Chapter 416 Dressing Exactly Like Thalia
Michael had just returned to his regular hotel. The car had barely stopped in the parking lot, and before he could get out, he saw a woman step out of a black business van wearing a knitted cardigan over a white cotton-linen dress, her long hair flowing down. Her demeanor was gentle and easygoing, almost identical to the person he usually encountered.
This version of Thalia somehow gave off a tender vibe.
"Mr. Jimenez," Henry called out, somewhat puzzled, seeing Thalia leaning against the car.
His tone carried a questioning note.
"You go up first."
Henry added, "There's something I don't know if I should say."
Michael's hand slowly withdrew from the door handle. "Go ahead."
"Every time you meet Ms. Smith, you seem to lose all your principles." It was like this every time. Plus, after what happened at tonight's banquet, Thalia showing up now clearly had ulterior motives, yet Michael was still eager to engage. It didn't make sense.
"Really?" Michael's hand hesitated, not knowing whether to put it down or not.
Thalia saw the car had been sitting there for a while with no movement, so she walked over and tapped on the window. "Mr. Jimenez."
"Ms. Smith," the window rolled down, revealing Michael's face.
Thalia tugged at her lips, looking down at him. "We're going to talk like this?"
Michael nodded, pushed open the car door, and got out, taking Thalia to the hotel rooftop via elevator. The rooftop lounge bar was open for business with just a few customers scattered about. Overlooking the river view, the environment was quiet, with pleasant French songs flowing from the bar's speakers.
"Ms. Smith, you're looking for me. What's up?"
"Something big," Thalia nodded.
Michael ordered a drink and took a light sip. "For you to come to me with something big, that's not easy."
Thalia tugged at her clothes, blocking the river breeze. "I'll be direct. I need the list you have."
"What list?"
Thalia's slender back leaned against the chair as she swirled the glass in her hand. "Mr. Jimenez, don't you want this fight to end sooner?"
"Of course!"
"But I should at least know who my ally is in this struggle, right? Is it you, or Mr. Brown?"
"Does it make a difference?" Thalia asked back.
"If you two are husband and wife, then no difference. If not..."
Neither Thalia nor William was fundamentally the type to give up themselves up for anyone else. They both had their own positions.
Working with either of them required careful consideration.
"I see!" Thalia thought for a moment. "Then I'll go back and work on that."
Michael added, "Work on eliminating my concerns, or work on becoming Mr. Brown's wife?"
"If I become Mr. Brown's wife, won't all your concerns be eliminated?"
Thalia really knew how to solve problems at their root!
"Ms. Smith, do you like Mr. Brown?"
"Of course! What woman wouldn't love such a handsome man?"
"Ms. Smith, you value appearance?"
"Someone like me can only look at appearances. Mr. Brown has everything I have, so if I'm not after his looks, what else would I be after?" Thalia propped her chin and leaned her face closer to him, blinking flirtatiously. Her lazy yet alluring manner made Michael's heart skip a beat.
Someone like Thalia didn't even need to lift a finger to have plenty of people fall for her.
"Mr. Jimenez, our focus is the list in your hands."
Michael pulled out his phone and handed it to Thalia, the meaning was clear, add me as a contact.
Thalia knew that when asking someone for a favor, she had to go along with what they wanted.
"I'll send you the list."
"Mr. Jimenez, you can name your conditions."
Michael sent the file over. Thalia opened it and glanced through, it was clear down to the time points, what was delivered, and how much it was worth.
"This is..." Michael waved his phone. "Being able to add you as a contact is already getting what I wanted."
Thalia didn't like owing people favors. Michael's words clearly meant he was saving the favor to use later.
"Mr. Jimenez, don't you want something more practical?"
"Like what?" Michael asked back.
"You name it."
"Anything?" Michael continued asking.
Thalia felt this line sounded exactly like what she'd say when setting up William.
After hesitating, she still nodded. "Of course."
"What if I want you?"
Thalia was speechless.
"Ms. Smith, your look of disgust is a bit too obvious."
Thalia looked at Michael, rose slightly, looking down at him from above, leaning close until their noses almost touched, the atmosphere thick with tension. "You like me?"
"I admit it."
"Then you're going to be heartbroken, because..." Thalia's fingertip brushed the hair on his forehead. "My heart belongs to someone else."
...
"Sent it to you."
Thalia had just settled into the business van when William handed her a water cup. "You worked hard."
"That's it?"
"Name your demands," William was in a good mood, holding Thalia's hand and pulling out a wet wipe to clean it. "Talking is one thing, but don't get handsy. Aren't you grossed out?"
Thalia was speechless.
"Mr. Brown, is your possessiveness really that strong?"
"Being possessive of my wife, is that illegal?"
...
"Mr. Jimenez."
"Ms. Smith left."
"I know," Michael picked up his glass and drained the liquor in one gulp.
Henry watched, feeling he looked exactly like a man who'd lost at love.
Not wanting to say much, seeing how happy Thalia looked when she left, she'd clearly gotten what she wanted.
Without a doubt, Michael's principles didn't work when it came to Thalia.
"I'm going for a drink, do as you like."
Henry watched him leave, wanting to say something but feeling his position was awkward, so he kept quiet.
In the bar booth, Michael had just ordered drinks and sat down when someone approached.
"Sir, alone?"
Michael's eyes swept over the person without responding.
The woman, wearing a revealing short skirt, sidled up next to him. "Being alone is so boring. Let me keep you company."
"Get lost..." Michael couldn't stand these kinds of women, leaving a cheap perfume smell on him.
"You..."
"Sis, Dad sent me to bring you home."
Before the woman could finish, a college-aged girl burst into the booth, her long hair pulled back low, wearing a camel-colored long cardigan with jeans and a t-shirt, radiating youthful energy.
In the dim bar lighting, Michael watched the girl tussle with the woman beside him, and Thalia's image inexplicably came to mind.
This girl in front of him dressed almost identically to Thalia, one was just a designer version, the other a budget version.