Ch. 11..20
Chapter 11 Making an Appointment With Gardner Corporation’s President
Nicole curled her lips into a smile while stroking Hayden’s soft hair in gratification. She didn’t really take offense to Joseph’s words. After all, although she had slept with Joseph that night, she had never thought of becoming a couple with him. “I’m not angry. I’m content with having you.” It’s just that I’ve come for nothing today. I’ve thought that Joseph is only an ignorant and incompetent playboy, but I didn’t expect this playboy to also be a narrow-minded good-for-nothing. She quickly left the mall with Hayden in her arms.
Meanwhile, Queenie was talking and joking with several young ladies nearby as they came shopping here. When she saw Nicole, she had wanted to walk up to her and taunt her a little. However, upon seeing the features of the kid in Nicole’s arms, she was completely stunned. That boy looks just like the miniature version of Colton! He seems to be about four or five years old, which happens to match up with what happened five years ago… C-Could he be Nicole and Colton’s son?!
For a moment, Queenie froze on the spot, as though she had been struck by a thunderbolt. Colton will definitely get suspicious if he sees that boy. If he continues to look into it, will he find out what actually happened five years ago? Once he learns about everything, not only will the Andersons lose the great wealth and glory that we’re currently enjoying, but we’ll be offending the Gardner Family thoroughly! No one dares to fool Colton like this… She couldn’t help trembling at the thought of how harsh Colton could be.
“Queenie? Queenie!”
“Huh?” Queenie came to her senses, only to see her friend next to her looking at her with concern. The friend asked, “Are you alright? You look so ghastly.”
“I-I’m fine.” Queenie pulled herself together. By the time she turned to look at Nicole again, the latter had gotten into her car with the boy and left.
Queenie’s expression was ferocious as she watched the car drive off into the distance. To think that Nicole, that damn b*tch, was secretly pregnant with Colton’s child and even gave birth to the boy! No one knows what happened five years ago except Dad, Mom, and I. The matter’s supposed to be over, but now there’s a boy popping up from nowhere! I’d never let Nicole destroy everything I have now—never!
After returning home with Hayden in her arms, Nicole thought back on what had happened, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt that something was amiss. Why would both Queenie and Joseph not believe that I’m Lisa? Not only that, but they both think that Lisa is a middle-aged woman in her forties! After turning it over in her mind, she figured that this could only be Zachary’s doing.
Zachary Yates was the president of F&M Apparel. Having assumed the position at a young age, he was a man with extraordinary means, only that he had bad taste. Nicole had no idea what had gotten into him, but three years ago, he fell in love with her at first sight and began courting her aggressively, disregarding the fact that she already had a child. Nicole rejected his advances in an uncompromising manner without giving him the slightest opportunity, but the more steadfast she was in turning him down, the more aggressively he courted her.
At the thought of Zachary, a hint of helplessness crept over Nicole’s face. She took out her cell phone and dialed his number.
“Hi, babe! Why do you have time to call me today? Is it because you miss me?”
Nicole summoned up her patience as she listened to Zachary’s voice, which sounded like he needed a spanking. She asked, “Why are there rumors going around that I’m a middle-aged woman in my forties? Is that your doing?”
Zachary’s voice took on a hint of puzzlement. “Are there such rumors? How come I don’t know about them?”
Nicole gnashed her teeth in anger. “Who else could have spread the rumors if it weren’t you? Now no one believes me whenever I go around telling people that I’m Lisa!”
Upon hearing Nicole’s furious voice, Zachary pretended as though he had finally remembered what had happened. “Ah!” he exclaimed softly. “I forgot about it. It was probably because those in the country were asking about you two years ago. Well, you’re F&M Apparel’s Chief Designer, and I was worried that you might get headhunted, so I came up with that dumb idea,” he explained nonchalantly.
Nicole shot back, “Do you know how much your dumb idea is hurting me? People come to me, asking if I could work with them, but they don’t believe me when I say I’m Lisa!” She was boiling with anger. No wonder Joseph and Queenie don’t believe that I’m Lisa. Turns out Zachary was the one spreading the rumors!
Noticing how more and more agitated Nicole sounded, Zachary hurriedly reassured her, saying, “No matter whether they believe it or not, you’re F&M Apparel’s one and only Chief Designer. I’ll personally testify for you at F&M Apparel’s annual dinner a week later, okay?”
Nicole rolled her eyes. It wasn’t like she cared much about her status as Chief Designer; it was just that she was angry because they wrote her off as an impersonator. “Don’t spread the rumors around anymore. Otherwise, you’re gonna screw up your own company’s business,” she muttered. Even if she did end up striking a business deal with the Mann Family, the deal wouldn’t be worth more than scraps to F&M Apparel. Still, she couldn’t help getting furious when she heard Joseph speaking of her and her son like that.
“Okay, okay. Whatever you say is right, Miss Anderson.” Zachary laughed in a deep and attractive voice.
Nicole asked, “By the way, are we supposed to close the deal with Gardner Corporation before the turn of the year?” She recalled what she was supposed to do. Her life had been in a mess since she returned to the country several days ago. Firstly, there was Colton, because of whom she then ran into Queenie. And lastly, there was the incident with Joseph… She was so tied up by these matters that she had almost forgotten the real purpose she had returned to the country.
Upon speaking of work-related matters, Zachary finally began to sound more serious. “There’s no need to be in such a hurry. Our collaboration with the Gardner Family this time will begin after the turn of the year, and the Gardners are invited to the annual dinner. Still, you can visit Gardner Corporation tomorrow to take a look first.”
Nicole pondered for a moment. Indeed, I need to go to Gardner Corporation to meet with the person in charge before the collaboration. Otherwise, with little to no knowledge of the company, I might not be able to come up with satisfactory clothing designs. “Okay then, help me make an appointment with Gardner Corporation’s president tomorrow. I’ll be going to take a look.”
