Ch. 1341..1350
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1341
Ben pouted aggrievedly, not daring to utter a word.
“Don’t take it out on him,” Zachary said calmly. “The truth is I’ve been struck with an incurable disease, and I don’t know how much longer I’ll live. That’s why I drafted this will—just in case anything happens.”
“What?” Flabbergasted, Spencer fell into a daze and snapped back to reality after a long while. “What incurable disease? Are you joking around, Mr. Zachary? D-D-Don’t do this to a geezer like me. I won’t be able to take it at this age.”
“I’m not joking,” Zachary answered coolly. “Do you remember Cynthia Blackwood?”
“You’re talking about Taylor Blackwood’s eldest daughter, right? Yes, I do remember her. But why are you bringing her up now?” Spencer replied anxiously.
“After I exposed her tricks in front of Grandpa back then, she threw some poison at Charlotte, but I took the bullet instead.”
Zachary recounted the previous incident calmly and sighed.
“She shot me a vicious look before being taken away by the cops, signing that I would join her soon. I thought nothing of it at first, and it was only later that I realized what she had meant. I never expected the poison to be so deadly that I’d fall sick from it just by getting some in my eyes.”
“How could this have happened? That horrible woman!” Spencer shook with rage. “Have you talked to Dr. Felch? He’s an expert in toxins, isn’t he? If he could cure both Charlotte and Ellie, surely he’d be able to help you too—”
“It’s too late,” Zachary cut him off. “Dr. Felch has passed away.”
Spencer froze in astonishment. “He’s gone? When did that happen?”
“Just a few days ago. Charlotte and I sent him off after taking care of everything necessary,” Zachary answered flatly. “That’s why there’s no one who can cure me anymore.”
“How is that possible…” Spencer refused to accept the truth. “No, there has to be another way.”
“There’s a guy called Francesco, who used to be Dr. Felch’s apprentice. We’ve been searching for him all this while, but we haven’t got a clue about his whereabouts,” Ben chimed in.
“Don’t ever give up as long as there’s hope,” insisted Spencer. “I know Francesco. He’s a close friend of Danrique Lindberg. You’ll be able to find him if you find Danrique.”
“We’ve been looking for him too, but he’s also currently missing,” Ben responded softly.
“How useless could you be? You can’t even locate a guy!” Spencer was so infuriated that he hit Ben with his crutch. “I trained both you and Bruce, and this is all you’re capable of?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Spencer.”
Ben looked down in shame.
Indeed, he felt extremely remorseful after being reprimanded by Spencer, and he despised himself for not being able to find Francesco.
All their problems would have been solved long ago otherwise.
Spencer glared at Ben before turning to Zachary. “By the way, were you receiving treatment during your two-month disappearance? Did Dr. Felch not come up with any way to cure you?”
“Dr. Felch had followed Ms. Lindberg to Erihal at that time, so we had another medical team assist us—” Ben blurted out.
“Shut your mouth!” Zachary cut him off with a glare. “You’ve grown some guts, haven’t you? How dare you interrupt me while I’m talking to Mr. Spencer?”
“I’m terribly sorry.” Ben hastily backed away, afraid to say anything more.
“You should’ve gotten Dr. Felch to help you back then! Why didn’t you?” Spencer demanded frantically. “Does Charlotte know you’ve been poisoned?”
“She doesn’t.” Zachary hastened to explain, “Ellie was also poisoned back then and needed Dr. Felch. There’s no way I’d have gotten him to treat me instead of them.”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1342
“But you could’ve all received treatment together! They shouldn’t have gone to Erihal. The three of you should have stayed behind so that none of you would miss out on Dr. Felch’s treatment!”
“Dr. Felch was old; he wouldn’t have been able to manage. He collapsed right after treating Charlotte and Ellie. If he had to treat me too, none of us would have made it.”
“But—”
“That’s enough, Mr. Spencer,” Zachary interjected. “It’s too late now. There’s no point bringing up the past.”
“All right.” Spencer lowered his head, choosing not to say any more despite feeling slightly resentful toward Charlotte.
The older man refused to believe that the doctor would be unable to cure one more person and secretly blamed Charlotte for Zachary’s current predicament.
“I called you over because I want to leave the Nacht family in your hands,” Zachary said gravely. “Ben and Bruce have stayed by my side for many years, but they still have a long way to go compared to you. You have the ability to take the helm here. The only problem is that you may seem less convincing because of your identity, so I’ll find a way to change that.”
“I understand.” Spencer no longer opposed to his decision. “I’ll do everything in my power to carry out your will and protect the Nacht family for as long as I live.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Zachary felt especially relieved. “Take care of your health, and please do not fall until the kids have grown,” he exhorted.
