Ch. 461..470
Chapter 461 Broke An Auction Item
Listening to her sarcastic comments didn’t bother Christina much. After all, bickering with Anya was better than being surrounded by a group of men.
However, what surprised her was that the men beside her found her identity even more intriguing. “Where is your husband from? Is he also from Hallsbay?” one of them asked.
“If he’s from Hallsbay, there’s no reason for us not to know each other, right?” another chimed in.
Christina’s expression slightly faltered, and she reluctantly explained with a wry smile, “We’re actually getting a divorce, so there’s no need to know his identity.”
She didn’t want to make a big deal out of her current relationship with Nathaniel.
“Getting a divorce? Then it’s even more important for us to exchange contact information, someone said as he took out his phone to ask for Christina’s number. Others followed suit, eager to exchange contact details.
Anya wondered if she had misheard those men.
Are these people really fighting over Christina’s number? Is she really that attractive?
Christina had no choice but to lic, claiming that she didn’t have her phone with her. “I’m sorry, I need to use the restroom.”
With that, she briskly walked away.
Once Christina entered the restroom, she massaged her temples to release her stress. These social engagements were truly testing her patience.
A few minutes later, she walked to the hall and found that preparations for the charity auction had begun.
The auction items were displayed on individual platforms covered in transparent glass cases, making them both visible to the guests and aesthetically pleasing.
Christina walked over, scanning for a reasonably priced item that she could win in one go. The sooner she completed her task, the sooner she could go home and report to her grandmother.
Soon, she spotted a diamond necklace that caught her eye. Given that there were about twenty carats, Christina believed that a bidding price of five million would be sufficient.
Within the exclusive section, a blue and white porcelain item caught her eye. It was traditionally utilized for burning sandalwood incense, cherished by esteemed aristocratic households in ancient times for its calming properties.
Even today, there remain individuals who adhere to tradition, making it highly probable that this item would be in great demand.
Judging by its craftsmanship, the porcelain value was estimated to be very high. The starting price was likely to be five million, and one could only imagine how high the final price would be.
Suddenly, someone pushed Christina from behind, causing her to lose balance and fell toward the porcelain in front of her.
Before she knew what had happened, her waist was caught by a strong arm.
The surrounding crowd recoiled in shock and instinctively took a step back. They witnessed something fall off beside the woman’s figure followed by the sound of shattering porcelain.
The onlookers stood frozen in disbelief as they witnessed the antique crash and shatter into pieces.
Should they compensate based on the original price or the market price for such an expensive item?
A heightened sense of curiosity swept through the onlookers as they sought to uncover who was responsible for shattering the priceless blue porcelain.
Despite her disorientation, Christina was aware she was enveloped in a firm embrace. When she smelled the familiar scent of sandalwood, she lifted her head and met Nathaniel’s piercing and unyielding gaze.
We saw that Christina was about to fall, but she is fine now. So, who actually fell?
The crowd once again shifted their gaze to the figure lying on the ground; the woman was trembling slightly as she got up.
Christina’s gaze remained fixated on the familiar silhouette, for she was well aware that the woman on the floor was the one to push her moments ago.
Had it not been for Nathaniel’s timely intervention, she would have had to bear the wounds from the fall.
Anya turned around and glared at Christina. If it weren’t for Christina’s quick reflexes to dodge, she would have fallen and shattered the valuable porcelain.
When Anya noticed many people were watching, she immediately put on a submissive and vulnerable look. “Christina, I saw you were about to fall earlier, so I tried to grab hold of you. I didn’t expect to end up falling myself.”
Clearly, she had pushed Christina, but now she was claiming to be the savior. How ridiculous!
However, the incident happened suddenly, and no one had seen it clearly. There were no surveillance cameras either. Hence, it was hard to verify if Anya’s words were true.
Christina’s expression turned cold as she raised her voice. “Someone pushed me just now. If you hadn’t spoken up, I would have thought it was you.”
After all, Anya was the only one who stood behind Christina, making her the prime suspect.
Anya’s complexion turned pale, and she was at a loss for words in her moment of embarrassment.
Just then, the event organizer approached and saw the irreversible damage to the porcelain. He furrowed his brow and said tersely, “Miss, this is the most valuable item in tonight’s auction. We kindly request that you compensate us double the starting price.”
Anya shivered inwardly. Oh, sh*t! Double the price would mean tens of millions!
It was impossible for her to come up with that much money!
Hence, she tightly grasped Christina’s hand, looking like she was on the verge of tears. “Christina, what should we do?”
Anya swiftly shifted the blame to Christina, hoping to make her pay the compensation.
A chill ran down Christina’s spine. Anya was known for getting kickbacks from most of the projects. Hence, her wallet must be brimming with cash. Why was she pretending to be destitute in front of her?
Since this was a rare opportunity that had fallen into Christina’s lap, there was no reason for her not to seize it.
Christina withdrew her hand and offered a faint smile. “Anya, everyone should take responsibility for their actions. It’s only right that you pay for the auction itern you broke.”
Anya’s heart skipped a beat as she wondered what Christina was up to.
Next, Christina looked at the event organizer and pointed to the diamond necklace she had set her sights on earlier. “I will bid on that item and also cover the cost of the broken one, as you suggested. Is that acceptable?”
A smile appeared on the organizer’s face upon hearing Christina’s words. “Of course.”
Christina nodded slightly, disregarding Anya’s opinion. “Then it’s settled. Please have someone clean this up. The show is over.”
“Everyone, please disperse now. The auction will commence in three minutes,” the organizer announced. With that, the guests began to leave the scene.
Even though Anya was resentful, she had to remain silent and swallow her frustration. Everyone had seen how she had broken the porcelain, so there was no way to deny it.
Christina felt a deep sense of satisfaction as she watched Anya begrudgingly follow the event organizer to settle the compensation. Just as she was about to leave, Nathaniel suddenly approached her and firmly grabbed her wrist.
Experiencing discomfort from his firm grip, she furrowed her brows and fixed him with a glare. “What is the meaning of this? You’re causing a scene in public!”
A dark look flashed past Nathaniel’s eyes as he demanded, “Hand me your phone!”
Why does he want my phone?
Christina averted her gaze and retorted. “This is my personal item. There’s no reason for me to give it to you.”
“Then I’ll take it myself,” the man said while reaching for her handbag.
The couple’s squabble caught the attention of onlookers, drawing a crowd around them.
Christina’s face turned red with embarrassment. “Stop it! Here, you can have it!”
Reluctantly, she handed over her phone, reasoning that she
Chapter 462 Collaboration With Nathaniel
As soon as Nathaniel got her phone, he immediately deleted the newly added contact numbers.
“Why are you deleting my contacts?” Christina saw what he was doing and tried to snatch her phone back anxiously
Nathaniel refused. He didn’t even bother looking carefully, as he was deleting any contact name that seemed masculine. “Why? Are you upset that I deleted your potential suitors? Are you having a great time chatting with these guys?”
She looks tense when she’s with me, but she’s smiling at everyone else.
Christina froze momentarily. Was Nathaniel also there? Did he see me chatting with them?
It was quite remarkable that he could hold it in until now with his temperament.
Christina regained her senses and frowned. She said anxiously. “Those are my clients’ numbers! Don’t delete them randomly!”
Nathaniel deleted a few more before passing her phone back to her.
Christina looked at her phone and noticed that more than half of the contacts were gone, including Francis.
Cold sweat began to form on her forehead. She quickly put the phone back into her handbag and zipped it as if she was guarding against a thief.
Nathaniel grabbed her hand again and pulled her out of the place. Then, he dragged her into his car.
Once the car door was closed, the driver drove off.
“Let go of me! I want to go home.” Christina’s voice held a tinge of frustration, and she knitted her eyebrows.
Nathaniel remained calm and composed as he looked out of the window. “If you don’t want your two children to start calling another woman Mommy, you’d better behave yourself.”
The mention of her two children immediately captured Christina’s attention. “Don’t forget what your promised me initially. You said you wouldn’t fight for the children’s custody.”
Nathaniel turned to glance at her. “I will do that as long as you cooperate with me with the divorce proceedings.”
