Darnell had originally planned to have some intimate time with Casey and the others in the office, but he didn’t expect a series of incidents to occur, which also attracted Judith’s attention.
He was worried that Judith would turn against him, so as soon as he finished giving his statement, he made a quick exit.
Of course, he didn’t wander aimlessly. He remembered the foundation mentioned by Shayla, so he searched for the address and found out that the headquarters of the foundation was on the street adjacent to the Whiteville Hospital.
He then pulled Shayla, who had little confidence, into the Lamborghini and sped towards the foundation’s headquarters.
“Mr. Halford, is this your car?” Shayla sat in the passenger seat, staring at Darnell with her beautiful eyes, touching here and there. She was clearly surprised to see Darnell driving a sports car.
Not long ago, she saw Darnell taking the bus. Casey also mentioned that Darnell took the subway when they went to see Chandler. So seeing this luxurious sports car, Shayla couldn’t help but be amazed. “Are you the rumored hidden billionaire?”
“Shayla, you have a good eye.” Darnell replied with a smirk, “You’ve discovered my true identity. That’s right. I’m a billionaire!”
Upon hearing Darnell’s words, Shayla regained her composure and scoffed, “Mr. Halford, you’re never serious.”
Then she tilted her head slightly and asked, “Is this Miss Fanshaw’s car?”
Darnell didn’t look like he came from a wealthy family. She remembered Lillian’s words that Darnell had multiple roles. He was a salesman, assistant, and chauffeur. He drove Miss Fanshaw to sign that two-billion order on Saturdays. She speculated that this car belonged to Areli. Darnell laughed and gave her a thumbs up. “Shayla, you’re really smart.”
Shayla pouted. “You always tease me.”
Darnell smiled and asked, “Shayla, are you really comfortable sitting next to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll do something outrageous?”
Shayla giggled and revealed her signature cute dimples on her face. In her enchanting almond-shaped eyes, there was a mischievous smile. “Will you?”
Darnell chuckled, “It’s hard to say. After all, I’m a man with both normal physiological and psychological needs. In front of a woman with good looks, big breasts, and a nice butt like you, it’s only natural for men to have improper thoughts.”
His voice turned serious. “What if I were to drive to a secluded spot and… Well, you know?”
Shayla pouted, looking proud. “I would never let you get away with that.”
Darnell raised an eyebrow, surprised. “So confident, are you?”
Shayla looked at him with a playful smirk. “As long as I don’t resist, it wouldn’t count as you taking advantage of me, right?”
Darnell burst into laughter, nearly reaching out to touch Shayla’s thigh.
After the joke, Shayla remembered the elevator incident and how she hadn’t resisted then either, causing her cheeks to flush.
Darnell chuckled but didn’t pursue the flirtation further. He sensed that, unlike Bailee and Casey, Shayla had some feelings for him.
Darnell could handle anything, except for matters of the heart.
The car soon pulled up to the headquarters of One Cent Foundation, a three-story French-style building. Although a bit worn, the environment was pleasant, and being in a bustling area made it clear that the One Cent Foundation held some influence. The parking lot was filled with cars worth over a million.
“Mr. Halford, I have no confidence at all,” Shayla admitted as she got out of the car, looking almost timidly at the busy foundation.
“My friend said there’s no hope.”
“Given Pioneer Properties’ almost give-away operations, we wouldn’t have any advantage unless it was completely free.”
Darnell maintained his bright smile, linking his arm with Shayla’s as they approached the entrance. “We’ve come this far. It would be a waste of my gas to turn back now, right? Even if we don’t succeed, we can gain some experience. Besides, what if a miracle happens? If we succeed, aren’t you the hero of the Python Team?”
Hearing Darnell’s words eased Shayla’s expression a bit. “What kind of hero am I? You’re the backbone of our team.”
Then she raised her fist. “But I’ve decided to listen to you. Regardless of success or failure, we have to give it a shot.”
Darnell smiled and led Shayla into the lobby. The spacious area had a reception desk in the center, with independent offices on either side.
Though the foundation wasn’t widely known, there were quite a few staff members and visitors coming and going. Darnell spotted several attractive women in the blink of an eye.
At the reception, Shayla made a call, and shortly after, a girl wearing glasses ran out. She was pleasant-looking and spirited. She rushed over to Shayla, beaming, and hugged her. “Shayla, long time no see! You’re still as beautiful as ever.”
“Jolie, you look great too.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Shayla introduced Darnell. “This is my team leader, Darnell Halford.”
“And this is Jolie Beavis.”
Darnell smiled warmly and extended his hand to Jolie. “Miss Beavis, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“What a beautiful name!”
At Darnell’s words, Jolie’s face blushed a little.
She tightened her grip on Darnell’s hand slightly. “Mr. Halford, it’s nice to meet you.”
Darnell laughed heartily. “I wonder if Miss Beavis could spare a meal for me?”
Jolie sighed softly, “Mr. Halford, I know you’re here for the project in the mountains, but I’m just a small secretary and can’t make any decisions.”
Darnell smoothly took over the conversation. “While you may not have the final say, you could help make some connections.”
“I’d love to help, but the chances are slim. If it were a few days earlier, the situation might have been different. Now, everyone is eyeing this project eagerly.”
Jolie lowered her voice. “Also, Ms. Ashworth, who is in charge of the project, had an urgent matter at home and had to leave in a hurry. He probably won’t be back today.”
“I’m not lying to you.”
She tilted her head toward a room. “The staff from Pioneer Properties is here too, trying to finalize the last details. They’ll likely leave empty-handed today.”
Darnell’s interest was piqued. “So, the people from Pioneer Properties are here?”
Jolie nodded. “Yes, they’re inside. They don’t believe what I’m saying and think Ms. Ashworth is purposely inflating her worth by leaving.”
“They’re quite upset.”
She even self-deprecatingly remarked to Shayla, “One of them is an old friend of ours.”
“An old friend?”
Shayla blinked, slightly confused. “Who is it?”
Jolie smiled wryly. “Forget it, Shayla. It’s better you don’t know. It’ll only complicate things for you. You two should head back. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Shayla felt a flicker of realization and nodded understandingly. “No worries, Mr. Halford. Since Ms. Ashworth isn’t here, let’s come back tomorrow.”
Seeing Jolie’s sincere demeanor, Darnell knew she wasn’t lying, so he nodded with a smile. “Alright, see you tomorrow.”
Jolie waved cheerfully. “See you tomorrow.”
“Hey, Shayla? Is that you?”
Just then, a stylish couple emerged from the room that Jolie had indicated. The man possessed all the traits a storybook prince should have, handsome, wealthy, and tall. The woman was tall and elegant, her fitted dress accentuating her curves, drawing even more attention.
The beautiful woman spoke, her tone turning sharp as she approached. “It’s been months, yet you still look like an ugly duckling.”
When Shayla saw the woman, her face instantly drained of color as she instinctively tightened her grip on Darnell’s hand.
“You got a boyfriend, huh?”
Seeing them holding hands, Rubi Barrow looked at Darnell with disdain and scoffed, “An ugly duckling is destined to end up with a loser.”