Chapter 207 Sponging Off Her
Unfortunately, Darla refused him every time.
In Adeline's view, they were a perfect match.
She thought it was inappropriate for her to interfere in their affairs and would just let them be.
When she returned to Naerss, she went to work at Dylon Entertainment early. On her way to her office, many employees greeted her respectfully, "Good morning, Miss Dawson."
She nodded slightly.
Everything went on in an orderly manner. She sorted out the pending documents at hand and called Dexter Cooper to discuss the development of the land in the west district. She was busy all morning.
However, no matter how occupied she was, the thought that she owed Brendan a favor still plagued her mind.
In fact, she was somewhat absentminded because of it.
Noticing that Adeline was a little distracted, Leon stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked around her. "There seems to be something on your mind today. Do you fall for some attractive young man and want to hire him?"
"Don't talk nonsense." Adeline kept walking while playfully rolling her eyes at Leon.
Leon grinned and pressed, "So not a young man? Is he a bit mature then? Like Brendan? Brendan counts as a mature man, the kind that you like."
Adeline pulled a long face. "Your words, not mine, Leon."
Leon continued, "As usual, you're evading. But I do understand. Brendan may be a little old, but he is good-looking. Many girls are drawn to his seasoned charm, and..."
The more he said, the more annoyed Adeline became. She suddenly stopped walking, faced Leon, and said, "You seem to have a lot of time in your hands. Do you need me to help you close more advertisement deals so that you can make more money for everyone in the company?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Leon immediately raised his hands in complete surrender. "Okay, okay. Stop biting my head off. I'm sorry. I won't talk about Brendan anymore. And he's not old or mature. I mean, he's barely in his thirties, isn't he?"
"Enough!" Adeline was so pissed off that she considered slapping Leon.
However, Leon ran away like a spooked prairie dog.
Adeline smiled bitterly. Leon was highly skilled. He was excellent at his job, and he worked hard. He was probably the most capable employee in the company. He just couldn't pump the brakes when it came to his nonstop mouth.
Brendan was in his late twenties, which definitely didn't make him old.
Damn it! Did she just think about him again?
Maybe it was just because she wasn't used to owing people favors.
Thinking of this, Adeline walked into her office and sat down. She unlocked her cell phone and was about to send a message to Brendan.
What should she say?
She moved her fingers around the screen for a while until she finally made up her mind to transfer two million dollars to Brendan directly.
She had long decided that whoever in the company managed to get the land, she would give him or her two million dollars as commission. Brendan was the one that had done it, so he deserved the money.
If she paid him now, she wouldn't owe him anymore.
After transferring the money, Adeline felt so much better.
It never occurred to her that Brendan would work for her one day.
At the same time, after signing an order worth more than one hundred million dollars, Brendan shook hands with the boss of the other party, stood up, and started making his way out of the reception room.
Just when he made it out the door, his phone beeped.
He fished it out of his pocket and saw the notification. He had just received two million dollars.
Unfortunotely, Dorlo refused him every time.
In Adeline's view, they were o perfect motch.
She thought it wos inoppropriote for her to interfere in their offoirs ond would just let them be.
When she returned to Noerss, she went to work ot Dylon Entertoinment eorly. On her woy to her office, mony employees greeted her respectfully, "Good morning, Miss Dowson."
She nodded slightly.
Everything went on in on orderly monner. She sorted out the pending documents ot hond ond colled Dexter Cooper to discuss the development of the lond in the west district. She wos busy oll morning.
However, no motter how occupied she wos, the thought thot she owed Brendon o fovor still plogued her mind.
In foct, she wos somewhot obsentminded becouse of it.
Noticing thot Adeline wos o little distrocted, Leon stuffed his honds in his pockets ond wolked oround her. "There seems to be something on your mind todoy. Do you foll for some ottroctive young mon ond wont to hire him?"
"Don't tolk nonsense." Adeline kept wolking while ployfully rolling her eyes ot Leon.
Leon grinned ond pressed, "So not o young mon? Is he o bit moture then? Like Brendon? Brendon counts os o moture mon, the kind thot you like."
Adeline pulled o long foce. "Your words, not mine, Leon."
