âBonnie, send Young Master Nigel out. Or else, weâll call the cops,â Maggie reprimanded.
âMrs. Silverstein, Iâll leave. I donât have any ill intentions. Iâll just come back tomorrow,â Nigel explained hurriedly while looking at Queenie with reluctant eyes. He took two steps back before taking his leave, after which Bonnie followed behind to send him out.
âYoung Master Nigel, do you know why Queenie is mad at you?â she yelled at his back.
Turning his head to face her, he asked, âDo you know?â
âPerhaps she fell in love with another man! You might not be the prince charming sheâs looking for.â
Bonnie wanted to make him feel as if he was being despised.
âThatâs impossible,â he retorted her calmly.
After his sports car sped away, she felt utterly frustrated. Why does a rich and noble man like Nigel only have eyes for Queenie?
Back in the living room, a disheartened Maggie looked at Queenie, who was biting her lips. âTell me what happened. Werenât you two doing well before?â
âWhen Dad and I went to have dinner today, I saw him on a date with another woman.â Queenie did not plan to keep that from her mom.
After listening to her explanation, Maggie became instantly furious and criticized, âAnd I thought he was a good man! Turns out we were wrong about him. If thatâs the case, Queenie, you should sever all ties with him!â
Standing by the door, Bonnie heard everything before a proud smile slowly crept on her face. With her understanding of Queenieâs personality, Queenie and Nigel were done.
Ever since the incident with Leslie, Bonnie discovered that Queenieâs character had turned tenacious.
In other words, she could not stand even the slightest sense of betrayal in her relationship.
âQueenie, Young Master Nigel has left. He seemed quite angry. Did you know?â
âWhatâs there to be angry about?â Queenie frowned.
While shaking her head, Bonnie replied, âI donât know either! Maybe he thinks youâre being unreasonable for getting mad at him for no reason. I saw him slamming the car door when he got in.â
Biting her lips, Queenie felt a sense of resentment before standing up. âMom, Iâm heading back to my room.â
After she ascended the stairs, Bonnie trailed behind her. âMom, Iâll talk to her.â
Queenie was about to close the door when Bonnie stopped her and squeezed into her room. âWith my understanding of men, I can tell you that they are all the same. Thereâs nothing special about Nigel.
Plus, I think he seems to look down on our family!â
âAre you done?â Queenie turned around to glare at her before she retorted, âI donât need you to make snarky remarks about my life.â
âIâm just trying to look out for you! I want you to keep a cool mind and not overlook his cheating incident just because heâs hot and wealthy.â Bonnie wore a conflicted expression.
Since Queenie was still in a bad mood, everything she said was magnified in front of her.
âQueenie, Nigel mustâve had a lot of women before you. Heâs the successor of a large financial group, so Iâm sure heâs been low-profile because he has all the means to keep control of the media about him.
Iâd say that such a man is dirty and unworthy of you.â
âGet out.â Queenie was feeling awful enough at this point and she wished it would come to a stop.
Before exiting the room, Bonnie turned around and added, âIt seems like Nigel will not stop until he gets you, so youâd better prepare yourself. Since he has spent so much money on you, Iâm sure heâd want to get something back.â With that, she left the room.
As her room descended into silence, Queenie could not hold back her sadness anymore and began sobbing her heart out. Right at that moment, her phone rang, and she glanced at the device with teary eyes before turning it off. I donât wanna hear anything from you, jerk.
In the meantime, Nigel was waiting for the traffic light when he heard a message coming from his Bluetooth earphones. âHello, the person youâre calling has switched off their device. Please try again later.â
âQueenie, what exactly happened to you?â He still could not figure out the whole story, despite recalling all the details since they parted last night. In the end, he parked by the roadside and frustratedly phoned Julian.
âHello!â
âCome out for a drink.â
âWhatâs the matter? Having a bad day?â Julian immediately noticed that something was up.
âCome out and drink with me. Usual place.â Once Nigel said that, he hung up and sped toward the lounge he and Julian frequented.
When Nigel arrived, he found a couch in the corner and plopped onto it. Melancholia emanated from his whole figure as all of the memories he shared with Queenie, from the moment they met until tonightâs fallout, were replayed in his head. It was then he discovered that he could not stand the idea of not having her in his life.
