His Housewife Had Secret Identities novel Chapter 167

Niamh felt her cheeks flush with heat.

"Quentin, why don't you take Sophia and Natalie out for some market research?"

"…Oh. Uh, sure…"

Quentin took a moment to process, but he caught on and quickly ushered Sophia and Natalie out of the office.

With everyone else gone, Niamh finally relaxed. She didn't have to worry about anyone catching on to her relationship with Jonathan—or seeing how red her face had gotten.

"Jonathan, what are you really doing here today?" she demanded.

"I already told you. Drop out of the competition."

His tone left no room for discussion. It was an order, plain and simple.

Niamh almost laughed. After all the work she'd put in for this precious opportunity, was she really supposed to just quit because Jonathan said so?

Looking up at him, she saw nothing but fierce resistance reflected in her dark eyes.

"Dropping out is for your own good," Jonathan continued. "Because you're not going to win."

The last time Jonathan had said something like this, it was when Marina had opened her own studio.

"Don't tell me Marina's entering the Nova Jewelry Design Awards too?"

"That's right."

Jonathan's answer was both expected and somehow still shocking.

"But didn't Marina already get Chairman Grant's letter of introduction? Didn't she qualify for Luminous Divas Fashion Week?"

Niamh's question was met with a low, dismissive chuckle.

Jonathan's laugh was mocking, as if he thought she was hopelessly naïve.

"Marina isn't like you. Your goal is just some little fashion week. Marina's aiming to make T&R the top jewelry brand in the world."

He painted Marina's ambitions in vibrant strokes, but to Niamh, it just sounded ridiculous. Even FY wouldn't claim they could become number one globally.

"Of course," he replied without hesitation.

"But you'll have to shield me from all the drinks again. I almost feel sorry for you…"

"It's fine. That's what I'm here for."

Listening to Jonathan dote on Marina over the phone, Niamh couldn't help but think of the time she had to drink herself sick just to win the AMS contract for her company. She'd ended up in the hospital, nearly with a perforated ulcer. The person who picked her up and took her home was Lana.

Where was Jonathan then? Most likely out with Marina.

Niamh realized that Jonathan only seemed to remember her when it suited him—when he needed to satisfy his own desires.

A chill ran through her. She let out a deep sigh just as Jonathan finished his call.

He was looking at her, his gaze lingering on her eyes.

Niamh's eyes really were beautiful.