Ch. 161..170
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 161
“Where‘ve you been?” Nathaniel‘s voice was sad, and it sent chills down her spine. Feeling guilty, she tucked her hair behind her ear awkwardly. “I–I went on a trip to the nursery today! I learned a lot of things, all thanks to Mr. Moreau.”
The gears in her head turned quickly. Instead of covering things up, she thought it was best to tell him the truth, though not entirely. It was better to do so instead of making up stories and appearing guilty. “You‘ve gotten quite close to each other,” he scoffed, his tone dark.
Melanie was unsure how much Nathaniel knew or how long he had watched them earlier. However, she assumed he could not grasp the situation as long as she said nothing about it.
She understood things happened between her and Frank because they had a deal. Frank would not give her the love she wanted, thus they only got what they wanted from the deal. She did not want to give up the fame and wealth Frank could bring her, but she also did not want to give up the man she could depend on for the rest of her life, Nathaniel.
She stepped forward, grabbed Nathaniel‘s arm, and rested her head on his shoulder. Looking up at him, she said softly, “Are you jealous?”
He threw her a glance and said nothing.
“I know that you‘re just concerned about me, but I got this. Plus, you know I‘m only here on business with him, don‘t you? You couldn‘t accompany me here, so it serves you right to get jealous! Now that you‘re here, you‘ll see us all the time. There‘s nothing you should worry about, alright?” she said, pinching the tip of his nose. Her timid and obedient look made Nathaniel‘s fury diminish a little. Sternly, he asked, “ Really? Nothing is going on between the both of you?” “There is!” She stuck out her tongue. “Something is going on between us. We did so many things together. Get mad all you want!”
After saying that, she let go of his arm and ran in the elevator‘s direction with a smile on her face. After listening to her playful answers, Nathaniel could not bring himself to be mad anymore. The doubts he had earlier were mostly gone by now.
Nathaniel had rushed over to Middle Valley right after he settled the matters in Sapphine, but he did not expect Melanie not to be around when he arrived. His employee said that she went out with Frank in the afternoon and that they did not take the company‘s car. Upon hearing that, anger built within him.
Earlier, he had been waiting at the hotel‘s entrance because he wanted to know precisely when they would be back. They were together, as he had expected, but fortunately for them, Frank and Melanie did not enter side by side.
Nathaniel did not notice any intimate moments between them, and he felt he had completely misread the situation when he remembered Melanie’s actions.
He followed Melanie upstairs and entered the room after her. She had just closed the door and was about to turn around, but Nathaniel had already grabbed her and pressed her against it.
“Mel...” he called her name, about to lower his head to kiss her. She put her hand between their lips instinctively to stop him from approaching. It stunned him. Frowning, he asked, “
Mel?”
“Hey! What‘s with the rush? I just came back from the nursery, and I’m covered in dirt. I feel so uncomfortable. Let me take a shower first!” Melanie quickly explained after realizing what she did would arouse his suspicions. “You‘re here already, anyway! I can‘t possibly escape from you, can I?” While she spoke, she tiptoed and left a light peck on his lips before walking past him into the bathroom. When he heard the water running, he retracted his arms from the door, still feeling uneasy.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 162
He felt that something was out of place, but Melanie‘s attitude did not seem any different.
He took a quick glance around and noticed her phone sticking out of the bag that had fallen down the side of the large bed. Nathaniel walked over quickly and picked it up after a glance at the closed bathroom door.
The lock screen password had not been changed, so he accessed her WhatsApp with no trouble and located Frank‘s number. The chat was empty, with no messages. He then looked at the gallery, other text messages, and call records, but everything seemed normal. Nathaniel checked every likely location, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
Could he be overthinking? Nathaniel felt confused. Right then, the sound of water flowing from the bathroom stopped. He hurriedly locked the phone and put it back into the bag. Turning around, he saw Melanie come out in her pajamas.