Soon, Julian arrived in his sports attire, obviously indicating that he had come from the gym. After he sat down, he discovered that his friend seemed to have lost his soul. âWhatâs the matter? Fought with Miss Silverstein?â
âI donât know what I did wrong to make her so angry that she doesnât even want to take my calls.â After saying that, Nigel palmed his forehead and sighed.
âDo you want a drink? Iâll drive you home later.â While saying that, Julian raised his hand and beckoned a waiter over to their seating before ordering two bottles of whiskey.
âJulian, do you know what liking someone feels like?â A depressed Nigel poured himself a glass and drank it.
Meanwhile, Julian was contemplating that question seriously. Having debuted for five years and been âshippedâ with other artists many times, he still felt like the idea of being in love was vague. In the end, he shook his head. âIâm not sure.â
While clutching his chest, Nigel explained, âIt hurts here, and it hurts bad. You canât imagine the pain I felt when she said she never wants to see me again. The pain is so intense that I felt like I was about to pass out. Do you know⦠Sigh. You wouldnât understand even if I told you.â He then downed the whole glass of whiskey and submerged himself in his misery.
Julian was taken aback by what he saw. It seems like Miss Silverstein has him hooked. Or else, he wouldnât be this depressed.
âNigel, you have to have more confidence in yourself. Iâm sure there must be a misunderstanding between you and Miss Silverstein.â
âMy mom made me go on a blind date today⦠Queenie was still messaging me thenâ¦â At that moment, Nigelâs eyes suddenly widened as if he had an epiphany. âI lied to her. She asked me where I was, and I said I was at the company. Could she have known that I wasnât at the company? Did she find out that I lied to her?â
Nigel finally thought about this incident and immediately felt like punching himself. âIt must be because she found out I was at that dinner party and not at the company. She has Cecilyâs number, so maybe she called and asked Cecily about my whereabouts. She knows Iâve lied to her.â
Scratching his head, he ruffled his originally neat, ink-black hair and said, âJulian, come with me. I need to find her and explain everything. I need to tell her the truth about this incident.â
âHave you gone mad? Itâs 11.00PM now. The Silversteins will never let you in. Itâd be best if you head over tomorrow,â Julian suggested.
âIâm so stupid and I deserve such treatment.â While saying so, Nigel grabbed the whiskey bottle and poured himself another drink. âJulian, you must heed this lesson! If you manage to find a girlfriend in the future, you must not lie to her. The consequences are too immense.â
âYou havenât figured out how to maintain a good romantic relationship, yet youâre already lecturing me about it.â Julian chuckled.
âCome on! Letâs go to your place! I need company tonight,â Nigel told him.
Luckily, Julianâs assistant sent him here, so he drove them home in Nigelâs car. At the same time, a black paparazzi vehicle was following them with its camera aimed at the sports car, recording everything.
Since Julianâs home was a penthouse duplex in the city center, he parked the sports car in the basement before the black off-road vehicle followed him inside.
He descended the car and walked around to the passenger seat to help the drunk Nigel out of the car.
Then, he affectionately hugged Julianâs shoulder, and the two headed for the elevator. However, they were oblivious that all of their actions were captured by the camera.
Subsequently, the two men inside the off-road vehicle began to discuss what they saw.
âThis is solid proof. Weâre going to make this tomorrowâs headlines.â
âWhat should we name this piece? âTop Actor Julian Gilmore Spends a Night with Mysterious Manâ?â
âThatâs not catchy enough. It should be âRumor-Free Actor Julian Gilmoreâs Deepest Secret Revealedâ.â
Meanwhile, Nigel treated Julianâs home like his own and he curled on the couch with his chin resting on his knees. Not only did he look insecure, but he also looked unconcerned about his image while sitting in that posture. Julian clicked his tongue as he took a glance at his friend, wondering if being in a relationship would make someone this insane.