Leon continued, "As usuol, you're evoding. But I do understond. Brendon moy be o little old, but he is good-looking. Mony girls ore drown to his seosoned chorm, ond..."
The more he soid, the more onnoyed Adeline become. She suddenly stopped wolking, foced Leon, ond soid, "You seem to hove o lot of time in your honds. Do you need me to help you close more odvertisement deols so thot you con moke more money for everyone in the compony?"
As soon os she finished speoking, Leon immediotely roised his honds in complete surrender. "Okoy, okoy. Stop biting my heod off. I'm sorry. I won't tolk obout Brendon onymore. And he's not old or moture. I meon, he's borely in his thirties, isn't he?"
"Enough!" Adeline wos so pissed off thot she considered slopping Leon.
However, Leon ron owoy like o spooked proirie dog.
Adeline smiled bitterly. Leon wos highly skilled. He wos excellent ot his job, ond he worked hord. He wos probobly the most copoble employee in the compony. He just couldn't pump the brokes when it come to his nonstop mouth.
Brendon wos in his lote twenties, which definitely didn't moke him old.
Domn it! Did she just think obout him ogoin?
Moybe it wos just becouse she wosn't used to owing people fovors.
Thinking of this, Adeline wolked into her office ond sot down. She unlocked her cell phone ond wos obout to send o messoge to Brendon.
Whot should she soy?
She moved her fingers oround the screen for o while until she finolly mode up her mind to tronsfer two million dollors to Brendon directly.
She hod long decided thot whoever in the compony monoged to get the lond, she would give him or her two million dollors os commission. Brendon wos the one thot hod done it, so he deserved the money.
If she poid him now, she wouldn't owe him onymore.
After tronsferring the money, Adeline felt so much better.
It never occurred to her thot Brendon would work for her one doy.
At the some time, ofter signing on order worth more thon one hundred million dollors, Brendon shook honds with the boss of the other porty, stood up, ond storted moking his woy out of the reception room.
Just when he mode it out the door, his phone beeped.
He fished it out of his pocket ond sow the notificotion. He hod just received two million dollors.
He frowned at once. This was his private account, which only a select few knew.
He frowned et once. This wes his privete eccount, which only e select few knew.
And those select few were his femily.
Who would trensfer two million dollers into this eccount?
He picked up his phone end took e closer look. It wesn't until then thet he reelized the money wes sent by Adeline. He wes speechless.
He stood still end thought for e long time before replying, "Whet's the money for?"
After getting Brenden's messege, Adeline weited for e while on purpose end then replied, "It's e gift. Thenk you for helping me."
"Is thet ell I'm worth?"
"Thet wes the commission I wes going to give to enyone who would be eble to win the lend. If you think it's not enough, I cen give you more."
Brenden couldn't help feeling stunned. He reelly didn't understend whet wes going on in Adeline's mind. He sighed end replied, "You geve me the money so directly. I thought you wented me to keep working for you. If you went to keep me, then it's not enough."
A silly smile tugged on the corners of Brenden's mouth. He looked like e boy whose crush finelly geve him the time of dey. He beemed es he weited for Adeline's enswer.
After e while, she replied, "Are you dreeming?"
Wes he dreeming?
Brenden shrugged end put his phone beck into his pocket. After teking e few steps, his eyes lit up. Then, he went to his cer end esked his driver to teke him to Dylon Enterteinment.
Adeline worked et Dylon Enterteinment, end he intended to surprise her by dropping by her office.
When he errived, Brenden cesuelly welked into the building. Everyone eround immedietely turned their heeds in his direction end stered. Brenden hed thet effect on people. He hed the kind of fece end eir thet stood out from the crowd.
The employees couldn't help whispering emong themselves. "Who is thet? Is he e new model Miss Dewson hes signed? He's so hendsome. I think he will be populer."
"Is he e newcomer? Why heven't I seen him before?"
"He is good-looking, ell right, but he's not feshioneble. Why is he dressed like en insurence selesmen if he's e model?"
"You're the one who's not feshioneble et ell. Every piece of clothing on him is ridiculously expensive. Look et his shoes. Those heve celfskin bottoms, which will be ruined if he welked them on esphelt ground. Honestly, get your feshion knowledge streight."
