Chapter 153 Will the Boss Make Things Difficult for Nora?
As soon as Nora came down from the company building and walked to the parking lot, about to get into her van, she heard a noise nearby.
She glanced over and frowned when she saw who it was. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to scout locations."
"What do you mean?"
Thalia let out a light laugh, fiddling with her nails. "You know, the city is doing this corporate reorganization thing. Our company isn't in the reorganization zone, so I thought I'd come check out office buildings in this area. And look... what a coincidence running into you here."
Nora's eyes tightened. She had heard about this proposal a while back, but she never thought Thalia would be someone who'd actually follow through with it.
Was she here looking at office buildings because she wanted to move upstairs or downstairs from them to be their neighbor?
"I'd advise you not to choose this place."
"Why not?" Thalia pretended not to understand.
"It's expensive."
"That's easy. I can just sell a handbag."
Nora's expression hardened. She couldn't stand Thalia's attitude of flaunting her wealth.
Remembering she had an important task today, Nora glanced at Thalia. "Whatever makes you happy."
"Leaving already?"
As soon as Thalia finished speaking, a gust of wind blew in from the parking lot entrance, carrying Nora's perfume scent to her nose.
The heavy cedarwood smell made Thalia feel a bit uncomfortable.
"I'd advise you to change your perfume, so you don't overwhelm the big shots."
Thalia's response was met with a loud slam of the car door.
Inside the car, Nora sniffed herself and looked at her assistant. "Is my perfume too strong?"
The assistant nodded carefully. "A little bit."
Nora was speechless. "...Open the windows."
..........
"Mr. Brown, we're here."
William had a dinner engagement tonight. Finn drove him to the location, and seeing the car stop, the person in the back seat still had his eyes on his tablet, so he spoke up to remind him.
"You found the person today. What did they say?"
Finn thought for a moment. "Nothing much really."
"Mr. Brown, Kurt is coming out."
In the passenger seat, Brian watched as the door of the private restaurant opened and a middle-aged man walked out confidently, accompanied by a well-dressed woman.
The woman wore a pink dress that showed off her perfect waistline, with a shallow V-neck that was both revealing and modest—a conservative yet alluring outfit.
At first, he only noticed the woman's figure without seeing her face clearly. But when she walked closer, leaving the dim lighting behind her, Brian and Finn simultaneously let out an exclamation.
"What!"
"What is it?" William paused, his hand about to push open the car door, looking at Brian and Finn with some confusion.
"Boss, the person with Kurt is Nora."
William still frowned.
Brian filled him in. "Nora is Mrs. Brown's competitor in the entertainment industry. Now Nora has signed with Linda's company—that's today's incident's leading lady. I heard Linda's side lost an Andrew and gained a Nora. Because of this, Mrs. Brown has been having a hard time on set."
"Also, in the drama Mrs. Brown is currently filming, Nora is the second female lead."
William understood and nodded.
Seeing this, Brian quickly got out to open the car door for him.
When Kurt and William met, they exchanged pleasantries.
Kurt became warm and friendly as soon as he saw William.
He had pulled many strings to arrange this meeting with William, and now that they could finally have dinner together, he had to show his sincerity no matter what.
"And this is?" William's gaze fell on Nora beside them.
Kurt smiled in response. "Nora."
Then he looked at Nora and said, "This is Mr. Brown."
"Hello, Mr. Brown."
Everyone understood the rules of business—which man didn't have a woman or two by his side for social occasions? Since Kurt didn't introduce Nora much, it meant this person wasn't important to him, or perhaps Nora was just there to help him deflect drinks tonight.
In the private room, Kurt had invited four or five business friends to entertain the guest. As soon as William entered, the atmosphere changed instantly—those who had been sitting in their chairs all stood up.
Watching this scene, Nora's heart tightened.
How high must someone's status be to make half of Emerald City's business circle bow to him?
Her gaze unconsciously fell on William.
Was this the man entangled with Thalia?
As soon as William sat down, the combination of six men and one woman in the private room piqued his interest. His slender fingertips touched his knuckles.
..........
"Do you think the boss will make things difficult for Nora?"
Outside, Brian was anxious, wanting to get into the dinner scene, but unfortunately, he couldn't get in today.
He could only blame himself for not being high-ranking enough.
"He won't."
Finn spoke with certainty.
"You're that sure?"
"The boss isn't someone who would casually make things difficult for women."
Brian scoffed. "Really? Hasn't he made things difficult for Mrs. Brown plenty of times?"
Finn's hand, which had been playing a game, paused. He almost lost control of the middle lane.
"How is that the same? What Mr. Brown has for Mrs. Brown—that's love."
"Don't say it like that! That kind of love is too heavy."
"Dating, you know? The kind that'll be the death of you."
Finn: .........
In the private room, after several rounds of drinks, Kurt was clearly a bit drunk. After all, he was older and couldn't keep up with these younger people. After going back and forth at the drinking table for several rounds, he steadied himself and went to the restroom. Nora followed him out.
"Nora, Linda already told me what you meant. Tonight, as long as you take good care of Mr. Brown, everything will be fine."
Take care of William? Wasn't her task tonight supposed to be Kurt?
"Kurt," Nora wanted to say something, but Kurt raised his hand to stop her. "I'm old. I don't have the energy to play around with you young women. Just do as I say."
When Kurt and Nora returned to the private room, the situation had changed.
Nora, who had originally been sitting next to Kurt, switched positions and sat beside William.
Her instincts told her that William wasn't someone to be trifled with.
Apart from pouring wine and serving food, she didn't dare do anything else.
Even sitting there without saying a word, William could give off an oppressive feeling.
What's more, when she went over to pour wine, William's eyes would look at her intentionally or unintentionally.
"Nora, why don't you toast Mr. Brown?"
As soon as Kurt finished speaking, Nora smiled and raised her glass to toast William. "Mr. Brown."
William's indifferent gaze swept over Nora, his casual look carrying some unknown pity and indifference.
Nora trembled all over from that one look. She wanted to back down, but realizing this was her only chance tonight, she called out again, "Mr. Brown, I toast to you."