âIâll get up at 6.00AM tomorrow and head over to her house at 8.00AM so that I can catch her on her way to work and explain everything.â
Not intending to care about Nigel, Julian responded, âFind a place to sleep. Iâll be in my room reading my script.â
Meanwhile, at the Silverstein Residence, Queenie did not catch a wink that night. Though she wanted to fall asleep, the scene of Nigel happily conversing with the other woman constantly appeared in her mind whenever she closed her eyes. Judging from the affection in the womanâs eyes, Queenie was sure that the two were close. On top of that, the entire private room was filled with elders, so their relationship must have gained full support from them.
As for her, she and Nigel had known each other for so long, yet he never mentioned bringing her to meet his parents. Does that mean he doesnât value our relationship?
The more she thought about it, the more certain she was that Nigel had side chicks and she was only one of them. Who knows how many more women he has? Queenie, you wouldâve been better off being single than being treated this way.
In the room adjacent to Queenieâs, Bonnie was so excited that she could not sleep. Her wish had finally come trueâQueenie and Nigel were about to break up!
Soon, it was dawn. At 6.30AM, Nigel sat up from the couch and checked the time on his phone. Then, he went straight into the bathroom to wash up and leave Julianâs home. Subsequently, he drove toward the Silverstein Residence.
In the meantime, a piece of breaking news posted at 3.00AM was now trending on the Internet. It was an exclusive involving Julian, and it left his fans in a state of shock. Is this the man we idolize?
Such shocking news would naturally cause an uproar when trending on the web. Unbeknownst to the drama, Nigel was still driving when he received a call from Ashley. It was rare for him to answer a call so early in the morning. âHello! Whatâs up?â
âMr. Manson, have you seen the news? One of the media companies managed to take a picture of you and Mr. Gilmore and post it online. Also, they wrote all sorts of nonsense about it.â
âWhat did they write about?â
âThey said that you guysââ
âCut to the chase.â
âThey said you guys are a couple.â
Nigel felt like he was about to explode in anger. âWhich media company posted it? Hurry up and deal with them.â
âThe news was posted at 3.00AM and is now the top three trending news on the Internet. Also, itâs the top news in the entertainment section.â
âYou guys settle this. I have something else I need to do.â After saying that, he hung up and focused on driving.
At the Silverstein Residence, Queenie composed herself and decided to accompany her father to the company that morning. She had decided to forget about her romantic life and focus on her career, which was the most important priority right now. Her new goal now was to be a happy and rich single woman.
At 8.00AM, breakfast was served at the dining table.
Bonnie had woken up early as well because she wanted to see if Nigel would look for Queenie or not.
She would have been sleeping if it had not been for this matter! However, she was so excited that she could not fall asleep. Judging by Nigelâs expression when he left yesterday, he will come over this morning and catch Queenie when she leaves for work.
Therefore, she had ordered the servants to notify her immediately if someone came. Just as she had expected, a servant came knocking at 8.00AM to notify her, âMiss Bonnie, Young Master Nigel is here.
Heâs standing outside the gate.â
Meanwhile, Bonnie took a sip of her red wine and questioned, âWhere is Queenie?â
âMiss Queenie is still upstairs. I just went up to notify her for breakfast.â
A smile appeared on Bonnieâs lips as she sped toward the small gate by the courtyard, where she saw an anxious-looking Nigel.
âBonnie, open the gate for me.â He was now treating Bonnie even nicer as he was desperate for her assistance.
She felt her heart skip a beat when she heard that, but she knew it was all for show. Nigel only said that to make her happy so that she would open the gate for him. âYoung Master Nigel, why did you come back? Didnât Queenie say she didnât want to see you again?â
âI have something to say to her.â Nigel pushed the gate. âPlease let me in.â
âDo you know how much Queenie cried last night? Young Master Nigel, she said that if you want to see her, you have to kneel before her and apologize. Or else, I canât let you in.â
She planned to humiliate Nigel in Queenieâs name so that he would understand how difficult it was to please Queenie. How could an ordinary, proud man stand such a humiliating and unreasonable request?
Of course, that man would turn around and leave immediately! Nigel is such a noble and proud man, so he definitely wonât kneel before a woman to ask for her forgiveness. No matter how much he loves Queenie, he wonât be able to accept such humiliation.