Chapter 12 That Weirdo Is Gardner Corporation’s President!
The next morning, Nicole spruced herself up before changing into black formal wear. She had a great curvaceous figure, and her tight-fitting suit hugged her voluptuous curves in all the right places, making her look mature and somewhat businesslike from a distance. She waited for Hayden to get up. After they had breakfast together, she told him to stay home and be good; only after that did she leave home in a hurry.
Unbeknownst to her, however, as soon as she left home, Hayden took out his cell phone and dialed Colton’s phone number…
On the top floor of a tall building, a man dressed in a black suit was sitting in a brightly lit office, giving off frosty vibes with a hint of restlessness in his narrow eyes. Tapping his cold and pale finger on the table, he said in a voice as chilly as the piercing cold wind of winter, “Is this how you guys are doing your job?”
Those before him lowered their heads without making a sound.
As time went on, the chilliness in the air became even more apparent. Finally, someone bit the bullet and stepped forward, saying in a timid voice, “President Gardner, it was Miss Anderson who did it. W-We didn’t dare to stop her.” They had fixed on a manufacturer to order this batch of materials from, but Queenie insisted that they order from another manufacturer. Knowing about her relationship with Colton, everyone dared not stop her.
Queenie, huh… Colton pressed his thin lips together before waving his hand. “Ignore her decisions from now on. Just throw this batch of substandard materials away and reorder the materials.”
Upon hearing Colton’s words, everyone finally sighed with relief. It’s fine as long as he doesn’t blame it on us, they thought. Now that Colton had given the word, they replied, “Roger that, President Colton,” in relief. Then, they left right away, fearing that he would go back on it.
Colton closed his eyes for a small break as he was left alone in the office. His skin was cold and pale, and his fingers were slender; he placed his fingers gently around his eyes, massaging them slowly. Five years ago, he had been drugged by a business rival, but Queenie saved him at the critical moment. That was her first time, and I’ve spent five years returning the favor since then. Over the past five years, I’ve gratified all her vanity by granting her every wish. Still, I didn’t expect that not only was she not content with that, but she even pushed her luck by ordering goods from another manufacturer without permission! Since that’s the case…
Just then, his cell phone suddenly rang; it was an incoming call from an unfamiliar number. His eyes lowered, he picked up the phone and answered the phone call.
On the other end of the line was a child’s clear voice, which sounded a bit like an adult despite its childish quality. “Hello, are you Mr. Colton Gardner?”
“Uh-huh,” Colton mumbled. If I remember correctly, this voice belongs to the boy at the airport, he thought. He was somewhat curious about what kind of tricks this boy would play—or what kind of tricks his mother would like to play, to be exact.
“I’m calling to tell you that my mom is arriving at your company soon. She’ll give you a document, and the third-to-last page of the document has my hair on it,” Hayden said quickly; he had sneaked his hair into the document without Nicole’s knowledge. “I’m your biological son. If you don’t believe me, you can get a DNA paternity test done on my hair.”
Colton was amused deep down, but just as he wanted to speak, he was interrupted by Hayden in a cocky manner. “You don’t have to say anything. Just listen to me. I’m now four years old. You can think about whether you’ve come into contact with a woman five years ago, especially during the period between December and February. If you have, please do the DNA paternity test,” he said while flipping through the document in his hands, which was written in scrawls and scribbles.
“You’re Gardner Corporation’s executive director. Owning 51% of the company’s shares, you have full ownership of the company. We’ve met before, and I’m satisfied with your looks. And besides, we’re related by blood, so I consider you qualified to be my dad,” Hayden continued. Worried, he added, “It won’t take you much time to do the paternity test. Regardless of whether I’m lying or not, isn’t it great to be able to dispel your doubts?” With that, he quickly hung up without giving Colton the opportunity to answer back.
Looking at his cell phone, Colton couldn’t help being amused. This is the first time I was instructed how to do things—and by a boy, of all people? As far as I recall, the kid’s mother is called Nicole, huh?
Meanwhile, having arrived at Gardner Corporation, Nicole looked up at the building that towered into the sky. The company deserved its reputation as the leading enterprise in the country. The fact that it could buy such a tall building in downtown Goldwick—an area where property prices were sky-high—as its premises was enough proof of the company’s enormous potential.
When Nicole walked up to the front desk with the contract, the front desk receptionist asked politely at once, “Good morning, miss. May I help you?”
Nicole nodded slightly, saying, “I’m Lisa from F&M Apparel, and I have an appointment with President Gardner today. Please tell him that I’ve arrived.”
As soon as Nicole revealed her identity, a look of surprise flashed across the front desk lady’s face.
Recalling the rumors spread by Zachary, Nicole had no choice but to hand over the work badge in her handbag. Bringing her work badge everywhere she went wasn’t her style usually, but because of what happened last time, she decided to bring it with her for this trip.
Seeing that the work badge was indeed bearing F&M Apparel’s logo, the front desk lady finally greeted respectfully, “Nice to meet you, Ms. Lisa. President Gardner has specifically told us that you may take the elevator to the 28th floor directly. The president’s office will be on your left.”
“Okay. Thank you very much,” Nicole said with a smile before taking back her work badge and heading upstairs.
Although it was around the rush hour, the elevator Nicole took was the president’s private elevator, which could arrive at the president’s office directly, making her the only person in the empty elevator. After reaching the president’s office, she put on a businesslike smile and knocked gently on the door.
“Come in.” From inside the room came a familiarly deep and husky voice.
Nicole frowned slightly; she couldn’t help feeling that she had heard the voice somewhere. However, she didn’t think much about it, and she opened the door and walked inside.
