Wyatt thought transferring her would solve the problem.
What he didn’t expect was that no school wanted to take her in.
Eventually, through Alexa’s father pulling strings, they managed to get her registered somewhere else, just a name on the books, showing up only for
exams.
“What happened to those two guys?” Ivan asked.
Elise finally put down her cup. “Her dad wanted to go after them. But they said they had a video and that she asked for it. If he pushed charges, they’d leak it online.”
“Lawsuit?” Jessica sneered. “I heard he even paid them just to get the original footage back. That’s what happens when you dig your own grave.”
Ivan sat upright, face unusually serious. A thought seemed to strike him. He leaned in and whispered something to Audrey.
AD
