Chapter 127: So You Can Be This Fierce in Front of Others
“Enrico, you should accept defeat graciously. You said you wouldn’t stop me,” Paige said, looking at him.
“So what should I do?” Enrico’s face was cold, but his tone had completely changed.
Paige placed the mask back on his face. “Since you’re already here, why not rest inside? Once the meeting is over, we can go back together.”
“You want me to wait for you?” Enrico’s tone implied, “Paige, are you out of your mind? Do you know who I am?”
“Yes,” Paige admitted calmly. After all, he had nothing else to do while recovering.
Enrico fell silent. His gaze landed on her lips, and his throat felt a bit dry. Just moments ago, those lips had taken the initiative to kiss him.
Seeing that Enrico had relented, Paige turned to head back to the meeting room, but he grabbed her, pulled down his mask, and leaned in. “Let me quench my thirst first.”
Paige struggled, but it was futile.
By the time they returned to the meeting room, Paige’s lips were slightly swollen, looking as if she had applied a layer of lipstick, making them especially striking. Over her shoulder was draped a black men’s shirt, covering one exposed, rounded shoulder. Enrico had chosen this outfit for her, ensuring it was something only he could see.
As soon as they appeared, the noisy crowd fell silent and returned to their seats. Paige ignored them, glancing around the room. Feeling a bit awkward, she noticed only one empty chair in the corner.
She pointed at the chair and looked at Enrico. “Can you sit there and wait for me for a moment?”
Enrico walked straight over to Nick, grabbed him by the collar, and tossed him aside, then sat down himself. The room fell into a dead silence.
It took Nick a moment to recover from being thrown. He angrily rolled up his sleeves. “Damn, you…”
But mindful of Paige, Nick quickly shut his mouth and looked at her with a wronged expression.From NôvelDrama.Org.
Paige sighed inwardly and looked at Nick. “Move that chair from the corner over here.”
Nick looked like he’d been struck by lightning, his face paling. “Paige…”
In Paige’s mind, did this hardworking vice president not even rank above a hired… gigolo?
The others exchanged glances, silently communicating that this man must be Paige’s boyfriend. Clearly, his status was much higher than that of the vice president.
Carrie couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up to help Nick move the chair. Paige forced herself to remain calm and sat back in the main seat. “Let’s continue the meeting.”
Enrico sitting on the right suddenly lay down on the table, his face turned toward her, his long fingers casually placed near her hand. They were close enough that she only had to lift her hand to touch him. While the others couldn’t see it, Paige, sitting in the main seat, could clearly feel his intense gaze.
The Peak Club members noticed and exchanged even more frequent glances. Paige avoided Enrico’s gaze, her tone cool. “Regarding the issue of resource sharing, I’ve thought it over. The popularity of Peak Club won’t last forever. Once it wanes, what awaits us will surely be retaliation. So…”
Enrico’s long fingers slowly moved closer to her folder, eventually hooking around her little finger. Paige glanced at it, paused for a moment, then continued, “So, there’s no turning back for Peak Club. We have to keep climbing, reaching heights where we can’t be replaced.”
Enrico lay on the table, his dark eyes fixed on her lips as they moved, recalling their soft touch just moments ago-a temptation.
“The popularity of this competition is high. The resources that should have belonged to the Elite Club have fallen into our hands. Rey will intern at the country’s top research institute, Bobby and Gabi will enter two major departments to learn more, but Carrie…”
Paige looked up at Carrie. “Your intention isn’t in finance, so why do you want to enter the entertainment industry?”
“Entertainment industry?” Rey was shocked. “Carrie, with your intelligence, going into the entertainment industry is such a waste.”
“Exactly. If you want to enter the entertainment industry, why did you join Peak Club?” Nick added.
“In the entertainment industry of Country A, which of the popular stars doesn’t have a powerful backer? I want Peak Club to be my backer,” Carrie said calmly. “My family conditions are average. I need money, and I don’t have time to waste on those so-called high positions, so I choose to enter the entertainment industry.”
Paige didn’t seem as surprised as the others, simply saying, “Carrie, I founded Peak Club with personal motives. I don’t need a star to help me.”
Personal motives? Enrico’s eyes darkened, and he gave her a deep look. So she was this candid with her members too, not hiding anything.
His hooked finger moved slightly. Paige looked at Enrico’s finger entwined with her pinky. His nails were neatly trimmed, his fingers long and well-defined, entwined with hers, exuding a sense of intimacy.