Christina snorted inwardly, as she knew he didn’t intend to divorce her. It was nothing more than a strategic delay. “I don’t understand. It’s just a simple matter of putting your signature on a form. Why do you have to make it so complicated?”
“I’ll be the one who decides if it’s complicated or simple,” Nathaniel left no room for her to continue questioning.
Soon, the car stopped by a hotel.
Nathaniel dragged Christina up the stairs. When they entered the room, Christina became anxious and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at Nathaniel warily. “What are you planning to do?”
Nathaniel was amused when he turned around and saw her defensive demeanor. He took out his phone and made a video call. The call quickly connected.
“Daddy, where are you? Did you find Mommy yet?”
“Mommy! Where’s Mommy? I want to see her!”
The children stared eagerly at the phone screen, trying to see their mother.
In reality, they had wanted to call her after she left. However, Nathaniel kept all their electronic devices, claiming that his gesture was to protect their eyes.
He was only preventing them from contacting their mother secretly.
Then, he passed them back their devices before he left for Hallsbay.
Nathaniel smiled and passed his phone to Christina. “The children miss you.”
Christina took the phone. Her longing for them intensified as she looked at the two familiar faces. All of a sudden, she began tearing up.
She smiled. “Lucas, Camila.”
Upon seeing their mother, Lucas’ and Camila’s brows furrowed. They wanted to embrace Christina very badly.
Lucas complained, “Mommy, there’s a fierce lady who came to our house and wanted us to call her Mommy!”
“We only have one Mommy! We don’t want her!”
Christina frowned. She guessed that the woman the children were talking about was most likely Madison. She glared at Nathaniel.
Lucas asked, “Mommy, when are you coming back? Didn’t you promise to take us to see Granddad and Great-Granny?”
“Mommy, I miss you. Mommy!” Camila spoke while choking back tears. She blinked her watery eyes repeatedly, and Christina’s heart melted at the sight.
Christina felt a burning sensation in her nose. “I miss you guys too. Mommy will go back to accompany you guys soon!”
“Really?” The two kids’ eyes lit up.
Christina nodded. She had decided to work with Nathaniel, then go back to see her kids. “I won’t lie to you guys. It’s getting late. Aren’t you sleeping? You might get eye bags, and you won’t look good anymore!”
Christina had always tried to instill the habit of not staying up late in her children.
Camila and Lucas were very obedient. Upon hearing Christina’s reminder, they immediately wanted to hang up the phone. “Mommy, come and pick us up soon. Good night, and we love you!”
“Good night!” Christina blew a kiss at the screen and then hung up the phone.
With her children’s encouragement, Christina felt revitalized!
When she returned the phone to Nathaniel, she said, “On behalf of Gibson Corporation, I agree to cooperate with Hadley Corporation. We will sign the contract at the company tomorrow,”
Nathaniel stared at her intently and hugged her. He whispered in her car, “Why don’t you stay here tonight?”
Christina’s heart pounded, and she pushed his hands away. “Why don’t you call Ms. Taggart to accompany you?”
With that, she turned around and left
Nathaniel still didn’t understand the reason for her cold treatment.
In the meantime, Anya started throwing a tantrum the moment she entered her room in the Gibson residence.
That Christina! How dare she make me lose tens of millions!
That was the capital for her new company, which she had saved so hard for. Not only did she lose a large sum of money, but she also made a fool of herself.
She would never let Christina off easily.
The next day. Anya went to see Yerek and told him the plan she had thought about all night.
“Yerek, you have to help me! We can’t let Christina bully us!” Anya bellowed.
She wished she could tear Christina apart to vent her anger.
Yerek had given Christina an opportunity. Since she was unwilling to take it, she couldn’t blame him for what he was going to do.
He patted her shoulders lightly. “Don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong.”
“I believe you!”
Christina had a lot of work, so she made plans with Nathaniel to sign the contract in the evening.
She was in the office the entire day. As the sun started to set from the window behind her, her colleagues gradually left one after another.
Lina brought the revised contract. “Ms. Steele, this is the contract. Do you really not need me to accompany you tonight?”
“There’s no need. The legal department has gone through the documents, and it’s just a matter of signing them,” Christina replied.
Lina nodded and left after placing the contract on the desk.
Christina sat in the office, organizing the documents. The room gradually turned colder, and a strong medicinal odor quickly spread.
Chapter 463 Ploy
After a brief moment, Yerek and Anya saw Christina fall unconscious through the translucent glass door. They exchanged a glance and shared a wicked smile.
“This drug will knock her out for the whole night,” Yerek snickered.
Anya smirked and replied. “Has the guy arrived? Get him to do the necessary preparations. We need to make sure everything is flawless.”
“Wait until the drug smell dissipates before letting him in,” Yerek instructed.
“Just imagine what will happen tomorrow morning when everyone comes to work and sees Christina and a strange man in the office, looking disheveled. She will be utterly embarrassed.” After pondering all night, the idea suddenly struck Anya.
Nothing hits harder than losing one’s reputation. Christina is definitely going to learn the true meaning of humiliation!
After the drug smell had mostly dissipated in the office twenty minutes later, Yerek had the male model walk into the room. “Remember to make it look real, but don’t make any body contact.”
While such situations could be fabricated, it’s crucial not to go overboard. The consequences would be severe, especially considering Christina was still married to Nathaniel.
The male model nodded and went into the room.
To ensure everything went according to plan, Anya took the precaution of locking the door, leaving Christina with no means of escape.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Christina had agreed to meet at the hotel, but the designated time. had passed, and the latter hadn’t shown up.
Based on his understanding of Christina, she was not the type to disregard punctuality.
He dialed her number, and though the call connected, there was no response.
When he called again ten minutes later, she still did not pick up the phone. Sebastian reached out to Christina’s assistant, Lina, who conveyed the situation to both of them.
After hearing the details, Nathaniel couldn’t help but feel that there was more to the situation than met the eye.
He immediately stood up and ordered, “Get the car!”
Sebastian didn’t dare waste another second and did as he was told.
The morning light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the office.
Early in the morning. Anya summoned the entire staff to assemble at the CEO’s office entrance. She withheld the purpose behind the gathering but issued a stern warning of potential consequences for those who failed to comply.
Soon, the CEO’s office was filled with people who were bustling with anticipation before the workday began, yet none could decipher the purpose behind their gathering.
With a smile adorning her face, Anya approached the crowd. “Did everyone manage to catch a glimpse inside?”
What’s happening inside?
“Ms. Gibson, what are you talking about? We don’t understand,” someone asked. They had been called in early in the morning just to see an empty office.
Anya walked through the crowd and approached the door. As she looked inside, her eyes
narrowed.
Why is the office empty? Christina fainted last night, and the door was locked from the inside. There was no way she could have gotten out, right? Could she be inside the dressing room?
Excitement surged within Anya once more, prompting her to swiftly retrieve the key. She attempted to unlock the door, only to find the lock resistant to her efforts.
Perplexed, Anya frowned and muttered, “This is weird. Is the lock broken?”
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind as Christina strode into the room, dressed in a sophisticated business suit and elegant heels. Her eyes locked onto Anya’s face. “Why the early morning greetings, everyone?”
The crowd’s faces turned pale, equally puzzled by the unexpected summons from Anya.
They turned to Anya and asked, “Ms. Gibson, why did you summon us here?”
Anya’s eyes
widened in shock as she wondered when Christina managed to slip away.
Met with questioning glances, she growled in frustration, “Never mind, everyone, just go back to your offices and get to work.”
The crowd wore awkward expressions, bewildered by the sudden summons from Anya.
Christina approached the door, casting a disdainful glance at the key in Anya’s hand. “Having trouble opening it? I changed the door last night.”
A tremor flickered in Anya’s eyes as she struggled to comprehend how Christina managed to
escape.
Christina closed in on Anya with a menacing gaze. “Do you honestly think your tactics are impressive, Anya Gibson? Whatever you’ve done to me, I will repay in full,” she hissed.
Next, she took out the key and opened the door effortlessly. She made sure to slam it loudly behind her as she entered.