“Why‘d you get dressed so quickly?” He pretended to be nonchalant and stood up. Then he grabbed her into his arms and sniffed the shower gel scent on her. “Aren‘t you going to take it off soon, anyway?” Melanie trembled slightly at his words. She had expected this would happen when she took a shower. It had been a while since they last saw each other, and with his coming so far out of his way, he clearly would want to be intimate. However, she really could not. Not tonight! Melanie dared not get intimate in fear of Nathaniel discovering something, but she knew he would be suspicious if she blatantly refused. Therefore, she had come up with a countermeasure.
She showed her neck and let him kiss her. After giving him a taste, she suddenly stopped him. Nathaniel looked at her in dissatisfaction with a face full of desire.
“Mel! You never refused me before!” His voice was laced with warning.
Melanie understood the meaning of his words. In a sulky tone, she complained, “I was not pregnant before this!”
Nathaniel was surprised and said, “Isn‘t it j–just a suspicion? Are you sure?”
Melanie lowered her head and nodded shyly. She covered her belly with one hand and said, “I haven’t had my period for several days, and I checked again earlier. It shouldn‘t be wrong.”
Nathaniel forgot all his anger and doubt when he heard her words. He supported her to the bed and helped her sit at the bedside. After that, he even helped her lie down slowly.
“Why do you still travel around? You should have a good rest. Do you feel any discomfort? Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?” Although Nathaniel was complaining, his concern was apparent. “You’re only remembering now to ask if I‘m hungry?” Melanie glared at him.
“Iyour body is more important now. Let’s put this issue to rest for the time being. Instead of eating out, I‘ll order something. You should rest after that, okay?” Nathaniel said softly while holding her hand. Melanie nodded shyly as she watched him call the room service to deliver the meal. He tirelessly told them the food she liked and disliked as well as what food to avoid.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 163
After ordering the meal, Nathaniel sat on the bedside and continued holding Melanie‘s hand.” Is there anything else that you want to eat or drink?” His voice and actions were full of tenderness. Melanie felt loved but shook her head, “No, I‘m only in my early trimester. I am not that delicate.”
“Nonsense! Pregnant women are delicate and should take care of their bodies.”
When Melanie saw Nathaniel‘s serious appearance, she deliberately teased him, “Oh, it turns out you‘re only doing this because I‘m pregnant. You wouldn‘t care if I weren‘t, right?”
“Why would you think that? You know I‘ve always treated you well,” Nathaniel hurriedly explained. When he saw her teasing eyes, he knew Melanie had tricked him. He lightly patted her buttocks and said, “You‘re being naughty! How dare you tease me?” Melanie laughed at him while ducking to the side, “No, spare me! I was just kidding. Still, do you think I got pregnant at the wrong time?” “What do you mean?” Nathaniel became unhappy and put away his smile when he heard her words.
“Don‘t be angry. You know the company has recovered a bit. Everything is getting back on track, and we still have other things waiting to be done. Also, we haven‘t gotten married yet,” Melanie said.
“Are you blaming me for not proposing? Rest assured, I have it all planned out. I will give you a perfect and grand wedding after that.” Nathaniel realized what Melanie was hinting at as he leaned over and kissed her forehead.
He was hesitant before this because Lily was important to him. He could not bear leaving either one of them. Now that Lily had left, it was time for Nathaniel to make up his mind. Only Melanie stayed by his side through thick and thin, even when he got angry and yelled at her. ‘I should treat her better. No, I want to treat her better. With this thought in mind, Nathaniel yearned for Melanie even more. He pulled her into his arms, saying, “Mel, i know I‘ve made you suffer with me recently.”
His words touched Melanie, and her eyes reddened. Indeed, she felt that she had suffered.
“So you did know! I thought you were clueless,” Melanie said while pouting.
“Yes, of course, I know. I‘m sorry. It‘s all my fault. I promise to give you a good life, okay?” Nathaniel swore. “Remember your promise. Don‘t regret it later.” “I will never regret it!” Nathaniel nodded with certainty, Melanie happily laughed as she was pleased, Looking at Melanie‘s bright smile, Nathaniel yearned for her even more. Recently, he was distraught over the matters at the factory and had not been with her for a long time. Moreover, the duo had been away from each other for quite some time.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 164
Melanie still rejected him even though he begged her repeatedly. “You just said you won’t let me suffer anymore. Do you not know that now is the most unstable time for me? Are you planning to ignore me and the baby‘s safety for your own selfish desires? Would you not regret it if something happened to me?” Melanie looked extremely aggrieved as she lowered her head and looked away. Nathaniel quickly regained his rationale and lost his desire.
