Chapter 128
On the way to the airport, David was on the phone ordering expensive gifts.
Nora didn't stop him. It might come in handy.
"Allan Jennings's winery acquired a bottle of red wine last year. It has high collectible value, and the price is pretty reasonable," David mentioned to Michael.
Michael didn't say anything, just looked at Nora.
"How much?" Nora asked.
"Over a million dollars," David smiled.
Nora took a deep breath. "I don't think we should give such an expensive gift. Shadow City is Lyle's open bidding project. The Smith Group is an industry leader. Just coming to discuss this project and taking the initiative to meet him early already shows a lot of respect. In business partnerships, if you give too much face, the other party will push for more."
David was stunned. "But Blue Crab seems a bit too casual, doesn't it?"
"Lyle's mother likes Blue Crab. It's not Blue Crab season right now. What I picked are ones that farmers raised ahead of time in artificial greenhouses, and they're very expensive," Nora defended her Blue Crab choice.
Michael rested his head on one hand and laughed. "How expensive?"
"Three hundred dollars for just one, and I bought fifteen female crabs," Nora said, feeling the pain.
"I still think..." David still felt something wasn't quite right.
"James and Luna arrived in Shadow City early. They must have arranged to meet with Lyle, and knowing Luna's personality, she'll definitely give Lyle expensive gifts. Lyle can clearly see what's going on inside the Smith Group. The more eager someone is to please him, the more it shows they lack confidence. If Luna is trying to please Lyle, we should do the opposite—that shows we have confidence."
Nora spoke softly, glancing at Michael uncertainly.
Michael just looked at her, his gaze deep.
"Mr. Smith, how about we prepare two gifts and see how things go..." Nora lowered her head, lacking confidence.
"Do as Nora says," Michael said flatly.
David opened his mouth, sighed, and gave in. Fine.
Nora's eyes lit up. She sneaked a glance at Michael and nervously clutched her dress, shrinking toward the door.
"Mr. Smith, I looked at Kurt's file from the investment department. His private life is messy—seems like he has quite a few mistresses," Nora quietly changed the subject.
Michael closed his eyes and let out a light snort. "Kurt's greatest skill is getting his mistresses and wife to get along peacefully."
So Nora's idea of targeting his private life wouldn't work well.
"Kurt has many mistresses, and he likes to bring them to events and social functions. Most of them are entertainers, celebrities, or models with top-notch looks and figures. This shows he's extremely confident and very concerned about his face. He's also a veteran employee, so deep down he really values his contributions to the company and thinks the Smith Group would be at a loss without him," Nora quietly analyzed Kurt.
Michael opened his eyes and looked at Nora with surprise. "You understand people very well."
Nora hadn't even met Kurt. She'd figured him out pretty thoroughly just from reading David's investigation report.
"I've been studying psychology for five years in prison," Nora said softly.
Michael's Adam's apple moved, but he said nothing.
Nora was a genius—there was no doubt about that.
But only Nora knew the real reason she studied psychology was to save herself.
Her depression and anxiety were severe. She wanted to save herself.
"Mr. Smith, for this person, do you want to win him over or get rid of him directly?" Nora wanted to hear Michael's opinion.
David slammed on the brakes, stopping at a red light, and turned around in shock to look at Nora. That was quite bold.
Michael instinctively reached out to protect Nora, frowning with displeasure at David. "Can you drive or not?"
"Mr. Smith, I was wrong." David was flexible and always quick to apologize. "Kurt is a veteran employee. Mr. Smith wants to get rid of him, but because he's been with the company for years, firing him directly would cause quite a stir—it would look like we're getting rid of him after using him. So even though we have plenty of dirt on Kurt, it's not good to fire him directly. Mr. Smith has been holding off."
Nora nodded in understanding. "For someone like this, we can let him get carried away, and eventually he'll make mistakes himself."
Michael looked at Nora with great interest. "Is that so?"
"He cares about face, so we give him face. When ability doesn't match position, mistakes happen. I heard the vice president position in operations is open, and Kurt would be the top candidate to compete for it," Nora said with her head down, not daring to look at Michael.
Being stared at by him made her nervous.
"True, Kurt has mentioned it to me many times, but I never agreed," Michael nodded.
"This Shadow City project is an opportunity. Luna and James coming early to find Lyle was too obvious. Luna is already desperate because of the mistress rumors. The more obvious she is, the more panicked you can appear. Use this as an excuse to have me privately 'please' him," Nora said meaningfully, wondering if Michael understood what she meant.
"Your method works, but you don't need to go 'please' him—David will go," Michael frowned.
Having his wife personally please Kurt? Kurt wasn't worth it.
"Whatever needs to be done, just tell David directly. He's your sidekick now anyway," Michael said with a slight smile.
David secretly rolled his eyes and drove carefully.
He was really getting the short end of the stick.
Nora's heart beat a little faster. She looked away toward the car window.
It was really hard not to fall for such an excellent man.
But she didn't deserve him.
Airport, departure lounge.
"Michael, why are you so late? I thought you'd miss the flight. Good thing we can still make it," Aria said with relief, walking over to Michael's side with a gentle voice. "Assistant Jones has been with you so long; how could he still make this kind of mistake?"
David opened his mouth. He'd take the blame for this.
It was because Michael insisted on playing hero and arguing with Evelyn and James, that they would have arrived earlier.
"Michael, I have something to discuss with you," Aria took out her phone. "Lyle sent me an address and said he's arranging everything tonight. He also said he missed me. He pursued me back in school, and I was afraid he'd misunderstand, so I told him about our relationship. You don't mind, do you?"
Aria looked at Michael carefully.
In the chat history, Aria said Michael was her boyfriend, and they were about to get engaged.
Clearly, Nolan had agreed to the Clark family's marriage arrangement, giving Aria confidence.
She deliberately brought up the chat history and the fact that Lyle had pursued her to let Michael know that Lyle was taking the initiative to arrange tonight was entirely because of her.
With her there, this project would be guaranteed.
Aria was telling Nora and Michael that only she was the most valuable person to Michael.
Nora followed behind Michael. Her steps faltered. She didn't know why, but she actually felt envious.
Envious that Aria could become Michael's legitimate fiancée.
"What relationship?" Michael also stopped and asked in a deep voice.