Once Christina settled into her seat, she found herself unable to shake the memory of the heart- stopping events from the previous night. She had arranged to meet Nathaniel, but she failed to show up. Her absence prompted Nathaniel to become increasingly worried and, ultimately, came to her rescue.
Without his help, she would have become the laughingstock of the entire company this morning. In fact, she might have even been labeled as shameless!
A glint of coldness flickered in Christina’s eyes. Initially, she thought Anya would only resort to petty tricks, and she never expected her to be so brazen to make personal attacks.
Just then, Lina knocked on the door and entered the room with some breakfast.
“How did you know I haven’t eaten breakfast?” Christina asked.
“I’m not sure. It was delivery,” Lina replied before leaving the room.
Just then, the phone rang. It was a call from Nathaniel.
“You skipped breakfast today and hurriedly went to work. Is work more important than your health?”
If those words were uttered on any ordinary day, Christina would have felt infuriated, perceiving him as overbearing and irritating. However, today was different. As she listened to his reproachful tone, she
found herself unable to muster even a hint of anger.
“I won’t be able to finish all the food. Why did you prepare so much?” She chuckled and took a sip of yogurt.
Nathaniel grumbled with displeasure, “Haven’t you seen how much weight you’ve lost? Has the Gibson family been starving you?”
“Nonsense, they haven’t.”
It had been a long time since they spoke so lightheartedly.
“We’ll have dinner together tonight and sign the contract.” Nathaniel’s voice regained its usual calmness.
“Noted.”
After hanging up the phone, Christina felt a large part of her recent melancholy had dissipated.
Bonus
She had been busy the whole morning, dedicating almost all her energy to the projects that Anya had previously handled. None of the monetary figures in the documents were clearly recorded.
Even though Anya had been living off the Gibson family and staying at their residence, she still had the audacity to steal money from them.
You aren’t deserving to be a Gibson, Anya.
As lunchtime approached, Christina packed up her things and left the office.
After staying in Hallsbay for some time, Christina decided to bring Sharon over. In order to keep her mother out of the internal conflicts within the Gibson family, she had arranged an apartment for her to live in.
The apartment was located near the company, and if Christina had free time during lunch, she would go there to have lunch and accompany her mother.
Christina drove away and soon arrived at the apartment. She unlocked the door with her fingerprint.
When Sharon heard the click of the door opening, she rushed over excitedly to pass Christina her sandals.
“Mom, I can handle these trivial matters myself. You should head in. Oh, there are guests at home?” Christina noticed a pair of men’s shoes, which seemed somewhat familiar.
Sharon smiled and replied, “There are no guests. My son-in-law is here.”
As Christina lifted her gaze, she locked eyes with Nathaniel, whose intense black gaze bore into hers. He wore a smug smile as if asserting his dominance.
Chapter 464 Quit Messing Around
“Mom, how could you let a stranger into our house?” Christina grumbled under her breath before putting on her shoes.
“Nathaniel isn’t a stranger, Christina. Don’t be rude,” Sharon replied earnestly.
Since her mother was around, Christina had no choice but to hide her dislike of Nathaniel. As she walked to the dining table, the sight of a huge spread caused her to feel a pang of heartache. “Mom, didn’t I tell you not to cook so many dishes? You’ve just recovered, so you can’t overwork.”
“I’m feeling fine. Besides, Nathaniel rarely comes over, so of course, I should be a good host,” Sharon responded gently. She was on bed rest for six months, but when she could move freely on her own, Christina forbade her from exercising. As a result, she was itching to get active from being cooped up at home every day.
To her, it made sense to cook more dishes since she rarely had two people joining her for a meal.
Christina pouted. Truth be told, she loved her mother’s cooking, but she simply could not bear seeing Sharon overwork herself. That was why she only went back for meals a few days. a week instead of every single day.
When the three of them took their seats at the dining table, Christina naturally sat down next to her mother, but Sharon stopped her. “Why are you sitting next to me? Go and sit beside. Nathaniel.”
“It doesn’t matter who I sit with, Mom,” Christina said. I don’t want to sit next to him.
Sharon glanced at her. Sensing her mother’s displeasure, Christina could only stand up and sit next to Nathaniel obediently.
The sight of them sitting beside each other brought Sharon great satisfaction. With a nod, she said, “All right. Let’s dig in.”
As soon as those words fell from her lips, she reached out and placed a large drumstick on Nathaniel’s plate. “Have you lost weight recently, Nathaniel?”
Christina glared at the drumstick. That’s my favorite. How could Mom give it to him?
Nathaniel was not in a hurry to begin his meal. Instead, he patiently answered Sharon’s question. “I’d been busy with work recently and had to accompany Christina everywhere, so I had not been eating my meals on time.”
The second he finished his utterances, he felt someone pinching his thigh harshly. Puzzled,
he tilted his head and found Christina glaring at him with her lips pressed together. She was clearly warning him to keep quiet.
First, he took my drumstick, and now he’s telling on me? He should think about what he did with Madison before being a tattletale!
Nathaniel’s reply caused Sharon to furrow her brows. In the beginning, she thought Christinal had only brought up divorce in a temper until the latter suddenly talked about bringing her to Hallsbay. That was when she realized Christina had quarreled with Nathaniel.
There were some things that could not be said directly at the dining table, so Sharon simply exhorted her daughter, “It’s normal for married couples to argue every now and then. Talk things out with Nathaniel. He’s not an unreasonable person. You’re an adult, Christina, and you should learn to be the bigger person.”
Knowing that her mother would take Nathaniel’s side, Christina did not argue and merely bit her lip. While she would agree to anything Sharon brought up to her face, she was free to do whatever she wanted behind her back.
“Okay, Mom, I got it. Let’s eat.” Christina placed a piece of meat on her mother’s plate.
Sharon smiled. Even though Christina was not her biological daughter, she was brought up by her. Considering Christina’s gentle and strong personality, Sharon trusted her to do the right thing.
After the meal, Nathaniel stood up, his tall figure casting a long shadow over the dining table.
Gently, Sharon said, “Go take a seat on the couch, Nathaniel. I’ll cut up some fruits for you.”
“There’s no need for that, Ms. Zapler. You must be tired from cooking. I’ll wash the dishes, so you can go rest for a bit,” Nathaniel replied as he took his suit jacket off and slung it over the back of the chair casually.
He then took his watch off and rolled up his sleeves to his elbow.
“It’s okay, Nathaniel. I’ll do it,” Sharon hurriedly said. She was not about to let the CEO of Hadley Corporation wash dishes for her. That simply did not sit right with her.
Christina put down the tableware in her hand and gently pulled her mother in the direction. of the couch. “Mom, you said so yourself that he wasn’t a stranger. Since he’s family, it’s fine if he wants to wash a couple of dishes, right?”
“You kiddo…” Sharon could not argue with Christina, so she sat down on the couch.
Christina turned on the news channel on television. “Watch some television. I’ll cut up some fruit for you in a second,” she said.
“All right. Quickly go help Nathaniel with the dishes,” Sharon said with a chuckle.
By the time Christina walked into the kitchen. Nathaniel had already placed all the used tableware into the sink. Still, it was obviously his first time doing such chores based on how he had squeezed half of
the bottle of dish soap onto the dirty dishes.
“Wlhy» did add so much soap? Darn, don’t do it recklessly if you don’t know how. Move out of the way. Go and take fruits from the fridge instead.”
Christina almost had a headache from his haphazard actions. She put on some dishwashing gloves and started to wash the dishes in the sink orderly.
Nathaniel was dazed for a second before he turned around and walked to the fridge. There was quite a variety of fruits in it, so he put all of them into a basket and began washing grapes next to Christina.
His fingers were long and pretty. They looked almost like marble, and the grapes he was holding almost seemed like jewels against his skin.
Christina stopped looking at his hands out of the corner of her eye and focused on washing the dishes. Just as she was done arranging the clean plates and cutlery onto the drying rack neatly, Nathaniel finished washing the fruits as well.
When she looked over her shoulder, he stuffed a grape into her mouth and asked smilingly, “Is it sweet?”
“Very,” she answered honestly as she relished the taste of the juicy grape.