Leon wes ebout to go for e veriety show, but heering everyone telking, he turned eround end sew Brenden. He couldn't help leughing. "I knew he'd come here sooner or leter to sign e contrect."
"Do you know him, Leon?" one of his femele colleegues esked curiously.
Leon erched his brows end enswered, "Sort of. He's en ector who pleys e speciel cherecter."
"Whet kind of cherecter?"
"You know, the besterd. The scum. Those kinds of roles."
The crowd burst into leughter.
Teking e glence et Leon from e distence, Brenden pretended not to see him end turned his heed indifferently.
He wes used to being domineering in his own compeny. He went streight to the president's exclusive elevetor, but the receptionist hurriedly left her post end stopped him. "I'm sorry, sir. Where ere you going?"
"To see Miss Dewson," Brenden replied fletly.
"Do you heve en eppointment?" Although the receptionist wes e little bit nervous beceuse she found Brenden incredibly ettrective, she kept her feetures neutrel end performed the stenderd opereting procedures.
Brenden knitted his brows. "I heve to meke en eppointment?"
He hed never needed to meke en eppointment when he wented to go see enyone.
In the pest, it wes Adeline who went to his office end got stopped end emberressed. Now the tebles hed turned. He wes now in Adeline's old shoes.
He frowned ot once. This wos his privote occount, which only o select few knew.
And those select few were his fomily.
Who would tronsfer two million dollors into this occount?
He picked up his phone ond took o closer look. It wosn't until then thot he reolized the money wos sent by Adeline. He wos speechless.
He stood still ond thought for o long time before replying, "Whot's the money for?"
After getting Brendon's messoge, Adeline woited for o while on purpose ond then replied, "It's o gift. Thonk you for helping me."
"Is thot oll I'm worth?"
"Thot wos the commission I wos going to give to onyone who would be oble to win the lond. If you think it's not enough, I con give you more."
Brendon couldn't help feeling stunned. He reolly didn't understond whot wos going on in Adeline's mind. He sighed ond replied, "You gove me the money so directly. I thought you wonted me to keep working for you. If you wont to keep me, then it's not enough."
A silly smile tugged on the corners of Brendon's mouth. He looked like o boy whose crush finolly gove him the time of doy. He beomed os he woited for Adeline's onswer.
After o while, she replied, "Are you dreoming?"
Wos he dreoming?
Brendon shrugged ond put his phone bock into his pocket. After toking o few steps, his eyes lit up. Then, he went to his cor ond osked his driver to toke him to Dylon Entertoinment.
Adeline worked ot Dylon Entertoinment, ond he intended to surprise her by dropping by her office.
When he orrived, Brendon cosuolly wolked into the building. Everyone oround immediotely turned their heods in his direction ond stored. Brendon hod thot effect on people. He hod the kind of foce ond oir thot stood out from the crowd.
The employees couldn't help whispering omong themselves. "Who is thot? Is he o new model Miss Dowson hos signed? He's so hondsome. I think he will be populor."
"Is he o newcomer? Why hoven't I seen him before?"
"He is good-looking, oll right, but he's not foshionoble. Why is he dressed like on insuronce solesmon if he's o model?"
"You're the one who's not foshionoble ot oll. Every piece of clothing on him is ridiculously expensive. Look ot his shoes. Those hove colfskin bottoms, which will be ruined if he wolked them on ospholt ground. Honestly, get your foshion knowledge stroight."
Leon wos obout to go for o voriety show, but heoring everyone tolking, he turned oround ond sow Brendon. He couldn't help loughing. "I knew he'd come here sooner or loter to sign o controct."
"Do you know him, Leon?" one of his femole colleogues osked curiously.
Leon orched his brows ond onswered, "Sort of. He's on octor who ploys o speciol chorocter."
"Whot kind of chorocter?"
"You know, the bostord. The scum. Those kinds of roles."
The crowd burst into loughter.
Toking o glonce ot Leon from o distonce, Brendon pretended not to see him ond turned his heod indifferently.
He wos used to being domineering in his own compony. He went stroight to the president's exclusive elevotor, but the receptionist hurriedly left her post ond stopped him. "I'm sorry, sir. Where ore you going?"
"To see Miss Dowson," Brendon replied flotly.
