“Yeah, learning to leverage power, making progress. But next time, find a suitable candidate, not someone as vulnerable as Evelyn.” Andrew finished speaking and extinguished the cigarette that hadn’t burned to its end.
“Alright, don’t dwell on it. Accompany me for some food outside.”
Isabella was a bit hungry too. When the two of them went out together, unexpectedly, they received a call from James on the way.
She held the phone, looking somewhat bewildered.
Since that night on her eighteenth birthday, they hadn’t been in contact.
After hesitating for a moment, Isabella answered the call.
On the other end of the phone, James’s voice sounded somewhat hoarse and weary. He asked her to meet at a nearby cafe.
She felt that there might not be much to talk about between her and James. Just as she was about to come up with a reason to refuse, before she could say anything, he threw out a ‘See you there’ and hung up.
Helpless, Isabella could only ask Andrew to pull over.
“I’ve made an appointment. You go eat by yourself.” She opened the door, got out, and stood outside the car, telling Andrew.
Andrew’s clean and slender fingers casually rested on the steering wheel. He looked at her with a deep and gloomy gaze, then started the car engine.
The car shot away like an arrow. She staggered back a step, almost knocked over.
“Men with unpredictable temperaments!” She muttered discontentedly in the direction where the car disappeared.
She entered the cafe, scanning around. In a corner by the window, she spotted James.
“Isabella.” James called her name, waving to her with some urgency.
Isabella sat down across from him, squinting her beautiful eyes as she looked at him.
He really looked disheveled, with bloodshot eyes and stubble on his chin. This version of James made her feel very unfamiliar.
In her memory, James was a person who paid attention to his life. He didn’t have the sweaty odor that other guys had, always keeping himself clean and tidy. She used to love the lingering scent of soap on his white shirt.
The waiter walked over with the menu. James ordered a cappuccino for her.
After the coffee was served, Isabella stirred it absentmindedly with the delicate silver spoon in her two fingers.
“What’s the matter with me?” she asked.
James pursed his lips, his long fingers tightly gripping the white porcelain coffee cup in front of him, looking like he had something difficult to say but had to.
“Isabella, I won’t hide it from you. There are problems in the operation of the Brown family’s company. The funding chain could break at any time, facing the danger of bankruptcy.”
After hearing this, Isabella revealed some surprise. Brown family’s company had been stable for more than twenty years, well-managed under Mrs. Brown’s guidance. Unexpectedly, James took over less than two years ago and encountered problems.
“I heard that the economic situation both domestically and internationally hasn’t been great lately, James, my condolences.” Isabella earnestly advised, “However, even if the company goes bankrupt, your family’s fortune is enough for you and my sister to live worry-free.”
Of course, only within the limits of living worry-free. If Emily wanted to continue her extravagant and lavish lifestyle, there would be no hope.
James supported his forehead with both hands, looking quite defeated. If it weren’t for his impatience for quick success and risky investments, the company wouldn’t have been dragged down. His mother had reminded him multiple times, but he didn’t turn back until he hit a wall.
“Isabella, the company is my parents’ lifelong effort. It absolutely cannot go bankrupt. If the company goes bankrupt, both Brown family and I are finished.” In his urgency, James somewhat uncontrollably grabbed Isabella’s hand.
She furrowed her brows, subconsciously shaking off his hand. “Speak properly. Don’t lay hands on me; it doesn’t look good.”
He noticeably hesitated, and his hand stiffened on the table.
“Sorry, I lost control a bit. You’re a public figure now.” James awkwardly withdrew his hand.
She pursed her lips and didn’t speak. The hand hanging by her side instinctively wiped on her clothes. In her heart, she thought: What does it have to do with me whether Brown family is finished or not? James has found the wrong person to complain to.
In fact, James didn’t contact her just to complain. He had something to ask for.
James pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Isabella. “Isabella, take a look at this.”
She took out the documents from the file bag. It was a proposal. She glanced through it briefly. Although she didn’t fully understand it, she was clear that it was related to the piece of land she owned.
“This is the company’s most promising project. If this project can be launched, the company might have a chance. Isabella, can you help me?” James looked at her almost pleadingly.
Isabella put down her coffee, crossed her arms, and looked at him, the corners of her lips curved with a hint of sarcasm.
She really wanted to ask him: Why should I help you?
“James, you should know that the land is my mother’s dowry to me, which is important to me.”
“…” For a moment, James couldn’t find words. He still had some self-respect and didn’t shamelessly play emotional cards with Isabella at this time.
They grew up together, and naturally, there was some affection. But even the deepest affection had been depleted.
Isabella tilted her head slightly, looking at him with a somewhat condescending gaze. “James, you are a businessman. In business, what benefits do I get from helping you?”
After listening, James stared at her blankly. He admitted that he hadn’t considered this question. He just assumed that Isabella would definitely help him, after all, she had unconditionally helped him before.
Now, looking back, he realized that he had been too presumptuous. The past was the past; the present was the present.
The coffee in front of Isabella had already turned cold. James hurriedly called the waiter, wanting to replace it with a new cup.
“No need. I’ll pay the bill.” She said to the waiter, taking out her wallet and putting two banknotes on the table.
Isabella stood up, and James, seeing her leaving, urgently reached out to grab her arm. As if remembering something, he let go in a fluster.
“Isabella, if you don’t trust me, you can have the project professionally assessed. This is indeed a very promising project. In business, I won’t let you help me for nothing. I can mortgage the company to you. I hope you can reconsider.”
James had said this much, and Isabella couldn’t continue to ignore it. At this moment, he was just asking for her help, and she could ignore it. But if Mrs. Brown intervened, she wouldn’t be able to refuse.
After all, Mrs. Brown was an elder who had watched her grow up. There was still some affection between the two families. James may have let her down, but Mrs. Brown had done nothing wrong to her.
Isabella sat back in her seat, picked up the proposal, and began to read it carefully.
However, she didn’t notice that the scene of her and James struggling had been observed by someone.
Ryan was out shopping with his girlfriend, and they happened to pass by the coffee shop, witnessing the scene inside.
His face immediately darkened. She joined the alpha, yet here she was, having a tug-of-war with her ex-boyfriend, still entangled. Perhaps another woman giving Andrew a reason to wear a cuckold’s hat. No, he had to extinguish this unruly flame in its cradle.
“I have something to do. You go back first,” he said to his girlfriend.
“We agreed to spend the whole day together today. There are still a few more stores to visit.” His girlfriend dragged his arm, looking dissatisfied.