All of a sudden, Nathaniel placed a hand behind her head. He gently bent down to kiss her. then let go of her. “Yeah, you’re right. It is quite sweet.”
Christina’s cheeks turned bright red, and she warned him in a low voice, “Quit messing around. My mom is outside.”
After flashing her a half-smile, he walked out with a plate of grapes in his hand and placed it on the table inside the living room. “Have some grapes, Mom.”
Sharon turned off the television and chewed on a grape. “Wow, that’s very sweet. Why don’t you have one, Nathaniel?”
Coincidentally, Christina, too, walked out of the kitchen and met Nathaniel’s burning gaze. With a smile, he replied, “I tried it just now. You’re right; they are very sweet.”
Worried that Nathaniel would do something embarrassing again, Christina wanted him to leave immediately. A beat later, she acted upon the thought, whisking him away to the door.
“I need to go back to work, Mom. Why don’t you take an afternoon nap? I’ll eat with you again tomorrow,” Christina said.
Sharon wanted to see them off, but Christina had already dragged Nathaniel out the door. before she could stand up.
After closing the door and entering the elevator, Christina shoved Nathaniel’s suit jacket and watch into his hands and said, “Put them back on now.”
Nathaniel shoved his suit jacket back into her arms and wore his watch slowly before finally slipping on his suit jacket.
“I’ll give you a ride,” he offered.
Mildly, Christina replied, “There’s no need for that. I drove here.”
“Until when are you going to avoid me, Christina?” Nathaniel pulled at her hand as his gaze became cold.
Christina looked up at him and replied calmly, “Please get this straight. I’m not avoiding you. You’re the one avoiding me. Why is it so hard for you to get your hands on some divorce papers?”
Chapter 465 An Explanation
“I saw you cuddle with Madison that night, so stop playing dumb.” Mentioning the incident caused anger to wash over Christina, and she stomped on Nathaniel’s feet.
As she intentionally used her heel to step on him, he grunted from the pain and immediately released her hand.
“Christina…”
Nathaniel wanted to say something else, but Christina had already gotten in her car and stepped on the accelerator, leaving him standing alone in the same spot.
But when did I ever cuddle with Madison?
When Christina returned to her office, the first thing she saw was the pile of files on her desk. The sight reminded her of how much she truly disliked the daily routine of sitting in the office and going through those documents. What she enjoyed the most was sketching and coming up with design drawings in silence.
Following behind her, Lina came in and said gently, “Ms. Steele, there are several more documents awaiting your attention. We need to pick up the pace.”
“All right,” Christina replied in a rather defeated tone.
At nightfall, she settled all the urgent documents and gathered the files she had prepared before leaving the company.
Upon arriving at Nathaniel’s doorway, Christina knocked on the door gently.
Soon, the door opened, but the person standing behind it was Madison instead of Nathaniel.
“Is there something you need?” The woman positioned herself to block the entrance, seemingly reluctant to let Christina inside.
Christina narrowed her eyes and mocked, “When did you become so shameless, Ms. Taggart? Aren’t you afraid of tarnishing your reputation by showing up in a married man’s room in the middle of the night?”
Madison’s face paled at that, for what Christina said was indeed an irrefutable fact.
Naturally, Christina was not about to let the woman off just yet as she continued to make scathing remarks. “Now that I think about it, I guess it makes sense that you have no fear of what others will say about you since you are indeed a shameless woman, to begin with.”
“Christina, you should stop making a fool out of yourself if you know what’s good for you.
Now that I’m here, you’d better leave-” Before Madison could finish her sentence, Nathaniel walked out from inside the room and saw the two women standing at the door.
The tense atmosphere was akin to a barrel of oil that was ready to ignite with the slightest spark.
“Why haven’t you left yet?” Nathaniel asked, his tone cold and indifferent.
In truth, Madison was here earlier to deliver some documents. She deliberately kept Sebastian occupied and came to see Nathaniel alone.
As an awkward expression spread across her face, she stammered, “I-I’ll take my leave now.”
Nathaniel’s gaze fell on Christina, and he ordered in a commanding tone, “Come in.”
Christina arched a brow. Wearing a half-smile on her face, she remarked, “How can I enter when someone is blocking the doorway?”
With that, Madison could only step aside reluctantly to allow Christina to enter. The moment the latter crossed the threshold, she shut the door right in Madison’s face.
The resounding bang felt like a painful slap across Madison’s face.
She had thought that her relationship with Nathaniel had improved, but alas, it seemed that she was still a nobody in his eyes.
Inside the room, Christina put down her briefcase and immediately picked up the documents that Madison had brought.
I wonder why this woman keeps approaching Nathaniel repeatedly.
“What are you looking at?” Nathaniel asked.
Since Christina had been reading a lot of documents lately, she could tell at a glance that these were all unimportant files. Did Madison really go through all this trouble just to deliver a few sheets of worthless paper?
She set aside the files in her hand and took out the collaboration contract with Gibson Corporation. While handing it to Nathaniel, she urged, “If there’s no problem with it, sign it quickly.”
Her attitude toward Nathaniel was as if he had owed her something.
All along, people who approached him for collaboration would display ingratiating behavior to please him. It was the first time he encountered someone who did not treat him with the same deference.
Nathaniel furrowed his brow and calmly took the contract before walking over to the couch to sit down. He then pored over the contract attentively.
His composed demeanor and focused expression made him look like an oil painting.
As he remained silent, Christina could only wait by his side.
After a few moments, Nathaniel lightly tapped the papers with his slender fingertips “What does this section mean? Do explain it to me.”
Christina walked over reluctantly and looked at the text before explaining its meaning.
On the heels of that, Nathaniel asked her another question. At that point, she grew visibly impatient because his queries were all straightforward and could be easily understood at a glance. Yet, he deliberately made her explain them.
On his third question, Christina could not bear it any longer and interjected, “Mr. Hadley, since there are so many parts that you don’t understand, I suggest you mark them with a pen, and I’ll arrange for a team of lawyers and assistants to explain them to you in detail tomorrow.”
With that, she got to her feet.
Before she could leave, however, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and pinned her down on the couch.
Staring at the scattered documents on the floor, she felt a surge of anger rise within her, and she growled, “You shouldn’t have bothered inviting me here if you didn’t have the intention. of discussing the collaboration!”
With a condescending gaze, Nathaniel scrutinized her delicate face. “I see that you’ve changed now that you’re a CEO. You kept speaking loudly.”
“My contempt for you remains the same regardless of my position. I’m warning you, get off me right this instance!” Christina glared at him, her dark eyes flashing with fury.
Their bodies were almost pressed against each other, and they could clearly feel each other’s warmth.
Nathaniel watched her anxious demeanor in amusement. She was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and it was only in moments like these that she would remain calm and quiet.
Realizing that he had no intention of getting off her, Christina could not contain her anger any longer. She raised her knee and delivered a precise blow to his abdomen.
Nathaniel groaned in pain, and she pushed him away. He fell on the carpet and was in so much agony that his temples started throbbing as well.
Giving out a triumphant harrumph, Christina uttered with glee. “Sorry, that was just my natural response to an enemy. You should get some rest, Mr. Hadley. We can continue our discussion in my office tomorrow.”
It was already late at night by the time she returned to the Gibson residence. The butler approached and asked with concern, “Ms. Christina, have you had dinner? Would you like me to prepare a midnight snack for you?”
“Sure. I’m actually quite hungry,” came Christina’s reply. She had been so busy with work earlier that she did not even have dinner.
After saying that, she went upstairs to her bedroom to shower.
Once she was done, she came back downstairs to see Azure and Anya chatting in the living room.
Christina then walked over and greeted, “Grandma, it’s late. Why are you still awake?”
Azure flashed her a smile and said, “Come and have a seat. Aren’t you tired from working this late?”
“Not at all,” Christina replied before sitting down beside her grandmother.
Azure rubbed the back of her granddaughter’s hand gently and asked in a meaningful tone, “Christina, are you really going to divorce Nathaniel?”
Christina’s brow twitched slightly in response, and she lowered her gaze in contemplation. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “Yes.”
