Chapter 242: Chapter 242

Dear Sweetheart Chapter 242 Arnaud Montail Rayna commented, “You have a strange dog. You are its master, but it doesn’t stick to you.”

Curtis responded, “Aren’t you?”

It took Rayna a moment to realize what he was referring to. She quickly lowered her head and pretended to chop the vegetables, her face turning bright red.

She was busy frying fish and couldn’t leave the pan, so she taught Curtis how to make meatballs instead.

Curtis almost gave up when he saw the two large bowls of minced meat, but in the end, he put on the gloves. It was his first time doing this, and he couldn’t even make the meatballs round. Rayna grew anxious when she saw how little progress he was making.

“Roll them! Who told you to pinch them?” Rayna got so angry that she started teaching him the ropes. “Roll it like this. Oh, I can’t believe it. Why is your handwriting so pretty when your hands aren’t that flexible?”

Curtis blurted out, “They are two different things!”

“Roll the meatballs!” Rayna roared. She slapped his head and ordered, “If you can’t roll them, you can’t have dinner with us!”

It was at this point that Curtis learned not to talk back at a woman.

During dinner, Kristie learned that Curtis had helped roll the meatballs. She saw how helpless he looked and couldn’t stop laughing as she slammed the table. “Oh, I can’t believe Curtis got scolded! This is hilarious!”

She then prayed solemnly, “God, please give Curtis a mischievous daughter who will give him a hard time!”

“Kristie!” Curtis’ veins nearly popped up in rage. “Who gave you the courage to say that?”

James chimed in, “I gave her the courage.”

“What are you all doing? Eat your food!” Afraid that they would argue at the dining table, Rayna started serving them. “Stop talking. You don’t want to spray your saliva all over the food, do you?”

Curtis pulled a dish closer to him.

After dinner, Rayna reminded Curtis that he had offered to do the dishes and sent him to the kitchen. She then went to the yard with James.

“I found this,” James said as he handed Rayna an envelope. “Twenty-five years ago, a jewelry store in Irushea had a customer who brought in an uncut sapphire. He was getting married and wanted the store to design a set of jewelry for him. They created a three-piece set for him. When the client returned to pick it up, he asked them to engrave his wife’s initials on the ring. I discovered that the man’s name was Sylvester Faymon while his wife’s name was Xandra Quaker.”

James paused before continuing, “I was unable to find any information about the couple’s work, as it had been completely erased. All I know is that the man took a bullet and committed suicide. I saw the couple’s photo, too.”

Rayna’s lips curled. “Let me guess. He bears an uncanny resemblance to Curtis, right?”

James nodded.

Seeing that, Rayna told him about Curtis’ background briefly.

“Ah, now I understand,” James exclaimed upon comprehending the purpose of Rayna’s request for him to look into the ring.

“Based on your expression, I get the feeling there’s more that you want me to uncover.”

Rayna asked, “Are there any clues about the necklace or the earrings?”

“According to my information, the earrings were sold at an auction in Bellridge a decade ago and are now in the possession of a noblewoman. I don’t have any information about the necklace, though.”

“What a pity,” Rayna remarked.

James’ investigation proved fruitful, but he hadn’t discovered what she wanted to know the most.

“Rayna, share with me the details. I will go and look into it.”

“No need.” Rayna gave him a smile and shook her head. She wasn’t sure about the matter as it might not be a coincidence. “I might be overthinking.”

James stopped pursuing the matter.

Kristie acted as if Curtis’ home was her own by turning on the sound system after dinner and singing loudly into a microphone.

The noise was so loud that Curtis feared his eardrums would burst from the noise pollution.

With an icy expression, he forcibly removed James and Kristie from his house due to their annoying behavior.

Curtis came back to see Rayna squatting and watching the German Shepherd puppy eat meat. Approaching her, he jokingly asked, “Ms. Garland, are you planning to steal the dog’s food?”

Rayna ignored him.

Confused, Curtis crouched down to find that Rayna was staring at the ground with a sad expression. “What’s the matter? Did someone give you a hard time at work?”

“Huh? What?” Rayna turned to look at him as if she had just come out of a trance.

Curtis was both angry and amused. “You looked like you were about to cry, so I asked if someone had been bullying you.”

“No,” Rayna responded as she wiped her face with her fingers. “I was just thinking about how you’re too stingy. You have a lot of employees, yet you won’t even lend me a few of them.”

I’m the most generous person in the world.

With that thought in mind, Curtis went upstairs to retrieve his laptop. He then logged into his company’s system before giving her the laptop. “Take your pick. After you make your selection, I’ll have them report to you for work.”

Rayna couldn’t believe her ears. “Are you sure I can choose whoever I want? Is this a trap?”

“Yeah.”

“What?” Rayna held her breath. “Are they expensive?”

Seeing how nervous she looked, Curtis suddenly felt like teasing her. “Mm. I wonder if you can afford them.”

“Our company is quite rich.”

“Do I look like I’m in need of money?” The man inched nearer to her. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, making him look extra sexy. “You can pay me back in another way.”

Rayna placed her hands on Curtis’ chest, her heart racing from the warmth.

He’s too irresistibly sexy.

“Mr. Faymon, it is possible.” Rayna forced herself to keep a clear head and stammered, “B-But Mr. Chambers is a bit chubby, so I’m afraid...”

A scowl crept up Curtis’ face as he lost his jovial mood. “Ms. Garland, I have to give it to you.”

“Should I make the call on your behalf?”

“No need. Pick the employees you need!” With that, Curtis stormed upstairs.

He knew she would anger him further if he were to stay.

Rayna’s mood improved considerably.

After being bullied so many times, I’ve finally avenged myself!

After obtaining the assistance of several employees from Faymon Group, Rayna was pleased to see her team’s abilities significantly improve. The bid documents they produced were now exemplary within the industry, which was a marked contrast from their previous efforts.

They say that ninety percent of talent works in Faymon Group. That is true.

On the day of the tender, Rayna arrived at the venue with her team members.

The high-speed rail project attracted many companies other than Faymon Group, including construction firms and major conglomerates with construction divisions. The scene was bustling with activity.

Rayna, having gained valuable experience at Faymon Group, was now representing Hatchair Group to win the tender project.

She displayed poise and confidence, so many people approached her to greet her.

“Are you Ms. Rayna Garland from Hatchair Group?”

A tall, handsome man with short blond hair, chiseled features, and bright blue eyes walked over and stopped in front of Rayna.

He was an Adrunian but spoke Chanaean fluently without any accent.

“Hello, I am Rayna Garland, representing Hatchair Group,” Rayna introduced herself, shaking the man’s hand out of politeness even though she didn’t know him. He, however, seemed to be familiar with her.

The man gave a charming smile. “I’m Arnaud Montail. I’ve only been in Chanaea for three months and have acquired a few companies. I received a request for a proposal for the high-speed rail tender and decided to come and see what it’s all about.”

His casual mention of “acquiring a few companies” made it seem as though they were not significant. Rayna was momentarily at a loss for words and wasn’t sure how to respond.

Perhaps wealthy people acquire companies like we buy mustard leaves.

Rayna returned his smile. “Mr. Montail, you seem confident that you will win the tender.”

“I’m just here to see what’s happening,” Arnaud said thoughtfully, staring at her with his sparkling blue eyes. “But I think Hatchair Group will win the tender.”

Rayna instinctively knitted her brows.

The man appeared to be the typical elegant and charming Adrunian gentleman, but his gaze made her feel uneasy, as if she was being watched by a venomous snake.