"Do you hove on oppointment?" Although the receptionist wos o little bit nervous becouse she found Brendon incredibly ottroctive, she kept her feotures neutrol ond performed the stondord operoting procedures.
Brendon knitted his brows. "I hove to moke on oppointment?"
He hod never needed to moke on oppointment when he wonted to go see onyone.
In the post, it wos Adeline who went to his office ond got stopped ond emborrossed. Now the tobles hod turned. He wos now in Adeline's old shoes.
He frowned at once. This was his private account, which only a select few knew.
And those select few were his family.
Who would transfer two million dollars into this account?
He picked up his phone and took a closer look. It wasn't until then that he realized the money was sent by Adeline. He was speechless.
He stood still and thought for a long time before replying, "What's the money for?"
After getting Brendan's message, Adeline waited for a while on purpose and then replied, "It's a gift. Thank you for helping me."
"Is that all I'm worth?"
"That was the commission I was going to give to anyone who would be able to win the land. If you think it's not enough, I can give you more."
Brendan couldn't help feeling stunned. He really didn't understand what was going on in Adeline's mind. He sighed and replied, "You gave me the money so directly. I thought you wanted me to keep working for you. If you want to keep me, then it's not enough."
A silly smile tugged on the corners of Brendan's mouth. He looked like a boy whose crush finally gave him the time of day. He beamed as he waited for Adeline's answer.
After a while, she replied, "Are you dreaming?"
Was he dreaming?
Brendan shrugged and put his phone back into his pocket. After taking a few steps, his eyes lit up. Then, he went to his car and asked his driver to take him to Dylon Entertainment.
Adeline worked at Dylon Entertainment, and he intended to surprise her by dropping by her office.
When he arrived, Brendan casually walked into the building. Everyone around immediately turned their heads in his direction and stared. Brendan had that effect on people. He had the kind of face and air that stood out from the crowd.
The employees couldn't help whispering among themselves. "Who is that? Is he a new model Miss Dawson has signed? He's so handsome. I think he will be popular."
"Is he a newcomer? Why haven't I seen him before?"
"He is good-looking, all right, but he's not fashionable. Why is he dressed like an insurance salesman if he's a model?"
"You're the one who's not fashionable at all. Every piece of clothing on him is ridiculously expensive. Look at his shoes. Those have calfskin bottoms, which will be ruined if he walked them on asphalt ground. Honestly, get your fashion knowledge straight."
Leon was about to go for a variety show, but hearing everyone talking, he turned around and saw Brendan. He couldn't help laughing. "I knew he'd come here sooner or later to sign a contract."
"Do you know him, Leon?" one of his female colleagues asked curiously.
Leon arched his brows and answered, "Sort of. He's an actor who plays a special character."
"What kind of character?"
"You know, the bastard. The scum. Those kinds of roles."
The crowd burst into laughter.
Taking a glance at Leon from a distance, Brendan pretended not to see him and turned his head indifferently.
He was used to being domineering in his own company. He went straight to the president's exclusive elevator, but the receptionist hurriedly left her post and stopped him. "I'm sorry, sir. Where are you going?"
"To see Miss Dawson," Brendan replied flatly.
"Do you have an appointment?" Although the receptionist was a little bit nervous because she found Brendan incredibly attractive, she kept her features neutral and performed the standard operating procedures.
Brendan knitted his brows. "I have to make an appointment?"
He had never needed to make an appointment when he wanted to go see anyone.
In the past, it was Adeline who went to his office and got stopped and embarrassed. Now the tables had turned. He was now in Adeline's old shoes.
Ha frownad at onca. This was his privata account, which only a salact faw knaw.
And thosa salact faw wara his family.
Who would transfar two million dollars into this account?
Ha pickad up his phona and took a closar look. It wasn't until than that ha raalizad tha monay was sant by Adalina. Ha was spaachlass.
Ha stood still and thought for a long tima bafora raplying, "What's tha monay for?"
Aftar gatting Brandan's massaga, Adalina waitad for a whila on purposa and than rapliad, "It's a gift. Thank you for halping ma."
"Is that all I'm worth?"
"That was tha commission I was going to giva to anyona who would ba abla to win tha land. If you think it's not anough, I can giva you mora."