“I‘m sorry. I‘m at fault for not being able to control myself.” He apologized repeatedly. After some thought, he stood up and said, “Have a good rest. Room service should deliver the food soon. I‘ll go and take a shower,” After saying that, he rushed into the bathroom. Melanie could hear running water coming from inside the bathroom. She knew Nathaniel must be taking a cold shower to suppress his desires. Melanie felt guilty. After all, Nathaniel had always treated her well, and she was thrilled that he had flown so far just to see her.
However, it was impossible to take back what had happened between her and Frank. Since Melanie paid the price, she must have something in return because her relationship with Frank was just a deal. The two would go their separate ways in the end. She thought she could strike a balance between Nathaniel and Frank if she were careful enough.
Melanie placed her hand on her lower abdomen as she had not decided whether or not she wanted to keep the child. Still, Nathaniel‘s attitude showed that he wanted the child, so Melanie decided to keep it for the time being. She thought it might become a valuable bargaining chip
Jenny was exhausted after a whole day‘s trip when she returned to the hotel, but instead of taking a shower and resting, she turned on her computer to settle her pending work emails.
After spending time together, Lily realized Jenny was competent and enthusiastic about perfumery. She just lacked a little talent, that‘s all. The perfume industry was unfair as it depended on natural talent. Some were born with a keen sense of smell and discernment, such as the top perfumers and Lily.
However, there was another category–one that had the talent but was slightly lacking. Compared to those who were talented, the gap became even more prominent. People in this category were Jenny and Melanie.
Indeed, Melanie had some talent, so she would not be in this industry if she did not have any. Still, the difference between her and Jenny was hard work. Jenny was not only more experienced, but she regularly practiced, read, and looked up reference materials.
Lily often saw Jenny compare the differences between various perfumes and self-tests with available formulas and data. On the contrary, all of Melanie‘s thoughts consisted of how to hook up with Nathaniel and steal others’ work and credit. Melanie dedicated herself to various conspiracies and ignored her talents. That was why Melanie was helpless when Lily changed her formula before leaving MN Inc. Meanwhile, Lily did not have much to do, so she sat on the sofa and played with her phone as did not want to disturb Jenny. She tapped on Alexander’s name and texted, “I’m back.”
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 165
Alexander‘s reply was fast but brief, just one word, “Yeah.” Lily smiled as she read his message. She removed her shoes and lay on the sofa. Then she replied, “I went to Garden Road today and finally found what I needed.”
“Red Sandalwood?” Alexander asked. Lily‘s smile froze when she read his reply. She pouted and typed, “How come you know everything?” “That‘s because it‘s in the books.” Alexander even added a shrugging emoji at the end. Lily had to read the message a few times before understanding his meaning. Of course, Alexander would eventually find out since Lily did spend a considerable amount of the company‘s money to buy the red sandalwood.
Naturally, the company‘s finance department would record this amount as the company‘s purchases. After all, it would have to be approved by the finance manager and the director. However, Lily was still surprised that Alexander had quickly received the news.
If it were a regular company, it would probably take a few days before the executives became aware of it. Alexander was, in a way, terrifying since he possessed a robust information network.
“What‘s wrong?” Alexander asked after noticing Lily had not replied to his previous message. “Nothing. When are you leaving?” Lily quickly texted as she stole a glance in Jenny‘s direction. Jenny had buried her face in her laptop as her fingers typed away. Since Jenny was busy replying to her emails, she would not have time to notice what Lily was up to.
Lily lowered her head and returned her focus to her phone screen. “Don‘t worry. I‘ll leave soon. Why are you so fixed on making me leave? How can you just dump me after using me?”
Lily was speechless. ‘He can be so childish and dramatic sometimes. What does he mean by dụmping him after using him? He‘s just being ridiculous now!‘
After some thought, she imitated Alexander‘s texting tone, “Yep. I‘m done. Are you?” ‘Reply to that, why don‘t you?‘ Alexander could not help but chuckle. He quickly replied, “Why don‘t we keep trying?” “Fine. Let‘s try this again.”