In the meantime, a servant brought over a tub of water to wipe the pillars in the hall when she noticed Queenie standing there. The servant wanted to address her, but Queenie gestured for the servant to keep quiet, to which the servant quickly obeyed.
While standing in her spot, Queenie could hear every word of the conversation being shared at the gate. In other words, she heard the wicked request Bonnie had asked of Nigel and she frowned.
However, she did not immediately stop them.
âYoung Master Nigel, if youâre unwilling to kneel before Queenie and ask for her forgiveness, you should leave now so that my parents wonât see you. Itâd be embarrassing if they chased you out again!â
Bonnie nicely reminded him.
âFirst, let me see Queenie. Then, Iâll apologize to her however she sees fit.â Nigelâs gaze was firm and showed no intentions of backing down.
Bonnie was dumbfounded and blinked her eyes while staring at him in disbelief. This man must be crazy! With his identity, he can have any woman he wants, but heâs actually willing to kneel before Queenie.
It was then she suddenly looked forward to seeing how Queenie would drive him away, so she feigned being nice and suggested, âSince your feelings for Queenie are so sincere, Iâll let you in! When you see her later, remember to not say anything and just kneel on the ground and apologize. That will work.â
Nodding, Nigel responded, âAlright. Please open the door.â
Once she opened the door, he went straight into the house. Meanwhile, Bonnie was trailing behind with her hand covering her face, ready to enjoy the show.
Just as Nigel came to the steps outside the hall, his happiness replaced the gloom on his face because the woman he so desperately wanted to see was standing right before him.
The attire Queenie wore today was in the colors black and white. She wore a black shirt with a white-
fitting skirt with her hair down. Her temperament was instantly magnified, and her entire figure exuded an awe-inspiring and majestic aura.
The surprise in Nigelâs eyes turned into awe as he lowered his head to look at the floor, finding the perfect spot to kneel. Right when he was about to pull his pant legs, Queenie reprimanded with wide eyes, âAre you really going to kneel? Why are you taking Bonnieâs joke so seriously?â
On the other hand, Bonnie was eager to see what exciting drama might unfold, but she did not expect to see Queenie at the entrance. She guiltily turned around and was about to escape when Queenie caught her and ordered, âBonnie, stop right there.â
Standing in her spot, Bonnie was instantly displeased and turned around to glare at Queenie. âWhat do you want?â
âIf you ever spout nonsense again, I wonât let you off so easily,â Queenie warned coldly.
Nigel also glanced at Bonnie. Although he did not believe a single word she said, he still cooperated with her to get inside the Silverstein Residence. Yet, when he saw Queenie, he was sincerely willing to kneel before her and ask for her forgiveness.
Following that, Bonnie turned around and left while Queenie grabbed her bag and was ready to leave for the company.
âQueenie, I was wrong. I shouldnât have lied to you. In fact, I wasnât at the company but at a restaurant having dinner with my mom and her friends,â Nigel immediately apologized. Ever since he figured out the reason, explaining everything to Queenie had become his top priority.
With a hook of her lips, Queenie turned to face him while sneering. âI just happened to be at that same restaurant last night, but I donât think you were with your mom. That young woman is the real reason you were there, am I right?â
The only feeling Nigel felt at that moment was anxiety. So, this is what made Queenie so angry last night. Was she at the same restaurant? Did she see me and Ingrid together?
Ignoring him, Queenie headed for her car, but he quickly caught up with her and continued to explain, âQueenie, last nightâs dinner was arranged by my mom. She didnât tell me it was a blind date, and I only found out about it when I got there. I tried to leave, but my mom wouldnât let me. I also told her that I already have someone I like and that I already have a girlfriend, but my mom wonât believe meâ¦
Queenie, you can shout at me however you want.â After saying that, he oppressively grabbed her arms and forbade her from leaving.
With nowhere to go, she turned to face him and revealed an angry countenance on her stunning face.
âNigel, do you see three words on my face?â
âHuh? What three words?â He was dumbfounded.
âEasy to fool,â Queenie said through gritted teeth.
Perhaps Nigel had limited experience in quarreling with a woman, or perhaps he was used to being the one who listened to othersâ explanations because it was obvious that he was not good at apologizing.
