Nicole also decided to forego all formalities and promptly sat down. Sylphietteâs gaze landed on Yoda, who took his seat next to her.
âIf I hadnât taken a closer look, I wouldâve thought it was Mr. Seet! Where did you find this hideous creature, Nicole?â
The look on Sylphietteâs face was one of barely-concealed disgust.
âMy choice of companions does not concern you, Sylphiette. Why donât you tell me why youâre here?â
Nicole was not in the mood for idle chit-chat and decided to go straight to the point.
Sylphiette picked up her coffee and took a sip. âThe coffee here is quite good, Nicole. Your parents also met in a café back then.â
âGet to the point.â
âDonât you want to hear about your parentsâ relationship? Itâs quite the tale; there are twists and turns and surprises.â
Sylphiette glanced at Nicole again before putting down her coffee cup with a sigh. âAlright, as you wish. But first, call Davin and have him release my father.â
Nicole was stunned.
Zane was the culprit who murdered Davinâs grandmother. How could he be expected to let Zane go so easily?
Besides, she couldnât bring herself to ask. Nicole knew that it was selfish to expect sacrifices for her own personal gain.
âSylphiette, I can promise you other things. This, however, is something I cannot do.â
Yodaâs gaze was thoughtful, but he was pleased that Nicole stuck to her principles.
âI have no other requests.â Sylphiette refused to budge, and her expression turned icy. âMy father helped your mother out of compassion. I think you should extend the same courtesy and ask for him to be released. Consider this a debt repaid.â
âI know nothing of this debt you speak of, Sylphiette. I can handle other requests, though. Like money, for example.â
âMoney?â
Sylphiette looked impassively at Nicole. âDo you think I need money?â
Oh, give me a break! Given your current state, are you still pretending to be rich? thought Nicole.
âYouâve really let yourself go, based on how youâre dressed today. Whether or not you need money, I suppose you know better. Donât forget that your mother is still depending on you financially,â retorted Nicole coldly.
Sylphietteâs face instantly sank, and she clenched her fists.
If she wonât let my dad go, so be it. Squeezing some money out of her wouldnât be so bad, right? Itâs just that I donât know how much Nicole can spare.
âThese are secrets that concern your background. How much are you willing to pay for this?â
Nicole considered the offer. She wasnât sure of how much Sylphiette knew. If I spend such a large sum on barely any information, isnât that a waste?
âWell, Iâll pay according to how valuable your information is. How does ten thousand sound, for each bit?â
âA paltry ten thousand? Are you treating me like some kind of beggar?â
Sylphiette looked at Nicole as if she were a miser, but also considered Nicoleâs position.
Evan was killed in a crash, and she has nobody to rely on. The Lane Corporation still had to be run, and on top of that, Nicole had four kids to take care of. It was possible that Nicole couldnât afford to pay much, to begin with.
Wasnât she just laughing at me for being strapped for cash? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black here, mused Sylphiette.
âHow much do you want?â Nicole asked.
Sylphiette snorted coldly. âInformation this valuable costs one million and not a penny less.â
âOne million? You have some nerveââ
Before she could continue, she was interrupted by Yoda. âMrs. Seet, a million is nothing. Just agree to it.â
Sylphiette raised her eyes to look at him. She hadnât expected that ugly creature to speak on her behalf.
Yet why was he being kind to her for no reason?
He is obviously trying to take advantage of my beauty. How utterly revolting!
Sylphiette thought about this briefly. There was no harm in using him to gain more wealth, after all.
âNicole, even your subordinate thinks it isnât too much. Your hesitance is unbecoming, and I canât even compare you to a subordinate at this rate. Is information about your past worth so little to you?â
She got up, her graceful figure swaying as she walked towards Yoda. Draping an arm across his shoulder, she said, âYou think one million for a piece of vital information isnât expensive, yes?â
Her red lips parted lightly, and her restless hands gently stroked Yodaâs ear in a sultry gesture.