The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

Chapter 73 Pull Strings

Corrine trailed the man in black to the vehicle, where Matias, positioned at the front, courteously said, "Miss Holland, this way please."

Corrine's eyebrow twitched slightly as she bent to step into the car, pretending to be surprised. "Oh, what are the odds of seeing you here?" Her smile barely masked the insincerity.

Nate caught the fleeting sparkle in her eyes, his lips curving into a knowing grin. "Miss Holland, you suspected, didn't you?"

"The Brighton Group," Corrine responded, her tone revealing no surprise at the revelation. Despite this, her instincts whispered that the man beside her held a status beyond that of the group's CEO.

Their gazes locked, and a trace of warmth flickered across his expression. "Would you care to join me for lunch?"

"Absolutely," Corrine responded, dropping all pretense.

As Nate's car started, it brushed past Bruce's vehicle.

From behind the gradually ascending window, Bruce caught a fleeting glimpse of Corrine's face.

Corrine was unaware of his watchful gaze, her face alight with a radiant smile while she spoke with Nate.

With a blank expression, Bruce watched the Rolls-Royce disappear into the distance. He pondered whether Corrine had switched her allegiances to another

company.

What other explanation could there be for her being here?

Lost in his thoughts, he barely heard his assistant's voice. "Mr. Ashton?"

It wasn't until the second call that Bruce snapped back to reality. Regaining his composure, he firmly asked, "Is the meeting with Kaiden Hudson from Ford Group confirmed?"

"He is available at the scheduled time."

"Proceed to Gourmet Spot," Bruce instructed.

Silence filled the car once he finished speaking, yet the image of Corrine's enchanting smile lingered in his mind. Reflecting for a moment, he then said, "Find out what Corrine's up to these days."

Pausing briefly, his assistant replied, "Got it."

Simultaneously, in Nate's car, surprise mixed with mischief colored Corrine's features as she looked at Nate. "Project details are usually confidential. You're overstepping a bit, don't you think, Mr. Hopkins?"

"Am I?" Nate replied, his gaze deepening as he admired her smiling face. "The redevelopment plans for the old southern district don't justify a five billion investment if it's just housing. You must have other intentions, Miss Holland. I'm hoping you might include me, given our history, so I can adjust my strategies for the surrounding properties."noveldrama

A flicker of amusement crossed Corrine's eyes. "Trying to pull some strings,

Mr. Hopkins?"

Nate raised his hand, lightly touching Corrine's hair, and held the back of her head tenderly. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek, his voice low and enticing. "Would you consider it, Miss Holland?"

His smile deepened, adding a charismatic charm to his features.

Corrine blinked, her eyelashes fluttering as she regained composure. "Isn't this crossing a boundary?"

"We're more than mere acquaintances, aren't we?" Nate responded.

Corrine brushed his hand aside and said firmly, "Remember, you're the one

chasing me. I haven't said yes yet."

Unperturbed, Nate continued, "We've already held hands and embraced. Doesn't

it make sense to get a little closer and deepen our connection?"

Corrine was at a loss for words.

Nate's way of arguing was frustratingly brilliant.

"Let's get back to business. I'll put up two and a half billion for fifty percent of the shares." Nate went back to their initial discussion.

Corrine raised an eyebrow, responding without hesitation, "For thirty-five percent of the shares."

"Forty-five percent."

"Deal."

In the front seats, the driver and Matias exchanged glances, both taken aback.

Straightforward negotiations like this were uncommon. In just moments, these powerhouses sealed a deal worth billions.

One could wonder whether Nate was more enchanted by beauty than business sense.

Despite Corrine's striking looks, Matias believed it was crucial for Nate to

maintain a level head.

Surprised by his directness, a subtle look of astonishment emerged in Corrine's

eyes. "You're not worried I might be tricking you?"

"I trust you," Nate replied without a hint of hesitation.

With a chuckle, Corrine responded, "That's a lot of trust after just a few encounters. Am I supposed to feel honored, or should I be questioning your judgment, Mr. Hopkins?"

"My choices are backed by reason," Nate said confidently.

At that moment, Nate's phone interrupted with a ring. Moses was on the line.

"Nate, I've dug something up. It's the Ford family stirring trouble!"

"Okay,” Nate replied calmly, his voice cool and detached. "If there's nothing else, I'll hang up."

Hoping to keep the conversation going, Moses quickly added, “Hold on, weren't we supposed to grab lunch? Where are you? I can't find you."

Nate, idly twirling a strand of Corrine's hair, remained unfazed. "Something more urgent has come up. We'll need to postpone."

A gleam of amusement shone in Corrine's eyes. Something more urgent? Without waiting for a reply, Nate ended the call.