Chapter 126 Introduction to Cooperation
The next day.
Harriet and Flora agreed to meet in front of the skyscraper.
Harriet lived closer, so she arrived first and waited for Flora at the entrance.
Before Flora showed up, she spotted a familiar figure.
Lark was wearing a short skirt and over-the-knee boots, with a white fur coat and carrying a limited edition bag worth millions of dollars, looking every bit like a wealthy lady.
"Harriet? What a coincidence." Lark walked straight up to Harriet. "What are you doing here?"
Harriet felt speechless. "None of your business."
Lark wasn't angry. She said arrogantly, "You're here to shop, right? Well, while Tristan still has a bit of money left, you'd better hurry up and buy a bag or two that you like. Otherwise, when he goes bankrupt, you won't be able to afford anything."
Harriet ignored her and walked away a few steps.
"Don't leave so quickly." Lark caught up. "I say two sentences and you're already unhappy? Are you really that fragile?"
Harriet stopped and turned to look at her. "If you don't go in and buy soon, they'll sell out of bags."
Lark laughed mockingly. "You really are shallow. Do you think I'm here to buy bags?"
"Then are you here chasing after me?" Harriet smiled lightly. "Lark, don't tell me the person you've been in love with all along isn't Tristan, but me."
"Stop being so full of yourself. I'm here today to meet with the owner of this place. I'm on a completely different level than you."
Harriet frowned, not expecting Lark to have made this connection so quickly and already be meeting directly with the consortium boss.
Lark said proudly, "Once I help Owen win over this boss, the Lancaster Group will be unbeatable. I'll be a hero then."
Harriet looked her up and down. "So you're not here to buy bags today, but to sell your body?"
Lark glared at her. "What do you know! Dressing beautifully is showing respect for others. Not like you, dressed like a student every day, so plain and tacky. You look like you're from the countryside!"
Lark laughed disdainfully. "You wouldn't understand even if I explained. Just wait and see."
With that, she swayed her hips and walked toward the building.
"Stop right there." The security guard at the entrance blocked her. "This building prohibits special people from entering."
"Did I hear that wrong? Special people aren't allowed in?" Lark pointed at Flora, who had just arrived. "But you allow middle-aged married women like her to go in?"
The security guard's mouth twitched. "You misunderstood. By special people, I mean prostitutes."
Harriet couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.
Lark's face turned red with anger. "Who are you calling a prostitute!"
"You're dressed like a prostitute. Leave now, or I'll call someone to throw you out."
Lark was about to lose it. "You're just a security guard and you dare talk to me like this? Do you know who I am? I'm Mr. Owen Lancaster's woman from the Lancaster Group!"
"Mr. Owen Lancaster, huh?" The security guard patted his chest. "Am I supposed to be scared? Get lost!"
Not just Lark, even Harriet was stunned.
What kind of background did this mysterious boss have to not even fear Owen's name? And if even his security guards dared to be this arrogant, didn't that mean this boss was extremely powerful?
Lark was so angry she nearly fainted.
And she was humiliated like this right in front of Harriet, which drove her crazy!
"Harriet, what are you laughing at!" Lark gritted her teeth. "If I can't get in, do you think you can? Look at yourself in the mirror and see what you are!"
Flora was about to step forward to argue, but Harriet held her back. "When a dog bites me, I don't usually bite back."
Lark said angrily, "Who are you calling a dog!"
Harriet shrugged. "You, of course."
"You really are from the countryside with no class! No wonder people look down on you!" Lark mocked. "I heard your mother-in-law is desperate, wanting Tristan to marry the young lady from the Borgia family. Talk about desperate measures, even marrying someone who's infertile!"
Harriet felt very uncomfortable hearing this. "We're both women. Do you really need to talk about someone like that behind their back?"
This kind of birth defect couldn't be chosen, and even prenatal testing couldn't detect it.
No one expected you to fully understand others' suffering, but basic respect was necessary.
Lark didn't care. She sneered, "Now you're defending others? Is it because Tristan's about to go bankrupt and you want to cozy up to the Borgia family to help him? Unfortunately, no matter who comes, they can't help you. In Emberfall, my Owen has the final say!"
Harriet smiled. "Then shouldn't you hurry back and serve him well? After all, he's not exactly loyal. Pretty soon there'll probably be younger, prettier women to replace you."
