Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
Jade didn’t know why she felt scared. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she felt guilty. She forced herself to calm down and reminded herself that she was several years older than Max. She couldn’t show any fear in front of him.
“Someone mature and reliable,” Jade answered.
Max smiled lightly and rubbed his nose, saying helplessly, “Doesn’t sound like me.”
“I honestly don’t know why you’d like me, Max. You can have any woman you want. You don’t have to spend your time on me.” She didn’t think that Max would actually like her. At most, it was just a crush. Flirtatious men like him typically only ever felt that way.
Max understood what she was implying, but he stood firm. “Do you think I’m just messing with you?”
Jade said nothing, but her eyes told him everything he needed to know.
“Would you believe me if I said that I was serious?” Max smiled bitterly. If he had known that those. scandalous rumors of him would result in the mess that was today, he wouldn’t have created that reputation for himself.
Jade shook her head, looking solemn “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care. I don’t know if Danika has told you this before, but I’m a divorcee.” She had no intention of starting a relationship at the moment, so she didn’t mind letting Max know about her failed marriage. She just wanted him to give up.
Indeed, Danika hadn’t told him, but Max had his suspicions. The news didn’t caught him by surprise. “So what if you’ve been divorced?” he asked, smiling nonchalantly. “I don’t care.”
“I’ve gone through a divorce, and I’m way older than you. I just don’t understand why you like me.” Jade. couldn’t fathom it at all. Max was the president of his company, and he could have any young, beautiful woman he wanted. It just didn’t make sense for him to like her.
“It’s not like I can control my feelings.” He was frustrated too. He noticed he had paid more attention to her when they first met, and he couldn’t help it. Later on, he found out that this was how it felt to fall in love.
It wasn’t something he could control.
Jade knew she couldn’t convince him, so she said bluntly, “Don’t waste your time on me. I’m not interested.”
“You’re being too harsh. Aren’t you going to give me just one chance?” Max was exasperated. How could he handle it if she rejected him outright?
Jade glared at him. “No.”
“Alright, alright. We’ll still be friends, even if you won’t give me a chance. We can still go out for meals, can’t we?” He was persistent.
Jade shook her head, knowing full well his intentions. “I’m busy. I wouldn’t have the time to eat with you.”
“Well, I’ll reconsider that thing about your brand entering the market, then.” He smiled, looking at Danika behind him. “She spent a long time getting this deal. Are you going to just let it go to waste?”
Jade was furious. “Is that a threat?”
“Yeah” He didn’t deny it. He had always acted unscrupulously. As long as he got what he wanted, nothing else mattered.
Jade gritted her teeth She had to reign in her anger. “The business deal is already made. You can’t go back on your words.”
“That depends on you.”
Jade took a deep breath. She had to bear with it. Once the deal was signed, Max wouldn’t have the chance to rescind it. With that thought in mind, she nodded. “Alright. It’s just a meal. I wouldn’t have anything to lose.”
“That’s right. We’re all friends. A meal or two wouldn’t hurt.” Max smiled brightly after hearing her response. He didn’t care if she was silently cursing him.
It was yet another busy day in the hospital. Danika had two surgeries scheduled in the morning; when lunchtime came around, she was exhausted. She had just sat down in her office when Zack called.
“Hey, Zack,” she answered. “Have you found it?”
“Yes. I’ve already forwarded Simone Bloom’s schedule to your inbox,” Zack said. Although he had no idea what Danika wanted it for, he didn’t ask.
“Alright. Thanks, Zack, Danika said. It was great having someone help her out. At least she wouldn’t have so much on her plate. She couldn’t help thinking about Gilbert. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Have you heard from Gilbert lately?”
“Yes,” he said, then asked, “Hasn’t he contacted you?”
Danika smiled bitterly. There was an ache in her heart. “He’s never contacted me since the day he left.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to contact him; she just didn’t have the guts to call. She feared that she’d be influencing Gilbert if she called, so she had to keep her distance until he finally thought. things through.