Alexander could imagine Lily typing on her phone with an embarrassed but determined expression as he read her messages. It made him feel warm inside since he missed her and could not wait to get home after finishing his work.
He finally looked up from his phone, and everyone eyed him like an alien. Alexander frowned in annoyance and remarked, “What‘s with your faces? Don‘t you guys have work to do?”
“Y – Yes, sir!” Everyone replied while nodding.
“I’m leaving,” Alexander said, standing from his seat. He had no intentions of staying any
longer. One of the employees mustered his courage and asked Alexander before he left, “S–Sir, about the collaboration...” “Just talk to the client following our initial proposal. I hate it when they try to bargain. We can move forward from there if they accept, or else we‘ll just look for another partner.” It was just one of La Beauté Group‘s many projects. Even if their deal did not work out, La Beauté would not lose much, as it all depended on whether or not both parties saw eye to eye. Alexander left straightaway after finishing his sentence. Unbeknownst to him, he had left the meeting room with gossip that could last them a lifetime, “Did you see that? Mr. Russell was smiling!”
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 166
“That‘s nonsense! Of course Mr. Russell smiles!” “No, that’s not what I meant. He smiled a genuine smile!”
“Of course it’s real! Why would his smile be fake? Watch your words. If Mr. Russell hears this, you‘re done for!”
“I‘m trying to say that Mr. Russell usually smirks, and it‘s scary. When he does that, it‘ll most likely lead to something bad. His smile just now was real though, like one we‘d all have. It was see?” He looked at everyo one in the room find someone else who would agree The others in the room remained silent, but they all had the same thought. It also surprised them that Alexander had smiled during the meeting and that the same smile was entirely... out of character.
Lily waited for a long time, but she had not received a reply from Alexander. She kept checking her phone, her face turning a darker shade of red as she read the embarrassing text between Alexander and her. Gosh, she was acting like him. How could she have said something so uncomfortable?
“What‘s wrong? Why are you shaking your head and sighing?” Lily was so engrossed that she failed to notice when Jenny finished her work and came over to her. “Nothing, just trying to relax, so I was on my phone. You‘re done?” Lily quickly replied. “Yeah,” Jenny nodded and sat next to Lily. “I submitted the purchase list from Garden Road, and guess what?” “What?” Lily asked.
“They approved with no hassle. Let me tell you, I‘ve worked here for a long time, but I‘ve never submitted my purchasing orders with such a breeze. This was a miracle! It was just so smooth and hassle–free!” Jenny clapped her hands in astonishment.
“Right.” Lily already knew it would not be a problem. How could there be an issue when the company director had already cleared it?
Jenny started eyeing Lily with curiosity when she reacted all too calmly to the news, “Now, tell me honestly, are you sure your boyfriend isn‘t an executive in our company?”
“Erm… no.” He was not in an executive position. Alexander was, in fact, the director of the La Beauté Group, so technically, he owned the company and was nowhere close to being an executive.
“Really?” Jenny narrowed her eyes at Lily questioningly. “Our business trip was amazing, and we were well taken care of. Isn‘t this all because of you? You can tell me, and I promise to keep your secret. Don‘t you trust me?”
“He’s not someone at the executive level, Jenny, I promise to tell you when the right time comes, okay?” Lily looked troubled.
If she allowed Jenny‘s imagination to run wild, she might find out who Alexander was, and
just the thought sent chills down Lily’s spine. Well, not that she did not trust Jenny, but if more people knew about her relationship with Alexander, the higher the risk of them being exposed. Lily did not want that to happen yet.