“Okay.” Spencer nodded, his eyes reddening slightly.
“You can leave now. I’ll be meeting Johann soon.” The corner of Zachary’s lips quirked into a smile. “Take good care of yourself. I’ll talk to you again when I’ve made all the necessary arrangements.”
“Got it.” Spencer gazed at the younger man before him. He wanted to say something more but ultimately stopped himself.
“See Mr. Spencer off,” Zachary instructed Ben.
“Yes, Sir.” With that, Ben wheeled Spencer away.
“Bring me for a stroll at the courtyard since Johann has yet to arrive. Mr. Henry used to love sitting in there.” Spencer could not help but lament as he stared at the familiar-looking garden.
“Sure, but it’s raining now. Give me a moment while I get someone to pass us an umbrella.”
Moments later, Ben wheeled Spencer into the garden while holding a large, black umbrella.
The garden was well maintained by the gardener and looked exceptionally beautiful, but Spencer simply did not have the heart to enjoy the view. “Tell me the truth. Is Mr. Zachary’s illness that serious?” he asked solemnly.
“It’s been about three months since we discovered the problem. Before this, he would experience blurred vision and dizziness from time to time, but last night, he completely lost his sense of sight for a few hours. According to the doctor, it’s because the poison has reached the brain and affected his sensory nerves.”
After elaborating, Ben added sorrowfully, “We held onto the last sliver of hope when we went to see Dr. Felch. He was already barely hanging on back then, but he never forgot about Mr. Zachary’s illness and even went on to write a prescription during his last moments. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it. However, before taking his last breath, Dr. Felch told us that his apprentice, Francesco, would be able to understand the unfinished prescription and cure Mr. Zachary. That’s why we’ve been doing whatever we can to find Francesco, but there’s still no news on his whereabouts.”
“I’ll think of something too.” A frown creased Spencer’s forehead. “We can’t give up as long as we have a chance, no matter how slim it is.”
“That’s right.” Ben nodded. “We’ve never given up and have been trying our best to find a cure.”
“Mr. Zachary is all the family has now. If he were to collapse, it would be the end of the Nacht household’s century-long legacy…”
Spencer’s eyes watered as he spoke. “I promised Mr. Henry to watch over Mr. Zachary. How am I going to face Mr. Henry if anything were to happen to his grandson?”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1343
Ben looked down despondently, unsure of what else to say.
Suddenly, the roaring sounds of a car engine could be heard from outside. Ben glanced behind and quickly recollected himself. “Mr. Sterk’s here. I’ll escort you to your vehicle now.”
Spencer nodded. “It’s fine. You may go ahead. I’ll get my men to help me.”
Since Henry’s passing, all the bodyguards and maids responsible for serving him were ordered to take care of Spencer.
However, Spencer had half of them sent over to Zachary, leaving only a few employees by his side.
He believed that an old servant like him did not require the care of so many people.
Even so, Zachary respected him greatly and ensured that he was given the same amount of care Henry used to receive.
At present, Ben left Spencer in Kyle’s hands, watched them leave, and then went to receive Johann.
When Johann got out of the car and caught sight of Spencer’s car, he grew unsettled. Tugging at Ben’s sleeve, he asked in a low voice, “Why did Mr. Nacht call me over? Did something big happen?”
All these years, Zachary would meet him at the company or anywhere else outside, regardless of how grave the issue was.
Given that it was his first time being invited to the Nacht residence, he could not help but fear the worst.
“You’ll find out when you meet him,” Ben answered respectfully. “This way, please.”
Hanna had brought over a fresh pot of tea by the time Johann arrived at the study with Ben.
Zachary sat cross-legged on the couch, gazing at the document in his hand. Upon hearing the sounds of footsteps, he looked up and smiled. “Welcome, Mr. Sterk.”
“What’s the occasion today, Mr. Nacht? Why did you suddenly call me over to your home?”
Johann felt sick with apprehension.
“Have a seat.” Zachary gestured toward the couch.
As Johann sat across from him, Hanna placed the teapot at the coffee table before leaving the room.
Johann was about to pick up the teapot when he noticed the document on the table, and it intensified the restlessness gnawing at him.
“This is for you.” Zachary handed the document over to him. “Have a look at it.”
Johann’s hands that were reaching out to pour himself a cup of tea froze at once. After putting his reading glasses on, he read through the document. “What is this, Mr. Nacht? What are you doing, drafting a will at such a young age and asking me to take over your position as the head of Divine Corporation?” he exclaimed in shock.