As soon as she entered the spacious and brightly lit office, she saw a reddish brown desk, of which sitting behind was a man dressed in a suit who projected the aura of an elite from every pore. At this moment, he was handling documents with his head down, allowing Nicole to see his stylishly cut black hair and chiseled jaw.
“Hi, I’m Lisa from F&M Apparel. I’m here on behalf of F&M Apparel this time to discuss our upcoming collaboration with Gardner Corporation next summer,” Nicole said, introducing herself.
As soon as she finished introducing herself, the man finally looked up, revealing his dashing eyebrows, inky eyes, pug nose, and thin lips. Surprisingly, it was a face Nicole was all too familiar with. It’s Colton Gardner, the weirdo I met at the airport the other day! To think that he’s Gardner Corporation’s president!
Chapter 13 Doing the DNA Paternity Test
Nicole’s entire body froze. Is this what it means when they say, “It’s a small world”?
Colton looked up at the woman before him, who looked a little astounded. Dressed differently from the previous two times, she wore light makeup while standing gracefully erect, looking somewhat more refined than when they last met. “Lisa?” He raised his tone of voice slightly with a note of interest. I remember that little kid telling me his mom was coming just now. Could this woman be Lisa? How interesting. Now they’ve ganged up in an attempt to fool me!
Upon hearing his voice, Nicole hurriedly composed her features. “Yes, I am. Nice to meet you, President Gardner.”
Colton rose from his seat. His figure was tall and slender, while his skin was pale and even a little translucent in the sunlight. Curling his lips into a meaningful smile, he replied slowly, “You don’t have to be so courteous. We’ve known each other for a long time, after all.” No sooner had the kid called than she showed up, impersonating Lisa. Well, I have to say that this woman is indeed quite resourceful; I didn’t expect her to be able to learn that Lisa will be coming to Gardner Corporation today!
Uh… Nicole was somewhat lost for words. I didn’t expect him to be Gardner Corporation’s president. Curses! I should’ve done my homework upon returning to the country!
Colton asked, “You said you’re Lisa, but do you have any evidence to prove it?” His voice was somewhat cold, and his tall figure made him lower his gaze while looking at Nicole.
Nicole numbly took her work badge out of her handbag and handed it to Colton. “This is my work badge. You may take a look.” Inwardly, though, she said to herself again and again, This is a customer, and the customer is always right. Calm down, Nicole. Don’t lose your temper…
When Colton saw how the pretty woman before him went slightly red in the face with a look of repressed anger, his heart lifted all of a sudden. He lowered his head, darting a look at the work badge before saying languidly, “Such a thing can be forged, no?”
What the heck? Nicole stared at the man in astonishment. If it weren’t that she was representing F&M Apparel at the moment, she would have slapped Colton across the face long ago. “You’re so good at joking. Why would I fake my work badge? To make my way up here for the special purpose of flirting with you?” Her lips curled into a strained smile. However, as soon as she looked up, she saw a pair of fathomless eyes staring fixedly at her with a chilly and intense gleam in them.
“That’s hard to say,” Colton replied, answering Nicole’s question. He raised his chin slightly, his face expressionless, but his whole body exuded a chilly aura. Firstly, it was our chance encounter at the airport; then we met again after she picked up my wallet. Finally, her son called me, claiming to be my son, and now she came and claimed to be Lisa right after that. What a cunning woman! For a moment, I actually believed it. “Just leave the document on the desk. We’ll talk after I confirm your identity,” he said impassively. I’m not gonna have too many dealings with this flirt. That’d be a bother.
What a f*cking dumb*ss! F*ck you, you *sshole! Stupid tw*t! Son of a b*tch! Nicole cursed Colton inwardly with every profanity she knew despite the modest and gentle smile on her face. Holding the document with both hands, she placed it neatly on the desk. “Please take your time and read it carefully without overlooking any details. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Colton’s eyes flickered as he looked at the woman, who still assumed a gentle demeanor despite being already pissed off at him. For some reason, he found her somewhat interesting.
Nicole wasn’t in the mood to play along with him, though. After putting down the document on his desk, she turned around and stormed off in a huff.
It wasn’t until Nicole had left that Colton laid eyes on the document on his desk. At first, he wanted to ignore it, but upon recalling what the boy had told him, he subconsciously opened the document and turned it to the third-to-last page. And sure enough, there was a strand of fine hair on the innermost part of the page.
Colton’s eyes darkened. Indeed, the night I spent with Queenie was within the period that kid mentioned. Queenie? Nicole? They both bear the surname Anderson. Could there really be such a coincidence? Well, it’s not that difficult to have a DNA paternity test done. I’d be interested to see what else this woman could do. At the thought of this, Colton picked up the strand of hair from the page and made a phone call. “Have a DNA paternity test done for me and someone else. Uh-huh, have it done within three days.” F&M Apparel’s annual dinner will take place three days later. I have to know the answer before that!
Chapter 14 That Bastard Son of Nicole’s Must Die
Upon returning home, Nicole thought back on what had happened, which made her even angrier. To think that he still refused to believe me after I showed him my work badge! In the end, though, she decided to forget about it. After all, she would be meeting Colton again at F&M Apparel’s annual dinner several days later. With Zachary testifying for her by then, there was no way Colton would still be doubting her identity.
Compared with the angry Nicole, Hayden was in an unusually bright mood today. He was sitting on the sofa, watching TV with all smiles on his face.
Curious, Nicole darted a look at her son. “What’s the matter? You look so happy.”
“Nothing.” Hayden shook his head while shifting his gaze from the TV to his mother. What I said today will definitely make Colton do the DNA paternity test. That way, I’ll have a father—and a handsome and powerful father at that! Most importantly, I’ve looked into Colton’s relationships over the past few years. He’s never had any woman around him other than Queenie Anderson, whom he’s always kept at arm’s length regardless of the occasion. I’d say that such a chaste man is barely good enough for Mom.
