Web Fic
Chapter 319
Chapter 319
Chapter 319 Side with an Outsider
August thought for a moment.
A bit agitated, he pulled at his tie.His heart was in turmoil.He didn’t know why, but anything related to Lucia could upset him easily.
Just then, his phone rang on the desk.
Furrowing his brows, he picked it up for a look.
At the sight of the caller ID, he hesitated for a moment and then pressed the Answer button.
"Hello?"
"August, don't forget our appointment.You'll come to our house for dinner tonight."
He pressed his eyebrows with his other hand and said blandly, "I know."
"I'll come to the office, and then we'll go together.How does it sound?"
Without the slightest hesitation, August rejected it tactfully, "Well, I have something to attend to.You can just wait for me at home"
Jeanne sounded dejected.
"Okay then, I'll see you at home."
He hung up the phone, but his agitation didn't abate, not even in the slightest.
Jeanne invited him to have dinner at their house tonight.It was a family feast, but they had an axe to grind.
Without a doubt, it was Martin's idea.
The dinner was just a pretext.
However, given his current relationship with Jeanne, he couldn't reject it every time.
At 6 pm, August left the office for the Kelly family's house.
Merlin was not home.He was received by Martin, Mrs.
Kelly, and Jeanne.
The atmosphere was quite harmonious.
They greeted him, chatted with him, and invited him to the dining table so cordially as if he was a member of their family.
After dinner, they chatted on the couch in the living room.
"You guys go ahead.I'll go and prepare some fruit."
Mrs.Kelly smiled at them and excused herself.
August, Martin, and Jeanne were left there on the sofa.
Martin sipped his coffee.His eagle's eyes glanced at August.
Seconds later, he started, "August, to be honest, you have impressed me this time."
"Huh?"
August unhurriedly looked up at the man, "I wonder what you're referring to."
Martin smiled, "The crisis the Lion Group was in.Your leadership saw the company through it.That was impressive!"
"I'm flattered.Actually, that's thanks to the solid foundation of the company.No dirty swine can shake it.That's not all my credit."
The blood started to drain from Jeanne's face.
That was the scheme of her brother and her, and she was described as a swine.
Despite her annoyance, she put on a smile and held his arm.
"August, you're being modest.Without you, the Lion Group wouldn't have developed so fast." Têxt belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
The corners of August's mouth curved up, but he made no comments.
On the opposite sofa, Martin cleared his throat and planned to get to the point.
"Speaking of which, we're about to launch a project.Why don't you take the chance..."
"Our company suffered considerable losses from the crisis.Not to mention partnerships, we're cautious even about internal operations.Anyway, I hope we'll work together in the future," August said unhurriedly.
Martin had to swallow back the words at the tip of his tongue.
Unmistakably, his face clouded over.He coughed, picked up his coffee for a sip, and then looked up at August.
"You were like this when I proposed a partnership last time.If you have any concerns, you can just make it clear."
August smiled, "How so? It's really not the right time.I hope you'll understand."
No one could find faults in his words.
The tactful refusal made Martin frown and turn livid, but he couldn't flip out.
Jeanne sensed the awkward atmosphere and looked at Martin.
"Dad, August's company just went through turmoil, so it might really not be the right time."
Her words only annoyed Martin further.
Just then, August's phone rang.He took it out for a look, turned serious, and excused himself, "I have to take this."He then got up and went to the balcony to answer the phone.
Martin glanced at the man and snorted, "So many excuses.He could just turn me down."
He then glanced at Jeanne across the table.
"And you! Not married yet, you start to side with an outsider!"
Jeanne looked torn.
She whispered, "What do you want me to say?"
His eyes glinting, Martin chided her, "Help me advise him, of course.Don't you know our family will rise with the help of Lion Group? You won't be bullied only when your family is powerful.Don't you get it?"
Jeanne found his words reasonable and nodded.
"Okay, I'll help."
"That's more like it!"
Martin snorted and glanced at August who put away his phone and came back.
Martin then winked at his daughter.
Jeanne took the hint and intimately held onto August's arm when he came over.
Just as she was going to speak, Mrs.Kelly came back with a plate of fruit and urged everyone to have it.
At that point, Jeanne couldn't bring up the matter again.
It would make her look insensible, so she simply changed the subject.
A while later, August checked the time and said, "Mr.and Mrs.Kelly, it's getting late, and time for me to go."
Martin glanced at his daughter and said, "Jeanne will see you to the door.Safe trip."
Jeanne nodded and grabbed August's hand.
"I'll see you off."
August said goodbye to the old couple and left hand in hand with Jeanne.
The woman walked him to the car.
Her eyes flickered, and she said, "My dad...I hope you won't take it to heart."
"No worries."
He pulled open the car door and prepared to get in, "Alright, you can go back."
"Wait a minute!"
Jeanne refused to let go of his hand and said in a hurry, "Are you really not going to help my dad? He's having a difficult time."
She gave him the puppy dog eyes and pouted.Her tone was pitiful.
No man would have the heart to turn her down.
August, however, didn't quite like that look.His eyes were fixed on her, and his voice turned cold.
"Did he ask you to say this?"
"No, not my dad.It's my idea..."
Jeanne bit her lips.
Before she could finish her words, August pulled his hand out and stepped away from her.
"Jeanne, don't let me down again," he said solemnly, stressing each word.
Then he turned around, got into the car, closed the door without hesitation, and drove away.