Chapter113 A New Partnership
Jack looked at this young, confident woman before him, and saw himself in his youth.
That refusal to give up. That courage to burn bridges.
After a long silence.
Jack suddenly laughed, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.
"Good!"
He slammed his hand on the desk. "You're right. We've been suppressed and squeezed out for years. Hundreds of employees depend on this company. I can't let them lose their jobs."
"This partnership, I'm signing!"
Half an hour later, the contract was signed.
Miranda looked at the bright red company seal, finally feeling the weight lift from her chest.
"Miranda, to celebrate our successful partnership, how about lunch together?" Jack was in high spirits, extending the invitation.
"I'd be honored." Miranda smiled and accepted.
Jack chose a well-known Western restaurant nearby.
They'd just found a table by the window and sat down, hadn't even ordered yet, when a snide voice came from nearby.
"Well, well, if it isn't Miranda."
Miranda's hand tightened on the menu. She looked up.
It was that nauseating Max again.
Max wore a gaudy bright-colored suit, a young model on his arm, looking at them with pure mockery.
When his gaze fell on Jack across from her, the mockery intensified.
"Well, well, I wondered who it was. It's Jack."
Max burst into exaggerated laughter, his voice grating. "Miranda, is this what you've been reduced to? Scrounging through the trash? Actually partnering with a company that's about to go under?"
Jack's face turned ashen, his hand trembling slightly around his water glass.
"Max, watch your mouth!"
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
Max spread his hands smugly. "Your company, besides a bunch of junk you can't sell, what do you have left? I guess only someone desperate like Miranda would treat you like treasure."
Miranda slowly set down her menu, her eyes icy as she looked at Max.
"Max, you have terrible judgment."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chill. "Jack's company has stood in this industry for years on solid technology and reputation, not by bootlicking others like some nouveau riche."
"You...!" Max's expression darkened.
"Compared to partnering with someone who has no integrity and only knows how to kiss up to power."
Miranda's lips curved into a mocking smile. "I'd much rather choose a partner with backbone and foundation. Even if they're going through a rough patch, they're still a hundred times better than certain people."
Every word was aimed at Max.
Max turned red with rage, about to explode.
Suddenly, a commotion arose at the entrance.
"Harrison, the foie gras here is excellent."
A sweet, cloying female voice.
Then Harrison's deep, magnetic voice responded. "Good. Whatever you want."
Seeing who had arrived, Max immediately changed his tune, forgetting all about Miranda.
"Harrison, you're here."
"I've reserved the best private room for you."
Harrison wore a custom-tailored suit, his posture impeccable.
Beside him, Ariana wore the latest designer dress of the season, her face glowing with happy satisfaction.
The two looked very intimate.
They were walking from a direction that put their backs to Miranda, naturally not seeing that she was also at the restaurant.
They walked straight toward Max.
Miranda's lips curved into a mocking smile. So what she'd overheard in the break room yesterday was true.
Her project really had been stolen by Harrison.
This was the man she'd loved for three years.
This was the marriage she'd once treasured.
Miranda closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced down the sting in them.
"Jack."
When Miranda opened her eyes again, they were clear and cold.
She picked up her water glass and raised it toward Jack, her voice eerily calm.
"Looks like we'll need to work even harder."
"Not just to make money."
She turned, her gaze piercing through the crowd, boring into Harrison's lofty back, her lips curling into a resolute, cold smile.
"But to show certain blind people who'll be laughing last."
Jack saw the light in her eyes and nodded firmly, raising his glass to clink with hers.
"Cheers!"
The private room door shut out the noise outside.
"Harrison, this one's for you."
Max held his wine glass with both hands. "Thank you for trusting us and choosing our company. Rest assured, partnering with Whitmore, we'll give two hundred percent, absolutely won't let you down."
Harrison sat in the head seat, casually swirling his wine glass.
Hearing Max's words, he came back to attention, his lips curving in a faint smile that held no warmth.
"Don't thank me."
He glanced at Ariana sitting beside him, his expression softening slightly. "Ariana saw the potential in your company. I've never been good at refusing her requests."
Hearing this, Max turned his glass toward Ariana, his smile broadening. "Ariana, thank you for seeing our value!"
Today Ariana wore a pure white designer dress, her makeup flawless, looking like an untainted lily.
She raised her juice glass, smiling somewhat shyly.
"You're too kind, Mr. Max. I just felt your company was very dynamic and aligned well with Harrison's business. I don't really understand business matters. Harrison has to make the final call."
She looked up at Harrison, her eyes full of adoration. "As long as Harrison thinks it's good, then it definitely is."
Harrison enjoyed this adoring gaze, smiling back.
The atmosphere among them seemed quite harmonious.
However, in the instant she lowered her head to sip her juice, the innocent look in Ariana's eyes vanished, replaced by a flash of triumphant satisfaction.
Only she knew that seeing potential in Max's company was a complete lie.
After looking at Miranda's project materials yesterday, she'd deliberately had someone track Miranda's schedule.
Learning that Miranda was meeting with Max, she'd privately hinted to Max that Harrison didn't want to see his ex-wife succeeding in business, and anyone who partnered with Miranda was going against Whitmore.
Hearing that, Max, desperate to climb the Whitmore tree, had rejected Miranda without hesitation, no matter how good her project was.
Ariana lightly ran her fingers over the glass, laughing coldly inside.
Miranda, oh Miranda, you never saw this coming, did you?
This partnership is mine now!
Harrison's words in the lobby yesterday had stuck in her heart like a thorn.
So what if Miranda could iron shirts, cook, and be a housewife?
She, Ariana, would prove her own value.
Once she helped Harrison in business, he'd definitely forget about Miranda.
"Ariana, what are you thinking about? You look so happy." Harrison noticed her staring at her glass with a smile and asked casually.
Ariana snapped back, immediately putting on a sweet smile, resting her head on Harrison's shoulder.
"Nothing. I'm just happy I could help Harrison."