Nicole didn’t think much about it either; she just assumed that Hayden had just watched something interesting on TV. Looking at her son, she asked, “Zachary will be coming in a few days. You wanna meet him?” She remembered Zachary telling her that he would arrive in the country a day before the annual dinner, and Hayden had always been on friendly terms with him.
“Zachary? You mean Mr. Yates?” Hayden’s eyes lit up, and he sat up at once. “Is he coming here specially to see you, Mom?”
Nicole corrected him, “Nope, he’s not coming here to see me; he’s coming here to attend F&M Apparel’s annual dinner.”
“Oh.” Hayden’s face fell with a hint of disappointment, and his initially glittering black eyes dimmed. Sinking back into his seat, he looked at Nicole with his cheeks puffed up, muttering, “It was all your fault, Mom. It’s been two months since Mr. Yates left after you turned him down so resolutely last time.”
Seeing how her son spoke for Zachary, Nicole wanted to laugh and frown all at once. Pressing her hand down on his head, she replied in all seriousness, “That’s plain nonsense! Zachary went abroad to study the market!”
Hayden snorted childishly before whispering in an almost inaudible voice, “I’m not talking nonsense!”
Nicole decided to be the bigger person by not arguing with her son. She grabbed her son, asking, “Do you wanna attend the dinner with me, then? If you don’t, then I won’t be taking you with me.”
“Yes, I surely do!” Hayden quickly replied. It’s a must to keep on good terms with such a rich and powerful guy, of course, he thought. In reality, in the eyes of Hayden, Zachary was his No. 1 candidate for his father. Even though Zachary wasn’t his real father, the former was outstanding in all respects. It’s too bad that Mom is as obstinate as a mule; she keeps thinking that she isn’t good enough for him because she has a child. But now that I’ve found my real dad, who is in no way inferior to Mr. Yates, I’d consider him qualified to be my dad.
Meanwhile, Queenie had been in a state of tumult these days, having heard from one of her acquaintances that Colton wanted to do a DNA paternity test for him and a kid.
The first thing that came to her mind was that bastard son of Nicole’s. Did Nicole find out that the boy was Colton’s son?! She only felt her head being hit directly by a dizzy spell. Everything went black before her eyes, and her limbs went cold. If the results of the DNA paternity test come out, my happy life will be coming to an end!
Holding a bowl of freshly prepared lobster bisque in her hand, Lydia York, Queenie’s biological mother, took a step forward and asked with concern, “What’s wrong with you, Queenie? You look so pale.”
Queenie turned to look at her mother. Well, with things as such, I guess I have no choice but to tell Mom the truth…
After Lydia listened to Queenie’s story, her eyes widened, and the bowl of lobster bisque in her hand dropped to the ground with a clatter. “What?! You mean Nicole bore a son for Colton?!”
“What should we do now, Mom?” Queenie was so anxious that she nearly burst into tears. “You know how things are for the Andersons. Without the Gardner Family, our debtors would definitely pile on and demand that we pay off our debts. Once that happens, it’ll be the end of us!”
Of course, Lydia knew about that as well, which was why she was so panicked at the moment. The Anderson Family had been reasonably wealthy in the past, but three years ago, William had been duped by his business partner, causing him to be debt-ridden. However, since Queenie was Colton’s fiancée, the debtors dared not go to the Andersons to demand that they pay off the debts, leaving the matter in a precarious state of equilibrium.
Lydia panicked immediately at the prospect of losing everything she currently owned. Shortly after that, however, she regained her composure, saying, “Don’t worry. It’s not too late as long as Colton hasn’t seen the test results.” Her eyes narrowed with a flicker of sinister malice. “However, that bastard son of Nicole’s must die…”.
Chapter 15 I’d Like to Bring a Friend With Me
Due to a rainstorm, Zachary’s flight had been delayed, making him unable to arrive ahead of time for F&M Apparel’s annual dinner. As the representative of F&M Apparel’s fashion design team, Nicole couldn’t be late for the annual dinner, so she had no choice but to head to the venue in advance for the annual dinner.
Straightening her evening dress, Nicole looked at her adorable son before her, saying, “I’ll probably be home late tonight. Eat some snacks if you’re hungry, but don’t overeat, and don’t open the door for strangers.”
“Mom, aren’t you sick of saying this every time you leave home?” Hayden replied while looking at the gorgeously beautiful Nicole before him. Then, he urged, “What you should really do right now is hurry to the dinner and be the center of attention at the event!”
Nicole’s radiant face relaxed into a gentle smile as she was amused by Hayden’s remark. “Alright. In that case, I’ll be leaving first.”
For the occasion, Nicole dressed in a royal-blue evening dress that was slightly tight-fitting to outline her curvaceous figure, as well as a pair of matching high heels. Since the weather was chilly at the moment, she wore an overcoat of the same color over her dress. The long evening dress was designed to reach down to her ankles, lending her the graceful air of a young maiden when she walked.
On her way to the hotel, Nicole’s phone rang; it was a phone call from her assistant in the country. After returning home for so long, I’d almost forgotten that I had an assistant, thought Nicole.
Queenie’s voice was gentle with an obsequious note to it. “Hi, Ms. Lisa.”
“Uh-huh. What’s the matter?” Nicole asked. Now that I think about it, it seems that I’ve never met this assistant of mine even once.
Queenie replied in a tactful way, “Uh, well, it’s just that I’d like to bring a friend with me to F&M Apparel’s annual dinner. Could you let him join us at the annual dinner, Ms. Lisa?”
