Alison looked at Aurora incredulously, “Just collecting five strands of hair earns a million dollars?”
Such a thing was hard for anyone to believe, seeming easier than a pie falling from the sky.
“Indeed, just five strands of hair,” Aurora repeated.
“Why do you still want his hair after Paul has been expelled from the Montgomery Group?” Alison couldn’t see any good intentions in Aurora.
“You don’t need to worry about why, it’s my personal affair and not convenient to tell you. All you need to do is tell me whether you’re willing or not,” Aurora said firmly.
“What if I say I’m not interested?” Did Alison truly remain unmoved? She was in a desperate situation; not just a million, even a hundred thousand dollars could keep her going.
Aurora wasn’t surprised by her reply, after all, Alison was merely hypothesizing. Currently, Alison had no leverage to negotiate.
“If I were you, I’d simply take the hundred thousand. With your skills, arranging a meeting with Paul and obtaining five strands of hair shouldn’t be too hard. I know you’re having a tough time, treated like a pariah, and struggling to find work. You may have a degree, but without a stable job, even a roadside stall won’t hire you.
Your days must be hard, right? Paul, trying to please his wife, is unlikely to do you any favors. Even without his vice president position, with his past experience and status, do you think he’s as miserable as you? Don’t be naive, he could live off his past earnings for a lifetime, while the biggest mistake you made was staking your reputation for it.
Whether you do it or not, this hundred thousand is for you, although I don’t think I did anything wrong. After all, you did the same to me, and you should taste the consequences of your own actions. But, as a woman, you’ve already been punished enough, and this punishment shouldn’t cost you your future.
If you don’t take the job, consider this hundred thousand as compensation that can provide you some stability. If you do it, once it’s done, I’ll give you another nine hundred thousand.”
Every word from Aurora pierced Alison’s heart like a needle, tears shimmering in her eyes.
At that time, she had been somewhat deluded, blinded by the material world, daring to recklessly take on Aurora and ending up with such consequences.
“One wrong step led to another, and I completely lost,” Alison bowed her head.
“You certainly made mistakes, but are men blameless? Even with a wife at home, he eagerly went out to attract attention. When things went wrong, he pushed all the blame onto you. If he had loved you even a bit, he would have helped you during your toughest times, not pushed you towards the cliff.”
Aurora knew human nature well, and after her words, Alison began to reflect on her past actions.
“Things are as they are, and the outcome can no longer be changed.”
“Of course, the outcome can’t be changed, but you should learn from this experience and avoid such missteps in the future. What’s terrifying is that he has now blocked all other paths for you, leaving you unable to even meet your basic needs.”
Aurora pointed out her current predicament directly, causing Alison’s heart to tremble even more.
“You can choose not to help me; I just want five strands of hair, and I can obtain them through other means, although it would be a bit more troublesome. But why wouldn’t I use a simpler method if there is one? To you, one million dollars is no small sum; it could at least provide for your immediate needs. You could invest it, or use it as a down payment on a house and pay off the rest later. You’re still young, you need to keep working hard, and not rely solely on others. As I’ve told you before, one can only truly rely on oneself. Give me an answer, will you do it or not?”
Aurora was truly formidable; in just a few words, she had convinced Alison. Her psychology classes were not for naught. When facing strangers, she could easily discern their thoughts, but this didn’t work on Julian.
“Alright, it’s a deal,” Alison gritted her teeth. Since Paul was ruthless to her, she saw no reason to be righteous toward him. She remembered the day in the office when he, to please his wife, repeatedly called her offensive names. She could endure the condemnation from others, but being verbally abused by a man she cared about was unbearable.
Seeing Alison waver, Aurora’s lips curved into a slight smile.
“That’s what a smart woman should do.”
“But remember, I’m doing this for myself, not for you!” Alison said coldly, resenting Paul’s harsh treatment.
“No matter who it’s for, I just need those five strands of hair, and don’t try to trick me with someone else’s. I have ways to verify if they are Paul’s hair. If you dare deceive me, right now you are just unemployed, but I will make sure you can’t stay in this place!” Aurora threatened.
“You don’t need to remind me. Since I’ve agreed, I will get them for you.”
“That’s best.”
Aurora had someone pour some well-aerated red wine.
“To our cooperation, cheers.”
“Cheers.”
Alison lifted her glass, and the clink of glass produced a pleasing sound. The red wine was bitter to the taste, reflecting Alison’s sentiments towards Paul. Beyond their physical relationship, she had developed real feelings for him. Unfortunately, their paths ended this way. Indeed, men are unreliable; she vowed never to fall for their lies again.
Seeing the expression in Alison’s eyes, Aurora knew what she was thinking about and was glad she understood.
“I’ll do it, but I need to buy some props, and you’ll pay for them,” Alison quickly adjusted her mindset.
“Agreed.”
Aurora consented immediately. Alison was a clever woman; she needed little guidance.
After dinner, Aurora accompanied Alison to the mall as requested. Aurora thought Alison might be indulging her vanity again, seizing an opportunity to make some money, but instead, she headed straight for a shop Aurora would never enter. The shop sold women’s lingerie and swimwear, featuring revealing designs. Aurora, despite being a woman, felt somewhat embarrassed to be there.