Zack was quiet on the other end. He was no longer the naive Zack from before. “Don’t blame him, Danika. He’s probably in pain too.” He knew how much Gilbert cared for Danika. It must have been torture keeping his distance, afraid a single phone call would unleash the unthinkable.
Danika’s eyes felt prickly. How could she blame Gilbert? She was just upset. “I’m not blaming him. I’m just worried about his overall being in a foreign country.”
“Don’t worry. Gilbert is much stronger than us. He’s doing well overseas. The company’s branch has been established. Everything is going according to plan.” Gilbert had said nothing to Danika, but he had contacted Zack. It was why he knew so much.
Danika relaxed. “That’s great.”
“Relax. He’ll be back soon,” Zack said.
The call ended, and Danika took a deep breath, clearing her thoughts. She opened her inbox and saw the schedule that Zack had sent.
Simone Bloom was Sam Bloom’s sister. Not many people knew about her.
Danika didn’t head home after work. She went to the gym that Simone frequented.
Zack’s information told her that Simone would come to this gym every day after work without fail. From this information alone, Danika felt she was a persistent and patient woman. Would someone like this truly be pure and innocent? Danika wouldn’t believe it.
When she got there, she spotted Simone at once, who was already at the start of her routine. She wasn’t in a hurry and observed Simone from a distance.
“Do you have a membership, miss?” A personal trainer went up to her.
Danika looked at him. After thinking for a while, she said, “No, but I have something I’d like to ask you.” While speaking, she took a wad of cash from her bag and handed it to him.
He smiled and pocketed it. “What is it? I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“That woman over there comes here often. Do you know if she has any close friends here?” Danika knew she had to understand Simone thoroughly to avoid being at a disadvantage.
The personal trainer looked at Simone. He obviously knew her. “You mean Ms. Bloom? I know her. Her trainer is my brother. They’re close. They even go out to eat together sometimes.” He emphasized the part about them eating together, and Danika got the hint.
She took out yet another wad of cash from her wallet and said softly, “Bring your brother over. Don’t let her notice.”
“Alright. You can count on me.” The trainer was happy with the easy money.
Not long after, Simone’s trainer was brought over. Danika got straight to the point, bribing him while asking about Simone. She was surprised to know that they had a pretty problematic relationship. Problematic, in the sense that this trainer had a girlfriend, but Simone told everyone that she was single.
With a clear understanding in mind, Danika walked toward Simone.
Simone was still running, and when Danika went over, she paid her no mind. She thought she was. just another gym goer. Only when Danika stood behind her for two minutes did Simone finally look over. “There are treadmills over there. You don’t have to wait for me.”
“I’m not here to run,” Danika said, smiling. “I’m here for you.”
In the break room, Simone drank water and looked at Danika. Calmly, she asked, “What do you want from me?”
“I’d like to talk about the Blooms,” Danika said, not beating around the bush.
Simone frowned immediately. She didn’t look too happy. “The Blooms? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re part of the Bloom family. How could you not know what I’m talking about?” Danika smiled, knowing that Simone was just playing dumb.
Simone’s face darkened. She didn’t seem to want anyone to know about her identity. “What do you want? I’ve never cared about what went on in that family.”
Although she worked at Bloom Conglomerate, she didn’t tell anyone of her status as the Bloom family’s daughter. She separated herself from them very well. She didn’t think that she’d still be sniffed out.
“I’m quite curious to know why you’ve never disclosed your identity as a Bloom. They’ve never mentioned having you as their daughter, either.” Danika could find everything there was to know on the surface, but she wasn’t able to find out the inner workings of things.
Simone drank her water and glanced at Danika. “Why should I tell you that? Who are you?” She still didn’t know who Danika was, only that she was a weird woman saying weird things.
“I’m Danika Zellweger. You may call me Danika.” Danika smiled at her, expressing her kindness.