Therefore, he looked rather dumb at this moment.
Queenie escaped his grip and sneered. âI thought you were different from Leslie, but I was wrong. You men are all the same. So, you can play all you want in the future, but donât come and look for me anymore. I donât want to be someone elseâs replacement.â
Once again, Nigel froze in his spot as he did not expect her attitude to become so cold suddenly.
Throughout her sleepless night, Queenie had been thinking about how men loved being surrounded by women. The more she thought about it, the angrier and more discouraged she became. She would rather hide under the covers, cry her heart out, and gradually forget about him than be played like a fool. That was her character; she could not stand the slightest bit of betrayal.
On the other hand, Bonnie never left the courtyard and had been hiding behind the trees, jealously watching Nigel apologize while Queenie pushed him away like a queen.
She would not have been able to do it if it had been her. Rather, she would have almost forgiven him instantly if a man as excellent as Nigel merely flashed a smile at her.
Unlocking her car, Queenie pulled open the door of the driverâs seat and got in while the man beside her instantly opened the door and sat on the passenger seat like a sly fox.
She was about to fasten her seatbelt when she swept her gaze across the man beside her and ordered, âGet out.â
âI wonât. Unless you listen to what I have to say, Iâll keep following you around until youâre willing to listen.â
While biting her lower lip, she compromised. âIâll give you five minutes. After that, get out of my car.â
Nigelâs eyes brightened when he heard that, so he took a deep breath and organized his thoughts before beginning his explanation. âTwo days ago, in the afternoon, I got a call from my mom, insisting that I attend a gathering. I didnât think much of it back then and simply agreed. Thatâs why I only discovered there was a young woman there after I arrived in the room. It was also then that I realized my mom had arranged another blind date for me.â
âThat woman must be pretty and come from a rich family, am I right? Also, her educational background must match yours brilliantly, so you should consider her! Why are you even here?â Queenie mocked.
After sighing, Nigel stared fixedly at her clear side profile. âQueenie, youâre the first woman whom I have fallen in love with, and youâll be the last one as well. No matter how excellent the women my mom introduced to me are, I will never develop any feelings for them. I only have eyes for you.â
âFine, then. Let me ask you another question. Weâve been dating for a month now, but why have you never mentioned anything about bringing me home to your parents?â There was a hint of interrogation in her words.
Her question immediately silenced Nigel as he blinked at her. âQueenie, itâs my fault for being insensitive. I had thought about bringing you home to meet my parents, but they are constantly urging me to get married, so I was afraid that they might put too much pressure on you. Thatâs why I wanted you to date me a little longer so that you can get to know me better before contemplating marriage with me.â
At that moment, Nigelâs phone rang, after which he took a look and saw that it was his mother calling.
Immediately, he thought about asking her to help him explain last nightâs incident, so he turned to Queenie and notified her, âItâs my mom. Why donât I let her explain everything to you?â
Queenie was taken aback for a moment. Though she was angry, she did not intend to let an elder explain the situation, so she hurriedly refused, âThereâs no need for Mrs. Manson to explain anything.â
However, it was too late because Nigel had answered the call and put it on speaker. âYes, Mom.â
âNigel, you better have a good explanation about your relationship with Julian. Did you refuse to get into a relationship because of him? I saw you keeping your distance from Ingrid and even ignoring her.
Are you not interested in women? Tell me, please. Are you going to let the Manson Family end with you?â Brenda screamed her question from the other end.
Queenie was at a loss for words, and Nigel did not fare any better either.
The two kept silent for a few seconds before he seized the chance to pipe up. âMom, I told you. Stop arranging blind dates for me because I already have someone I like.â
âIs the person you like Julian?â Brenda felt like her world was about to fall apart.
âMom, Iâm straight.â Nigel was speechless at his momâs reply.
âDid you stay the night at Julianâs place? The paparazzi even took pictures and posted them online.
Now, the whole Internet is talking about this matter and your dad is so angry that he almost got a heart attack,â Brenda continued to interrogate her son angrily.
It was then that Queenie finally understood everything as Brendaâs words clearly explained what had transpired last night. As Nigel had stated, it was a blind date where he was indifferent toward Ingrid.