F&M Apparel’s annual dinner this year would be a gathering place for the upper-class people in the country. Most importantly, Lisa would also be present at the annual dinner. As F&M Apparel’s Chief Designer, Lisa was fawned on by countless people across the country, and Joseph was one of them. After all, for a clothing company like Mann Clothing Co., knowing Lisa—F&M Apparel’s Chief Designer—in person would elevate it to a higher rank. At first, Joseph had wanted to find his way into the annual dinner by spending some money, but all the money he had spent didn’t yield him any results. Left with no other choice, he could only put on a bold front and ask Queenie for help.
As it happened, Queenie also had a favor to ask of Joseph, so she braced herself and pleaded with Lisa.
Nicole had just wanted to turn Queenie down when she recalled that this assistant of hers was the future Young Madam of the Gardner Family. She pondered over it for a moment. Colton looks annoying, but he’s the business partner who I’ll be working with, after all. As a result, she nodded and replied in a husky voice, “Okay.”
“Thank you so much, Ms. Lisa!” The assistant’s voice took on a hint of delight as she thanked Nicole before hanging up.
Queenie put her cell phone away with a radiant smile on her face before turning to look at Joseph next to her. “See? Told you I’ll get you into the annual dinner.”
Dressed in a well-ironed reddish brown suit, Joseph curled his lips into a groveling smile. “As expected of you, Queenie. You managed such a difficult thing with just a few words.”
Queenie was very pleased by the man’s flattery. As she walked inside, she said, “Just don’t forget what you’ve promised me.” She couldn’t keep Nicole’s son alive, but she couldn’t make an attempt on his life herself, thus could only get someone else to do so on her behalf, which was why she had brazenly helped Joseph.
Joseph nodded. “No problem. Everything’s been taken care of.”
It was already past 7:00PM when Nicole arrived at the Crown Hotel, and the annual dinner would begin at 8:00PM sharp. Let’s hope that Zachary will make it on time.
The Crown Hotel was a seven-star hotel of the highest class in Goldwick. As F&M Apparel took this year’s annual dinner very seriously, they spent a lot of money to book the entire hotel for the event. As soon as Nicole arrived at the entrance, someone came to show her the way. When she handed out her invitation card, the person led her all the way to the banquet hall on the top floor.
Right now, the annual dinner hadn’t begun yet, but many guests had gathered in the banquet hall. When Nicole ran her eyes over the crowd, she noticed the presence of many reporters. Seems like the annual dinner will be a grand event, she thought. She had never been in touch with any of the employees of F&M Apparel’s branch in the country, so she knew none of the people coming and going around her. After pondering for a moment, she decided to find a random seat and sit down to wait for Zachary’s arrival, for she didn’t know who she could go to otherwise.
However, as soon as she found a seat in the corner and seated herself, a shrill female voice sounded. “Nicole, why are you here?!”
Chapter 16 I Am Lisa
Nicole raised her head and subconsciously frowned at the sight of the two before her. Queenie and Joseph? Is the world that small that I’d bump into these two? “What does my whereabouts have anything to do with you?
“You’ve come here looking for Colton, haven’t you?” Queenie revealed a trace of anger on her face as she finally understood why Nicole would pretend to be Lisa. Someone must have told her that Colton is coming for F&M Apparel’s annual dinner, and now she’s pretending to be the company’s Chief Designer to meet him!
“You’re such a b*tch, Nicole! Slept with a man five years ago and now you’re eyeing for Colton. There’s no way he’d fall for a woman like you!” Queenie apathetically uttered as her eyes were filled with intense vexation.
“Hey, watch your mouth!” When Nicole heard her mindless jabbering, her eyebrows furrowed into a tight line. “It’s only natural that I’m here because I am Lisa, F&M Apparel’s Chief Designer.”
Hearing that, Joseph scoffed. “Oh, Miss Anderson. Who would’ve thought you’d be so persistent with your lie for the sake of your pride? Props to you for your determination.”
“Still, there should be limits to your nonsense, Nicole.” Queenie raised her head boastfully. And here I thought she was only posing as Lisa to act as if she was the superior one, but her ulterior motive was really only to get close to Colton! If that’s the case, I’ll tear her name apart!
Queenie snickered. “Since it has come to this, I shall tell you the truth, Nicole. I am, in fact, Lisa’s assistant in the country.”
Assistant? Nicole was baffled. No wonder her voice and number felt familiar… So it has been Queenie all along? And the friend she brought over today is Joseph?
Catching the brief confusion on her face, Queenie grinned even more complacently, assuming Nicole’s expression was the result of her exposure. Her speech, as well, grew more pompous. “I’ve no idea how you got in here, but I’d leave as soon as possible if I were you instead of embarrassing myself here.”
Joseph tacitly added, “I know right? Wouldn’t know how I’d recover from the shame if I were to get exposed publicly.”
At that moment, Nicole revealed a cold smirk. “Although you’re Lisa’s assistant, you’ve never seen her, and only interacted with her through phone calls.”
Queenie was slightly dazed. As she was about to question her knowledge, she was interrupted by a disturbance from the door.
Nicole turned to the door, only to see two tall figures approaching. Walking in the front was Zachary, who was sporting a gray suit that reflected his impeccable body shape. Although his steps were rather hasty, a passionate smile remained on his face, making him seem especially amiable and classy.
Traveling alongside him, on the other hand, was Colton. Also possessing a tall and sporty figure, Colton donned a rather monotonous black suit. As dull as the tone of his garments was his expressionless face. He pursed his thin lips into a horizontal line, and as he walked, he emitted an intimidating aura.
Seeing Zachary, Queenie immediately grabbed Nicole and dragged her to the doors of the banquet hall. “You said you’re Lisa, right? Since F&M Apparel’s president has come, we shall verify with him!” Without giving Nicole the chance to resist, she ferociously pulled her to the two dashing men.
