Watching Skyler Jones’s car drive away, Rebecca Quentin was just about to speak to Howard Geoffrey beside her when he suddenly grabbed her wrist and led her back to the hotel.
"Hey, what are you doing? You’re hurting my hand..."
Inside the hotel room.
After bringing Rebecca Quentin back to the room, Howard Geoffrey slammed the door shut with a "bang."
It was then that Rebecca Quentin finally broke free from Howard Geoffrey’s grip, rubbing her reddened and painful wrist, glaring at him, "What are you doing? You hurt my hand."
Howard Geoffrey arrogantly uttered, "Didn’t I tell you not to get too close to Skyler Jones, why do you always ignore what I say?"
Facing his aggression, Rebecca Quentin retorted defiantly, "I’ll listen if you give me a reason."
Howard Geoffrey, accustomed to arrogance, coldly replied, "No reason, but you must do so."
Howard Geoffrey’s tough demeanor infuriated Rebecca Quentin, who responded directly, "If there’s no reason, I don’t think I can do it. Skyler Jones has always taken care of me, and I value having him as a friend, so I don’t want to lose this friendship because of your baseless tyranny."
Howard Geoffrey seemed angry, raising his voice to call her full name, "Rebecca Quentin!!"
Feeling a bit wronged by his harshness, Rebecca Quentin forced herself to maintain composure while raising her voice, "Say what you want to say, I’m listening."
Thinking Rebecca Quentin was just being sharp-tongued, Howard Geoffrey’s tone turned cold, "Then listen to me, stay away from Skyler Jones, and don’t meet him alone without my permission in the future!!"
"Howard Geoffrey, how do you have the right to demand this of me? I’m not your appendage, not something you can use and command at will!"
As she said the last sentence, Rebecca Quentin’s eyes finally reddened with grievance, but she tried hard not to let the tears gather, though she couldn’t control the sob in her voice.
Realizing this, Howard Geoffrey’s attitude instantly softened when faced with Rebecca Quentin’s poignant look, his tone growing gentle, "Becca..."
Howard Geoffrey took a step closer, wanting to support Rebecca Quentin.
Rebecca Quentin backed away several steps, putting distance between them, "Don’t touch me, I don’t want to talk to you right now, get out!"
Trying hard to hold back the tears in her eyes, Rebecca Quentin stubbornly turned her head to the side, "Get out!!"
"I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled at you." Continuing to blame himself, Howard Geoffrey tried to approach again.
Rebecca Quentin, with her back to Howard Geoffrey, replied coldly, "Don’t come over, please, I’m asking you to leave, I want to be alone for a while."
Howard Geoffrey’s tone carried a peace offering, "Listen to me, I..."
Rebecca Quentin, however, interrupted Howard Geoffrey’s words in a fit of pique, "Do I even need your permission to take a moment of peace?"
Howard Geoffrey stood quietly on the spot gazing at her for a few seconds, finally turning to leave.
After Howard Geoffrey left, Rebecca Quentin locked the door.
Her fragile body leaned against the thick door panel, Rebecca Quentin sobbed, eventually sliding slowly down along the door, softly crying.
Jason Wood stepped out of the elevator.
Just arriving at the door of the CEO’s office, about to knock, Roye stopped his hand.
Jason Wood paused his action, impatiently saying, "Don’t waste my time, I have urgent matters to report to the boss!"
Roye furrowed his brows, "The boss is in a bad mood. If you go in now and say the wrong thing, you’ll get scolded!"
Jason Wood wondered, "What’s wrong?"
Roye whispered, "Maybe he had a fight with Miss Quentin?"
Jason Wood remained skeptical.
In his view, it seemed there was no one in the world who could anger the boss, not even Miss Quentin likely had the skill!
Jason Wood, without fear, proceeded to knock on the door.
Roye was visibly surprised, secretly admiring Jason Wood’s bravery.
Inside the office came Howard Geoffrey’s indifferent voice, "Come in," Jason Wood adjusted his clothes and entered under Roye’s admiring gaze.
Howard Geoffrey was smoking at that moment, the smoke wafting over his indifferent face, inexplicably adding a hint of gloom.
Jason Wood wasn’t initially scared, but upon seeing the scene before him, he couldn’t help but feel a moment of panic, causing him to speak more cautiously, "Boss."
Howard Geoffrey flicked ash into the ashtray, speaking flatly, "What did you find?"
"Oversky Group has been acting even more bizarre these past two days."
Jason Wood disclosed what he’d found, "I discovered that ’Oversky’ has been mobilizing funds recently, even activating overseas accounts, but still couldn’t trace the flow and use of these funds."
Howard Geoffrey’s gaze turned somber, the cigarette burning to ash in his hand, yet he didn’t flick it, seeming to ponder deep in thought.
"Boss, these actions by ’Oversky’ must be significant. I’m worried Skyler Jones’s covert moves might catch us off guard soon."
"Boss, now that ’Oversky’ is cooperating with ’Jennings’ and ’Leonard,’ should we remind them to watch out for Skyler Jones? Although Mr. Lewis and General Leonard are sensible people, we can’t be too careful!"
Howard Geoffrey at that moment stubbed out the cigarette, instructing coldly, "I’ll handle this personally, you don’t worry about others, keep observing ’Oversky’ closely."
After Jason Wood left, Howard Geoffrey stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass curtain in his office.
He crossed his arms contemplating, his feet planted amidst the bustling city’s vehicular streams.
Clearly with radiant and bright eyes, yet at this moment, they exuded extreme coldness, his gaze intently observing the darkness outside the glass curtain, suddenly flashing a beautiful yet stubborn face in his mind.
This was the first time he’d allowed a woman to be so willful in front of him.
Stubborn, proud, and sharp-tongued, that’s his impression of her after four years.
Shed of naivety and innocence, she was no longer the girl who let him have his way six years ago; six years later, she exuded a feminine charm and had grown to be more clever and beautiful than before.
He had to admit, poverty had never dulled her beauty and grace, no wonder Skyler Jones would involve himself when designing a meeting with her...
But even such a unique woman shouldn’t distract Skyler Jones...
Rebecca Quentin’s eyes had lost their moistness, yet traces of tears remained on the pillow.
In truth, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to acquiesce to his wishes, nor that she wanted to argue with him, but she simply couldn’t control herself at the moment, as there were too many insecurities and concerns about him buried in her heart.