Chapter 38: She Wants to Get Back Together
Efrain's bulky body shuddered, and he slapped the man next to him with all his strength.
"Look what trouble you've gotten me into! Emma can talk directly to Mr. Donovan's assistant! You fucking idiot, you've screwed me over!"
The man was also scared stiff. His lips trembled as he covered his face, not daring to fight back.
"I didn't know, I had no idea Emma had such powerful connections."
Efrain was now sweating profusely with anxiety, deeply regretting his decision to teach Emma a lesson.
But time couldn't be turned back. He stomped his foot hard.
"Tyler said we have to get there within half an hour. If we can't fix this, we're both out of here!"
...
At that moment, Emma was inside the building drinking warm water, being shown around by Tyler.
"Ms. Patterson, your timing isn't great. Mr. Donovan is in a meeting right now. Let me show you around the headquarters."
Hearing his words, Emma secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Things between her and Marcus were still pretty awkward.
If Marcus were still here and they ran into each other, it would actually be worse.
"Thanks. What's the deal with this Efrain guy?"
Emma was curious about who was backing Efrain.
"He's a cousin of Mr. Donovan's distant relative. He has some management experience, so he was put in charge of early construction supervision and personnel coordination."
Tyler was very anxious inside. He really wanted to put in a good word for Marcus in front of Emma.
Otherwise, his career would be over.
"I see." Emma felt contemptuous inside.
With such a distant relationship, did Marcus even know someone was using his name to throw their weight around?
"Ms. Patterson, look, we have our current scale because Mr. Donovan fought for it. Mr. Donovan has this fierce determination—whatever he wants, he'll get it. And he treats his employees really well, with full benefits and overtime pay."
"That's nice."
Emma wasn't very interested in these things and just gave a simple response.
A message came through on her phone. She checked the time.
"I have something to take care of. You can handle the Efrain situation."
Emma left and replied to Daniel's message.
They agreed to meet at a coffee shop.
As soon as she entered, Daniel waved at her, his tone cheerful. "Over here."
Emma sat down and looked curiously at Daniel across from her, unable to figure it out.
"Daniel, what's up? Is there new progress on the surveillance footage?"
"We'll have results soon. I'm not here about that today." Daniel pushed a bank card across to her. "There's fifty million dollars in here. Take it and pay Marcus back."
Emma was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and pushed it back.
"I can't take this money. It's not a small amount. Besides, Daniel, aren't you afraid I'll take the money and run, and never pay you back?"
Emma felt touched but also a bit embarrassed.
"But I'd rather see you free. How about this—consider this money my investment in your studio. According to market rates, I want 30% equity in your company."
Daniel had already guessed Emma wouldn't accept it directly, so he came up with this compromise.
Emma still shook her head to refuse, but before she could speak, the words got stuck in her throat.
Daniel's eyes were gentle. "Friends should help each other. Or are you saying you don't consider me a friend?"
"No," Emma quickly denied it, then after thinking for a moment, smiled. "Okay, I'll take the money then, as your investment in the studio."
Emma touched the bank card, suddenly thinking she should give Marcus a heads up.
[Got time? Coffee shop, come quick.]
Daniel was getting ready to leave.
He had just stood up when a woman burst through the door.
The woman in high heels rushed straight toward Emma, her sequined nails almost poking Emma's forehead.
The woman put her hands on her hips and cursed viciously, "Well, well! I wondered which slut it was! So it's you! You're still not divorced from Marcus, pregnant and seducing my boyfriend! How shameless!"
"Brynn, this is a public place. Please watch your language!"
Daniel immediately stepped in front of Emma, his brows knitted together.
If it weren't for his upbringing preventing him from hitting women, he might have already made a move.
Emma recognized this arrogant woman at once—it was Marcus's distant cousin, Brynn Summers.
When the Donovan family went bankrupt, only her family had helped out with a few tens of thousands of dollars.
So afterward, Marcus was more tolerant of Brynn.
But Brynn had always looked down on Emma's background. Whenever they met in the past, she would always mock Emma.
"Brynn, Daniel and I are just discussing some private matters. You've misunderstood."
For the sake of Daniel's reputation, Emma explained politely.
"I misunderstood? You shameless slut! What private matters can't I know about!"
Brynn was furious. Her family had actively proposed a marriage alliance with the Wilson family.
But Daniel had refused several times, so she secretly followed him, and this is what she saw!
"Daniel! Say something! Is it because of her that you won't consider me!"
Daniel's face darkened, finally losing his patience.
"Enough! I never agreed to any marriage alliance with you. Please leave and stop slandering Emma's reputation!"
Daniel's protective attitude only enraged Brynn further.
"Slut!" She grabbed the unfinished coffee from the table and splashed it toward Emma.
Emma couldn't dodge in time and could only close her eyes.
The next second, her body fell into a warm embrace.
Daniel held her, taking the coffee on his back.
Brynn pointed at them with a trembling finger, her eyes red with grievance. "Fine, you're all bullying me! I'm going to tell Marcus about this."
With that, she ran out.
Emma looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. It feels like nothing good happens to you whenever you're around me."
She laughed self-deprecatingly. "Do you need me to help you buy some clothes? That shirt is probably unwearable now."
"Maybe I've used up all my good luck just by meeting you, Emma. I'm heading back now. Take care of yourself."
Emma nodded in agreement, avoiding Daniel's somewhat suggestive words.