“Good to see you, President Gardner.” After greeting Colton, Queenie turned to Zachary. “Greetings, President Yates. My name is Queenie Anderson. My sister here has been out of her mind recently, claiming and pretending to be Lisa, the very Chief Designer of F&M Apparel. And that’ll surely disgrace your company. But since you’re here, President Yates, perhaps you can teach this wannabe a lesson!” Her words caused a turmoil among the crowd, and the onlookers began pointing their fingers at Nicole and criticizing her.
As Zachary’s eyes fell upon Nicole, he pursed his fine lips as if he was holding something back. Simultaneously, a fiery sensation surged in his ebony eyes.
Seeing that, Queenie thought he was upset due to Nicole being an impersonator and further remarked, “President Yates, she didn’t even finish college and kept telling everyone she’s Lisa. She even did everything she could just to sneak into the company’s annual dinner. She must have ill intentions!”
The crowd continued to badmouth and belittle Nicole. Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, Queenie felt contented. I’ll ruin Nicole’s life and have her grovel at my feet today! There’s no way she can recover from this!
When Queenie was finally done, Zachary went up to her with a withdrawn smile. His face was stony, and his voice was excruciatingly icy.
“Who said Lisa’s pretending?”
Chapter 17 Tables Turned
“As I said… Wait, w-what?” Queenie opened her eyes wide. “W-What do you mean, President Yates?”
Zachary walked to Nicole’s side and defended her before every observing eye. “This Nicole lady, who’s standing right beside me, is F&M Apparel’s one and only Chief Designer, Miss Lisa!” As he voiced his words, silence filled the room. The sudden change of situation left those who were disparaging Nicole stunned.
Nicole is Lisa? But everyone said that Ms. Lisa from F&M Apparel is a woman in her forties! Queenie was in dismay. “That’s impossible!”
“Do you think I’m lying to you, miss?” Zachary stared at her with a hostile gaze. Given his tactfulness, he could sense that the woman before him was highly antagonistic toward Nicole. Although Nicole rejected him, he was still in love with her, and he would not allow anyone to condescend her!
Queenie’s body trembled as her eyes reddened. Yet, unable to express her frustration, she clenched her fists tightly. She was thoroughly disconcerted. Nicole’s actually Lisa! She’s the Chief Designer of F&M Apparel! I’ve gotten close to Colton and become the young mistress-to-be of Gardner Corporation, but how?! How is she still above me?!
The tables were instantaneously turned.
Most of the people came to the event in order to establish a connection with Lisa. With the golden opportunity presented right before them, they’d rather not ruin their chances.
“Wow, can’t believe anyone would doubt Miss Lisa!”
“You said it! And she was so confidently accusing her without checking her ‘facts.’ Tsk!”
“Apparently, she’s Lisa’s assistant in the country…”
Queenie stood still. Although she wore a flashy set of clothes, in that instant, she was perceived as a foolish clown. She thought she could finally devastate Nicole, only to realize she had shot herself in the foot. The belittling whispers and scornful glares made her extremely vulnerable as shame and embarrassment quickly overwhelmed her.
She wanted to defend herself, but before she could do that, her intention was suppressed by a freezing stare. She turned to the stare and discovered it was coming from Colton. His cold expression reflected the absence of any intention to comfort her as he gazed at her with his inky, warning eyes.
With her reputation at risk, she could only take the embarrassment head on as she said through gritted teeth, “My apologies for making baseless accusations and staining Miss Lisa’s name.”
Naturally, Zachary wouldn’t forgo the fact that someone had attempted to humiliate Nicole. Grinning, he turned to Colton. “President Gardner, I heard that she’s your fiancée. Does she not know her place, coming to F&M Apparel and insulting our people?”
Colton withdrew his gaze as he remained in his firm posture. With a bland tone, he blurted, “Rumors are rumors.”
Those three indifferent words devastated Queenie and left her shivering by his coldness. No way. Even Colton’s not gonna back me up now? She took a step forward and was about to call for Colton, but hastily refrained from doing so as she was met by his daunting eyes. She was now nothing but a joke, and staying any longer in the venue would only draw mortification upon herself.
Joseph, on the other hand, was also perturbed. He never had expected Nicole to be Lisa herself, and it was only a few days ago when he insulted her back in the coffee shop. As the collaboration between the Mann Family and Lisa was crucial, he thought he could secure it with his trickeries, only to realize he had demolished the opportunity for a partnership.
At that moment, Nicole revealed a subtle smile as she pressed on her tingling wrist that was grasped by Queenie earlier. “Miss Anderson, Mr. Mann.” She looked at the two before her. “I’m clueless as to the violation I’ve caused to the two of you which resulted in your bold accusation of me pretending to be Lisa.” Her tone was neutral and unintimidating, as if she was simply making a description. “But now that President Yates has verified my identity, aren’t you going to suspect him too?”
The faces of Queenie and Joseph paled at Nicole’s formidable reprimand.
Although the majority of F&M Apparel’s power was overseas, their influence in the local market remained significant, and they were definitely not one to go up against.
Joseph hurriedly shook his head. “N-Nothing like that, Nicole—I mean, Miss Lisa. I was merely fooled by Queenie’s jabbering. I hope you didn’t take it personally, Miss Lisa.”
Chapter 18 Counter
Since the Mann Family earned their living in the clothing industry, offending F&M Apparel would only bring doom. Although Mann Clothing Co. was one of the leading clothing corporations in Lumore, they were only a speck of dust compared to F&M Apparel.
