Danielle quickly picked up her cup. "Mr. Chapman, you flatter me."
The man offered a polite, easy smile. "No need to be so modest."
Their conversation didn’t last long—Harold had other matters to attend to and excused himself early.
Once he was gone, Gian stared at the door, a faint frown creasing his brow. “He seems almost too enthusiastic. It’s odd.”
A businessman’s instincts are keen; when someone is overly friendly, it’s hard not to suspect a hidden agenda.
Danielle caught his uncertainty, stood up, and smiled. “Weren’t you always saying he has a stellar reputation in the industry? Maybe he’s just genuinely above reproach.”
“If his reputation were poor, why would he step in to help Ninesky when we were at rock bottom?”
Back then, Harold had asked for nothing in return. He’d invested before Ninesky showed any real promise—he didn’t hesitate, just offered his support.
Even Gian, in hindsight, hadn’t expected Harold to be so generous, even providing materials to help them out.
Unfortunately, with their company headquarters so far apart, a deeper partnership was impossible.
All they could do was maintain a business relationship as investor and beneficiary.
Gian considered this, then nodded. That was true.
As Harold had said himself, he valued talent.
He couldn’t stand to see promising people struggling. As an industry veteran, he lent a hand where he could.
After all, in this business, it’s rare to find true talent. Harold knew that better than anyone, which is why he stepped in.
Gian spoke up. “Anyway, at this point, we can call him a friend.”
Danielle smiled. “We should bring him a few local specialties from the north next time. He always makes sure to be the perfect host, and we shouldn’t take advantage of his hospitality.”
Especially since he’d come to invite them in person.
“Like a bad penny,” Liam muttered, watching Danielle at the door. “They turn up everywhere. Don’t you have any shame?”
Alexander heard Liam’s comment and finally looked up, his gaze calm and unreadable as ever. He was a closed book; no one could ever guess what he was thinking.
Millie, too, was surprised to see them again. At this point, it was hard not to suspect they were following her.
Danielle shot Liam a cool, amused smile. “Maybe you should worry about your own sense of shame. You’re not money—don’t flatter yourself, I’ve got better things to do than follow you around.”
With that, she and Gian walked away.
Liam watched her leave. “Always the same—caught red-handed and still won’t admit it.”
He wondered how long she could keep up the act.
When Alex and Millie’s wedding invitations went out, he’d see if Danielle could keep pretending then.
Who knows—maybe she’d pull a scene at the wedding, tears and drama and all.
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