Why is Grandma suddenly asking me this?
She paused for a moment before adding, “Don’t worry, Grandma. I won’t let my personal feelings affect the company. I’ve already signed the contract with Hadley Corporation just now.”
“That’s good to hear.” Azure stared at her granddaughter, her gaze solemn and intense. “The Hadley family owes us too much. We must never forgive them.”
Christina’s chest tightened at that, and she fell silent.
Azure changed the topic. “Since you’re determined to divorce Nathaniel, how about accompanying me to a gathering tomorrow afternoon?”
Chapter 466 Shameless
Christina’s gaze narrowed as she acquiesced, unable to find a reason to refuse. “All right, Grandma,” she replied.
“It’s getting late. Get some rest.” Azure gently patted the back of Christina’s hand.
With a nod, Christina made her way upstairs.
After a warm relaxing bath, she slipped into bed. The soft moonlight poured in through the window, casting a tranquil glow in the room. Soon, her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted off to a deep, restful sleep.
The next morning, the sun’s rays streamed through the windows, gently rousing Christina from her slumber.
She stretched and felt invigorated.
For the day’s outfit, she had picked out a stylish ensemble, opting for a blouse that elegantly emphasized her slender waist, paired with an over-the-knee skirt that showcased her fair calves. Completing the look with a cardigan, she made her way downstairs.
After a satisfying breakfast, she embarked on her journey to work.
A domineering aura filled the air as Christina entered her office.
Nathaniel exuded an aura of cold austerity as he sat on one of the chairs, commanding attention with his mere presence.
“You’re not the type to invite yourself without an invitation, Mr. Hadley,” Christina commented the moment she laid eyes on him.
Nathaniel cast her a lazy look. His dark eyes seemed capable of piercing her soul. “You should seize this opportunity to discuss the contract since I’m here,” he retorted.
Christina had no choice but to reschedule her morning meetings to accommodate the contract discussions with Nathaniel.
Throughout the meeting, Sebastian and Lina diligently documented the corrections.
As lunchtime approached, Nathaniel glanced at the time and proposed, “Let’s take a break. We’ll continue after lunch.”
Before Christina could respond, both assistants swiftly packed up and left the meeting room.
Unlock succeeded
Man’s compliance was expected. Christina found it puzzling to see Linia, who didn’t directly work for Nathaniel, following suit.
It seemed as though they were worried about being called back to resume the meeting if they didn’t leave promptly.
Christina tidied up the documents on the table. She then picked up another document and began reading it, seemingly disregarding Nathaniel’s presence in the room.
“Aren’t you going out for lunch?” Nathaniel frowned and asked.
Christina remained engrossed in the document, not bothering to raise her gaze. “I still have a lot to do. We can continue our discussion after you’ve had your lunch,” she calmly replied, her irises glowing with a warm, amber hue.
Without warning, Nathaniel abruptly snatched her documents and callously discarded them, treating them like mere trash. “Are you trying to starve yourself to death by skipping lunch?” he questioned.
What? Skipping one meal won’t starve me to death. What is he talking about?
Anger surged through her veins as she stood up, meeting Nathaniel’s gaze with cold determination. “That is not your concern. Please leave,” she demanded, her face flushed and her eyes narrowing with displeasure, reminiscent of a child who had their toy taken away.
Undeterred, Nathaniel reached out and firmly pinched her chin, his tone dripping with dominance. “It has everything to do with me. We are still married. I don’t want my kids to lose their mother.”
Christina’s eyes darkened as she felt like Nathaniel’s concern was more like a curse than genuine care for her well-being. “Please mind your own business. I’ll live longer if you leave me be,” she asserted, attempting to push him away.
Ignoring her resistance, Nathaniel forcefully pinned her down on the table, causing documents and pens to scatter and tumble to the floor.
Christina grunted as Nathaniel pinned her down, his condescending stare making her cheeks flush and her breath hitch.
The awkward angle and position filled her with fear of being caught in such a compromising situation at the office. She pleaded, “Let go of me. We’re in the office.”
The intensity of the moment made her feel as if her nerves were on the verge of giving out.
Nathaniel couldn’t bring himself to tease her any further as he watched Christina’s neck, face, and ears turn a deep shade of red, resembling a blushing kitten.
Hence, he softened his tone and said, “Promise me you’ll go out for lunch, and I’ll let you go, okay?”
Christina, feeling trapped beneath him, realized the had little choice in the matter.
She forced a smile and replied, “Okay, I promise.”
With that, Nathaniel released his hold on her, satisfied with her response. He picked up her coat and made a sweeping gesture, silently urging her to leave.
Realizing she couldn’t win a fight against him. Christina reluctantly walked out the door. knowing she had no other option at the moment.
As she reached the door, she ran into Lina, who was on her way into the room. “Ms. Steele. do you… Lina trailed off.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the mess behind Christina, wondering what had unfolded between her and Nathaniel during the brief time they were left alone.
Christina sensed Lina’s thoughts through her widened eyes and promptly explained. “It’s not what you think. I accidentally knocked the stuff onto the ground just now
“I understand. Ms. Steele. Don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul” Lina even made a gesture of zipping her lips.
Christina couldn’t help but feel amused by Lina’s response as if her explanation only fueled further speculation.
Before she could clarify further. Nathaniel intervened firmly grasping her hand and leading her out of the room. “You have a bright assistant there. Remember, what happens here stays here,” he stated, reinforcing Lina’s assumptions.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Hadley,” she assured, almost patting her chest to emphasize her discretion.
A faint smile curved up on Nathaniel’s lips as he quickened his pace, leading Christina out of the room.
When they reached the car park, he settled Christina in the front passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and drove off.
Christina had no idea where he was taking her, but she didn’t mind since she wasn’t familiar with the city.
After a while, they arrived at a restaurant, only to find it empty.
Surprised, she turned to Nathaniel and whispered. “There’s no one here during lunchtime. I don’t think it’s a good sign. Let’s find another place.
However, before they could leave, one of the servers quickly explained, “Miss, it’s not like that. We don’t have any customers right now because this gentleman here has reserved the entire restaurant.”
Christina tensed up at that. “Is it really necessary to reserve the entire place? We’re just having lunch,” she stated.
Nathaniel simply replied, “I don’t like the noise,” as if his decision made perfect sense.
The server led them to a table in the center of the restaurant and handed them the menu.
Christina ordered a few dishes from the menu, but Nathaniel insisted on adding a few extra signature dishes, feeling that it wasn’t enough.
“It’s too much. We won’t be able to finish everything,” Christina reminded him in a small voice.
“No one said you had to finish everything,” Nathaniel replied, thinking that Christina could simply take a few bites from each dish to fill her up.
Soon, the dishes were served.
Chapter 467 Masculine Presence
Nathaniel washed his hand with clean water, then rolled up his sleeves and began peeling the shrimp.
Christina watched as the food on her plate gradually increased. At first, she wasn’t bothered by it, but soon she couldn’t keep up with the speed at which he was peeling, and her plate quickly became filled with shrimp.
Once done peeling the shrimp, Nathaniel reached for the crabs, placing the large, meaty crab legs onto her plate.
Soon, Christina had a pile of food in front of her. She couldn’t help but complain, “I can’t finish all this. You can stop peeling now.”
“It’s fine. My hands are already dirty anyway, so I’ll just peel some more.” Nathaniel didn’t stop. Instead, he continued removing the crab shells and placed all the meat on her plate.
“We can take the leftovers home if we can’t finish everything,” Christina suggested, as wasting food wasn’t her habit.
He snickered. “If you can’t finish it, you’ll have to foot the bill. I don’t take leftovers.”
He’s right. Since when does the high and might Mr. Hadley take home leftovers? His real intention is to make me eat all the food before me.
Christina felt she wouldn’t be able to consume the other dishes after she finished the big plate of crab meat. After taking a few bites, she started tasting the other dishes.
Upon trying out all the food on the table, she noticed that after Nathaniel was done peeling the shrimp and washing his hands, he had been sitting there, watching her eat quietly without moving or talking.
Christina picked up a piece of meat and placed it in her mouth. Her cheeks, bulging on both sides, made her look like an adorable, innocent little bunny.
