Cupter 10
A strong arm caught Janice around the waist, preventing her fall.
Janice instinctively simiggled, only to be enveloped by a familiar masculine scent. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up and locked eyes with Malcolm’s pare
Their eyes met,
and time uemed to freezes o
“lanice, what are you doing with Malcolm?”
The fragile moment was shattered by a shalek.
Reina stood a short distance away, her face ands of shock and fury.
She had noticed the bite mark behind Malcolm’s ear the day before. When she asked him about it, he dismissed it as a child’s doing, but Reina didn’t bury.
Pressing for answers had only eamed her his impatience and a cont demand to drop the subject. Then, when she tried to stay the night, he had someone escort her ou
Now, Reina was convinced that the mark was Janice’s doing. Otherwise, Janice wouldn’t have called her the other time
Reina’s body trembled with rage, and her glare bore into Janice,
Janice quickly pushed Malcolm may. She steadied herself and adjusted her dress.
With a smirk, she said mockingly. “Well, well, look who it is. Reina, what’s the matter? Did this street suddenly become your property? Did I miss the
Reina’s face racisted with anger. “Janice, stop playing dumb!” she barked. “Malcolm is my fiance! How dare you cling to him like that? Are you trying to
seduce him?”
“Seduce?” Janice chuckled like she’d heard a joke. “Be careful with your words. Malcolm and 1 are here on business. How does that equate to seduction? [f anything, your constant seduction‘ talk makes me wonder if it’s a habit of yours.”
“”You!” Reina’s face flushed red as her eyes brimmed with tears, looking pitifully vulnerable.
Janice regarded her performance with a sneer. Reina’s weak, damsel in distress act might fool others, but to Janice, it was nothing short of revolting.
“Janace,” Reina cried, “I know what you’re up to! You’ve been jealous of me since we were kids, always trying to take what’s mine. And now you’re after Malcolm too! Have you got no shame?”
Before Janice could retort, Kody’s calm but firm voice suddenly interjected. “You’ve got it all wrong, Malcolm and Janice are here for business. It’s nothing like what you’re insinuating.”
He then stepped forward to position himself between the two women. His gaze settled on Reina as he continued, “Malcolm invested in Janice’s upcoming alternative medicine wellness center. They’re inspecting locations today.”
Reina froze, her tear–streaked face showing both embarrassment and disbelief. “Is… is this really just about business?”
Kody nodded. “Of course. Malcolm only got involved because of me. There’s no seduction.”
Janice’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile as she observed Reina’s reaction.
“Did you hear that?” she jeered “Or have you been so lonely last night that your mind is filled with nothing but men? Get your mind out of the gutter. If you can’t hold onto your man, throwing tantrums in public won’t help.”
Malcolm frowned slightly, his voice laced with disapproval. “Janice, that’s enough.”
Janice’s heart twisted with cold amusement at his reprimand.
The derision faded from her face as she replied indifferently, “I’m only stating facts. Since you’re so protective of your fiancée, I won’t intrude further.”
With that, she turned on her heel to leave
“Janice!” Kody called after her, burrying to follow,
“Stop right there!” Malcolm bellowed
Kody stopped in his tracks and looked back with frustration and confusion. Malcolm ignored him as he stared at Janice’s retreating figure.
He wondered what Janice was thinking. The more he tried to understand her, the more she seemed to clude him. He found it increasingly difficult to see through her.
“Malcolm, why did you stop me?” Kody asked, unable to hide the urgency in his voler.
Malcolm looked away and cast him an impassive glance. “And what would you do if you caught up to her? Cause more trouble?”
“But-“Kody tried to argue, only to be interrupted.
“Enough! Stay out of this.”
Malcolm’s firm tone left no room for argument. Frustrated, Kody could only watch helplessly as Janice disappeared around the comer.
After leaving, Janice went straight to her apartment and buried herself in work. She sifted through documents, planning to narrow down a location herself before consulting Kody.
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang
When Janice opened the door, she was startled to see Reina standing there.
“What do you want? Janice asked curtly, making no effort to invite her in
Reina’s expression softened, adopting a pitiful, delicate look. “Janice, may I come in to talk?”
Janice mentally scoffed at Reina’s facade. She wanted to see what game Reina was playing this time.
“Come in.” Janice stepped aside while motioning her in.
Reina wasted no time getting straight to the point. “Janice, could you talk to Malcolm and convince him to withdraw his investment in the wellness center project?”
Janice raised an eyebrow, amused. “And why would I do that?”
“I know you’re still upset with me, but Malcolm is my fiancé. If you keep working with him and the media gets wind of it, it’ll hurt both your business and reputation.”
Tears welled up in Reina’s eyes, and she spoke as though she was genuinely concerned for Janice. But to Janice, it was nothing more than an award- worthy performance.
“Reina, you might want to see a doctor. Something’s clearly wrong with your brain. Why on earth would I give up a profitable venture?” Janice said mockingly.
Reina’s Lace stiffened but quickly morphed into a look of wounded innocence. “Janice, I know you’re still angry about what happened back then-
“Enough!” Janice snapped impatiently, “Save your theatrics. Do you really think I don’t see through you?”
Realizing her pititul act wasn’t working, Reina dropped the pretense. Pulling a check from her bag, she placed it on the table with an air of superiority.
“Here’s too thousand dollars. Call Malcolm and tell him to withdraw his investment. ”
Janice eyed the check and smirked. “100 thousand dollars to give up a lucrative project? Reina, you must think very little of me.”
Reina’s face darkened. Clenching her teeth, she hissed, “Fine! One million. That’s my final offer.”
With that, she added another zero to the check
So Reina was willing to go this far. Janice was amused by the thought. Picking up the card, she slipped it into her pocket and said flatly, “Deal.”
Reina’s tense expression finally eased, and a triumphant smile crept onto her lips. She knew Janice would ultimately cave to money.
But before that smile could fully bloom, it froze.
