Chapter 577

Chapter 577

Harper and Kyle were about to head out when Mason insisted on taking Kyle's place to drive Harper there.

One look at Kyle's expression told Harper that he didn't actually mind.

She let out a quiet, resigned sigh to herself.

Looks like she'd be going with Mason after all.

Sure enough, Kyle didn't turn Mason down the way he had the day before.

Instead, he turned to Harper and asked for her opinion: "Mason has met Mr. Barnes a few times, and Mr. Barnes has a decent impression of him. Mr. Barnes is a very easygoing person."

"Ms. Orsini, what do you think about letting Mason take you there?"

Kyle looked a little apologetic.

After all, he had promised to take Harper there himself.

But chances to see Mr. Barnes didn't come around often, and Kyle wanted Mason to make a good impression on him.

So if Mason could go with Harper this time, it would also give him a chance to strengthen his relationship with Mr. Barnes.

Harper had already seen this coming.

And as far as she was concerned, it didn't really matter who drove her there. Kyle clearly wanted Mason to go.

Right now, the most important thing was to see Mr. Barnes as soon as possible. Everything else could wait.

So she didn't push back. She smiled and went along with what Kyle said: "In that case, I'll leave it to you, Mr. Cruz. I hope we're not causing too much trouble."

Before Kyle could say anything, Mason jumped in eagerly: "Not at all. I didn't have anything going on today anyway. It's my pleasure to drive Ms. Orsini."

And so Kyle stayed home.

Mason and Harper set off together.

Watching the obvious delight on Mason's face, Harper felt even more resigned.

She just hoped Mason wouldn't cause any problems. She had very little room for error on this trip, and she couldn't afford to waste any more time.

But the ride was anything but smooth.

The moment Harper got in the car, she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, hoping to head off any attempts by Mason to flatter her.

But the second Mason saw her close her eyes, he leaned over with concern: "Did I keep you up last night? Maybe we should rest for a bit and go see Mr. Barnes this afternoon instead."

Harper was exhausted, and she cut him off: "I want to see Mr. Barnes as soon as possible and get back to the office without any more delays. I have a lot waiting for me."

Her tone left no room for argument.

Mason's face fell.

But after a moment, he asked quietly, with a hint of dejection: "Is there really no chance at all? Ms. Orsini, you're still young. You're free to explore other paths. There's no need to tie yourself to one person so early."

Harper was firm: "It's not that I'm tying myself to one person. Even if he weren't in the picture, I still wouldn't consider anyone else."

She shut him down every time, without leaving any opening.

She hoped Mason would stop pushing. It would be better for both of them.

"But how do you know another path wouldn't suit you better if you never try?"

"Mr. Cruz, I don't think you're getting what I'm saying." Harper sat up a little straighter and said calmly: "For me, choosing to be with Caden is my own free choice. If someone tries to interfere with that, they're not respecting my wishes."

"And I already have a child." At the mention of her child, Harper's expression softened, and she touched her belly gently. "I'm grateful for the choice I made. It's given me the happiness I have now."

"Mr. Cruz, you're still young. When you meet someone you truly love, you'll understand. You'll only want her to be happy. You won't want her to leave someone else for you."

She spoke to him gently: "I hope you find your own happiness soon."

After a long pause, Mason gave a dejected nod. "I understand."

He still looked like he hadn't fully accepted it.

But Harper's resolve was so clear that he stayed quiet for the rest of the ride and didn't try to talk her out of anything again.

The mood between them was subdued, and it was in this atmosphere that they arrived to meet Mr. Barnes.

From a distance, Harper spotted him right away. He carried himself with a quiet, refined elegance, combined with a calm, steady strength that made him seem trustworthy at first glance.

Mason brought Harper inside and greeted Mr. Barnes warmly: "Mr. Barnes, this is Ms. Orsini, the one my dad mentioned yesterday. She's a well-known entrepreneur from the next city over. I'm sure you two will have plenty to talk about."

"Harper, this is Mr. Barnes."

Harper smiled and shook his hand: "I've heard so much about you. I'm sorry for dropping by like this. I brought you a small gift."

Mr. Barnes laughed warmly: "Having a talented young person like Ms. Orsini come to visit me — I couldn't be more pleased."

He patted Mason on the shoulder.

The two of them were clearly close. What Mason had said back at the house was no exaggeration.

He really had made a strong impression on Mr. Barnes.

This reclusive man of influence treated Mason the way you'd treat a younger member of your own family.

The three of them walked through the garden pavilions and settled in a café at the back of Mr. Barnes's estate. Along the way, Mr. Barnes and Mason caught up with each other.

Mason, still affected by what Harper had said in the car, seemed a little distracted. He kept glancing at Harper with a complicated look and trying to bring her into the conversation.

The sharp-eyed Mr. Barnes didn't miss any of this.

He raised an eyebrow slightly.

He took in Harper's looks, and something shifted in his expression. A note of wariness crept in.

He rarely saw Mason take such an obvious interest in any woman.

So this Ms. Orsini was no ordinary person.

He jumped to the conclusion that Harper had used Mason to get this introduction.

His opinion of her dropped sharply, and his manner toward her cooled noticeably.

Later, when the three of them were seated in the café and Harper brought up the potential partnership, Mr. Barnes brushed it aside without any warmth: "Ms. Orsini, this is a private gathering today. Let's not talk business."

With that, he politely invited them both to enjoy the tea and the view.

Not a word about the partnership Kyle had already discussed with him the day before.

Harper was caught off guard.

She quietly went back over everything she had done since arriving, trying to figure out what had suddenly put Mr. Barnes off.

She thought about it for a while and came up with nothing.

Meanwhile, Mr. Barnes was casually inviting Mason to try his tea: "Come, try this new batch from my tea garden. Picked right after the first rain. I added a little jasmine. Can you taste it?"

Mason had no idea why Mr. Barnes had suddenly started brushing Harper off.

He was anxious too, and though he started to say something several times, he couldn't find the right words. He just went along with Mr. Barnes: "No wonder I caught a hint of something fragrant. The tea here really is the best."

Everyone likes a compliment.

Mr. Barnes shook his head with a smile: "Young man, if you don't actually like it, don't force yourself to say nice things. I'll send a couple of tins home with you for your father. He'll appreciate it."