Lenny hadn’t caught the words clearly. “Sir… any instructions?”
“Find out the location of Khloe’s meeting. I’ll rearrange my evening schedule.” Nick’s voice was calm, almost like he was handling routine work.
Night fell over the city.
At the Veramuse Hotel downtown, Khloe had already endured several rounds of drinking at the table. Finally, she excused herself and ran to the restroom to vomit.
Raising funds meant entertaining clients-drinks were inevitable-but none of her five subordinates could handle alcohol. She had to go alone. Even if her team could drink, she couldn’t let the girls suffer for her.
“Khloe, that’s enough… I think they’re just trying to mess with you,” a worried voice said. It was Charlotte Xander, who had come along. Quick-witted and articulate, Charlotte usually accompanied Khloe on these investment meetings.
But halfway through this evening, Charlotte was ready to bow out. The clients had demanded Khloe drink as much as necessary to secure funds, completely ignoring the actual proposals.
Khloe suspected Ethan might have sent them to sabotage her efforts..
“I’m fine. I can handle it. Once I finish vomiting, I can still take a few more,” Khloe said. With Charlotte’s support, she stood and straightened herself.
Khloe’s face was flushed. The scent of alcohol clung to her. Her eyes were a little unfocused, but even drunk, Khloe carried a magnetic beauty that could make heads turn.
Charlotte watched her, understanding the thoughts running through those men’s heads. Khloe was formidable in business, but alone as a woman, she was still a target. Charlotte couldn’t talk her out of it; all she could do was follow her back to the table.
The laughter hit them from across the room, loud and crude, carrying even to the doorway.
“Her proposal’s decent, but the project? Not so much.”
“I’d invest… if she’s willing to give me a taste…”
“Khloe’s face, and figure-she’s top tier, hahaha!”
Khloe froze. Every word carried clearly to her ears. Charlotte’s blood boiled. She wanted to storm forward and shut them up, but Khloe held her back.
Drunk as she was, her mind was still sharp. She had drunk all that alcohol. There was no way she was letting them leave without signing that contract tonight.
“Recorder on?” Khloe asked Charlotte.
Charlotte nodded, pulling it out immediately. This was routine-always record business discussions just in case. The hotel hallway was quiet; the Hunt Group’s representatives’ voices were captured perfectly.
Khloe nodded again, telling Charlotte to wait outside. She pushed the door open and locked it behind her.
The men froze. Khloe had returned far too quickly. Had she overheard their conversation?
She grabbed the investment contract off the side and staggered toward the head of the table.
“Mr. Stinson, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Mitchell,” she began, her voice steady despite the sway of her body.
“We’ve discussed this project for two hours. I’ve explained the profit model, the proposals, the coordination. Everything.
“The preliminary intent letter from the Cameron Group is ready; once funds are in place, the first phase can begin next month. I’d like to know if you have any concrete thoughts on the project itself.”
Samuel Stinson put down his glass, belched, and smirked with a faintly lecherous gleam.
“Miss Roswell, thoughts? Sure, but we’re here to enjoy ourselves too, right? If you can have another round with us, who knows-maybe we’ll sign the contract tonight.”
Anthony Ramsay chimed in, tapping his fingers along the table,
“Exactly. You’re capable, and your tolerance must be high. Three more drinks from you, and we’ll add two hundred thousand to the investment. Deal?”
The air shifted instantly. On the surface, they were negotiating terms-but beneath it, they were trying to intimidate her.
Khloe didn’t flinch. She smiled.
“You three are seasoned investors. You should understand better than me that investment is about potential, not alcohol tolerance. I came today to work toward mutual gain, not to drink with you.”
“And by the way,” she added, “the team leaders you brought with you just whispered in my ear-your company is bidding on a Morrison Group project. Coincidentally, that project now falls under my supervision.”
Samuel froze for a second, like he’d just heard the most absurd joke, then burst into laughter, slapping the table.
“Under your supervision? Are you drunk? If you’re really in charge of Morrison Group’s projects, I’ll eat every glass on this table!”
Give it a rating to show yotl supporti
Anthony followed in mock agreement. “Exactly. Do you think someone liike the heiress of the Morrison Group would need to come here and sweet-talk us for investments? Better just have a few drinks and we’ll talk numbers if we’re happy.”
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.