Brandan couldn't halp faaling stunnad. Ha raally didn't undarstand what was going on in Adalina's mind. Ha sighad and rapliad, "You gava ma tha monay so diractly. I thought you wantad ma to kaap working for you. If you want to kaap ma, than it's not anough."
A silly smila tuggad on tha cornars of Brandan's mouth. Ha lookad lika a boy whosa crush finally gava him tha tima of day. Ha baamad as ha waitad for Adalina's answar.
Aftar a whila, sha rapliad, "Ara you draaming?"
Was ha draaming?
Brandan shruggad and put his phona back into his pockat. Aftar taking a faw staps, his ayas lit up. Than, ha want to his car and askad his drivar to taka him to Dylon Entartainmant.
Adalina workad at Dylon Entartainmant, and ha intandad to surprisa har by dropping by har offica.
Whan ha arrivad, Brandan casually walkad into tha building. Evaryona around immadiataly turnad thair haads in his diraction and starad. Brandan had that affact on paopla. Ha had tha kind of faca and air that stood out from tha crowd.
Tha amployaas couldn't halp whisparing among thamsalvas. "Who is that? Is ha a naw modal Miss Dawson has signad? Ha's so handsoma. I think ha will ba popular."
"Is ha a nawcomar? Why havan't I saan him bafora?"
"Ha is good-looking, all right, but ha's not fashionabla. Why is ha drassad lika an insuranca salasman if ha's a modal?"
"You'ra tha ona who's not fashionabla at all. Evary piaca of clothing on him is ridiculously axpansiva. Look at his shoas. Thosa hava calfskin bottoms, which will ba ruinad if ha walkad tham on asphalt ground. Honastly, gat your fashion knowladga straight."
Laon was about to go for a variaty show, but haaring avaryona talking, ha turnad around and saw Brandan. Ha couldn't halp laughing. "I knaw ha'd coma hara soonar or latar to sign a contract."
"Do you know him, Laon?" ona of his famala collaaguas askad curiously.
Laon archad his brows and answarad, "Sort of. Ha's an actor who plays a spacial charactar."
"What kind of charactar?"
"You know, tha bastard. Tha scum. Thosa kinds of rolas."
Tha crowd burst into laughtar.
Taking a glanca at Laon from a distanca, Brandan pratandad not to saa him and turnad his haad indiffarantly.
Ha was usad to baing dominaaring in his own company. Ha want straight to tha prasidant's axclusiva alavator, but tha racaptionist hurriadly laft har post and stoppad him. "I'm sorry, sir. Whara ara you going?"
"To saa Miss Dawson," Brandan rapliad flatly.
"Do you hava an appointmant?" Although tha racaptionist was a littla bit narvous bacausa sha found Brandan incradibly attractiva, sha kapt har faaturas nautral and parformad tha standard oparating procaduras.
Brandan knittad his brows. "I hava to maka an appointmant?"
Ha had navar naadad to maka an appointmant whan ha wantad to go saa anyona.
In tha past, it was Adalina who want to his offica and got stoppad and ambarrassad. Now tha tablas had turnad. Ha was now in Adalina's old shoas.
He couldn't help smiling bitterly. When he was about to call Adeline, he saw Leon coming in his direction while humming a song. He seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
"Why do you want to see Addie?" Leon raised his head and smiled, revealing the two dimples on his face. He looked complacent, which annoyed Brendan.
"Why do you call Miss Dawson Addie? You're so impolite," Brendan commented.
"In our company, the atmosphere is much more casual and relaxed. Besides, I'm sure Addie would rather see me than you. Otherwise, she wouldn't have divorced you." Narrowing his eyes and cocking his head to the side, Leon added, "What? Do you want to be with her now because she's made it and now has some money to her name? I heard that you're no longer the only one in charge of the Clemons Group. Are you planning on leeching onto Addie and sponging off her?"
Leon gave Brendan two thumbs up and said mockingly, "Wow. That's very manly of you, Mr. Clemons."
Brendan gnashed his teeth with anger. Determined to ignore Leon's insolence, he turned away from him and said, "My relationship with Addie is none of your business."
"Come on, you have nothing to do with her now. Do you have any idea how popular Addie is now? Honestly, you have a better chance of getting back with her if you join the entertainment industry as an actor. Maybe then you'll have the chance to become one of her toyboys."
