Matthew’s gaze casually descended downstairs, but he could only catch a glimpse of the heads of the crowd. Furrowing his brow, he redirected his attention.
“Hi there, Mr. Nelson!”
Matthew turned around, spotting the mayor approaching him. The mayor grinned and said, “I thought I was seeing things. It’s really you, Mr. Nelson. Are you here for the White Group’s annual party too?”
The mayor appeared uncertain, as he hadn’t heard of any collaboration between WY Group and the White Group.
Charles was a young and exceptional individual, and Matthew stood out as the best of the younger generation.
Matthew asked his daughter to wait for a moment and ended the call.
He pocketed his phone.
“No, I’m not.”
As he responded, the gentle expression on his face vanished instantly. He put on his customary socializing mask.
The mayor extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you here.”
Matthew reached out his right hand, briefly shaking hands with the mayor. Their interaction was brief. They promptly withdrew their hands.
Matthew didn’t want to waste any more time here with the mayor. However, he had to consider the mayor’s status. Throughout history, it had been advised that citizens should not confront government officials.
Especially when Matthew was a businessman.
“Mr. Nelson, Mr. White wishes to establish a factory in my area. We need to discuss the details,” Charles informed him, currently occupied with some matters, which was why the mayor had come upstairs to wait.
He planned to discuss matters with Charles over dinner.
“Why don’t we have dinner together, so you two can get acquainted?” The mayor wanted to introduce them to each other. However, he had a sudden thought and smiled awkwardly. “Have you two already met?”
Considering Matthew’s status, he wouldn’t have shown up unless he had some sort of cooperation with the White Group.
“I don’t know him,” Matthew responded promptly and straightforwardly.
“Look, over there. That’s Mr. Charles White, the owner of the White Group. Despite his physical condition, he’s incredibly capable. I admire him greatly. Of course, the White Group can’t compare to the WY Group. Mr. Nelson, I’ve heard that you’ve invested in numerous overseas projects and established investment banks with your partners. You’re impressive!”
Matthew had no interest in Charles whatsoever. However, the mayor mentioning Charles’s physical condition piqued Matthew’s curiosity. A wheelchair-bound leader must possess some outstanding qualities.
Otherwise, his subordinates wouldn’t have respected him.
He glanced downstairs.
Several executive managers surrounded Charles and Dolores, teasing them.
Charles had never had a girlfriend before. Suddenly, he brought a beautiful woman with him, leaving everyone curious about their relationship.
“Mr. White, you’ve hidden it so well! You didn’t even inform us, who have been through thick and thin with you. You didn’t handle this properly.”
“No…”
“You can’t deny it. If you have no connection, why would you bring her here?” Someone interjected, cutting Charles off as he tried to explain.
Charles smiled. “I wish I could, but…”
“But what?” the managers pressed, their voices uniting. In an instant, they all grasped what Charles had left unsaid. They then looked towards Dolores as one. “Don’t you like our Mr. White?”
At that moment, Dolores felt as if Charles had set her up. This party seemed to be full of traps.
She was about to explain, but Charles tugged at her arm, drawing her closer, and whispered in her ear, “Please don’t embarrass me in front of my employees. If you want to reject me, you can do it after we leave. Please! I’m begging you.”
When Matthew looked over, he caught Charles whispering to a woman. Due to his position on the stairs, he couldn’t see Dolores’s face, but her slender figure alone was visible.
“I agreed to be your date tonight, but I didn’t agree to pretend to be your girlfriend,” Dolores stated firmly.
Charles showed no signs of anger. He could tell that Dolores was intelligent and had a strong sense of self. “Do you still want to know the master who knows how to create the water gauze?”
Dolores was speechless.
It was only now that Dolores understood why he had shown her the water gauze. “You did it on purpose!” she declared, her certainty unwavering, without needing to ask.
Charles didn’t deny it; he smiled brightly, looking rather charming. Drawing closer to Dolores again, he said, “I’m genuinely curious about the man who can control you.” Dolores pushed him away, standing tall.