Then, he placed his phone before Queenie and moved his lips to beg silently, Save me. Talk to my mom.
Although Queenie was still angry, she grabbed Nigelâs phone and used her sweet voice to greet Brenda, âHello, Mrs. Manson. Iâm Nigelâs girlfriend, Queenie Silverstein.â
As soon as Brenda heard a womanâs clear voice coming from her phone, she was stunned. âAre you really Nigelâs girlfriend?â
âYes, we are currently dating.â
Meanwhile, Nigel was looking at Queenie with a gentle gaze while informing his mom, âMom, I told you I have a girlfriend, but you didnât believe me last night.â
âNigel, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and deal with the rumors online. What nonsense are they talking about?â
As Brenda brought the matter up, Nigel was so infuriated by the paparazziâs audacity to use him for clout that he thought they had to be looking for death! âMom, donât worry. Iâll sue that company until they go bankrupt.â
âDonât forget to bring Miss Silverstein home for a meal.â
âAlright, Mom. Iâll make the arrangement soon.â
After saying that, he hung up and stared intently at Queenie, trying to make out from her pretty little face whether she was still angry or not. Meanwhile, she felt embarrassed as she played with her hair.
Have I been overthinking this entire situation?
It was obvious that her imagination had run wild last night and almost destroyed her good impression of Nigel. All the hateful titles like âscumbagâ, âplayboyâ, and even âscoundrelâ had been used on him. Now that things had cleared up, she felt too apologetic to face him.
âQueenie, Julian and I have been misunderstood, and Iâm in dire need of you to help clear my name.â
âSo, you and Julianâ¦â She turned to stare at him with inquisitive eyes.
Nigelâs handsome face fell as he reached over to the driverâs seat and cupped her face in his palms.
Then, he fiercely punished those small lips that housed her sharp tongue. You have to bear the consequences of doubting me.
In the meantime, Bonnie stuck her head out from the cluster of trees she was hiding behind, wondering why Queenieâs car was still parked there. Why hasnât she chased Nigel away? What are they doing inside the car? With that thought, she adjusted her body to peek from another angle, which just happened to be the carâs window; behind it was an inappropriate scene.
Indeed, Queenie and Nigel were locked in a passionate kiss. Bonnieâs pupils dilated at that very scene as they were slowly tinted by jealousy. Whatâs this? Did they reconcile?
Back inside the car, Queenie was out of breath from the kiss, after which Nigel released her from his embrace as her face turned crimson until the end of her ears. She pushed him and complained, âNigel, have you had enough?â
Nigelâs phone rang again. This time, it was from Julian.
Subsequently, he put it on speaker mode. âHey, Julian.â
On the other end of the phone, Julianâs voice sounded like a volcanic eruption. âThat damned paparazzi, how could they write something like this?!â
âIâll deal with it.â Nigel had already calmed down.
âMy company has already sued them. Iâm fine with this incident, but Iâm worried that it might affect you and Miss Silversteinâs relationship. You better hurry up and explain this incident to her.â
âSheâs sitting right beside me.â
âGreetings, Miss Silverstein! Iâm Julian Gilmore. Nigel and I grew up together and weâre very close friends. Most importantly, weâre straight as a pole, so please donât misunderstand our relationship.â As expected from a person who made a living through acting, his explanation was particularly on point.
Bursting into laughter, Queenie replied, âMr. Gilmore, itâs all good.â
When Nigel realized that she was amused by another man, he felt a little jealous. âJulian, Iâll hang up first. I have something to do.â After saying that, he decisively hung up the call.
Meanwhile, Queenieâs gloomy mood had vanished like rain clouds after a storm. She then asked him, âHave you eaten breakfast?â
âMy stomach is empty!â he answered, sounding aggrieved.
âHow about I treat you to breakfast?â She offered generously.
âIâm sorry for last night. I vow to not lie to you ever again.â Immediately after saying that, he made a vowing gesture. âIâm willing to swear with my life.â
Then, Queenie covered his lips with her hand. âI believe you.â
Grabbing her hand, Nigel placed a kiss on the back of it. âAs I anticipated, my darling is concerned about me.â
âWhoâs your wife?â
âYou, of course!â
âWeâre not even engaged yet.â
âThatâs just a matter of time.â He was very confident in that.