“Go through it carefully.” Zachary reminded him with a smile. “It says that you’ll be taking my place if anything happens to me. As for the headquarters in M Nation, Spencer will remain in charge, whereas you will assist him.”
“What on earth is going on?” Johann was in a frenzy of anxiety. “Nacht Group has been growing steadily, and you’re at the height of your career! Why did you draw up a will all of a sudden?”
“I’m doing it just in case.” Zachary had no intention of telling him the truth. “Life is full of surprises. No one knows what might happen tomorrow, right?”
“But—”
“Read the document carefully and tell me what you think,” Zachary cut him off. “If you have any objections, I’ll get my lawyer to amend it. If you accept the terms, then it’s all settled.”
“I…”
Seized by fear, Johann could not sit still. He had a clear feeling that something must have happened to Zachary, but he also knew that there was no point in inquiring. If the latter wanted to tell him the truth, he would have done so.
He and Spencer were different. Spencer had lived with the Nachts all his life and was a close acquaintance of Zachary despite being a servant, whereas Johann’s relationship with Zachary was solely professional.
Thus, Johann was aware that there were some things Spencer could know, but not him.
“All right. I’ll go through it.”
Casting his doubts aside, he proceeded to take a proper look at the document.
As he did so, a subordinate brought the said lawyer into the room, who greeted him and Zachary before taking note of anything Johann wanted to amend in the will.
Zachary drank his tea, patiently waiting for Johann.
A while later, Johann spoke grimly. “I’ve gone through everything. I don’t have an issue with anything mentioned in the document; it’s just that the terms seem to favor me a little too much. I’ve only been around for ten years, but you’re planning on giving me ten percent of the company’s shares. You don’t have to, honestly. I’d do my best to safeguard Divine Corporation even without these shares.”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1344
Johann took out a pen and crossed out the clause related to his receipt of the shares. “Please remove this clause, or I won’t accept your terms,” he declared earnestly.
“Safeguarding Divine Corporation is no easy feat,” Zachary responded seriously. “The company’s operating steadily with me around now, so it’d be easy for you to take my place. But this will only come into effect when I’m gone, and that’s also when Nacht Group will be thrown into unrest. You’ll face great challenges ahead, and your life might even be in danger. That’s why giving you ten percent of the shares really isn’t that big of a deal.”
“But does giving me these shares mean I won’t have to deal with all the challenges coming my way?” Johann asked in return. “Whatever happens will eventually happen, and no amount of shares you give me is going to change that. My two daughters have gotten married and are currently living abroad. They’re doing well and don’t need my money anymore, so I wouldn’t know what to do with the shares anyway. In fact, more people might have their eyes on me because of these shares, which would only put my life in greater danger. Let an old man like me live for a few years longer, will you?”
Zachary wavered slightly upon hearing that. He could not really find a way to insist, given the way Johann was rejecting the shares.
Divine Corporation had powered through trials and tribulations of all sorts for the past years. While some people had grown to be part of the company, others had left—all except for Johann. Even though the two men were constantly getting into squabbles with each other, Johann was always around when it came to the crunch.
“Thank you.”
That was the only way Zachary could express his gratitude.
“No, I should thank you for contributing so much to modern technology,” Johann remarked. “Ordinary people like me have no way of popularizing tech products through commerce, but you used your own abilities and market power to allow an old man like me to do my part.”
“It’s all thanks to our combined effort.” Zachary smiled. “If you don’t want the shares, tell me what you want. I’ll do whatever I can to fulfill your request.”
“There’s nothing I want at the moment, but I won’t hold back when I’ve thought of something.” Johann stood up. “Well, if that’s all, I’ll be leaving now. We have a new product to test, and I have to be there.”
“Go ahead.” Zachary nodded and turned to Ben. “See Mr. Sterk off.”
“Yes, Sir. This way, Mr. Sterk.”
As Johann got up and walked toward the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Zachary. “By the way, Mr. Nacht, I’d like to meet Robbie in private if that’s okay with you. I think he’s very gifted, and I’d love to discuss some tech-related matters with him.”
“Actually, he’s home right now. I’ll leave it to you, Ben.”
Zachary was more than happy to let Johann meet Robbie. After all, having him guide the boy personally was nothing but good news.
“Yes, Sir.” Ben immediately led Johann to Robbie.
Meanwhile, the lawyer, Rodney Williams, showed Zachary an updated electronic version of the will. “Have a look at it, Mr. Nacht. Is there anything else that requires amending?”
Zachary glanced at the screen. “Leave it as it is for now. Also, I want you to draw up a supplementary agreement that no one else apart from you and me should know about.”
