Chapter 105 Mr. Brown Wants Me, Just Say It Directly
William heard Thalia's words and chuckled...
"No mirror? You can always use some pee to check yourself out."
Thalia slowly straightened up and looked at William, her gaze shifting from his face to the cat nestled in his arms.
"Mr. Brown, if you can't say anything nice, then zip it."
"No matter who takes your case, they'll all pick Chase."
Thalia was puzzled. "Why? Didn't I offer enough money?"
William gave a sly smile. "Because you're too much trouble."
Thalia kicked William in the shin, causing the ragdoll cat to leap from his lap.
William glanced at Isla sitting in the passenger seat.
Isla, sensing the tension, raised the partition in the car, knowing they were about to get down to business.
"What do you want?" Thalia asked, eyeing William warily as he turned to face her.
"Thalia, it's been a while since you've had any new gigs in Hollywood, hasn't it? If it were anyone else, they'd be swimming in offers after winning such a big award. But you're almost out of work and income. Have you thought about how bad things could get for you? How miserable you could end up?"
William placed a hand on Thalia's shoulder, pushing her against the car door, his fingers tightening as he leaned in close, mimicking her usual teasing breath by her ear. "I'm waiting for you to hit rock bottom."
"You—" Thalia, furious, tried to shove William away, but his cunning was infuriating.
Just as her fingers touched his chest, he grabbed her hand, his other hand pressing the back of her head as he pulled her in for a forceful kiss...
Thalia was trapped between him and the car door, unable to move.
Not one to back down, she reached for William's crotch and pressed down hard, causing him to wince in pain.
William quickly released her.
"Trying to provoke me? Do you believe I won't have sex with you right here in the car?"
"Mr. Brown, if you want to sleep with me, just say so. First, you make excuses for me to drive you around, then you analyze my situation. What's the point?"
"Everyone knows you charge by the minute, Mr. Brown. All this talk is just to make me fall into your trap."
William leaned back in his seat, putting some distance between them, his expression unreadable. "Ms. Smith, you'll come begging to me."
...
"Thalia, what did Mr. Brown talk to you about?" Isla asked, watching William walk away as she settled back into the rear seat.
Thalia leaned back, looking troubled.
Back at the villa, Evelyn arrived with her suitcase, having come straight from the airport.
As soon as she walked in, she saw Thalia's distressed face. "What's wrong? Where were you this late?"
Thalia kicked off her shoes, entering the house with a frustrated expression. "Chase went to the Brown villa tonight. It was a battle of wits."
Evelyn was puzzled. "The Brown villa?"
"William's father's house."
"What! Is he even human? Trying to get to William through his parents?"
Thalia sighed, heading to the liquor cabinet and pouring herself half a glass of wine. She glanced at Evelyn. "Want some?"
"I'm on my period," Evelyn shook her head.
"Feeling down," Thalia said as she carried her glass over to the couch, opening her laptop and logging into Facebook. Her last post was from a month ago about a movie set. She used to update her Facebook every couple of days with promotions or brand endorsements.
Her career was visibly in decline.
Her schedule used to be packed, but now, apart from the current project, there was nothing else lined up.
"What are you looking at?" Evelyn asked, peeking at the laptop screen.
Thalia took a sip of wine. "Just seeing how pathetic I am now."
"Are you considering William's proposal?"
Thalia rolled her eyes. "No way!"
"Actually, you've already walked right into it."
"Can you shut up?"
"Why was he so resistant when you flirted with him before, but now he's completely different?"
Evelyn crossed her legs, taking a sip of water. "Isn't it obvious? He wants to sleep with you!"
"Are you kidding me? With William's status, the rising star of Emerald City, there are plenty of women throwing themselves at him. I don't believe he hasn't slept with anyone."
She'd heard dozens of rumors in the entertainment industry alone.
Which actress tried to get William to handle her contract dispute by sleeping with him?
Which actress waited outside William's law firm?
"The more successful and cautious a person is, the more careful they are. William, a shrewd and self-serving businessman, wouldn't expose his weaknesses to others."
"William is a hunter who knows the laws of the jungle. He never misses his target, and that's where he finds his greatest pleasure."
Thalia was still confused, resting her chin in her hand as she looked at Evelyn. "So, why does he want to drag me into this mess?"
"Do you know how many people in Emerald City want their daughters to marry William? The Lewis family, the Wilson family, and many other wealthy families outside Emerald City. Some of these people William can outright refuse, but others he has business ties with and can't reject directly. In such cases, without harming his interests, William can only choose a third option—find someone to occupy the position of his wife."
"And that position can't be filled by just any woman. It needs someone who can stand up to those powerful families."
"And you are the top choice."
"Your sass and stubbornness perfectly fit the image of the wife William needs."
This was the first time Thalia had heard such an explanation.
Moreover, it didn't sound like something Evelyn would know. It seemed more like insights from someone close to William.
"Who told you this?"
"I figured it out myself!" Evelyn smiled.
"Nonsense. If you could figure this out, I'd let you use my head as a soccer ball."
Evelyn: .........
"Alright, I ran into Angelina at a party last night."
She knew it.
That kind of insight wouldn't come from anyone who hadn't spent years with William.
"Why did she tell you this?"
"She was drunk!"
Thalia: ........
Evelyn glanced cautiously at Thalia. "I think if you don't have a better option, you could consider it."