Chapter 243 Merger &ump, Temptation
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Chapter 243 Merger & Temptation
Ashton: [Morning.]
Ashton: [Had breakfast yet? Don’t be late for work on your first day.]
Ashton: [I’ve got connections in the city. Let me know if you need anything–bodyguard, chauffeur, assistant, whatever.]
Ashton: [LGH doesn’t have a hotel in Paris. If you’d rather not stay at Fabrizio’s, check into Le Meurice. There’s a suite under my name, all yours.]
I sent a quick reply: [Just heading to work now.]
As Fabrizio took a sharp turn, I snapped a photo of the Parisian street flickering past, then fired it off to
Ashton.
He responded in seconds.
Ashton: [Nice view out there.]
Ashton: [That window’s tinted. Looks aftermarket. That’s not a taxi. Whose car are you in?]
Me: [Fabrizio’s. He’s giving me a lift to Valmont’s headquarters.]
Ashton: [Stay away from him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The barrage of exclamation marks made my eyes twitch.
Me: [He’s just giving me a ride. Stop freaking out.]
Ashton: [If he were just a colleague, he wouldn’t be chauffeuring you around.]
Me: [He said it was on his way. Chill.]
The car lurched to a stop at a red light.
Fabrizio glanced across.
‘Who’s got you grinning at your phone?‘
I touched my face, surprised to realise I’d been smiling.
‘I was texting Ashton. He’s not exactly thrilled about me coming to France by myself.‘
‘Ah.‘ Fabrizio’s mouth curved in a lopsided smile. ‘Yound Mr Laurent seem close. When we met in Sunset City, you weren’t anything like the gossip online made you out to be.‘
I shrugged. ‘People talk nonsense. I just ignore it.‘
The traffic light flicked green, but we immediately slowed again at the next junction.
If Paris traffic kept up like this, I could have beaten the car on foot.
‘I’ve worked non–stop since I was twenty,‘ Fabrizio said suddenly. ‘Now I’m thirty–six and I’ve never had a
real relationship. Seeing you and Ashton together makes me wonder what I missed.‘
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Chop 247 Como
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I glanced over.
Where had this sudden honesty come from?
He noticed my surprise and gave a short, self–deprecating laugh. It wasn’t easy, building all this. I put everything into work. Maybe it this launch goes well, ‘tinally get a breather.”
‘ll go well,‘ I said, hoping my voice sounded reassuring
He shot me a half–smile With your help, I’m sure of it,
You flatter me
It’s not flattery, it’s fact. I’ve seen your entries for The Aureate Awards.”
I winced reflexively
That competition was a double–edged sword–it brought me tame and more orders than ever wanted, but also no end of
troversy.
I still didn’t know who’d paid Dr Aliénor Dubois to try and sink me
Your designs are truly unique and unforgettable, Fabrizio pressed on. Your studio might be the new kid on the block, but you’re making waves. I wondered it we could join forces.‘
Join forces how?” My mind snapped back from old injuries.
You’ve got talent. I’ve got history and reach. If we combined them, this new line could smash the market.
“By “combine“, do you mean…?”
A joint venture. Both of us with a stake.
That stopped me.
I’d boarded a plane expecting freelance gig work, maybe a one–off collab–not to be discussing equity and a proper company, with both our names on the door.
‘I’ll need to think about it,‘ I said slowly.
He gave a shrug that said he wasn’t disappointed. Take your time. Just an idea.
Through the rear–view mirror, I caught the glimmer of his perfect smile.
If he hadn’t just admitted his age, I’d never have guessed he was thirty–six.
“We’re here,‘ he announced.
The car glided into a private lot outside Valmont & Cie’s headquarters.
I stepped out and stared like a tourist.
Pale stone, razor–sharp lines, the whole edifice towering so high it made my neck ache just to look up.
Bloody hell,‘ I muttered.
I’d flipped through plenty of glossy magazines, seen the professional photos.
Chste 243 Age Sox Terplotion
Only standing right under it did I finally get it.
My first day at Valmont & Cie tore by so fast, I barely registered the hour.
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After dinner with new colleagues–one of those lively, three–hour affairs–1 tried to wave Fabrizio off, but he insisted on driving me back to the house.
He was every inch the perfect gentleman–effortlessly charming, immaculately dressed, fluent in five subjects before dessert.
When I mentioned this to Yvaine over video call, she tsk tsked.
Watch your back when he turns up the charm,‘ she deadpanned.
What does that mean?” I asked.
‘Don’t forget, four pillars of the classic Frenchman: well dressed, smooth–talker, sharp business sense, and
expert seducer,‘
Please. Did Ashton put you up to that? When did you two get so chummy?””
He didn’t. And we haven’t. But great minds think alike, yeah?”
Right on cue, Ashton’s video call flashed onto my screen
Speak of the devil. The other great mind’s calling, Night‘
Yvaine signed ott.
I settled against the headboard, towel–dried hair falling around my ears.
Ashton was in his study, jacket tossed on the chair, tie loose, sleeves pushed back.
‘It’s past midnight over there,‘ I said. ‘Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
‘I was waiting for you. How was dinner?‘
‘Good. Very French, very long.‘ I hovered on the edge of telling him about Fabrizio’s proposal.
In the end, I kept quiet.
Ashton already hated this trip.
If I mentioned a months–long partnership, he’d be on the next flight in a heartbeat.
‘Move the camera closer. Let me actually see you.”
I zoomed the phone so close all he’d see were my pores.
‘How was your first day?‘ he asked.
‘Fantastic. The company’s massive, and they have the best coffee machine I’ve ever used. They even gave me a private office.‘
‘Is that all?‘
‘That’s it.‘ I knew what he was fishing for, but refused to give him any ammunition. “They’ve been incredibly welcoming. I asked for an extra monitor and one of their IT techs arrived before I finished the
Chapter 243 Merger & Temptation
sentence. Honestly, it’s the kind of setup I could really get used to.‘
He leaned in, suspicious. “That sounds dangerously like you’re planning to stay.‘
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Chapter 244 Enemies at the Table