“Peak Club indeed doesn’t need a star, but the entertainment industry is backed by capital. Whatever you plan to do in the future, capital is essential.” Carrie smiled at her. “If I become famous, I can attract countless capital for you.”
Hearing this, Enrico let out a disdainful laugh. In the entire Country A, the greatest capital was him, Enrico. Did Paige still need a star’s help?
Carrie, who had been full of confidence, felt a bit embarrassed by his laugh. Paige knew what Enrico was thinking but didn’t refute Carrie. “Not just capital. If you can establish yourself in the entertainment industry, Peak Club will also have control over a portion of public opinion.”
Carrie’s eyes lit up. “You’re allowing me to enter the entertainment industry?”
“You can. I won’t stop you from going into any industry you choose. But if you do it, you must be the best. Peak Club doesn’t keep dead weight.”
Paige’s tone was serious, her face expressionless. To her, Peak Club should flourish in various fields. It would be best if they could dabble in all walks of life.
“Yes,” everyone responded in unison.
“Whatever field you enter, I’ll pave the way for you, but how to become the most dazzling person in that field is up to you.” Paige took out another document and opened it. “Let’s move on to discuss the competition arrangements.”
With so many things piled up, handling them one by one took time. Enrico lay on the table, closing his eyes, seemingly a bit drowsy. Everyone else started to become a bit distracted too, with Rey and Gabi whispering to each other.
“That guy doesn’t look like a student. He must be a fitness coach. I could feel his eight-pack abs even through his clothes.”
“I don’t think so. Maybe he’s a mercenary or something. Look at him wearing those fingerless gloves, just like in the movies.”
“He doesn’t seem like it. Could he be a national secret agent or something, which is why his face is covered so tightly?”
“Where do you think Paige met this mysterious boyfriend? Why haven’t we heard about him before?”
The two became more and more excited, not realizing their voices were affecting the flow of Paige’s meeting. Suddenly, the entire meeting room fell silent. The two belatedly looked up to see everyone staring at them sympathetically.
Sensing danger, they turned slowly to see Paige coldly glaring at them, her lips pressed into a displeased line.
“Bang!” Paige slammed the document in her hand onto the table, the sound full of extreme displeasure. “Am I the one speaking, or are you? If you love gossip so much, I’ll transfer you to work on the school newspaper!”
Enrico was woken by the noise. He slowly opened his eyes, seeing Paige’s icy face, which looked quite intimidating.
She threw something?
The meeting room was extremely quiet. Rey and Gabi stood up awkwardly. “Sorry, Paige, we…”
“Hmph.” Enrico suddenly chuckled, his eyes fixed on Paige as he said, as if no one else was around, “So you can be this fierce in front of others.”
Compared to this, she was practically docile in front of him. Although his voice was low, the room was too quiet, and his suggestive words reached the ears of everyone present. Nick nearly jumped up. What was with this gigolo? Paige was trying to establish her authority, and he was babbling out of place. Did he think Paige was going to spoil him that much?
Paige looked at Enrico, her gaze chilly, seemingly displeased with his sudden comment. His interruption could undermine her control over the members. Enrico ignored her warning look. “I’m thirsty,” he said.
Paige, holding back her frustration, poured a cup of water using her own cup, then placed it in front of Enrico. If she didn’t meet Enrico’s needs now, she feared he might do something even more troublesome later. Seeing their interaction, everyone exchanged glances. Was Paige really this indulgent?
Paige sat back down and coldly said, “Today I brought an outsider to the meeting, disrupting the process. That’s my fault. I’ll write a self-criticism, and so will you two.” This was directed at Rey and Gabi.
The two quickly nodded, not daring to argue. “Of course, we will.”
Nick watched Enrico, who remained motionless, and his lips trembled with anger. Seriously? Paige had to write a self-criticism because of this gigolo?
“You’re the president of Peak Club, and you need to write a self-criticism?” Enrico sat up straight, his expression a bit
“You’re the president of Peak Club, and you still need to write a self-criticism?” Enrico sat up, his expression a bit displeased as he played with Paige’s water cup.
Isn’t that all because of you! Nick was just about to say something to Enrico when he heard him ask, “When will this meeting be over?”
Enrico, who had been lying on the table, hadn’t been sleeping well. He still preferred holding her while sleeping back at Rose Estate.
Paige glanced at the document in front of her and replied calmly, “It’ll be done soon.”
Paige, are you seriously coddling him? Nick thought to himself, feeling like he needed an oxygen tank.