Chapter 90 Conflict between Adrian and Nathaniel

Chapter 90 Conflict between Adrian and Nathaniel

Adrian's car, although it rear-ended the car in front, was still good to go.

Victoria turned, yanked the door open, and plopped back down next to Adrian.

Maybe feeling guilty, Victoria picked up on a weird vibe in the car and figured Adrian was onto her.

Out of the blue, Adrian let out a chuckle, shattering the quiet.

"What are you laughing at?" Victoria asked warily.

He glanced at her, and with a smirk, said, "That old guy, he's such a greedy and lecherous man. Doesn't he worry about dying at a woman's hands?"

Victoria shot Adrian a look, firing back, "Like you're any better."

"Me?" Adrian raised an eyebrow, as if he'd just heard the best joke ever.

"I've got much better taste than that. I go for prickly roses like you, not delicate flowers that crumble at a touch."

His eyes lingered suggestively on Victoria's curves.

"You rogue!"

"Well, if that's how you see it, not making a move might come off as disrespectful!"

With that, Adrian leaned in, his warm breath edging closer.

Ready for it, Victoria pushed his firm chest with her hand, putting some space between them.

Frowning, she warned coolly, "Keep acting shameless, and I won't hold back!"

Adrian gazed at her for a moment, the teasing in his eyes fading, suddenly more composed.

"Let's hit the road."

The driver, who'd been avoiding the rearview mirror, felt relieved to get the cue to drive.

The car smoothly pulled up at Cross Mansion. Victoria stepped out, followed by Adrian.

As they entered the living room one after the other, a heavy, tense atmosphere enveloped them.

Nathaniel sat on the couch, the main light off, only a soft glow from a floor lamp.

His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up to show his strong forearms.

With one hand supporting his head, he rubbed the deep line between his brows, looking completely drained.

At the sound of footsteps, Nathaniel slowly lifted his head, his deep eyes looking even more intense in the dim light.

"You're back," his voice was a bit rough.

"Uncle Nathaniel," Adrian stepped closer and stood before him.

Victoria also greeted softly, "Mr. Cross."

Nathaniel's eyes scanned them both, settling on Adrian, and he cut to the chase, "Any updates on the bid?"

Adrian nodded, his tone back to its usual calm, "Just spoke with Frank; he seems somewhat interested in teaming up with us."

"Teaming up?" Nathaniel's brows furrowed instantly, displeasure evident on his tired face, his voice turning icy, "I told you to secure that land, not to play second fiddle to ApexForge Builders and be Frank's lackey!"

His words hit Adrian like a slap.

"Uncle Nathaniel, if we take on ApexForge Builders directly now, we might come out empty-handed!"

"Don't try to cover up your shortcomings!" Nathaniel's tone was blunt.

Whenever these two crossed paths, sparks flew. Victoria no longer felt as intimidated as before.

"My shortcomings?" Adrian's expression darkened, finally releasing his pent-up frustration, "Uncle Nathaniel! You can't be so unreasonable!"

"How many men have you lost, how much business have you lost dealing with Phantom Nexus? Have you thought about that?"

"Do you think this doesn't affect Genesis Corporation? Our financial rope is already stretched thin! If we keep clashing with ApexForge Builders without weighing the cost, we'll go belly up sooner or later!"

Adrian's urgency rang through his voice.

"So, teaming up with ApexForge Builders is our best shot for now. Let's secure the land together first, then we can talk control down the line!"

At this, Nathaniel just sneered, the sarcasm in his eyes weighing heavily on Adrian.

Without a word or defense, the room fell into a heavy silence.

After a while, Nathaniel spoke again, his tone firm, "The issue with Phantom Nexus will be resolved soon."

He rose to his feet, his imposing figure radiating immense pressure in the light, his gaze sharp like a hawk fixed on Adrian.

"Remember, don't bend unless absolutely necessary."

"Why?" Adrian couldn't help but ask, "Business is about give and take. Making temporary concessions serves long-term goals. Don't you see the futility of this arrogance?"

"No explanation," Nathaniel's eyes deep as an abyss, "Just follow my lead."

With that decisive statement, any chance for further discussion was cut off.

Adrian's hands clenched into fists at his sides, veins popping on the back of his hands.

He glared at Nathaniel, his eyes swirling with resentment and anger, but ultimately gave in to a sense of helplessness.

In this man's presence, he always felt like a mere child following orders.

"Fine." He forced out the word through gritted teeth, then turned on his heel and strode out of the mansion, his back rigid with suppressed fury.

In the living room, only Nathaniel and Victoria remained.

The tension from their argument still hung in the air.

Victoria gazed at Nathaniel's weary profile, hesitated briefly, then spoke softly, "Mr. Nathaniel Cross, why... won't you have a proper talk with Mr. Adrian Cross?"

"A dimwit who can't see such a simple matter clearly, what's there to discuss with him?" Nathaniel replied impatiently, his irritation seeping into his voice.

"But... if you don't clarify, he'll never grasp your intentions. Prolonged silence will only worsen things," Victoria bravely suggested.

In the past, she wouldn't have dared to speak so boldly.

But at some point, maybe after enduring so much, she found herself naturally sharing her thoughts in his presence.

Upon hearing her words, Nathaniel glanced at her, the hostility in his eyes softening slightly.

He chuckled lightly, reaching out to pull her to sit beside him.

"You're getting more involved," his fingers gently caressed the back of her hand, "I get the deal with me and Adrian. But you, have you thought about which business path to take since I asked you last time?"

He smoothly changed the subject, clearly avoiding the previous discussion.

Resting her head on his shoulder, Victoria pondered for a moment, then lifted her head, meeting his gaze with determination, "I want to join Genesis Corporation."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Why's that?"

"My family had a small startup before, and I learned a lot about business operations from them. I believe I can contribute in that area," Victoria explained sincerely, "And... I want to support you more."

The last sentence was spoken with a mix of lightness and determination.

Nathaniel looked at her, a blend of complex emotions flickering in his eyes.

"Alright," he nodded, a meaningful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "Adrian has been tied up with land bidding lately. You can assist him and keep him in check for me, make sure he doesn't stir up trouble for me."

"I'm on it," Victoria agreed obediently.

Nathaniel grunted in approval, then rose, weariness etched on his face. Without a word, he headed straight upstairs.

Victoria watched his tired figure, a slight pang in her chest. Following him, she saw Nathaniel entering the master bedroom's bathroom.

Soon, the sound of running water filled the room.

Through the frosted glass door, a tall, sturdy silhouette was faintly visible.

Broad shoulders, trim waist, long powerful legs—every line exuded strength and beauty, like a flawless ancient Greek sculpture.