Nathaniel held a napkin and gently wiped the corner of her mouth. “You’re a grown–up, yet you eat like a child, getting food stains everywhere.”
His doting voice made him sound like an elder caring for someone younger. An unusual hint of warmth filled his eyes as he spoke.
Christina swallowed the delicious food in her mouth before asking him, “Aren’t you going to eat? It’s wasteful to have so much food left.”
“I’m tired from peeling the shrimp, so I don’t feel like moving,” he replied nonchalantly.
The corner of her mouth twitched. “In other words, you want me to feed you.”
“I wouldn’t mind that.” He flashed a faint smirk as if everything was going according to his plan.
Christina gave him a perfunctory smile and snorted. “Do whatever you like. I’m not the one who’s going to get hungry if you don’t eat anyway.”
Seemingly determined to challenge her, he remained unmoving. He knew Christina disliked waste and wouldn’t be able to stand seeing all those food go uneaten. She’ll definitely change her mind and feed me!
Sure enough, a little while later, Christina couldn’t eat anymore. She burped and grumbled, “I feel like my tummy is going to explode.”
“If you’re done eating, shall we ask for the bill?” Nathaniel asked.
Christina agreed with a poker face, “Sure. Let’s hurry up. We can rest for a while if we go back sooner. We’ll strive to finish discussing the remaining details in the afternoon.”
Nathaniel called the waiter over to settle the check.
Without looking at the bill, he charged the amount to his bank card. After the payment, the waiter brought over eight or nine takeaway boxes.
Nathaniel furrowed his brows and rejected, “I didn’t ask for this.”
The waiter smiled and explained, “This miss requested these boxes.”
Christina got to her feet and nodded in agreement. “That’s right. I requested them. Please help me pack up all these dishes and this half plate of shrimp meat.”
“Okay, miss. Please wait.” Then, the waiter neatly packed all the uneaten food.
Christina grinned, smiling from ear to ear. Her innocent and naive appearance was extremely adorable.
Nathaniel knitted his brows. As he watched the food getting packed into the takeaway boxes, his expression turned a few shades darker. She has been planning this all along.
A few moments later, the waiter handed the packed takeaway boxes to Christina. There were eight or nine of them, divided into two bags, which were quite heavy to carry.
As a result, she moved slower than usual. In contrast, Nathaniel walked quickly, leaving her in the dust.
When he was about to get in the car, he turned around and saw Christina lagging behind. He hastily retraced his steps and reached out to grab all the packed boxes from her hands.
With her hands empty, Christina suddenly felt much lighter. A hint of embarrassment surged within her as she looked at Nathaniel placing the takeout boxes into the trunk. He spent so much money to treat
me to a meal. I’m full now, but his stomach is still empty.
Christina got into the car. After Nathaniel entered the vehicle too, she said, “Let’s go to my mom’s condominium first.”
Sharon’s condominium was very close to Gibson Corporation, so making a detour there wouldn’t take up much time.
Around ten minutes later, they arrived at the condominium’s entrance.
Hearing the doorbell ringing, Sharon immediately answered the door. She was delightfully surprised to see Nathaniel and Christina. “Why didn’t you tell me in advance that you were coming? I could’ve prepared lunch for you.”
Christina stepped into the house and took the takeout boxes from Nathaniel. “You don’t need to cook, Mom. Just heat these up for him to eat.”
Sharon received the two hefty bags. “You bought takeout? Should I prepare some home–cooked dishes too?”
Christina walked toward her bedroom while replying, “That’s not needed. I’ve already eaten. I’m going to take a nap. Once you’ve heated up the food, you can rest. There’s no need to entertain him.”
With that, she entered the room, removed her outerwear, and lay down on the bed.
Nathaniel stood at the kitchen entrance and told Sharon, whose back was facing him. “Mom, leave it. I’ll reheat the food later. I want to get some rest first.”
“No worries. I’ll heat it up and leave it in the pot. You can eat it when you wake up from your nap,” Sharon chirped and closed the kitchen door so that the smell of food wouldn’t bother him.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Christina was lying on the bed. Perhaps she was too tired in the morning and felt full now that a wave of sleepiness washed over her. Hugging the blanket, she drifted off to sleep in no time.
Amidst her grogginess, she felt a warm sensation wrap around her slim waist. She turned her head and saw Nathaniel’s handsome face. “Why did you come in here?”
“Let’s take a nap. Stop talking,” he drawled like a sleepy lion, his voice powerful yet gentle. D
Christina wanted to push him away. Unexpectedly, he held her more tightly. There were differences between their physique in the first place, so after several fruitless attempts to put up a struggle, she decided to give up and yield.
And just like that, the two fell asleep in one another’s embrace.
Christina had rarely slept so peacefully. It wasn’t until a ray of twilight filtered through the curtains and layered the entire bedroom with a red glow that she opened her eyes.
Christina asked lazily, “Nathaniel, what time is it?”
“I don’t know and don’t care.” Nathaniel had not had such quality sleep in a long time, so he didn’t have the slightest desire to wake up.
Christina wanted to get up, but he forbade her. Wrapping his arms around her slim waist, he pulled her into his arms and embraced her, resting his cool lips on her forehead.
The moment was beautiful, but Christina’s rationality was telling her that she shouldn’t sleep anymore.
She sat up abruptly. “Do you know what time it is? Why are you still sleeping?”
She picked up her phone and glanced at the time. It was almost six o’clock. How had I slept so deeply?
Lina had sent her over ten text messages, but she merely replied: Something came up. Let’s discuss the agreement tomorrow.
After putting down her phone, she immediately felt more awake and energized.
Nathaniel also got out of bed, methodically straightening his suit. The orange–yellow light from outside outlined his slender figure, filling the room with his masculine presence.
Chapter 468 Does It Hurt
“Have you looked your fill?”
The seductive baritone of Nathaniel’s voice sounded as Christina lifted her eyes and met his intense gaze.
She looked away hastily, her face burning. “I’m heading back to the company.”
She strode out and was greeted by Sharon, who was heating up the leftover food from lunch. “Christina, come and have dinner.”
Christina’s stomach felt empty after waking up from her sleep. While she wasn’t particularly hungry, she sat at the table nonetheless and planned to grab a quick bite before being on her way.
Nathaniel stepped out, looking energized in his well–pressed clothing. He seemed to exude an innate sense of superiority.
He was as graceful as a prince that emerged from an oil painting as he took the spot next to Christina.
Sharon arranged the tableware before him. “Nathaniel, you must be hungry since you didn’t have lunch. Please dig in.”
With that, she scooped extra servings of food into his plate.
Christina was full after finishing just one plate due to her lack of appetite, while Nathaniel had more than his usual portion. They departed for the company together after dinner.
Gibson Corporation was empty as it was already after office hours.
Lina had arranged the documents on Christina’s desk before she went off. Christina felt invigorated and ready to get the day’s work done.
“You should get back to work for now. We’ll discuss the details tomorrow.” Christina sat down. Her gaze never once strayed from the documents before her.
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened. Was he being shooed away again?
He planted himself opposite Christina. “I don’t have time tomorrow as I’ll be heading home. We’ll talk it over at Scenic Garden Manor if not tonight.”
Christina paused and mentally calculated the amount of time Nathaniel had spent in Jadeborough. He couldn’t continue languishing with her here without a care for his company.
Besides, she did not want to delay signing the contract lest Anya takes advantage of the situation.
Nathaniel flipped open the documents and continued where he’d left off in the morning. “Pour me a cup of coffee.” (
His gaze was lowered, and his chiseled side profile resembled a sculpture that belonged in a museum. His entire being emanated a frosty aura.
Even how he commanded others was so stern that it compelled them to do as he wished.
Christina stood and made her way to the pantry. She wasn’t familiar with the workings of a coffee machine since she rarely made coffee herself. After placing the cup below its spigot, she waited for some time, yet no coffee was dispensed.
The scalding hot coffee was released only when she reached for the cup, causing it to splash all over the back of her palm. Shocked and in pain, she felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
She sucked in a deep breath, her mind beginning to register the searing pain on her skin.