“Understood.”
“This will be the contents of the agreement: In the event of my death, all of my properties shall be divided equally between Charlotte Lindberg and my three children.”
Rodney jotted down everything Zachary had described.
Meanwhile, Robbie was in the midst of working on his latest invention when Johann showed up. The boy immediately stood up to greet the man, and the two began to converse.
With Hanna watching over the child, Ben headed downstairs to return to Zachary.
Suddenly, a subordinate came rushing up to him. “Ben, someone named Ms. Gold is here, and she’s requesting to meet Mr. Nacht.”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1345
“Uh…” Ben spaced out for a moment. “Nancy Gold?”
“Yes, that’s her name.”
The subordinate had remained in the villa long-term, so he did not know Nancy.
“Give me a moment. I’ll go talk to Mr. Nacht.”
“Okay.”
Ben hurriedly made his way to Zachary’s study.
By then, Rodney had finished drafting the new supplementary agreement and was letting Zachary go through it.
“Mr. Nacht, Ms. Gold is here,” Ben reported. “She’s waiting outside in the courtyard.
“How did she find this place?” Zachary frowned.
“I don’t know,” Ben answered awkwardly. “But I guess your residence isn’t that big of a secret to those in the corporate world. They’d be able to find you if they tried hard enough.”
Zachary fell silent for a few seconds before instructing, “Tell her to have a seat in the garden. I’ll be right there.”
“Yes, Sir.” Ben quickly did as told.
After checking the agreement and leaving Rodney a few more words, Zachary changed his clothes and headed to the garden’s dining area.
Nancy sat on the chair elegantly, her eyes downcast as if she was deep in thought.
“Ms. Gold,” Zachary greeted as he walked over, and the woman jumped to her feet in response. “Mr. Nacht! I’m terribly sorry for bothering you.”
“How did you know where I live?” he asked with a smile.
“I-I found out from other people,” Nancy answered, feeling slightly abashed. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not right, but I…”
Unable to continue her sentence, she bit her lip in embarrassment.
Zachary understood what she meant. They were getting along well during their meeting back then—until Louis showed up and ruined everything. After that, he stopped replying to her texts or picking up her calls.
That was why she could not wait any longer and came over.
“I do feel bad about our past two meetups being cut off short, so let me treat you to a meal today. You can decide where to go,” Zachary offered gracefully.
“Really?” Nancy was elated. “How about right here at your place?” she asked hesitantly.
“We have guests here, and the kids are around, so it’s not too convenient right now.” Zachary rejected her straight out. “You like the sea, don’t you? Let’s head there instead.”
“Sure thing.” Nancy nodded fervently. Even if Zachary had denied her request to dine at his place, the fact that he was willing to take her out to the sea meant she would have plenty of alone time with him.
Turning around, Zachary ordered, “Ben, go and make the arrangements.”
“Understood, Sir.” Ben went off at once.
“Let’s go.”
After informing Hanna of his activities, Zachary entered the car with Nancy.
Robbie furrowed his brows as he caught sight of them through his window from upstairs. “Who is that woman?” he asked the maid next to him.
“She seems to be a friend of Mr. Nacht,” the maid answered.
It only took Johann one glance to recognize the woman. “That’s Ms. Gold from Koandria. She’s the young female vice-president of Rockenan Group. In the past two years, she has grown quite popular in the corporate world.”
“Oh.” Robbie said nothing more.
“Don’t worry about the affairs of grown-ups,” Johann remarked with a smile. “Come, let’s continue where we left off.”
“Okay.” Robbie put his thoughts aside and resumed his discussion with Johann on his latest invention.
Meanwhile, Zachary’s car headed straight down the mountain in the direction of the South Sea.
Inside the vehicle, the jovial Nancy talked about some light topics with Zachary.
The man would respond briefly from time to time—until they got to the subject of the Gymnasium Project in Pillere. “I’m guessing Sir Robert’s approached you within the past two days?” he asked.
“He has.” She nodded. “The terms were extremely favorable, and he was hoping I’d invest in it. But I turned him down.”
“Huh? Why?” Zachary was slightly taken aback.
“If it were just a matter of usual business rivalries, I certainly wouldn’t have passed up the offer,” Nancy answered candidly. “But this has something to do with Ms. Lindberg. She’s your wife, and I don’t want to cause you any trouble because of that.”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1346
“Well, it’s not like it’d be that much of a trouble…” Zachary felt a little guilty. “But still, thank you.”