Lark was hit where it hurt, and her face immediately darkened.
This was exactly what she worried about. Men always loved novelty, especially someone like Owen who thought purely with his lower half!
"Harriet, let's not bother with this shameless thing." Flora took Harriet's hand and walked toward the building. "Like the security guard said, she's just a prostitute!"
Lark stamped her feet in anger on the spot.
She had thought Harriet would also be stopped at the entrance, but unexpectedly, not only did the security guard let them through, he even bowed respectfully. "Please, ladies."
Lark was furious.
But at the same time, she became more clear-headed.
She had to secure her position so she could trample all these annoying people under her feet.
She not only had to hold onto Owen, but if she got the chance, she would climb even higher to make herself invincible!
The next afternoon, Finnegan asked Harriet to meet at a coffee shop to sign the contract.
Harriet briefly flipped through the contract and then signed it directly.
Finnegan was quite surprised. "Ms. Getty isn't going to read it carefully? What if I'm trying to trick you?"
Harriet smiled. "I heard that if you lawyers want to manipulate a contract, ordinary people can't tell anyway, so I don't need to look that carefully."
"Ms. Getty is quite interesting."
"Mr. Savoy, if I may ask, are you familiar with that consortium that just came back from abroad?"
Finnegan raised an eyebrow. "Why, is Ms. Getty interested?"
"Yes." Harriet said frankly. "My husband is a business genius. If we could work together, it would be a win-win situation. Mr. Savoy has wide connections, so I'd like to ask you to help make an introduction."
"If I may be frank." Finnegan stirred his coffee with a small spoon. "Ms. Getty should have heard the saying that people who once had great achievements, after experiencing setbacks, actually don't live as comfortably as ordinary people. In my opinion, your husband is in exactly this situation now."
"I don't think so." Harriet's lips curved slightly. "My husband knew from the start what he would lose, but he still resolutely gave up the family business. In my view, he's a very courageous person. Not everyone has that kind of courage."
"Defending him like this, do you love him very much?"
"Of course, he's my husband." Harriet said without hesitation.
"I've always been happy to help others." Finnegan drank his coffee. "I can help you make an introduction. As for whether you can reach a cooperation, that depends on Ms. Getty."
Harriet raised her coffee cup. "Thank you, Mr. Savoy. I won't forget your help."
"Ms. Getty is too kind."
On Saturday, the Johnson family sent Chase to Lakeside Gardens.
Harriet went down to receive him, but didn't expect it to be Nolan who brought Chase.
Nolan didn't get out of the car, just rolled down the window. "I heard Tristan is being restricted by Owen and his new company can't move forward. Do you need my help?"
"Thank you." Harriet politely declined. "I don't interfere with his work, but I think he probably doesn't need it."
Given Tristan's personality, he would never accept Nolan's help.
Nolan didn't insist. "I'll come pick up Chase later. Let me know anytime if you need help."
"Okay."
Harriet took Chase upstairs. The two of them sat in front of the sofa drawing and listening to Chase talk about the interesting things from his week.
Harriet took time to cut up a fruit plate, gave it to Chase first, then brought some to Tristan.
The study door wasn't closed. Harriet stood at the doorway and saw Tristan working at his computer.
They say men are most handsome when they're focused, and Tristan proved this saying once again.
Really handsome.
Harriet knocked on the door twice before walking in. "Eat something and take a break."
"Okay." Tristan took a sip of coffee. "Tastes good."
Harriet's lips curved. "I'll go buy groceries and cook in a bit. Can you help watch Chase?"
"Okay."
For dinner, she added two dishes that Chase loved. He ate with particular joy. "Harriet, can I stay at your house tonight?"
Before Harriet could speak, Tristan cut in. "No."
Chase turned to look at him. "Why not?"
Tristan asked, "If you stay, you'll want to sleep with Harriet again, won't you?"
"Of course."
"So no. She's my wife. She can only sleep with me."
Chase said indignantly, "You're so stingy!"
Harriet laughed heartily.
Seeing Chase upset, Harriet could only explain, "Chase, children can't easily stay over at other people's houses. Your dad will worry about you. And you've already been out all afternoon, so you should spend the evening with your dad."
"Okay then." Chase reluctantly agreed. "But Harriet, I want to come play with you again next week."
"No problem."