Chapter 130
"Michael, I heard Luna and James came to Shadow City early. Lyle said their assistant sent gifts worth three million dollars. I know you don't want to give this project to James, after all..." Aria sighed, looking like she was worried for Michael. "Nori, what gift did you prepare for Lyle?"
Aria wanted to see Nora make a fool of herself.
If the gift were cheaper than what James and Luna prepared for Lyle, she'd definitely be laughed at.
"Blue Crab," Nora said quietly.
Aria expected Nora wouldn't prepare anything fancy, but hearing "Blue Crab" made her think she'd misheard.
"Blue Crab," Nora said again.
Aria paused for a moment, then laughed out loud with her hand over her mouth. "Nori, are you serious?"
After mocking Nora, Aria quickly turned to Michael. "Michael, what kind of gift is Blue Crab? That won't work. Our gift can't be worse than James's. Good thing I prepared a backup, otherwise we'd be embarrassed this time."
Pretending to be relieved, Aria looked at Nora with mock reproach. "Nori, next time you need to prepare a gift, ask me, and I'll help you pick one, okay?"
Nora lowered her head and said nothing.
She thought someone as rich as Lyle wouldn't care about how much money was spent. She'd put a lot of thought into the Blue Crab.
"The Blue Crab Nora prepared is very valuable," Michael said in a low voice, clearly displeased.
"Blue Crab, how expensive?" Aria smiled, wanting to hear how expensive a crab could be for Michael to consider it valuable.
"Three hundred dollars each." Nora was a bit afraid to look up at Michael.
Aria thought this was the funniest thing she'd heard all day and couldn't help laughing again. "Nori, you're so cute."
"What do you think is expensive to Lyle? A big boss worth over ten billion dollars cares about cash value? What's valuable is the thought behind it." Michael warned Aria sternly to stop mocking Nora.
Aria really couldn't laugh anymore and quickly turned to greet Lyle, who was coming out of the hotel.
"You performed very poorly today. One day's salary deducted." Michael took the opportunity to 'threaten' Nora.
Earlier, Aria was practically leaning all over him - didn't she see that?
Nora felt wronged and asked quietly, "Mr. Smith, when did you become allergic to women?"
This wasn't mentioned during training - they only said Michael had severe OCD.
"Before boarding the plane." Michael lowered his voice and snorted, then walked straight toward Lyle.
Nora stood there, stunned.
Before boarding the plane? He just became allergic to women?
"Mr. Warner, I came early. Hope I'm not being too forward." Michael stepped forward and shook hands with Lyle.
Lyle also gave Michael plenty of respect by personally coming to the hotel to meet them. "Not at all, I couldn't wait to meet Mr. Smith."
The two exchanged business pleasantries, then started praising Aria. "Aria contacted me half a month ago, insisting I clear my schedule. I've set aside the whole day for you two."
Lyle had obviously seen the online news, since the Smith family had already acknowledged Aria as their daughter-in-law.
"Mr. Warner is too kind. Aria went to a lot of trouble with this. To me, she's like a little sister. When she gets married someday, I'll definitely prepare a generous wedding gift for her." Michael said politely.
Lyle paused, looking at Aria in surprise. Sister?
Didn't Nolan tell reporters the two families were planning a marriage alliance? Did he not get Michael's approval?
Interesting.
"Aria is a good girl. I admired her back in college." Lyle smiled and changed the subject.
Aria's expression soured, her fingers clenching.
"We came in a rush and didn't prepare a big gift. The Blue Crab Nori had sent over in advance - did your mother receive it? Is she satisfied?" Michael asked casually, his personality as cold as ever.
Hearing Michael call her name, Nora awkwardly walked over. "Mr. Warner, long time no see."
Lyle's steps faltered, the smile in his eyes slowly freezing, then turning to shock. "Nora?"
Nora smiled awkwardly.
Aria was shocked, too. Nora and Lyle knew each other? "You know Nora?"
"Nori is also an alumna, a genius in the finance department. She achieved the top score in our department that year. As student council president, I personally welcomed her." Lyle said with a smile, clearly pleasantly surprised. "What a coincidence. So Nori and Mr. Smith are..."
Michael narrowed his eyes, looking at Nora meaningfully. She really did keep surprising him. "My assistant."
"To have our department's genius working as an assistant - only Mr. Smith could manage that." Lyle laughed heartily, clearly dropping his guard and formality with Michael. "Nori, whatever Michael is paying you, how about I offer double?"
Nora felt awkward and kept her head down without speaking.
Lyle went abroad to study in the second half of his senior year and only returned to take over the family business in recent years. He probably didn't know what she'd been through.
The two years she knew Lyle were when she was at her peak.
"Mr. Warner is already trying to poach my talent. Looks like I'll have to put in some effort to keep her." Michael said with a smile, clearly staking his claim.
Lyle caught the meaning in Michael's words, glanced at Aria, then at Nora, but said nothing.
They were all business people - they understood.
"So the Blue Crab was Nori's choice. No wonder my mom loved it so much and kept praising it, saying to get Blue Crab of that quality this season really showed thoughtfulness." Lyle was clearly in a good mood, finding topics to chat with Nora about.
Meanwhile, Aria, who had asked Lyle out as a "junior classmate," stood there feeling increasingly awkward.
She shot Nora a resentful look. Aria was becoming more convinced that Nora was a threat - in every way.
As the daughter of the Clark family, Aria had been too proud since childhood. She wouldn't allow anyone to stand in front of her, especially not another woman trying to take what was hers.
"Mr. Smith, would you mind if Nori rode in my car? We haven't seen each other in six or seven years. I'm really happy today." Lyle asked Nora to go with him.
Aria smiled. "Of course, that's fine. I'm sure Nori must miss you, too."
Since Lyle had asked, Michael certainly couldn't refuse and lose face.
Aria was quite pleased - at least she'd gotten rid of Nora, that burden.
This way, she could be alone with Michael.
Without Nora around, Aria believed Michael still had special feelings for her.
Before Nora appeared, Michael had expressed guilt about what happened back then and said he would take responsibility and help the Clark family in business as much as possible.
"Michael, what do you think?" Seeing Michael's dark expression, Aria asked with a smile.
Lyle and Nora were also waiting for Michael's answer.
"Mr. Smith, Mr. Warner, and I really haven't seen each other in a long time. Let us catch up." Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Nora volunteered to ride in Lyle's car.
Michael's expression was terrible. He secretly glared at Nora - it seemed deducting one day's salary was too light a punishment.