“Not at all. This is just a matter of my own principles. It has nothing to do with you.” Nancy smiled. “Besides, you’ve never mentioned it to me. I just didn’t want to be entangled with it.”
“I see,” he replied.
“Mr. Nacht, the truth is, I came over today to—”
A white car drove by them before Nancy could even finish her sentence.
Zachary instinctively glanced in its direction. That’s Louis’ white Bentley!
“Turn the car around!” he immediately ordered with furrowed brows.
“Yes, Sir.” The subordinate quickly made a U-turn.
Nancy stilled for a moment before asking, “Did you leave something behind, Mr. Nacht?” Astonishment was evident in her voice.
“Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to treat you to a meal today.” Still frowning, Zachary said, “I’ll drop you off at the road ahead. Let’s take a rain check.”
“But…” The woman wanted to say something but held her tongue at the last moment. Trying to be understanding, she replied, “It’s all right; I understand. Take care of your matters. Remember to contact me when you’re done.”
“Okay,” Zachary replied regretfully, “I’ll call you.”
“Sure thing.” Nancy smiled warmly. She always handled her emotions well, no matter the situation.
As the car stopped in front, she got off and entered her own vehicle parked by the roadside.
Zachary’s car headed back to the mountain in Northridge’s direction.
As Nancy stood at the side of the road and watched the man’s vehicle speed away, a look of disappointment slowly replaced the smile on her face.
That was the third time her date with Zachary was interjected midway.
And every single time, it was because of Charlotte.
“I think that was Sir Louis’ car,” said her subordinate. “Apparently, Ms. Lindberg lives in Northridge. Mr. Nacht probably went back after seeing that Sir Louis was about to meet her.”
“I know that.”
Nancy’s face darkened, and she could no longer conceal the grimness in her eyes.
“Then…” The subordinate glanced at her cautiously.
“We’ll wait right here for Sir Louis to head down,” she commanded as she got into the car.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
When Charlotte awoke in the morning, her hand continued to ache terribly. With Lupine’s help, she freshened up and got dressed before heading downstairs together for breakfast.
The house was silent as Morgan had taken the three children down the mountain to play. For some reason, Charlotte could not get used to it.
“You should drink less coffee, Ms. Lindberg. It’s not good for your stomach.” Lupine reminded kindly.
“I’m sluggish now because I didn’t sleep well last night.” Charlotte rubbed her temples. “I need an energy boost since I have to deal with a matter today.”
“A matter? What matter?”
Lupine was rather surprised as there was not much else for them to do apart from looking after the kids.
“Even if you don’t go looking for trouble actively, trouble will find its way to your doorstep.”
Charlotte stared at her phone. She had received a missed call from Robert early in the morning but had yet to return his call. Therefore, she had a feeling that he would soon show up at her doorstep.
“What trouble—”
“Ms. Lindberg, Sir Robert has arrived,” a female bodyguard hastily announced before Lupine could inquire further.
“How many men did he bring with him?” asked Charlotte.
“Three subordinates. Sir Louis isn’t with them.”
“Let them in.”
Charlotte put her cutlery down and shot Lupine a look.
With that, the latter immediately gathered some forces and placed them on alert.
Robert had completely burned his bridges when he ordered his men to capture Charlotte right after she left.
Since he had the audacity to appear before her again, Charlotte certainly had to have her guard up.
The entrance to the courtyard opened, and the white Bentley made its way in.
Lupine brought a group of people to welcome them. The car doors opened, and Robert alighted with three subordinates. “Charlotte! It sure took me a while to find this place,” he said, wearing a gentle smile on his face.
“Long time no see, Sir Robert!” Charlotte remained seated on the couch in the living hall and gazed at the man frostily. “I didn’t think you’d spend so much time finding your way here. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1347
“Can’t I drop by to see you as your elder?”
Sweeping his gaze across his surroundings, Robert evidently relaxed when he noticed there were hardly any bodyguards around. “Are the kids not home? No wonder your place seems so much quieter.”
He knew how much the children’s safety mattered to Charlotte. The woman would always have a large group of bodyguards accompanying the children whenever they head out.
At that moment, only three bodyguards remained in the villa.
“You can stop looking around now.” Charlotte saw right through him. “Even just three of them are more than enough.”
Robert cleared his throat and smiled sheepishly. “There’s no need to be so hostile! I came here to discuss the project, not start a fight.”
“Your memory seems to be rather lacking,” she commented with a smirk. “Was it not you who ordered those men to capture me just a while ago?”
“I was merely inviting you back to our manor. Louis can’t bear to lose you,” he declared brazenly. “You’re the paranoid one for assuming that they were going to hurt you.”
