Chapter 25
36 vouchers
Just moments ago, based on Nathan’s demeanor, Eliana had felt quite confident about the negotiation. It seemed almost like a sure thing.
As long as she could logically explain the derivation of her data, Nathan should have readily accepted the partnership.
But when she finished speaking and looked up, the earnest appreciation in his eyes was gone, replaced by an indescribable chill
The moment she concluded, Nathan spoke, his tone flat and detached. “I have a meeting shortly. I’ll give your proposal serious consideration and call you once I’ve made a decision.”
With that, he stood up and addressed his assistant who had just entered. “Please see Ms. Lyons out.” Eliana was left bewildered by his abrupt shift.
Yet, faced with his current attitude, her own stubborn pride flared up. Without another word, she quickly gathered her materials and walked out.
Exiting the office, seeing Nathan’s retreating back not far ahead, Eliana couldn’t hold back. “Mr. Turner, is there any point in mixing personal grudges with business?” she called out, her voice carrying a sharp edge.
“If you were never serious about this project, why not say so earlier? Why toy with someone like they’re a clown for your amusement?” She was genuinely angry. In her view, Nathan had probably never intended to invest.
His initial show of interest was merely a pretense to make her hopeful, to watch her pitch earnestly only to crush that hope in the end. ‘Still so petty after ten years,‘ she thought bitterly. Holding a grudge like this.
Her words echoed in the open–plan office floor. Instantly, the entire space fell into a hushed silence. Every employee looked at her as if she were a daredevil.
Anyone who had worked with Nathan knew his reputation–razor–sharp, unforgiving, and vindictive to a fault. His ability was formidable, and those who crossed him rarely fared well.
Early on, a few had tried to stand their ground, only to find themselves effectively blacklisted from the industry. Gradually, no one in these circles dared to offend him anymore. Even raising one’s voice to him was considered unthinkable.
It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him like this. The surrounding employees watched with bated breath, a mix of morbid fascination and sheer terror for her.
The Lyons Group is already on the decline, they thought. If she offends Turner now, bankruptcy is practically a given.
But amidst the collective apprehension, Nathan did not react as they expected. He simply stopped walking, turned his head slightly, and spoke in that same dispassionate tone.
“You’re overthinking it, Ms. Lyons. I said I would consider it, and I will.” He said, “Of course, if you’re unwilling to grant me even that time, you are free to seek other investors.”
Having delivered this simple retort, he turned and entered a nearby conference room. The employees inside, their show over, immediately straightened up and returned to their preparations for the meeting.
His response, however, left Eliana frozen in place. His few, lightly spoken sentences somehow made her seem like the
unreasonable one.
A massive investment of this scale naturally required consideration. And he had indeed entered a conference room; a meeting was clearly waiting for him. ‘Was I being overly sensitive just now?‘ She thought.
2:25 am
Chapter 25
35 vouchers
A heavy feeling settled in her chest. But aside from waiting, she truly had no other options. Her earlier proud declaration. had been just that–a burst of pride. In reality, she knew Nathan might be her only viable path forward.
After calming down, Eliana didn’t dare say anything more. She turned and left. Now, she could only hope Nathan wouldn’t let old grudges interfere and would genuinely evaluate the project’s investment potential.
After Eliana left, Nathan’s assistant quietly entered the conference room. Nathan glanced at him, knowing she was gone, and an inexplicable frustration began to churn within him.
The memory of that voice message from Sophie played in his mind, making him feel extremely clogged up.
Back when they were together, she could fly into a rage over a few words he’d said out of pride, breaking up with him. without a second thought. But with Logan, she could patiently manage so many minute details.
‘Since when did she become so concerned about what he wears?‘ The thought was galling.
“They were supposed to be getting a divorce. Why was she still instructing his housekeeper on how to match his clothes? Did she even want this divorce?
‘Or was it just as Logan had implied–that the divorce was merely a tactic, a tantrum, and she never truly intended to leave him?‘ For the first time, Nathan’s mind wandered during a meeting.
Once these thoughts took root, they festered. The more he dwelled on them, the more agitated he became. He reached up, roughly tugging at his tie, then slammed a fist onto the solid conference table.
The entire room jumped. The ongoing discussion about Turner Group’s performance metrics since moving operations back home ceased abruptly. Everyone fell silent, not daring to breathe too loudly.
The market manager giving the presentation visibly trembled, nearly losing his footing. They all assumed something catastrophic must have happened within the company. It was rare to see Nathan lose his composure like this.
It wasn’t until his assistant leaned in and murmured a quiet reminder that Nathan realized he’d let his emotions show. He reined them in, his expression smoothing over as he turned to the pale–faced market manager. “Jackson, continue.”
Jackson, now thoroughly rattled, took a deep, shaky breath and stumbled through the remainder of his report. “Ok” Nathan’s response was neutral. “Any thoughts on these figures?”
The data was actually quite strong, considering they had just re–established themselves domestically. A month in, not everything could be optimal yet. The team had been expecting praise.
But seeing Nathan’s earlier outburst, their faces changed. One by one, they began cautiously comparing the numbers to their overseas benchmarks, downplaying their achievements and emphasizing areas for improvement.
Once their self–critique session concluded, Nathan stood up. “Compared to domestic standards, you’ve performed admirably. So stop undermining your own work.”
With that final, cryptic remark, he strode out of the conference room, leaving a room full of bewildered and uneasy executives in his wake.
This, they thought with shared, silent dread, is the definition of ‘walking on eggshells. They would feel they couldn’t say anything right.
Meanwhile, Isabella had taken Samuel back to her apartment to store the gown safely. Once that was done, she hurriedly checked her phone.
A bright smile spread across her face. The answers to the homework problems were already posted online.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