Alexander‘s identity was sensitive, and he held such a prominent position in the company that if their relationship were to be exposed, Lily could imagine just how big of a ripple it would cause,
Besides, she did not want the Lodge family to find out. The only way to prevent this from happening was to continue to keep it a secret from Jenny. Jenny let it go after staring at Lily for a while. It was not like she was nosy, she was just curious about the strange occurrences the past few days. However, after asking Lily twice and seeing her pained reaction, Jenny decided not to push it,” Fine then, if you don‘t want to talk about then we won‘t. Still, you promised you‘ll show him to me when the time is right! Don‘t you dare break your promise!” “Okay, I won‘t!” Lily was glad that she could finally put an end to it. “Are you hungry? Why don‘t we go out for dinner?” After finishing her tasks for the day, Jenny was famished. “Didn‘t you say that there was a restaurant you wanted to try? Why don‘t we go there?” Lily said after giving it some thought. “Yeah, sounds good. Let‘s go,” Jenny nodded.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 167
After taking a cold shower, Nathaniel came out feeling calmer. He noticed Melanie was lying on the bed, fast asleep, and the food he had ordered remained untouched on the table. He moved to her side, covered her with a blanket, and then went to eat dinner.
He arrived in a hurry and did not have time to eat. He had been busy with work recently, so having proper meals was the least of his concern. Nathaniel had been having stomach problems for some time now. If he até too much or too little, his stomach would hurt.
He swiftly gobbled down some food, not daring to overeat, and turned toward the sleeping Melanie. She was snoring softly; this was Nathaniel‘s first time hearing her snore after dating for a long time. It was apparent that the recent happenings had worn her out.
Melanie was also newly pregnant, so her body conditions might have changed. Nathaniel could make out the dark circles forming around her eyes. She was particular about her appearance, yet she had allowed herself to look tired. This could only mean that she was too exhausted to care about it. Nathaniel felt guilty for suspecting her actions a while ago.
Plagued with guilt, he walked over and lay beside her. He hugged her from behind and thought about being like this forever. He wanted to get married, have a child, and work together to expand the company.
Even without Lily‘s help, he could always look for someone else for the company. However, Nathaniel still preferred someone gentle and obedient when looking for a suitable wife, unlike Lily.
When he thought of Lily, he could feel the back of his neck hurting again. The other day at the alley, Lily was so different from her usual self. It was as if she was a different person. “Hmm,” Melanie stirred in his embrace as she felt uncomfortable. She turned around to hug him and slowly woke up.
“Urgh, how long have I been asleep?” she asked as she adorably rubbed her sleepy eyes.“You were exhausted. Go back to sleep,” Nathaniel said, and then he thought of something,” Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?” “Sure!” Melanie felt hungry the instant Nathaniel reminded her about food. She stood up and walked over to the table. The dishes were half eaten, but Nathaniel was considerate. He had already moved her portion onto another plate and left quite some food for her. Melanie picked up her fork and started eating when her phone vibrated. She had been holding on to her phone for quite some time as Nathaniel was there, as she was afraid that he would see it.
Melanie was uneasy even though she had not read the text message. She stole a peek at Nathaniel and noticed that he was also looking down at his phone. She sighed in relief and unlocked her screen. It was Frank, as expected. His message was brief, “Come to the hotel‘s restaurant and have dinner with me.”
Melanie frowned at his condescending tone and replied, “I‘m about to go to bed.” “Are you refusing me?”
Melanie shivered as she could feel his wrath even from the other side of the screen. She wanted to reiect him, but she did not dare to. Melanie glanced at Nathaniel and hoped that the fact he was here would discourage Frank from trying anything.
“Fine.”
She deleted all the text messages between them. Melanie would ensure that no evidence or leverage could be used against her. Then, she lowered her fork, walked toward Nathaniel, sat down, and sighed. “What‘s wrong?” Nathaniel asked when he heard her sigh. He turned to look at the food on the table and noticed she had barely touched them, “Are they not to your liking? What do you feel like having? Should I order room service or get something for you?”
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 168
Melanie shook her head, “Maybe it‘s just too stuffy in here. Let‘s go for a walk and have something to eat outside?” “Okay, let me change. Where do you have in mind?” He stood up and asked. “I‘m still quite tired, so I don‘t feel like going sornewhere far. Why don‘t we just go to the hotel‘s restaurant?” Melanie lowered her head, acting as if she was exhausted.
“Sure!” Nathaniel replied without giving it much thought.