Charlotte sneered. What a pretentious old fart.
“Well? Are you not going to invite me in?” Robert cocked an eyebrow.
“Of course I am. This way, please,” she replied, making a gesture.
As Robert walked in, Lupine stood in his subordinates’ way.
The haughty men were about to force their way in when Robert shot them a glance. With that, they retreated and waited outside the door.
Two female bodyguards kept their eyes on them, whereas Lupine watched over Charlotte inside the building.
Unbeknownst to Robert, there were two other bodyguards on the alert upstairs.
“Come on, now, Charlotte. There’s no need to be so antagonistic toward an elder, is there?” Robert began to play nice as soon as he sat down. “Danrique and I are such good friends, after all!”
“Save it.” Charlotte was not having any of his nonsense. “If you have something to say, get to the point.”
“All right.” He nodded with his lips curled. “In that case, I’ll stop beating around the bush.”
Then, he placed a document on the table. “Once you sign this, we won’t owe each other anything, nor will we have anything to do with one another ever again.”
The woman took the document and glanced at it before scoffing. “How bold of you to ask me to back out of the project just like this? What about my twenty billion worth of investment? Is that free money for you?”
“The fact that you could even invest in the project in the first place was thanks to Louis’ arrangements in private, anyway, and you’ve benefitted from it too,” Robert said matter-of-factly. “Besides, it was your fault that the wedding was canceled, and this has caused irreparable damages to the Laurent family as well as Louis’ mental wellbeing. Twenty billion isn’t too much to ask for, don’t you think?”
Lupine fumed as she listened to his words. If Morgan were around, she would have cursed at the man out loud for being shameless.
“Ha!” Charlotte scoffed. “First of all, I have never gained anything out of the project. Secondly, I believe I’m not the only one responsible for the cancelation of the wedding. Have you forgotten all the nasty things Lady Sherlyn and Diana did? In fact, you should instead be thanking me for saving your reputation by keeping all these incidents a secret.”
“Diana was the one behind all those schemes. What does my wife have to do with them?” Robert denied that Sherlyn masterminded the whole matter. “And what do you mean by that? Are you threatening me?”
“I was hoping we could part amicably, but you’re the one harboring malicious intents. Don’t blame me for treating you in the same manner then.” Charlotte cocked an eyebrow and retorted. “If you want me to back out of the project, sure, I can do that. But only if you return my investment to me. Otherwise, please leave!”
“I’m surprised at the dire state Lindberg Corporation is now in,” Robert commented mockingly. “To think that you’re even fighting over a mere twenty billion. I suppose Mr. Lindberg is at his wits’ end now!”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s twenty billion or just twenty. What’s mine will always be mine, and no one gets to take it away from me.” Charlotte gritted her teeth. “Also, my brother will be back. Just you wait!”
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Hearing that, Robert could not help but tense up slightly.
Is there a new lead on Danrique’s whereabouts? No, that can’t be. The Lindbergs are declining now. He’s rumored to have died in an explosion while out at sea, so there’s no way he’ll come back!
At the thought of that, he continued to threaten Charlotte, “We’ll talk about that when he actually comes back. But for now, you’d better sign this contract, or else…”
“Or else what?” the woman barked, raising an eyebrow haughtily.
“You’re all alone now. I can do whatever I want to you, and I don’t even need to do it myself.” Robert sneered. “Do you really think a few female bodyguards will be able to protect you?”
“You…”
“They can’t, but I can.”
Suddenly, a cold, dignified voice came from outside. Robert froze momentarily before turning his head, only to see Zachary striding into the house with a frosty expression on his face.
“Zachary…”
The older man turned ghastly pale in an instant. He had gone looking for the other shareholders after parting with Divine Corporation on bad terms, but no one else had dared to budge without Zachary’s permission.
That was why he had to resort to coercing Charlotte instead.
Robert had assumed that Charlotte would give up her investment sum out of desperation to protect herself, but he did not expect her to be this strong-willed.
Just as he was about to make things even more difficult for her, Zachary decided to show up.
“What are you doing here?”
Charlotte was just as astonished to see Zachary. She had felt conflicted upon receiving word early this morning that Nancy was headed to Southridge. Nancy was so brilliant and proactive that it was only a matter of time until Zachary fell for her—or so she thought.
Yet, here he was instead.
“I was heading down the mountain when I saw Sir Robert’s car, so I decided to join in on the fun.”
Zachary sat next to Charlotte, picked up that document, and sneered upon browsing through it.
“Which lawyer did you hire to draw up such an outrageous contract, Sir Robert? You went ahead and acted on your own without my approval. This is against the rules, you know?”