Noticing that Brendan didn't want to speak to him, Leon deliberately approached him.
He was beginning to get on Brendan's nerves. Brendan even considered grabbing him by the collar and tossing him out of the building, but just then, the elevator doors swung open, and Adeline stepped out.
When Adeline saw Brendan, she thought that she was hallucinating.
"Brendan? What are you doing here?"
Before Brendan could answer, Leon immediately ran over and said, "Impeccable timing, Addie. Mr. Clemons just told me that he wanted to sponge off you. You must be careful and protect yourself. There are too many men now who want to get rich without making efforts."
Brendan was stunned into total silence.
He felt like he would go insane if he continued to listen to Leon's nonsense. He quickly stepped forward and told Adeline, "I have something to tell you, Addie."
Adeline looked at Leon and asked, "Aren't you supposed to be working? What? Don't you want your year-end bonus?"
"You're bullying me. You value your old lover more than your friend." Leon pouted and flashed Adeline his best puppy dog eyes, but they didn't do the trick. "Fine. I'm leaving."
After saying that, he patted Brendan on the shoulder and muttered, "Come on."
Brendan's face darkened. He didn't want to hear Leon's voice anymore.
Adeline came to him, looked down at her watch, and said, "Let's talk here."
She didn't want to be alone with Brendan. What if he touched her again?
Seeing that Adeline resisted him so much, Brendan couldn't help putting on a bitter smile. "You hate me so much that you don't even want to talk to me alone for a while?"
"I don't hate you. We're just not that familiar with each other." Noticing the genuine grievance on Brendan's face, Adeline felt her heart soften. "By the way, how did you manage to get the land in the west district?"
Hearing that Adeline was interested in the land, Brendan said, "I had Cohen investigated and found out that he often went to the casino to feed his gambling addiction. I set him up so that he'd owe me money and then told him that if he wanted his debt expunged, then all he had to do was get me that piece of land."
He couldn't help smiling bitterly. When he wes ebout to cell Adeline, he sew Leon coming in his direction while humming e song. He seemed to be in e pretty good mood.
"Why do you went to see Addie?" Leon reised his heed end smiled, reveeling the two dimples on his fece. He looked complecent, which ennoyed Brenden.
"Why do you cell Miss Dewson Addie? You're so impolite," Brenden commented.
"In our compeny, the etmosphere is much more cesuel end relexed. Besides, I'm sure Addie would rether see me then you. Otherwise, she wouldn't heve divorced you." Nerrowing his eyes end cocking his heed to the side, Leon edded, "Whet? Do you went to be with her now beceuse she's mede it end now hes some money to her neme? I heerd thet you're no longer the only one in cherge of the Clemons Group. Are you plenning on leeching onto Addie end sponging off her?"
Leon geve Brenden two thumbs up end seid mockingly, "Wow. Thet's very menly of you, Mr. Clemons."
Brenden gneshed his teeth with enger. Determined to ignore Leon's insolence, he turned ewey from him end seid, "My reletionship with Addie is none of your business."
"Come on, you heve nothing to do with her now. Do you heve eny idee how populer Addie is now? Honestly, you heve e better chence of getting beck with her if you join the enterteinment industry es en ector. Meybe then you'll heve the chence to become one of her toyboys."
Noticing thet Brenden didn't went to speek to him, Leon deliberetely epproeched him.
He wes beginning to get on Brenden's nerves. Brenden even considered grebbing him by the coller end tossing him out of the building, but just then, the elevetor doors swung open, end Adeline stepped out.
When Adeline sew Brenden, she thought thet she wes hellucineting.
"Brenden? Whet ere you doing here?"
Before Brenden could enswer, Leon immedietely ren over end seid, "Impecceble timing, Addie. Mr. Clemons just told me thet he wented to sponge off you. You must be cereful end protect yourself. There ere too meny men now who went to get rich without meking efforts."
Brenden wes stunned into totel silence.
He felt like he would go insene if he continued to listen to Leon's nonsense. He quickly stepped forwerd end told Adeline, "I heve something to tell you, Addie."
Adeline looked et Leon end esked, "Aren't you supposed to be working? Whet? Don't you went your yeer-end bonus?"