After getting changed, Melanie went to the hotel‘s restaurant with Nathaniel. Since her mind was filled with thoughts of Frank, the moment she entered, her eyes immediately found Frank‘s table. Her grasp on Nathaniel‘s arm tightened as she tried to put on a calm exterior. “A table for two,” Nathaniel said to the waiter. They were led to a table at the back when Melanie pretended to notice something. She nudged Nathaniel and said, “Isn‘t that Mr. Moreau over there?” Honestly, Nathaniel was not at all happy bumping into Frank. However, he was a family friend, and he had helped Nathaniel solve MN Inc.‘s crisis, so it would be rude if Nathaniel just ignored him.
Although he did not like Frank very much, Nathaniel admired his capabilities. If Frank were to agree to work for MN Inc., then Nathaniel would not have to worry about their production line anymore.
In the end, Nathaniel ignored his pettiness and nodded in agreement, “Let‘s go say hello.” Both turned and walked over to Frank‘s table.
“Hello, Mr. Moreau,” Nathaniel greeted, “What a coincidence.” Melanie nodded her head politely
‘A coincidence, huh?‘ Frank raised an eyebrow and smirked as he glanced at Melanie, then at Nathaniel.
“Mr. Hall. It seems like you‘re here to accompany your...girlfriend?” Frank remarked playfully.
Nathaniel removed Melanie‘s hand from his arm and held it in his hand, “Of course! Mel is such a pretty woman; this is the first time she‘s been away for a long time. How would I be at ease when we‘re separated? To tell you the truth, I‘m here to propose!” Nathaniel smiled as he turned to Melanie, “We‘re going to get married soon.”
Melanie was shocked. Though she had been with Nathaniel for a long time and they had been attending social events together, he had never openly admitted that they were official. This sudden confession was just Nathaniel‘s way of exerting dominance. Melanie was slightly touched, but at the same time, she felt ridiculed.
Nathaniel was ignorant, Frank did not care about who she belonged to, and their relationship was just a mutually beneficial one. Frank never considered stealing her from Nathaniel or that Melanie was his girlfriend. Nathaniel‘s act of exerting dominance was just pathetic.
When Melanie turned to look at Frank, it did not surprise her to see a smirk on his face. He was not at all affected, “Really? Then, I must congratulate you. Why don‘t you let me pay for your dinner? Treat it as a gift from me to celebrate your engagement.” Nathaniel agreed and nodded his head as Frank seemed genuinely happy for them. “Sure, why not?” he said and sat Melanie in front of Frank.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 169
The waiter served the food, and Melanie kept staring at the steak in front of her, slowly cutting it with her utensils and patiently cutting it into small pieces. In comparison, the two men seemed much more casual.
“I haven‘t had the time to thank you for your help, Mr. Moreau. You were right. After we adjusted the formula according to your note, we fixed the essential oil. Now the factory is back in full swing, even though the incident delayed our deliveries for a few days.
“It took time, but we made up for it. Fortunately, the customers were understanding. It‘s all thanks to you, and I appreciate it,” Nathaniel raised his glass as he said sincerely.
Frank smiled faintly, “It‘s no big deal.” He also raised his glass.
Melanie straightened her back abruptly when the two glasses clinked. Keenly aware of Melanie‘s reaction, Nathaniel immediately put down his glass and asked concernedly, “What‘s wrong?” Melanie shook her head and smiled. “I‘m just a little tired, that‘s all. You guys can continue talking.” “You need to rest.” Nathaniel glanced at the plate in front of her. “Don‘t just cut the steak. You should eat it too. Come on.” He took a piece of steak with his fork and brought it to her mouth, but Melanie was hesitant. Usually, she would have eaten it without hesitation, but she could see Frank looking at them from the corner of her eyes.
To be precise, he was looking at Melanie. Frank was smiling, but his smile gave her the creeps.
“It‘s okay, Nate. I can eat on my own,” Melanie refused, but Nathaniel insisted, “Come on, Mel, just open your mouth.” Melanie had no choice but to open her mouth obediently and eat the small piece of steak Nathaniel offered her. Nathaniel was pleased and continued to feel Melanie as she could only continue to eat. Just like that, she ate about half of the steak.