“Let’s talk about this in private, Zachary.” Robert’s eyebrows were deeply furrowed.
“Haven’t we already done that yesterday? Don’t you remember what I told you? I guess you still haven’t managed to comprehend my words.”
Zachary had implied that Charlotte was someone that even he dared not cross, so he hoped that Robert would be a little more sincere and call a truce with her.
Yet, the older man had done the complete opposite and threatened Charlotte instead.
This made Zachary boil with rage.
“I—”
Refusing to listen to Robert’s nonsense, he interjected, “That’s enough. I wanted to give you a chance and let you settle this on your own, but clearly, you don’t respect my opinions at all. In that case, I’ll take care of things here on your behalf.”
“Zachary, w-what are you talking about?” Robert asked in bewilderment. “What do you intend to do?”
“I’m going to call upon all the other shareholders and hold a meeting three days later. You’ll get your answer by then.” Zachary tossed the document into the older man’s arms. “But for now, I want you to take this contract with you and leave!”
“Zachary—”
“Send him off!” Without even giving him a chance to speak, Zachary chased him out.
“Yes, Sir!” Lupine and Ben immediately walked over and stood on each side of Robert. “This way, Sir Robert.”
Livid, Robert flushed. However, he dared not act rashly and held onto the contract before leaving grudgingly with his men.
Only after Robert’s car had left the courtyard did Charlotte retract her gaze to look at Zachary. “Thank you,” she said, her eyes filled with unfathomable emotions.
“Leave this to me.” Zachary glanced at her before turning to Ben. “Get some people to guard this place. No outsider is allowed to come near without my permission.”
“Yes, Sir.” Ben quickly did as instructed.
“What are you doing?” Charlotte asked in shock.
“Don’t you get it?” Zachary frowned in displeasure. “He treated you like that because he thought you have no one to lean on. But with my men here, no one will dare pick a fight with you again.”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1349
Despite the animosity in his tone, Zachary’s words carried the weight of a man’s responsibility and promise.
Charlotte expressed her gratitude again and was then stumped for words.
“Why are you so useless?” He glared at her. “Aren’t you always acting like a tyrant whenever you’re with me? Why were you being such a coward in front of him?”
His bombardment of questions stunned her. “When was I acting like a coward? I retorted him!”
“Retorted? You should’ve thrown that contract right in his face!” Zachary was exasperated. “Didn’t you see the way he picked on you? Grow a spine, why don’t you?”
Charlotte was speechless.
“You only bare your teeth at your own family, but you’re a coward whenever you deal with outsiders!” the man spat out with a glare before turning to leave.
Charlotte stared at his back, unable to retaliate.
Bare my teeth at my own family? Are we even still considered family?
As that thought crossed her mind, an unusual emotion surged within her.
Upon getting into his car, Zachary ordered Ben, “Gather all the shareholders of the Gymnasium Project and have them see me in three days.”
“Yes, Sir.” Ben relayed his order at once.
At the same time, Zachary’s phone kept ringing. Seeing that it was Robert trying to reach him, he rejected the call and blocked the latter’s number.
“I’ve contacted all the shareholders,” said Ben after hanging up his phone. “What do you intend to do, Mr. Nacht?”
“Robert has gone too far. He knows who Charlotte is to me, yet he went ahead and tried to push her around.” Zachary seethed. “It’s about time I teach him a lesson.”
“Understood.” Ben understood how protective he was of Charlotte. No matter what became of their relationship, Zachary would never let anyone pick on her.
Besides, the fact that Robert completely defied his warning and came looking for Charlotte infuriated Zachary even more.
Ben would have tried to talk his boss out of doing anything rash if it were before. However, he no longer intended to do so, considering Zachary’s condition.
He can do whatever he wants. Nothing else matters as long as it makes him happy.
“It’s still early. Do you want to see Ms. Gold?” Ben asked carefully.
Zachary pondered for a moment before replying flatly, “Not now.”
“All right.” Ben took his phone out. “I’ll reply to her text, then. She was asking about you.”
“Just tell her I’ll meet her another day.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Back in the middle of the mountain, Nancy was still waiting in the car. Since Zachary would pass by this route after dealing with his affairs, she was hoping to meet him again.
Yet, after waiting for so long, all she got was Ben’s text informing her that Zachary would not be heading down the mountain that day. As a result, they would not be able to meet.
Nancy felt utterly dejected. Every time she met Zachary, she would get her hopes up, only for her plans to be ruined time and time again. At that point, the usually placid woman could no longer keep a cool head.
It’s about time I take action.
