Chapter 51 Solitary Man and Lone Woman
Jack grinned and leaned in closer to Aidan, whispering something in his ear. Aidan's face immediately changed, "Jack, you’ve got some nerve, daring to..."
"Why not? Just the two of us, sparks flying, you practically set this up for me. How could I not take advantage?" Jack's eyes twinkled mischievously, causing Alison's cheeks to flush. She hadn't heard their earlier conversation, but she could guess the gist from their exchange.
"Sorry, I'm not going to Paris, and I don't need any luck. I'm out of here." Her refusal was abrupt, but she really didn't like being played with. It was a terrible feeling.
She turned to leave, her short hair swaying gently before settling back down, revealing her graceful neck, which looked especially captivating against her orange evening dress. At that moment, Jack's heart skipped a beat, "Wait..."
Alison stopped, her tall figure perfectly framed in Jack's view. At first, he thought she was Emily, but her fluent German, French, and Japanese made him realize he was mistaken.
"Mr. Winston, is there something else?" Alison asked calmly, her back still to Jack.
Jack smiled slightly and turned to Aidan, "If I go to Paris, there's one condition: Miss Fairchild has to come with me. Only then will our luck truly change."
It was a blatant threat. Jack knew she worked for YD and was using it to pressure her into agreeing.
Initially, she didn't care much about the job, but now, the past was becoming more and more confusing. It didn't seem like Aidan or Alexander, so who was it?
Could it be someone high up in YD?
Alison's head was spinning with thoughts.
Meanwhile, Lillian's face had turned pale. Jack's actions were clearly embarrassing her, considering she was supposed to be his date for the night.
Lillian thought Jack had agreed to go to Paris because of Alexander. "Jack, luck is just superstition. Don't believe in that. Let's go. I'll find a travel agency tomorrow, and we can go wherever you want." She reached out to take Jack's arm, eager to get him away from Alison.
Jack gently shook off Lillian's hand, "Lillian, you go ahead. I'll call you later."
"Jack..." Lillian called his name softly, full of discontent.
"Lillian, don't wait for my call tonight. Goodbye." Jack's tone was firm, not angry. He hated it when women tried to negotiate with him. To him, they were just bed partners, all the same once the clothes came off, each trying to please him in their own way. Thinking about Lillian's behavior in the Chanel fitting room yesterday, Jack's gaze shifted back to Alison. She must have heard those enticing moans and Lillian's words.
Maybe that's why she accidentally twisted her ankle, out of shock.
"Alison, your ankle healed pretty quickly." Jack eyed Alison's white high-heeled shoes, his gaze making her uneasy. Did he suspect she was faking it?
No, she couldn't let Jack get suspicious. Alison slowly turned her head, her familiar yet unfamiliar face once again in Jack's view.
She smiled slightly, "Mr. Winston, thanks to the president, who had Claire buy all the sprain treatments from the pharmacy. I used them internally and externally, and since the injury wasn't serious, just a slip, I was fully recovered after a night's rest."
"You... you were the one in the... in the..." Lillian stammered, realizing why Alison's evening dress looked familiar. Remembering what she did in the fitting room with Jack, she felt embarrassed. "Jack, I'm leaving." She couldn't stay any longer, knowing Alison had witnessed everything.
"Yeah, go ahead. Don't forget to grab your stuff from the secretary tomorrow." And the check he had for her. He never owed women anything; once he was done, he paid and moved on, just like with Emily three years ago.
Lillian left in a hurry. Women could dream, but they needed to be realistic. He was not someone to be monopolized.
He didn't trust women, not after being hurt once.
Jack ignored Alison and turned to Aidan. He had known Aidan's little schemes for a while but didn't want to ruin their brotherly bond by bringing it up.
After leaving the Winston family and YD, Aidan was the only one he kept in touch with. Even Alexander showing up at the press conference indicated how important this deal was to YD or Alexander.
"Bro, unless you agree to my condition, the Paris trip is off."
Aidan glanced at Alison, as expected. "Alison, can you give me a reason not to go to Paris?" He wasn't angry; he had a plan.
"Sorry, I'm very busy. The kids need me. The president knows that, right?"
"Oh, your two little ones. I know. You leave them with the nanny during the day, right?"
"But they’re used to sleeping with me at night." Alison refused. She didn't want to go with Jack. The thought scared her. She had just seen how Jack dealt with Lillian and didn't want to be hurt by him.
That kind of hurt was unbearable.
"So, Miss Fairchild already has someone, and even kids?" Jack looked at Alison skeptically. She was slim, and seeing her in Aidan's arms yesterday, he thought she was thin. Now, standing in front of him, she looked slender but well-proportioned.
Suddenly, the image of a woman from three years ago flashed in his mind. Jack cursed silently. Alison reminded him of Emily, but Emily didn't know foreign languages.
"Jack, don't talk nonsense. Miss Fairchild is still single." Aidan was planning to pursue Alison. It was a big challenge, but he was eager to start.
"Didn't she say she had kids?"
"Those are adopted. A boy and a girl."
"Miss Fairchild is truly kind-hearted, adopting two children before even getting married. Not many women like that nowadays." Jack believed it. With her figure, he couldn't imagine she had given birth.
"I believe Mr. Winston is also kind-hearted and will let me stay to take care of my two children, right?" Sorry, Sophia and Ethan, she didn't mean to call them adopted. She had no choice. She couldn't go around announcing she was an unwed mother, which would be detrimental to her current plans.
Jack raised an eyebrow, his deep, magnetic voice enunciating each word, "No—way."
Jack refused her without hesitation.
Her heart pounded.
He always made her feel inexplicably flustered.
She looked to Aidan for help. Now, only the instigator could save her.
Aidan smiled, seemingly unaware of Alison's plea for help, "Alison, the chairman drew your name. You have no reason not to go. As for the kids, I'll assign more nannies to take care of them. I guarantee they won't miss you or have any issues while you're away."
Alison frowned, feeling Aidan was making things worse.
Seeing Alison still hesitating, the usually silent Alexander spoke up, "Miss Fairchild, good fortune doesn't come often. If you miss it, you might regret it for the rest of your life." His gaze was firm as he looked at Alison. Then he said, "Aidan, handle the Paris trip. I'm leaving." He coughed lightly, his aged face showing fatigue. His eyes swept over Jack, and he sighed softly.
As he turned to leave, he suddenly said, "Jack, come visit the old house when you have time. The mango tree is bearing fruit, and the kapok tree blooms red every March and April..."