After a while, Melanie shook her head, “N–No, I honestly can‘t eat anymore.” She felt nauseated, covered her mouth, and sprinted toward the bathroom. “Sorry, that was embarrassing,” with a light smile, Nathaniel looked at Frank and said, ” Please don‘t mind her. She‘s pregnant.” Hearing this, Frank raised his eyebrows and looked at Nathaniel, sitting across from him. Frank looked smug, as if he had won something. He laughed and raised his glass at Nathaniel.” Really now? That‘s excellent news!”
Frank’s reaction surprised Nathaniel as he always suspected that Frank had ill intentions toward Melanie. Just now, Nathaniel had deliberately declared ownership of Melanie in front of Frank, put their relationship on display, and told Frank she was pregnant with his child. However, Frank did not look unhappy, as there was not even the slightest change in emotion, Nathaniel even thought Frank was genuinely happy for him and Melanie.
‘Perhaps I’ve been overthinking,‘ Nathaniel thought. Perhaps he had been overthinking, Nathaniel thought to himself.
Spoiled by Mr. Russell Chapter 170
Nathaniel thought, ‘Frank has the fame, status, power, and wealth, so he surely has access to all the beautiful women he could ever want. Also, my mother introduced Frank to me, so he must be a friend of hers. Why would he lust for Mel?‘
With that thought in mind, Nathaniel felt relieved. He smiled at Frank, raised his glass, and said, “Thank you!” Then he downed his wine. –
Frank smiled inconspicuously. His eyes flashed behind his gold–framed spectacles. “By the way, Mr. Moreau, how long will you be in the country? I‘m unsure if you‘re inclined to develop your career here.” Now that Nathaniel had eliminated his doubts, he changed the subject, wanting to keep Mr. Moreau‘s talents for his use. “I‘m not sure,” Frank answered as he refilled his glass. Then he stared at the wine in his glass. “Since you‘re not sure, does that mean you‘re up for consideration?” Nathaniel deliberately misunderstood his response. “If so, may I know which local company you like? Will it be possible for you to consider joining MN Inc.?” Frank smirked as he looked up at Nathaniel. ‘Is he unaware of how insignificant his company is? Where did he get the audacity to recruit me?‘ “Oh?” Frank raised his eyebrows and continued, “I don‘t know, Mr. Hall. How much salary are we talking about?”
Nathaniel was not a fool. He could hear the ridicule in Frank‘s tone, but he did not mind it. It was true that MN Inc.’s capital was limited. It naturally could not compete with the more prominent companies out there.
However, now that he could sit at the same table with Frank Moreau and befriend him, Nathaniel was confident to continue the negotiation, “Indeed, we don‘t have that many resources. We may not be able to give you the same remuneration that some other companies could.”
“If that‘s the case, what makes you think I would choose your company?” Frank asked casually, holding the wine glass with his fingers as if he were teasing a cat. His line of sight wandered around and did not stay on Nathaniel.
“Although the remuneration and benefits may not be as plentiful, I guarantee the other companies cannot compare to us in other aspects. Ms. Neville introduced you, and you have been a great help to us, so I see you as a friend. Just mention whatev and we will satisfy you as much as possible.
“Besides, you don‘t need to listen to anyone in the company except me. I will give you absolute freedom and room for creativity. I believe no other company can give you these.”
After a pause, Nathaniel continued confidently, “I believe that with your current status, you should focus on your professional development and prospects instead of the salary. I can give you all these.”
Nathaniel spoke eloquently and felt that the conditions he gave were attractive enough. After all, which other company could guarantee Frank absolute freedom? Frank stopped playing with his wine glass. He steadied his glass on the table and looked up at
Nathaniel, “Well, you‘re wrong.” Nathaniel looked confused. “Firstly, I don‘t care about anything else but money. Salary is one of the most important reasons for choosing a job. I work as a perfumer to make money, Mr. Hall. Do you mean to tell me that the reason you started your company is not to make money?” His words made Nathaniel‘s face drop.
“Secondly,” He continued, “In all the companies I‘ve signed with over the years, absolute creative freedom is necessary. I don‘t understand why you talk about it as an advantage.”