Breaking drops of sweat on his forehead, Joseph immediately grew remorseful remembering the words he had spoken to Nicole previously. Back then, he had indeed listened to Queenie without considering the truthfulness of her words and ended up believing that Nicole was pretending to be Lisa. Because of that, he had thoroughly displeased the entire F&M Apparel corporation.
Seeing how Joseph switched sides so quickly, Queenie was infuriated. Nonetheless, she could only hold her anger in. “I’m sorry for my ignorance, Miss Lisa,” she apologized. As Colton needed the collaboration with Lisa, if she were to destroy his chance at that, she could forget about being the young mistress-to-be of Gardner Corporation.
Looking at Queenie who was so apologetic, Nicole smiled lightly and faintly replied, “Well, I’m not an unreasonable person. Just be cautious in the future, will you?”
Hearing that, Queenie was stunned; she’d thought Nicole would seize the chance to humiliate her further. She didn’t expect Nicole to let her off so easily.
Before she could react, Nicole went on a tangent. “I don’t really mind it personally, but I’m here representing the entire design team of F&M Apparel. And by embarrassing me, you embarrass my entire design team. There’s no way I’ll let the members of my design team be perceived as weaklings.” Nicole accented her words as her straight posture highlighted her slender figure, in addition to her heels that made her appear stylishly tall.
Queenie, on the other hand, was startled by her freezing tone and stern face. Her entire body trembled as her cheeks reddened. As she was put on the edge, if Nicole were to go on rebuking her, the Gardners just might turn on her. By then, the Anderson Family would have no one else to rely on. She glanced at Colton, who was not far away, only to find him watching idly, having no intention to back her up. Thereupon, she could only swallow her pride and play the sibling card. “Um… look, Nicole. We’re sisters, aren’t we? At the end of the day, the same blood flows in our bodies. I’ll admit—it’s my fault. Could you forgive me, please?”
Nicole lowered her head to look at Queenie. Her once-boastful sister was now behaving as petty as a timid little puppy. She unaffectedly grinned, knowing it was only the beginning. None of you Andersons shall be forgiven for Mom’s death!
“You’re right,” Nicole answered as her eyes turned duller. “Since we’re sisters, I’ll let this pass.” As she was speaking, she turned to Joseph. “Mr. Mann, as I said, F&M Apparel will never establish any partnership with the Mann Family, and my words still stand. If there’s nothing else, you may leave.”
As Robert’s only precious son, who had been raised with all the care and attention in the world, Joseph felt insulted for being confronted in front of a gargantuan number of guests—including countless reputable figures in the country—attending the annual dinner. He felt thoroughly ashamed, being ridiculed by the crowd. Nevertheless, the person right before him was Lisa, so he could only withstand it and retreat with his rage suppressed.
Shameful, Queenie, along with Joseph, fled the scene in despair. A hint of malice flashed across Queenie’s eyes when she turned around to eye her popular sister.
Then, F&M Apparel’s domestic general manager came to handle the crowd. “Okay. It’s all merely an accident. Let’s all enjoy our food and drinks. You may all come to ask Miss Lisa for guidance if you have any questions.” There was obviously sweat on his forehead as he was stupefied by the previous disturbance. Since it was Lisa’s first trip to the country, if the conflict were to be blamed on him, his career as a general manager would be as good as over.
With that, the guests, sparing F&M Apparel the pride, gradually dispersed.
At that moment, Colton walked over with a polite smile. “Greetings, Miss Lisa. I’m Colton Gardner, president of Gardner Corporation.”
At his manly, magnetic timbre, Nicole turned around and met his deep, dark eyes. Those eyes were as deep as an abyss, as if they were pulling her in. Looking at the man before her, she tensed her brows and audaciously replied, “You don’t have to be so courteous. We’ve known each other for a long time, after all.”
Chapter 19 What Was the Result?
Colton was unaffected at all by the fact that he was seen through, evidently with the smile on his face. Calmly, he uttered, “Can’t be too careful when it’s about the partnership of two companies. Besides, I’m only showing respect for F&M Apparel and Miss Lisa yourself.”
Nicole was astounded by how the man before her complacently described his pretense as “being careful.”
Zachary, on the other hand, could tell there was some sort of pre-established relationship between the two and smilingly said, “Since we’re all here, why don’t we find a seat and talk about the partnership between F&M Apparel and Gardner Corporation?”
Nicole nodded. The partnership with Gardner Corporation would only be beneficial, unsimilar to working with the associates of Mann Clothing Co., who were so easily persuaded. Although Gardner Corporation was clearly inferior to F&M Apparel in the clothing market, their advanced information technology was one of the most formidable in the field, which was also why F&M Apparel was willing to work hand-in-hand with Gardner Corporation.
Sitting by the conference table, Nicole put aside all her personal grudges as well as her bias against the Gardners, while Colton began the discussion of the partnership. The two remained assertive and opinionated with their thoughts regarding the work as every single word spoken was conveyed professionally. Meanwhile, Zachary looked at Nicole as she confidently and charmingly proposed her ideas.
“For the next season, F&M Apparel will be concentrating on casual wear, mainly on the refinement of the material used in manufacturing those products…” Whenever Nicole was talking about work, it was as if she was an entirely different person. She wouldn’t miss even the most insignificant detail.
Out of nowhere, a man came over and whispered to Zachary, to which the latter revealed a stiff expression before turning to Nicole. “Nicole, something came up, and I gotta go tend to it. I shall leave the matter to you and President Gardner.”
Nicole nodded. “Alright.”
Zachary’s departure left the remaining two on the wide couch. At that moment, Colton’s eyes twitched and he grew silent as he looked at Nicole. He waited for Nicole to finish up the discussion and slowly said, “Miss Lisa, I have a personal question for you. Do you have the time?”
Nicole paused for a moment as she looked back at him, clueless to his intentions. She then lifted her head and countered, “What is it?” As far as she could remember, she did not have any private interaction with Colton.