“They’re here, Ms. Gold,” her subordinate reported softly.
Nancy raised her gaze and saw the white Bentley making its way down the mountain. It was the Laurent family’s car.
As expected, the fancy car came to a stop when the passenger in it caught sight of Nancy. Robert exited the vehicle with his subordinates and approached her. “Ms. Gold! What brings you here?” he asked courteously.
“If you hadn’t come by, Sir Robert, I probably would’ve been on board Mr. Nacht’s yacht by now.”
Nancy spoke tactfully, but the meaning behind her words was obvious.
Robert was taken aback for a moment but quickly responded, “It looks like I’ve inadvertently ruined your date with Mr. Nacht. I’m truly sorry about that!”
“Did you come to see Ms. Lindberg?” Nancy asked, smiling.
“That’s right,” the man answered straightforwardly. “I wanted her to back out of the Gymnasium Project, but she refused. It doesn’t help that Mr. Nacht’s decided to interfere, so I’m in a bit of a tough spot now.”
Mistaking a Magnate for a Male Escort Chapter 1350
“I’d suggest that you stop bothering Ms. Lindberg,” said Nancy directly. “Although Mr. Nacht and her have separated, they are still friends. If someone bullies her, he’ll definitely intervene!”
“That’s weird.” A puzzled look crossed Robert’s face. “Mr. Nacht has an intricate relationship with Charlotte. Furthermore, he already has you, so why would he still protect Charlotte?”
“You’ll have to ask Mr. Nacht about that. I’d like to know the answer too.” She smiled. “I’m just reminding you kindly not to seek trouble for yourself. After all, you can’t afford to offend Mr. Nacht.”
“Do you have any advice?” He gazed at her broodingly.
“If I’m not mistaken, you must have hit a snag with Mr. Nacht earlier,” said Nancy meaningfully. “Looking at how calm you are, it means that he has not threatened you yet. However, according to my understanding of him, he’ll probably take action soon.”
Robert was stunned. “Ms. Gold, are you saying that…”
“You shouldn’t forcefully keep something that isn’t yours. I suggest that you return the investment fund to her and act honestly. Perhaps, you might have a chance to survive.”
She continued bluntly, “I know that your financial situation isn’t doing well. If you rely wholly on this project to turn the tables, you’ll lose everything once excluded from it.”
“Are you saying that Zachary wants me out of this project?” Robert exclaimed in disbelief, “No way!”
“Why not?” Nancy sneered. “You’ve probably forgotten that he has never shown any mercy to his business rivals. Furthermore, your son snatched his beloved woman, and then you tried to coerce her into doing something against her wishes. Not only did you refuse to heed his warning, but you had also bullied her so openly. Don’t forget who’s on her side. Even if Charlotte has fallen from grace, she’s still the mother of his children. By constantly testing his patience, you have already struck his raw nerve, so he’ll definitely not show you any mercy.”
Aghast, he thanked her hastily, “Thank you for your advice, Ms. Gold. I’ll definitely repay your favor in the future!”
With that, he quickly entered the car with his subordinate. The moment the car doors slammed shut, he called his lawyer. “Return Charlotte’s twenty billion investment to her immediately! Don’t say anything and carry out my order right now!”
When the car moved forward, Robert even rolled down the car windows and waved at Nancy gratefully.
She inclined her head in acknowledgement.
After watching Robert’s car zoom away, Nancy entered her car and headed down the mountain with her subordinate.
“I don’t understand, Ms. Gold. Why did you advise him?” asked the subordinate, feeling puzzled.
“If he keeps seeking trouble with Charlotte, Mr. Nacht will keep protecting her. In that case, I’ll have no chance to get closer to him,” she explained calmly. “I advised him mainly because I want him to leave F Nation with his son quickly and stop interfering with my affairs. Furthermore, if I do him a favor now, it might help me in the future.”
“I see.” The subordinate nodded. “However, won’t you be helping Charlotte indirectly too?”
“That is the third benefit.” Nancy smirked. “She’ll find out that I helped her soon enough. In that case, she’ll owe me one.”
“But even if you don’t help her, Mr. Nacht will still intervene,” replied the subordinate carefully. “The problem will still be solved.”
“Charlotte might not agree to let Mr. Nacht help. Furthermore, even if he does take action, his harsh methods will definitely cause an outcry among the corporate world and damage Nacht Group’s reputation. Neither of us wants him to do that, be it Charlotte or me.”
Gazing at the villa at Southridge outside the window, Nancy raised her eyebrows. “Well, by doing this, I’m killing three birds with one stone. Charlotte will surely thank me!”