But Nate’s unwavering attention made her feel seen-valued in a way she’d never expected.
“Whether you’re worth it or not isn’t your decision to make,” Nate said, his gaze steady and unwavering
“To me, you’re worth everything.”
As the car headed back to Ford Group, Corrine sat silently, her eyes fixed on the blur of scenery outside the window. Nate’s words played over and over in her mind, wrapping around her like a comforting embrace.
It turned out she wasn’t as unworthy of love as she’d once believed.
Outside the towering Ford Group building, Bruce lingered in his car, his gaze fixed on the reflective glass facade.
He remained still for a long moment, lost in thought, before finally stepping out and closing the door behind him.
The failed bid for the land in the southern district hadn’t come as a complete surprise. He had sensed the possibility of defeat. But he hadn’t anticipated Brighton Group, a company he’d dismissed as insignificant, turning into such a formidable competitor against Ford Group.
After the loss, his strategy had been to seek a partnership with Ford Group, believing that Kaiden’s involvement would smooth the way. In fact, with Kaiden’s connections, Bruce had been almost certain nothing would stand in his way.
But since Kaiden’s abrupt exit from Gourmet Spot, he had declined Bruce’s offers and even returned every previous gesture of goodwill.
Now, Bruce needed answers-had Kaiden’s allegiance shifted, or was the newly appointed CEO of Ford Group creating obstacles behind the scenes?
Bruce headed straight into the Ford Group building.
After explaining his purpose to the receptionist, she kept a polished smile.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Ashton, but Miss Holland isn’t in the office right now. If you’d like to meet her, you can schedule an appointment.”
“Are you sure she’s not in the office? Or is she just avoiding us on purpose?” Bruce’s assistant asked, his irritation seeping into his tone.
They had tried countless times to meet the elusive new CEO, only for her to hide every time. Her behavior was starting to feel deliberate, like she was playing a game of cat and mouse.
Even the calmest of people would feel frustration in a situation like this.
Bruce felt the stirrings of annoyance but kept his expression neutral.
“If you see your CEO, let her know I was here,” he said smoothly before turning to leave.
His assistant shot the receptionist a sharp, disgruntled glance and then hurried to catch up with Bruce.
“Mr. Ashton, it’s obvious Miss Holland is dodging us!”
If his assistant could pick up on it, Bruce certainly had as well.
Still, he couldn’t understand her reasons for avoiding him.
He was certain he’d never done anything to offend anyone at Ford Group. In fact, he had bent over backward to please Kaiden, the manipulative manager, just to gain their favor.
Even though the situation grated on his nerves, Bruce knew he had no choice but to endure it
The Ashton Group simply couldn’t afford to clash with Ford Group.
As he mulled over the situation, something caught his eye-a figure that seemed oddly familiar.
He stopped mid-step, his brows knitting together. Was that… Corrine? But then he hesitated. This was Ford Group, not somewhere she could casually stroll into. He shook his head. He had to be mistaken.
His assistant’s voice broke into his thoughts, uncertain but cautious.
“Could it be that Corrine upset someone powerful in the past?”
Back then, Corrine had poured everything she had into Ashton Group. Her hard work had been undeniable, but she’d left behind whispers-harsh rumors that still lingered in the air.
Hearing this, Bruce frowned.
“When we get back to the office, try to get some information from the assistant who worked with Corrine.”
It didn’t make sense for anyone at Ashton Group to have wronged someone at Ford Group. If it had happened, the likely culprit was Corrine. She often acted impulsively, unaware of the ripples her actions caused.
No one could guess how many enemies she had unknowingly created for Ashton Group-or the kind of weight she’d carried on her shoulders while doing so.
Corrine had just stepped into her office on the top floor when Natasha entered, holding a stack of neatly organized files.
“Miss Holland, these are the candidates the planning department shortlisted for the spokesperson role. Please review and make your choice,” Natasha said, her tone professional yet relaxed.
Corrine’s recent return to the company-and her rejection of Leah’s endorsement-had put significant pressure on the planning department. To meet her high expectations, they had spent weeks carefully evaluating and selecting candidates.
Corrine flipped through the topmost file.
“Jolene Sampson?” she murmured, her lips curving slightly as a spark of curiosity danced in her eyes. Tapping her fingers lightly on the document, she said, “We’ll go with her.”
Natasha nodded, unfazed by the decision. Her smile grew as she replied, “Understood.”
The announcement of Ford Group’s new resort spokesperson sparked an immediate stir online.
One netizen asked, “Who even is this model?”
Another chimed in, “I heard Leah was supposed to get that endorsement. How did Jolene suddenly snag it? Could she have someone powerful backing her?”
“Wasn’t Leah blacklisted for crossing the wrong person?” someone speculated. Another added, “Are we forgetting something? Jolene was exposed for school bullying when she first debuted! I wouldn’t be surprised if she sabotaged Leah to snatch this deal for herself.”
Someone sighed heavily and said, “I really feel bad for Leah. She doesn’t deserve this.”
Fueled by the determined efforts of the online community, it didn’t take long for Jolene’s past to surface. Her history of underage clubbing, smoking, drinking, and fighting spread across social media like wildfire
Barely thirty minutes later, Leah’s latest social media post shot to the trending section.
Leah had written, “Success comes from a mix of luck and hard work. They say a smile can change your fortune. Here’s hoping Lady Luck smiles back.” Along with the post, she included a polished picture of herself.
Karina let out an exasperated groan and slammed her phone onto the table.
“She just can’t sit still, can she? Always trying to hog the spotlight!” Her voice dripped with irritation.
“And those brainless fans of hers-they’re just as unbearable. Don’t they realize sticking with Leah could backfire on them too?”
Jolene’s expression warmed into a smile at Karina’s comment.
“It seems like everyone has changed with time, yet you’ve remained as you were.”
Karina quirked an eyebrow, her eyes playfully scanning Jolene.
“So, have I really been stationary all this time?” she teased, noting Jolene’s voluptuous figure.
“You’ve undergone quite the transformation.”
With a flirtatious smirk, Jolene leaned in, a cigarette dangling from her lips.
“Care for a feel?”
“Jolene, can’t you show a little restraint?” Karina said softly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.