Chapter 20
After finishing breakfast, Oscar asked for my opinion: "How about you show me around?"
I was indeed more familiar with this place than he was.
"If you really don't have anything else to do, want to come watch a good show with me?" I suggested with a smile.
"Let's go." Oscar didn't ask any questions, just grabbed my hand and headed out.
His palm felt a bit hot. I wanted to shake his hand off, but he held it tight. With so many people around the villa, I couldn't make it too obvious, so I just let him hold it until we got in the car.
"Where to? I'm your driver and bodyguard today." Oscar said to me with a smile.
"Lumina Trade Center. Actually, never mind, you're not familiar with it. I'll drive instead." I got up to switch positions with him.
"Not familiar? That's what GPS is for. With me here, just relax and enjoy the ride. Actually, I can be not just a driver and bodyguard, but also a human shopping bag. Buy whatever you want, I'll carry it." Oscar said with a smile while entering the address and starting the car.
I turned to look at him: "Mr. Lopez, do other people know you're like this?"
Oscar shrugged: "Other people aren't my fiancée. Why call me Mr. Lopez? Call me honey."
I really wanted to slap him right then: "It's fake."
Oscar smiled: "Fake or not, still your husband, right? We have a contract. Be professional - there's a dashcam in the car."
I reached over and deleted the recording from the dashcam, then leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes to rest.
"Didn't sleep well last night?" Oscar asked softly.
"Yeah, I'm still not quite used to it." I could only give a vague answer - I could delete one segment from the dashcam, but couldn't delete everything.
"That's my fault, too. I wore you out too much last night. I'll be more careful next time." Oscar said with a smile, his expression unchanged.
What nonsense was he talking about? I stared at him wide-eyed, only to see him smiling mischievously, as if certain I wouldn't dare contradict him.
"You're still talking? Besides getting drool all over my face, what else can you do? I heard medication can help with that. How about I go to the hospital with you sometime? A lot of men finish too quickly during sex - it's nothing to be ashamed of." I smiled smugly as I shot back.
Now it was Oscar's turn to stare: "I... you... Fine, you're right, I didn't satisfy you..."
If we kept going, the conversation would turn completely inappropriate. I reached over and covered his mouth: "Just drive."
The atmosphere seemed to lighten up. Even though we'd only been working together for three days, we were as comfortable as old friends who'd known each other for years.
We soon arrived at Lumina Trade Center. The top floor housed an upscale restaurant, and since it was morning, there weren't many people inside.
I spotted Jasper Brown sitting in a corner by the window - my so-called biological brother, now the new CEO of the Brown Group.
He hadn't attended Oscar's welcome party, so naturally, he didn't recognize us. Watching me walk straight toward him with Oscar, his face showed confusion for a moment before he smiled and stood up to greet us. His tone carried a hint of flattery as he extended his hand: "You must be Ms. Wilson? I didn't expect you to be so young. Hello, hello, I'm Jasper, the one who's been in contact with you."
I walked past with Oscar and sat down elegantly nearby: "Mr. Brown, you're too kind. Please, sit."
Jasper awkwardly withdrew his outstretched hand, his face still wearing a smile: "Ms. Wilson, about the lease for the third floor of Lumina Trade Center, I think we really need to discuss this properly."
I raised my hand to interrupt him, saying coolly: "It's not that I'm unwilling to continue leasing to you - I have my own needs now. Besides, I've already cleared out the fourth floor. The third floor is still occupied only because of your long-term lease. I've already given you several months' buffer time; otherwise, you should have moved out long ago."
Jasper's smile froze for a moment: "Ms. Wilson, they say a sale doesn't break a lease. Now that you've bought these two floors, we can discuss this further. If it's about the rent, that's negotiable."
I waved over two coffees and casually crossed my legs, leaning back comfortably against the chair: "Of course, I know a sale doesn't break a lease, but your two-year contract has already expired. I know this used to be the Brown Group's property, and when you sold it to someone else, you said you'd have priority use."
I slowly sipped my coffee and continued: "But now I'm the owner. I bought it because I have my own plans. Since the contract has expired, there's nothing wrong with not renewing the lease, right?"
Jasper sighed: "But didn't we say we'd discuss this in person when you returned to the country?"
"Right, and I'm telling you in person that I really can't lease it to you anymore. Your rent expires in three days. After three days, I'll come for the inspection." I said to him with a smile.
Seeing I didn't seem to be joking, Jasper's face showed such difficulty that he looked ready to cry: "Ms. Wilson, our company has so many employees. Finding a place right now is really difficult on such short notice. Could you be a bit more flexible? Could we renew for one more year? After one year, I promise we'll move out."
I shrugged: "You said it yourself - suitable places are hard to find right now. My own company's employees are waiting to report to the office. Right now they're all working from home, which is difficult for me too."
Jasper sighed and finally could only answer with a frown: "Please wait a moment, I need to make a call."
Watching him walk out of the restaurant, Oscar quietly asked, "When did you buy this place? What kind of company are you running? Can I invest?"
"I bought it two years ago. I've been waiting for this day." I smiled at him.
Ten minutes later, Jasper returned, with Gregory and Sophia following behind him.
Seeing Oscar and me, they were both shocked: "Uncle Oscar? How is it you two?"
Sophia pointed at me: "Jasper, don't tell me it's this woman who wants to take back our company's leased space?"
Jasper forcefully pushed Sophia's hand down, still wearing a smile for me: "So it turns out we know each other? That makes it even better, right? We can discuss this properly."
Gregory looked at us: "So the landlord you mentioned is Emily?"
Oscar smiled as he reminded him: "You'd better call her Ms. Wilson. Looks like yesterday's beating wasn't harsh enough - you still dare to call an elder by their first name. Your manners..."
Gregory's face instantly turned red to his ears. He quickly lowered his head, his attitude softening: "I'm sorry, Uncle Oscar. I didn't expect this to be bought by Ms. Wilson. The Brown Group has been here for over ten years. If we suddenly move locations, not only would various procedures be troublesome, but who knows what the public opinion would be like? The Lopez and Brown families have always been on good terms. Ms. Wilson, could we discuss this a bit more..."
I put on an official smile, but my words were firm: "Strictly speaking, I'm not a member of your Lopez family right now. If your Lopez family has a good relationship with them, then find them a suitable place. I need this space. Business is business - there's no room for negotiation."
Sophia frowned at me: "You're doing this on purpose. You're absolutely doing this on purpose. Jasper, it's just one floor. If we can't use it, we can't use it. We don't need to beg this woman."
I laughed lightly, picked up the coffee on the table, and took a small sip, looking at Sophia with a relaxed tone: "Ms. Brown has quite the backbone. In that case, Mr. Brown, forget about three days from now. By the end of today, I want the Brown Group to get the hell out of my property."