When Queenie looked at the time, she immediately pushed the man beside her and urged. âI need to rush to a meeting. Get out.â
âI wonât. Iâm going to the company with you.â
âBut your car is here!â
âIâll hail a cab back here to retrieve it later.â Subsequently, Nigel fastened his seatbelt quickly.
He wanted to stay with her longer so that he could lessen the guilt he felt for her. This incident was all because of his stupidity, and if he had told her the truth back at the restaurant, he would have been able to invite her over and introduce her to his mother.
Had that ever crossed his mind, all of this would not have happened.
âHow about we do it this way? Weâll take your car, and youâll be my driver for the day, sending me on and off work.â
âSure, that wonât be a problem. Iâll even pay for your entire dayâs meals.â Nigel wished nothing more than to stick himself onto her like gum.
Queenie burst out laughing while watching his enthusiasm, especially when he decided to follow Bonnieâs ridiculous request to kneel and ask for her apology. No matter what, she was very satisfied with his performance today.
The two alighted from the car and walked out of the courtyard. On the other hand, Bonnie had already returned to the balcony upstairs and was peeking at them from behind the curtains. When she saw the two getting off Queenieâs car and ascended Nigelâs car instead, she was shocked for a moment and stomped her feet in frustration.
How can they reconcile so quickly? The worries she had before finally returned. If she could not break Queenie and Nigel apart, her future situation would become highly problematic. Also, watching Queenie head to the familyâs company every day gave her a sense that the company would end up in Queenieâs hands in the future, so that made her very anxious as well.
After Queenie descended Nigelâs car at Silverstein Enterprise, he wanted to head inside with her when she refused, saying that she needed to attend a meeting soon and had no time to entertain him.
âIf thatâs the case, Iâll find a nearby cafe to spend my time at. Iâll be waiting near the entrance of your company at 11.30AM,â he proposed. Nothing beats making my girlfriend happy for the whole day.
With that, Queenie subsequently went up to her office while Nigel found himself a nearby hotel to rest at and deal with the hilarious rumor regarding him and Julian. He was determined to have those two reporters make a public apology. Not only that, the media company that published the article had to compensate for his and Julianâs losses, as well as never appear on the Internet again. Ever.
However, the one who suffered the most from this was Julian. For many years, he had kept himself rumor-free, and the first romantic rumor he had was with a renowned, rich young master like Nigel. Not only did that cause an uproar among his fans, but his anti-fans and rival companies were also all eagerly trying to ruin his reputation.
Due to this, his company sent out several legal letters and made an example of the more active anti-
fans. His lawsuits were not just for show as those whom he had sued were all convicted, which was why all the anti-fans and rival companies became quiet after a few hours as they lacked the courage to offend Julian anymore.
One had to know that Julian was not just a male celebrity. He was the second heir of Gilmore Corporation, had uncountable assets, and was a genuine nobleman.
Meanwhile, Queenie exited her office and walked toward the meeting room with a cup of coffee in her hand. Since Brandon had heard from his wife about Queenieâs relationship problems with Nigel, he was worried about her mood today. However, he looked over and saw his high-spirited daughter in her seat, seemingly in a good mood.
As such, he could not help but wonder, Does Queenie not have feelings for Nigel anymore? Did they break up just after one night? Then, he recalled the news he had just received, which was regarding the Manson Group.
Allegedly, Manson Group had just withdrawn an outsourcing service, which was landscape maintenance, and it happened that Silverstein Enterprise had been developing a landscape construction project in recent years. In other words, their two projects were compatible for collaboration.
However, all of Manson Groupâs outsourcing services were something every large corporation competed to obtain. Companies like Silverstein Enterprise, which had just begun their landscape construction services, would not stand a chance against their competition.
Brandon only found out about this project from the client last night and had gone home thinking he could use his daughterâs connections to get it! Yet, he did not expect to come home and hear from his wife that his daughter had gotten into a fight with Nigel and that they were about to break up.