As she turned around, Matthew caught a clear glimpse of her face on the second floor.
Time seemed to stand still in that moment.
The mayor remained oblivious to any wrongdoing. Glancing down at the scene unfolding in the lobby, he commented with a smile, “Mr. White is quite amusing. He’s never had a girlfriend before, and suddenly he brings one with him tonight. The woman is quite attractive.”
“She-” Boyce also caught sight of the woman’s face downstairs. He turned to Matthew. “She is…”
He was about to inquire if that was Dolores, but Matthew had already descended before he could complete his question.
Boyce quickly followed suit.
Downstairs was still abuzz with noise. People were playfully teasing Charles and Dolores.
Even though Dolores hadn’t given a verbal agreement, Charles knew that she had consented.
Just as he was about to introduce Dolores, a tall and commanding figure appeared at the entrance. With an irritated expression and a charisma honed by a lifetime of experiences, he immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Dolores’s gaze drifted towards the back of the lobby. She was entranced by the elegant attire, her eyelids tingling with anticipation. She stared without blinking at the commotion near the entrance.
Soon enough, she spotted a familiar figure, and her heart skipped a beat.
Emerging from the crowd, Matthew walked towards her, defying the glare of the light. He moved with a steady and deliberate pace.
That was the impression he gave others. Having spent considerable time on the business battlefield, he seemed to wear an impenetrable armor. No one could discern what lay beneath his composed facade.
He was accustomed to remaining calm and detached. The more stirred up he felt, the more placid he appeared.
Every muscle in his body tensed. His heart trembled.
He fixed his gaze upon the simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar face before him.
Dolores stood motionless, as if caught in a moment of silent contemplation. Inside, she was brimming with excitement upon seeing him, but she found herself unable to utter a single word as her throat constricted.
In Matthew’s eyes, Dolores had never appeared so enchanting. He had been tormented by her absence, unable to find peace in his restless nights. Yet here she was, dressed so captivatingly for another man in a manner he had never witnessed before.
“What are you doing?” His voice resonated like atmospheric pressure, deep and resonant, emanating from his chest.
He wondered if she knew the torment he had endured in the days they were apart.
Did she realize the depth of his concern?
Did she understand how much he missed her?
Did she know the sleepless nights he had spent consumed by thoughts of her?
He doubted if she truly comprehended.
“Why don’t you answer me?”
“I…”
“Do you know each other?” The moment Matthew appeared, Charles sensed that this man had come for Dolores, yet he still deliberated over raising the question.
In response, Matthew turned his gaze towards Charles, a wry smile curling his lips. “Mr. White, do you have a penchant for married women?”
Charles’s expression shifted slightly. Dolores had claimed to be married with children, but he had never believed it. He thought she had fabricated the story to push him away.
Now, his certainty wavered.
“She looks quite young…”
Matthew grabbed Dolores’s hand, arching an eyebrow. His facial muscles twitched, giving his smile a sinister quality. “She married me at the age of eighteen. Doesn’t that make her young?”
Charles frowned. In his eyes, Dolores was a woman of determination. He questioned why she had married Matthew at such a tender age.
“Are you joking?” Charles glanced at Dolores, seeking confirmation.
He doubted the veracity of Matthew’s words.
“Samuel and Simona are still waiting for you.” After delivering his statement, Matthew tugged her away.
He didn’t allow her to exchange a single word with Charles.
Like an assertive child realizing that someone was vying for their favorite toy, he was unyielding. He clamped Dolores’s hand with a firm grip, forcefully propelling her forward.
Dolores’s ankle hadn’t completely healed, and she was wearing high heels, making it impossible for her to keep up. Despite the faint pain in her ankle and the soles of her feet, she pleaded, “Slow down.”
Matthew glanced back at her. “Aren’t you eager to leave this place?”
Dolores shook her head. “Not really.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Matthew scooped her up into his arms. Dolores let out a silent gasp, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck and sealing her lips tightly.