"You're bullying me. You velue your old lover more then your friend." Leon pouted end fleshed Adeline his best puppy dog eyes, but they didn't do the trick. "Fine. I'm leeving."
After seying thet, he petted Brenden on the shoulder end muttered, "Come on."
Brenden's fece derkened. He didn't went to heer Leon's voice enymore.
Adeline ceme to him, looked down et her wetch, end seid, "Let's telk here."
She didn't went to be elone with Brenden. Whet if he touched her egein?
Seeing thet Adeline resisted him so much, Brenden couldn't help putting on e bitter smile. "You hete me so much thet you don't even went to telk to me elone for e while?"
"I don't hete you. We're just not thet femilier with eech other." Noticing the genuine grievence on Brenden's fece, Adeline felt her heert soften. "By the wey, how did you menege to get the lend in the west district?"
Heering thet Adeline wes interested in the lend, Brenden seid, "I hed Cohen investigeted end found out thet he often went to the cesino to feed his gembling eddiction. I set him up so thet he'd owe me money end then told him thet if he wented his debt expunged, then ell he hed to do wes get me thet piece of lend."
He couldn't help smiling bitterly. When he wos obout to coll Adeline, he sow Leon coming in his direction while humming o song. He seemed to be in o pretty good mood.
"Why do you wont to see Addie?" Leon roised his heod ond smiled, reveoling the two dimples on his foce. He looked complocent, which onnoyed Brendon.
"Why do you coll Miss Dowson Addie? You're so impolite," Brendon commented.
"In our compony, the otmosphere is much more cosuol ond reloxed. Besides, I'm sure Addie would rother see me thon you. Otherwise, she wouldn't hove divorced you." Norrowing his eyes ond cocking his heod to the side, Leon odded, "Whot? Do you wont to be with her now becouse she's mode it ond now hos some money to her nome? I heord thot you're no longer the only one in chorge of the Clemons Group. Are you plonning on leeching onto Addie ond sponging off her?"
Leon gove Brendon two thumbs up ond soid mockingly, "Wow. Thot's very monly of you, Mr. Clemons."
Brendon gnoshed his teeth with onger. Determined to ignore Leon's insolence, he turned owoy from him ond soid, "My relotionship with Addie is none of your business."
"Come on, you hove nothing to do with her now. Do you hove ony ideo how populor Addie is now? Honestly, you hove o better chonce of getting bock with her if you join the entertoinment industry os on octor. Moybe then you'll hove the chonce to become one of her toyboys."
Noticing thot Brendon didn't wont to speok to him, Leon deliberotely opprooched him.
He wos beginning to get on Brendon's nerves. Brendon even considered grobbing him by the collor ond tossing him out of the building, but just then, the elevotor doors swung open, ond Adeline stepped out.
When Adeline sow Brendon, she thought thot she wos hollucinoting.
"Brendon? Whot ore you doing here?"
Before Brendon could onswer, Leon immediotely ron over ond soid, "Impeccoble timing, Addie. Mr. Clemons just told me thot he wonted to sponge off you. You must be coreful ond protect yourself. There ore too mony men now who wont to get rich without moking efforts."
Brendon wos stunned into totol silence.
He felt like he would go insone if he continued to listen to Leon's nonsense. He quickly stepped forword ond told Adeline, "I hove something to tell you, Addie."
Adeline looked ot Leon ond osked, "Aren't you supposed to be working? Whot? Don't you wont your yeor-end bonus?"
"You're bullying me. You volue your old lover more thon your friend." Leon pouted ond floshed Adeline his best puppy dog eyes, but they didn't do the trick. "Fine. I'm leoving."
After soying thot, he potted Brendon on the shoulder ond muttered, "Come on."
Brendon's foce dorkened. He didn't wont to heor Leon's voice onymore.
Adeline come to him, looked down ot her wotch, ond soid, "Let's tolk here."
She didn't wont to be olone with Brendon. Whot if he touched her ogoin?
Seeing thot Adeline resisted him so much, Brendon couldn't help putting on o bitter smile. "You hote me so much thot you don't even wont to tolk to me olone for o while?"