“Is your son four years old this year?” He stared at her with a hint of fascination in his inky eyes, though he didn’t make it obvious.
Hearing that, Nicole immediately grew defensive. She peered at him with her eyes filled with wariness. “Why do you ask?”
Colton then laughed. Initially, he thought Nicole was trying to flirt with him. However, given her identity as the Chief Designer of F&M Apparel and the way Zachary spoke to her, he found no point to support and justify that thought. He lifted his commissures and claimed, “A boy named Hayden sent his hair to me and wanted a paternity test done.”
At once, Nicole’s body froze. Hayden? My son Hayden wants a paternity test done with Colton? She was visibly dazed. She knew Hayden suspected that Colton was his real father, but she had never expected him to be this bold. She raised her eyes to look at the face that was almost identical to that of her son’s. If she didn’t know that Joseph was the man she slept with five years ago, she, too, would have suspected that Colton might have been Hayden’s father.
Accordingly, she forced a smirk, clarifying, “Ah, that boy always wanted a father, and he might have overstepped his boundary seeing your dashing look. I hope you don’t read too much into it.”
For some reason, Colton grew enthralled by her hasty expression. Languidly, he opened his mouth as he looked at her with his ebony eyes, and with a voice so magnetic, he stated, “Well, I bought it, so I did the paternity test.”
What?! Nicole was so stunned her entire body was petrified. Her jaw dropped as she fixed her unbelieving eyes on the man. She was thoroughly perplexed.
“Then… What was the result?”
Chapter 20 Hayden Was Kidnapped
Right as she voiced her inquiry, she thought, Oh, silly me, what was I expecting?
Colton stared at her without answering the question. He simply countered, “Miss Lisa, don’t you even have the slightest idea as to who your son’s biological father is?”
Judging by her expression, she was obviously regretting asking the question in the heat of the moment. As her excitement waned, her face began to redden. She stammered, “I-I mean, it was a thoughtless question. Of course I know who his father is.”
“Oh?” Colton blurted with his voice pressed. With that, he squinted his eyes. With an increased volume and a somewhat teasing tone, he smilingly questioned, “Then who’s the boy’s father?”
Withdrawing her gaze, she attempted to speak in a calm manner. “That has nothing to do with you, does it?”
In response, Colton softly chuckled and stopped talking about it.
Nicole felt utterly frustrated by his cliffhanger, dying to find out the results of the paternity test. Although she was certain that Hayden wasn’t Colton’s child, she wanted to hear an explicit confirmation from the man.
As if he could read her mind, he shot her a beam. “Indeed, Hayden’s not my son. The kid was just being a kid.”
Strangely, Nicole heaved a sigh of relief. Even she was weirded out by her internal celebration. “Well, kids, right? I hope you didn’t take it to heart.”
“It’s alright. I understand,” he generously replied.
As they were about to continue on discussing business, Nicole’s phone that was on the couch vibrated. Although she was going to ignore it, her heart oddly palpitated as her eyelid twitched. She grabbed the phone and took a glimpse, only to find out it was a call from her son. Apologetically, she turned to Colton. “Excuse me, President Gardner. I have to take this.” Finished, she held the phone by her ear.
Before she could ask her son what happened, she heard his panicking voice. “Mom, some bad guys came to our home and kept banging the door!”
Immediately, she grew anxious. Since it had been quite some time since there were any residents dwelling at their current home, she didn’t bother to install an anti-theft door. Right now, all there was between her son and the “bad guys” was a simple wooden door.
“Hayden, block the door with anything you can lift and go hide in the house. I’m coming back right away. Remember, don’t make a sound.”
“I think they’re about to come in, Mom.” Hayden suppressed his voice. No matter how mature he was, he was, after all, merely a child who had no idea what to do in such a circumstance.
In that instant, a chilly sensation gushed in her body and was creeping to heart as her lips uncontrollably trembled. I can’t let anything happen to Hayden!
“Hayden, find a place and hide yourself. I’m coming back now.” Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming perturbation in her mind, but when she was saying those words, tears began surging in her eyes and flowing down her cheeks. She bit her lips. How did this happen? Why would anyone want to kidnap my son? She never felt as helpless as she was now. Even with the fastest speed, it would take at least an hour to travel the distance between her home and Crown Hotel, where F&M Apparel’s annual dinner was being held.
Grasping her phone, as she was about to say something, she heard a commotion from the other end of the line.
“Mom, save me!” Hayden sobbed with his suppressed whimpering, followed by the voices of several men.
“This must be the boy.”
“Yeah. They mentioned the kid in this apartment. He must be it.”
The voices gradually grew inaudible before the call ended.
“Hayden, Hayden!” Nicole shouted at her phone, only to be responded by silence. Troubled, she no longer cared about the meeting and tried to look for Zachary, but he was nowhere to be found after being summoned away.
On the other hand, Colton could roughly figure out what happened based on her panicking look and her conversation. At once, he offered his assistance with utmost debonair. “Let’s go and check it out. I’ll drive.”
At the moment, Nicole, as if grasping at straws, rapidly nodded and gripped Colton’s wrist, disregarding any sort of social stigma as she dragged him out of the venue.
Knowing the matter was urgent, Colton did not stop walking as they exited the building. As soon as they tacitly got into the car and fastened their seatbelts, the man put the pedal to the metal and sped away.
Grasping her phone, Nicole continuously dialed her son’s number, but his phone was apparently turned off given how her calls didn’t go through. She raised her hand and clutched her hair out of agitation. Ever since she gave birth to Hayden, this was the first time she felt so helpless and distressed.
No, please don’t let anything happen to Hayden! Or else, I wouldn’t be able to live on.