Aurora hurried back to the company. At this hour, the lobby was nearly empty except for the receptionist. She headed straight for the private elevator. As the elevator slowly ascended, she glanced upward through its transparent walls and caught sight of a familiar figure.
Genevieve! What was she doing here? Her anxious glances and hurried demeanor likely had something to do with Zachary. Could she be here to see Magnus? If she wasn’t desperate, she wouldn’t risk exposing the deplorable things Zachary had done.
Genevieve was too clever to bring up such matters unless absolutely necessary. She was on the fifth floor, and Magnus’s office was on the sixth. Aurora sensed something odd about the situation. She quietly pressed the button for the fifth floor and followed in the direction Genevieve had gone. The corridor was quickly empty. Aurora deduced she must have entered the office ahead.
This office belonged to Paul, and curiously, his secretary was not at her desk. Just as Aurora approached, the door suddenly opened. She quickly hid around the corner as Alison stormed out, freshly dressed in a clean skirt. Her zipper was undone, and her hair was disheveled, likely interrupted in the midst of… activities.
Could it have been because of Genevieve? Aurora had known about Paul’s good relations with Genevieve before joining the company, previously thinking it was due to Magnus. Seeing Genevieve’s cautious behavior just now sparked an incredible thought.
Everyone knew Paul had a penchant for women. Genevieve had been quite attractive in her youth and had aged gracefully, maintaining her allure. Aurora carefully approached the door. Alison, in her anger, had not closed it completely, leaving a slight gap.
Aurora checked her surroundings and, finding no one, leaned close to listen. Genevieve, her back turned and her expression unseen, sounded displeased, “You know Magnus is also in the office, and yet you asked me to come here?”
Aurora frowned, puzzled by their relationship, which seemed to be shrouded in secrecy. “Ah, Genevieve, you know what I’m like. I enjoy it more when there’s a risk involved.”
Paul’s lips curled into a lewd smile. If he were more handsome, such a smile might be enticing, but his chubby, round face only made it grotesque. His cheeks jiggled with his movements-Aurora could barely stomach the sight.
Listening to their conversation, she felt even more certain there was a problem. Genevieve sounded accustomed to such talks, “Cut the nonsense, I want fifty million dollars.”
“It seems your man is my cousin now. You should be asking him for the money,” Paul retorted shamelessly.
“If I could ask him, do you think I’d come to you? Zachary has racked up millions in high-interest debts outside. If his grandfather finds out, he’ll never be able to enter the company.”
Paul’s expression changed slightly when Zachary was mentioned. “Fine, the usual arrangement then. You want the money, you know what to do,” he said, toying with his nails.
Was this the old rule? Did the two of them have other dealings? Or did Genevieve have some leverage over him? The more one observed their relationship, the stranger it seemed. Genevieve stood motionless in the center of the room, her expression unreadable, while Paul, calm and collected, said, “Well, now you are Mrs. Montgomery, not the little bar girl from the past, whom one could have for money…”
“Shut up!” Genevieve snapped coldly. Aurora’s eyes widened in shock; she had only known Genevieve as the other woman, unaware of her actual profession.
So she had been a hostess. It wasn’t that Aurora looked down on hostesses, but hearing Paul’s insinuation that anyone could have her made her feel disgusted.
This woman, who had been available to all, had destroyed her family and everything beautiful in her life. Genevieve, with her past exposed, felt uneasy, and how could Aurora feel any better?
“Alright, Mrs. Montgomery, if you want to show off, please do it somewhere else. This is not the place for it,” Paul said with a smirk.
“How will you give me the fifty million dollars?” Genevieve’s voice softened slightly.
Paul seemed to have anticipated her capitulation, his smile widening. “As I said, the old rules apply. Serve me well, and I’ll pay you. I just wonder if your skills have deteriorated over the years.”
Aurora finally understood the relationship between the two; they had a past together, and after that, Genevieve had probably climbed higher by getting involved with Magnus and had tried to lead a decent life.
“Weren’t those young hotties enough to satisfy you? Why must you trouble me?” Genevieve attempted one last stand.
“You know my capabilities. Young girls have their charm, but a mature beauty has her allure. You want money? Start undressing,” Paul commanded ruthlessly, irritating Aurora and undoubtedly infuriating the temperamental Genevieve, who was unpredictable in her reactions.
However, this time, she guessed wrong. Genevieve set down her handbag, and her trench coat fell to the floor like petals.
Paul lit a cigar and squinted as he watched Genevieve perform. “Genevieve, oh Genevieve, when you left me for Magnus, did you ever imagine this day? If it weren’t for me taking you out of that bar, would you have had a good life? You used me to get close to Magnus and painstakingly broke up their marriage.
You thought you could enjoy a life of luxury forever, but I must tell you, karma always comes around. The way you dressed up back then, today, I will have you undress the same way.”
Beneath her coat, Genevieve wore a tasteful dress, the attire of a wealthy woman. Had Paul not revealed it today, Aurora would have never known how sordid her past was.
Initially, Aurora felt pity for Genevieve, being humiliated like this, but after knowing her actions, she felt no sympathy at all.
Genevieve had discarded her own dignity; it had nothing to do with anyone else.
Under Paul’s contemptuous gaze, she removed her dress. It must be said that as a middle-aged woman, she maintained a good figure, which was probably why Paul’s gaze grew increasingly fervent.