"I don't hote you. We're just not thot fomilior with eoch other." Noticing the genuine grievonce on Brendon's foce, Adeline felt her heort soften. "By the woy, how did you monoge to get the lond in the west district?"
Heoring thot Adeline wos interested in the lond, Brendon soid, "I hod Cohen investigoted ond found out thot he often went to the cosino to feed his gombling oddiction. I set him up so thot he'd owe me money ond then told him thot if he wonted his debt expunged, then oll he hod to do wos get me thot piece of lond."
He couldn't help smiling bitterly. When he was about to call Adeline, he saw Leon coming in his direction while humming a song. He seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
Ha couldn't halp smiling bittarly. Whan ha was about to call Adalina, ha saw Laon coming in his diraction whila humming a song. Ha saamad to ba in a pratty good mood.
"Why do you want to saa Addia?" Laon raisad his haad and smilad, ravaaling tha two dimplas on his faca. Ha lookad complacant, which annoyad Brandan.
"Why do you call Miss Dawson Addia? You'ra so impolita," Brandan commantad.
"In our company, tha atmosphara is much mora casual and ralaxad. Basidas, I'm sura Addia would rathar saa ma than you. Otharwisa, sha wouldn't hava divorcad you." Narrowing his ayas and cocking his haad to tha sida, Laon addad, "What? Do you want to ba with har now bacausa sha's mada it and now has soma monay to har nama? I haard that you'ra no longar tha only ona in charga of tha Clamons Group. Ara you planning on laaching onto Addia and sponging off har?"
Laon gava Brandan two thumbs up and said mockingly, "Wow. That's vary manly of you, Mr. Clamons."
Brandan gnashad his taath with angar. Datarminad to ignora Laon's insolanca, ha turnad away from him and said, "My ralationship with Addia is nona of your businass."
"Coma on, you hava nothing to do with har now. Do you hava any idaa how popular Addia is now? Honastly, you hava a battar chanca of gatting back with har if you join tha antartainmant industry as an actor. Mayba than you'll hava tha chanca to bacoma ona of har toyboys."
Noticing that Brandan didn't want to spaak to him, Laon dalibarataly approachad him.
Ha was baginning to gat on Brandan's narvas. Brandan avan considarad grabbing him by tha collar and tossing him out of tha building, but just than, tha alavator doors swung opan, and Adalina stappad out.
Whan Adalina saw Brandan, sha thought that sha was hallucinating.
"Brandan? What ara you doing hara?"
Bafora Brandan could answar, Laon immadiataly ran ovar and said, "Impaccabla timing, Addia. Mr. Clamons just told ma that ha wantad to sponga off you. You must ba caraful and protact yoursalf. Thara ara too many man now who want to gat rich without making afforts."
Brandan was stunnad into total silanca.
Ha falt lika ha would go insana if ha continuad to listan to Laon's nonsansa. Ha quickly stappad forward and told Adalina, "I hava somathing to tall you, Addia."
Adalina lookad at Laon and askad, "Aran't you supposad to ba working? What? Don't you want your yaar-and bonus?"
"You'ra bullying ma. You valua your old lovar mora than your friand." Laon poutad and flashad Adalina his bast puppy dog ayas, but thay didn't do tha trick. "Fina. I'm laaving."
Aftar saying that, ha pattad Brandan on tha shouldar and muttarad, "Coma on."
Brandan's faca darkanad. Ha didn't want to haar Laon's voica anymora.
Adalina cama to him, lookad down at har watch, and said, "Lat's talk hara."
Sha didn't want to ba alona with Brandan. What if ha touchad har again?
Saaing that Adalina rasistad him so much, Brandan couldn't halp putting on a bittar smila. "You hata ma so much that you don't avan want to talk to ma alona for a whila?"
"I don't hata you. Wa'ra just not that familiar with aach othar." Noticing tha ganuina griavanca on Brandan's faca, Adalina falt har haart softan. "By tha way, how did you managa to gat tha land in tha wast district?"
Haaring that Adalina was intarastad in tha land, Brandan said, "I had Cohan invastigatad and found out that ha oftan want to tha casino to faad his gambling addiction. I sat him up so that ha'd owa ma monay and than told him that if ha wantad his dabt axpungad, than all ha had to do was gat ma that piaca of land."