Christina barely had time to react when she was lifted off her feet.
Nathaniel had rushed over at the noise and was surveying her scald moodily. “Is there a medical kit here?”
Christina pointed at the cabinet. “My, assistant mentioned it being stored at the topmost section.”
Nathaniel identified the whereabouts of the medical kit and placed her down on the couch to retrieve it.
Christina observed her wound and was relieved that she’d withdrawn her hand in time. She was lucky that the reddish swelling was just a surface wound.
A shadow fell over her as Nathaniel sat beside her and extracted the bandage and antiseptic from the emergency kit. He reached for her hand gingerly.
Nathaniel’s palm was much larger than hers. His healthy tan was a stark contrast with her delicately fair complexion. The effect of that image was as jarring as a ferocious lion sitting beside a docile lamb.
Christina’s heart began speeding up at the thought of him admonishing her. However, all he did was ask, “Does it hurt?” He blew lightly on the back of her palm.
Christina’s mood took a turn for the worse as the places he’d touched felt like they were on fire. She’d be a liar to deny being moved by his actions, but her past experiences made her uneasy.
Who knew whether he’d lock her up again if she ruffled his feathers?
He’d broken his promise to her the minute he became furious.
She withdrew her hand after shaking free from her reverie. “Not really.”
Nathaniel did not pursue the matter at the hostile look she leveled at him. “You don’t have to do it anymore. I’ll do it myself.”
He placed the medical kit back where it belonged and managed to operate the coffee machine after a cursory glance at the machine.
Christina chastised herself for her clumsiness in managing to hurt herself over such a simple task while observing Nathaniel in his element.
Two cups of coffee were soon ready on the office table.
Christina took a sip and felt energized almost instantaneously.
They began discussing the details of the contract, and Christina was astonished at how meticulously Nathaniel went through the terms.
Neither of them backed down in their negotiation. However, it was expected that Hadley Corporation would split hairs over other areas after offering such a large plot of land from the get–go.
They finally signed the contract well past midnight.
“Are you going back to the hotel at such a late hour?” Christina checked the time. It was almost three morning.
“No. I’ll be heading back straight away.” Nathaniel rearranged the documents on the desk and called Sebastian to pick him up after he finished packing.
Christina stole a glance at him from the corner of her eyes and looked back at her documents quickly avoid being discovered. “You may leave once you’re done.” She pretended to speak in an off–handed
manner.
Nathaniel grunted his acknowledgment as he went through the emails on his phone.
Time continued ticking as both of them were engrossed with their respective work.
Christina stared at the dense lines of Anglandurn words on her documents and decided to rest her eye she laid her head down on the desk, which accidentally turned into a full–on sleep.
The sun shone brightly outside the window by the time she woke up. She was now lying in the lounge area of her office with Nathaniel’s coat over her. It had a subtle woodsy fragrance to it.
Christina sat up. Nathaniel should be back at Hadley Corporation by now.
Her phone rang with a call from her grandmother.
Christina had overslept and missed the evening banquet she’d promised to attend with Azure the day before.
Azure’s voice dripped with concern after learning she’d been working at the office overnight. “Your work may be important, but so is your body. Be careful not to overexert yourself.”
“I know, Grandma.” Her words of comfort were a balm to Christina’s weary heart.
Azure continued, “Why don’t you come and keep me company in the afternoon instead of doing work?”
“Sure, Grandma,” Christina replied instantly.
“I’ll ask my chefs to prepare your favorite desserts for you to look forward to.” Azure chuckled.
Christina went back to work after hanging up. She left the company only when her driver came to pick her up in the afternoon.
Chapter 469 Matchmaking
The moment Christina returned to the Gibson residence, she saw an unfamiliar car parked in front. This car doesn’t belong to the Gibson family. Are we having guests today?
The butler greeted her when she got out of the car. “Ms. Christina, Mrs. Lazuli is waiting for you in the backyard.”
“Are we having guests today?” asked Christina.
The butler smiled awkwardly and said, “Once you get there, you will know.”
When Christina walked to the backyard, she saw three people sitting at the table. Other than Azure, there was also an esteemed–looking lady and a man who was around thirty–five years of age.
The man had slicked–back hair and was wearing a striped black suit. The cut of the suit showcased his height beautifully.
“Christina, you’re back. Come over here,” The moment Azure saw Christina, she smiled warmly at her.
Judging from the situation, it looked like a matchmaking session. Nevertheless, they had already seen her, so she had no choice but to greet them. “Grandma, why didn’t you tell me that we were having guests today?”
Azure was worried that Christina would not come back if she told her the truth. That was why she hid it from her on purpose. “Christina, this is my long–time friend, Mrs. Stone. This is her grandson, Sheridan Stone.”
“Mrs. Stone, Mr. Stone, nice to meet you,” Christina greeted them politely.
When Sherry Stone saw the delicate and gentle–looking Christina, she liked her instantly. “So, this is long–lost granddaughter. What an elegant girl. I have no doubt she is from the Gibson family.”
As a long–time friend of Azure, she knew quite a bit about the Gibson family.
Azure smiled and nodded. “Christina has a good character. Even though she grew up away from the family, she still turned out fine.”
Christina was embarrassed because of their praise. She blushed and smiled.
“Sit with Sheridan. The two of you are closer in age. I’m sure you have a lot more to talk about,” said Azure with a smile.
Can they get any more obvious?
Christina broke out in cold sweats and did as she was told.
The moment she got near Sheridan, she caught a whiff of his woodsy scent, and it smelled different from -Nathaniel’s.
Sheridan’s scent was calming. As for Nathaniel’s, it was wilder and stronger.
“Christina, what would you like to drink?” Sheridan’s deep, magnetic voice sounded very pleasing to the ears.
Christina returned to her senses and noticed that there were two pots of tea on the table. She then replied,
“Roselle tea, please. Thank you.”
Sheridan poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of her. Under the light, she could see his long and slender fingers moving gracefully. He made her feel rather comfortable.
After chatting for a while, Christina found out that Sheridan was the CEO of the Stone family’s listed company. Before that, he worked as an accountant. Other than that, he also owned a finance company
that did accounting for others.
When Azure saw them having a good time, she suggested that they exchange contact numbers.
Just as Christina was hesitating, Sheridan handed her his phone and teased, “Are you going to say no?”
“Of course not,” said Christina with a smile. She could not think of any reason to turn him down. Furthermore, he was graceful and polite. Perhaps, he was doing so out of respect for the old folks.
And so, the two of them exchanged numbers.
When evening came, Sherry and Sheridan left the Gibson residence. Before leaving, they even said they would love to meet again.
Howeyer, Christina took it as part of the pleasantries.
While the family was having dinner, Azure probed, “Christina, what do you think of Sheridan?”
“He’s a nice and gracious man. I can tell he is quite capable,” said Christina.
To that, Azure smiled. “Do you think he is a responsible man? I would like our family to be connected through an arranged marriage.”
In truth, the two families were agreeable to an arranged marriage a long time ago. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the idea was scrapped.
Christina blinked her eyes in suspicion and reacted promptly. “I have just met him. Don’t you think it’s a little too soon?”
Azure nodded and found her reply to be quite reasonable.
Christina then continued, “Grandma, if you want an arranged marriage, you should ask Anya for her opinion. She may not like the mature type.”
The instant she finished talking, Anya burst out laughing and mocked, “Christina, are you being silly, or are you just pretending? Anyone can tell that Grandma is introducing the man to you.”
What? To me? That was why Grandma was asking for my opinion?
Christina recovered from her shock. “Grandma, I-”
“Meet up with Sheridan more often and get to know him. I can tell both of you get along,” advised Azure as she chuckled.
It was obvious that Azure could not wait for the two of them to confirm the status of their relationship. Christina appeared embarrassed. “Grandma, I’m still married. I don’t think this is right.”
It would be wrong for her to go out with other men behind Nathaniel’s back. The thought of Nathaniel finding out and showing that grim face of his was enough to scare the wits out of Christina.
As far as Anya was concerned, it was no big deal. “Why does it matter? Aren’t you going for a divorce? Didn’t you say Nathaniel is refusing to sign the divorce papers? Perhaps, when he sees you with someone else, he will sign it immediately.”
Once Christina lost Nathaniel as a backer, Anya could do as she pleased. There would be no need for her to be wary anymore.
Christina was already upset at being set up for no apparent reason, so she vented all her frustration on Anya. “Don’t meddle in my affairs.”
“What did you say?” Anya instantly glared at her and raised her voice.
Christina glanced at her coldly and uttered, “You’re so young, yet, your hearing is so bad. I said I will do whatever I want. It’s none of your business.”
Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Azure opened her mouth. “Anya, stop it.”
Naturally, Anya would seize the opportunity to cause Christina more trouble. She looked aggrieved and said, “Grandma, I doubt Christina has any intention to go for a divorce! The Hadley family and we are enemies. Christina, do you intend to go back to your enemy and sleep by his side every day? Just think about Uncle Timothy’s leg. How do you live with yourself?”
Christina’s face darkened. That incident had always been the bane of her existence.
Azure could tell that Christina was put in a difficult position and did not want to push her any further. “Enough. Christina no longer has any feelings for Nathaniel. He has already forced Christina to return to Hallsbay. It goes to show that their relationship has come to an end. I’m sure Christina knows what she is doing.”
Chapter 470 Problem In The Accounts
Christina’s face darkened instantly. “I’ll take care of it, Grandma.”
Azure nodded in understanding and refrained from causing any further difficulties for her.
Christina shot up from her seat and said, “I’m full, Grandma. I’m heading upstairs now.”
She turned around and glared at Anya before making her way up.
Upon returning to her room, Christina eagerly opened her laptop to search for Anya’s financial statements. However, to her surprise, she discovered that all the statements had been covertly altered, leaving almost no trace of any discrepancies to be found.
She knew something was amiss with the figures, but there was nothing she could do.
Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a text from Sheridan, extending an invitation to have lunch together
tomorrow.
Didn’t Sheridan exchange numbers with me to appease the elders? Why is he asking me out now? Oh, wait. Isn’t he good at accounting? Maybe he’ll be able to help.
Without hesitation, Christina agreed to his invitation. She believed that developing a closer relationship with him might provide her with an opportunity to seek his assistance.
After replying to the text, Christina took a shower and rested for the night.
The next day at noon, they met at a café.
Sunlight streamed through the window as Sheridan sat in his chair, dressed in a sleek suit and a deep blue striped tie, exuding an elegant and modest charm.
When Christina approached, he greeted her with a gentle smile and asked, “What would you like to drink? This café serves excellent coffee.”
Christina ordered a latte, and as they engaged in casual conversation, she finally brought up the question. “Sheridan, how does your company charge if your client wants to conduct financial investigations?”
“It depends on the circumstances and the client’s needs. Are you in need of such services?” Sheridan’s gaze deepened as he responded with another question.
Logically speaking, Gibson Corporation should have a well–established accounting team and would not easily grant outsiders access to examine the company’s accounts.
Christina looked solemn as she spoke. “I need a favor from you, but you must keep it a secret. Can you?”
Sheridan met her gaze and reassured her, “As a professional accountant committed to upholding confidentiality, I’ll certainly help if you trust me.”
“That’s great. Can I meet you after work then?” Christina’s eagerness to uncover all the evidence of Anya’s embezzlement was palpable.
Sheridan nodded in agreement. “All right.”
As the evening approached, Christina diligently copied the necessary accounting documents onto an encrypted flash drive.
Suddenly, Sheridan called. “Christina, have you taken your dinner?”
“Nope. I plan to meet you first,” Christina said while packing her things.
“All right. I’ll wait for you,” Sheridan replied.
After hanging up the phone, Christina, who was about to leave, bumped into Anya. With a dark expression on her face, Anya questioned, “Christina, why didn’t you reimburse my travel expenses?”
“You only went on a short business trip to the neighboring city, and it was supposed to be a one–day trip. But you stayed for three days and had an extravagant meal that cost tens of thousands. You’ve worked in Gibson Corporation for so many years, so don’t tell me you don’t know the company’s policies.”
The finance department needed Christina to approve the reimbursement.
Anya’s face grew even darker, almost turning purple. “My business negotiations require a great deal of effort. You wouldn’t understand the lengths I have to go to secure those deals. How dare you reject my claim application?”
Confronting her aggressive stance, Christina did not back down. “As a seasoned employee in a leadership role, if you are unable to grasp such fundamental boundaries, perhaps it’s time for me to consider finding a replacement for your position.”
With that, she grabbed her briefcase and walked out.
Anya glared at her retreating figure, her eyes filled with an intense desire to pierce her body with a bullet.
Twenty minutes later, Christina arrived at Sheridan’s office with a folder. A colleague of his from the finance department was also present.
Christina handed the documents to Sheridan. “I want to investigate these billing issues to see if any money has been misappropriated.”
“With such a substantial amount of information, it’ll take a considerable amount of time to investigate thoroughly, but we can start by examining a portion of it to get an initial understanding of the problem,” Sheridan replied.
He handed a portion of the documents to his colleague and said, “Take a look at these accounts and see if you notice any discrepancies.”
“Please give me a moment.” The colleague took the documents and sat down at the desk, carefully reviewing them.
To the untrained eye, the data appeared to be in order, but in the hands of an experienced accountant, it could reveal hidden patterns and irregularities.
“Christina, let’s go and sit over there,” Sheridan suggested.
“All right.”
In the conference room, a spread of pastries and refreshments was arranged. Sheridan explained, “I prepared some light refreshments since I reckon you hadn’t had dinner. I hope you’re okay with this.” “Yeah, of course. Thanks for being so considerate,” Christina responded with a grin.
Sheridan’s gentle and considerate demeanor was a breath of fresh air for Christina. She had never encountered someone so refined and courteous and could effortlessly make her feel comfortable in any situation.
As they settled into their seats, Sheridan offered her a cup of tea. “Give this roselle tea a try. It’s caffeine- free so it won’t disrupt your sleep.”
“Thanks.” Christina took a sip and was delighted by the pleasant taste.
She savored the pastries and enjoyed the tea, a sense of contentment washing over her.
Engaging in conversation, time flew by, and soon the colleague finished organizing the accounts. He circled the entries that raised concerns and said, “These are the ones with issues, and some entries involve significant sums of money.”
Christina’s senses sharpened as she carefully scrutinized the highlighted entries. Despite spending countless nights on them, she could not identify the discrepancies. “It seems I really need assistance from the professionals.”
After putting all the documents aside, Sheridan turned to his colleague. “You should go home now. We’ll look into them again tomorrow.”
“All right. I’ll make a move first then, Mr. Stone.” The man turned around and left.
With only two people left in the office, Sheridan’s expression turned more serious. “Make a copy of the documents and leave a copy for me. Once all the data is organized, I’ll pass everything to you.”
“All right. Sorry to trouble you.” Christina had already made a copy of the documents for storage and handed him the files that needed processing.
She knew it would not take long for her to gather all the incriminating evidence against Anya.
“If I would have the honor to treat you to dinner, then it’d be no trouble at all,” Sheridan quipped, his earlier seriousness completely dissipated.
Christina found him to be incredibly versatile, going with the flow effortlessly. He seamlessly transitioned from a state of unwavering seriousness during work to effortlessly displaying a lighthearted sense of humor in leisurely settings.
“No problem. Let’s go then.” The two of them left the building and drove to a restaurant.
The air was permeated with the enchanting aroma of red wine, while soft candlelight and vibrant flowers adorned the surroundings, creating an ambiance infused with romance and charm.
It was late when they had finished their dinner, so Sheridan drove Christina back to the Gibson residence.
As the car came to a stop, Sheridan leaned over to help Christina unfasten her seatbelt. The woodsy scent emanating from him made Christina’s cheeks instantly flush. “It’s okay. I can do it myself.”
In a flurry, Christina quickly unbuckled the seatbelt, cautious of maintaining a distance between them.
“Thank you for the ride. Rest well and goodnight.”
With that, she opened the car door and swiftly made her way into the house.