Therefore, he woke up early today and contacted many people just for this project. At this point, he had almost lost all hope.
If Nigel truly broke up with Queenie, their chances of landing this project would be slim to none.
âAlright. Letâs begin our meeting.â Brandon coughed lightly before announcing, making all the higher-
ups in the room quiet down. Meanwhile, Queenie was a little distracted by her situation with Nigel. It seemed like it was true when they said quarreling could make a couple grow fonder of each other.
âI just got news about a cooperative project last night, and itâs one of Manson Groupâs outsourcing landscape projects. Although we have many competitors, we should still give it a try and see if we can succeed,â Brandon suggested.
âMr. Silverstein, our chances are slim. According to what I know, every renowned landscaping company is competing for this project. Whatâs more, we donât have the advantage to compete with them!â one of the higher-ups spoke up sullenly.
âThatâs right! Although itâll be very advantageous for us to win this project, we canât do anything about it!â
After listening for a bit, Queenie turned to Brandon. âDad, when did they announce this project? Why didnât I know about this?â
âI only found out about this last night, so Iâm asking everyone to come up with a strategy. Queenie, you donât have to be involved in this. Weâre just going to give it a shot without harboring much hope of landing it.â
âMr. Silverstein, I think weâre just wasting our efforts, so why donât we just give up on this matter?â
âHeâs right! Why should we waste our efforts on something impossible?â
âHow do you know we wonât succeed if we donât try?â Queenie felt confident while looking at the gloomy faces of the higher-ups.
âMiss Silverstein, itâs not that we arenât confident, butââ
âLeave this matter to me,â she stated firmly.
âQueenie, I think we should forget about this! I donât want to put you in a difficult situation.â Brandon sighed. If getting this project meant Queenie would have to disregard her dignity and be hurt again after confronting Nigel, he would rather give up completely on it.
âDad, believe me. I will successfully land this project,â she told her dad.
Meanwhile, the higher-ups in the room thought that she was such a good âscapegoatâ to take on the impossible task. Of course, she would not get scolded even if she failed, anyway.
âMiss Silverstein, you have our full support.â
âOf course! Miss Silverstein, we trust that you will succeed.â
Queenie pursed her lips and smiled. We can certainly get this project. I have such a strong connection, so why not use it?
At that point, she was thinking like a businesswoman, and helping her dad get more business was something a daughter should do.
Meanwhile, Brandon admired his daughterâs courage for being willing to disregard her personal relationship for the betterment of the company. He patted her shoulder and encouraged her, âQueenie, just do your best. Itâd be great if you succeed, but it wouldnât matter even if you didnât.â
She nodded and answered, âDonât worry, Dad. I will get this project for you no matter what it takes.â
At that, the higher-ups under the stage could not help but praise Queenie for that. Bold! Miss Silversteinâs work ethic is similar to that of a warrior.
Ring! Ring! Her phone suddenly rang, and she took a look at it before picking it up. âHey, whatâs the matter?â
âItâs too boring at the cafe, so I thought I should just head up to your office! Iâm at the reception counter.
Whereâs your office?â Nigelâs voice sounded from the receiver.
Surprised, Queenie instructed him, âHave the receptionist bring you to the third-floor meeting room.â
âYou want me to rest inside the meeting room? That sounds good as well. Iâll be there in a minute,â he answered happily.
After hanging up, she notified Brandon, âDad, I just invited Nigel here. We can talk to him in person later!â
A shocked Brandon was taken aback by her words. âWhat? Did you invite Young Master Nigel here?
Now?â
âYes. Heâll be here in a minute.â Once she finished, she turned to Joseph Hummer, who was in charge of landscape construction. âMr. Hummer, the president of Manson Group is almost here. You can tell him all about our companyâs strengths later.â
At that point, Joseph was left speechless, and so were all of the higher-ups in the meeting room. The president of the Manson Group is personally coming to our meeting room to discuss the project?
While looking at the room of stunned higher-ups, Queenie could not hold back her smile. âDonât be nervous. Heâs my boyfriend and is fairly easy to talk to.â
That explanation shocked the crowd once again. No wonder Miss Silverstein is so confident! It turns out the project belongs to her boyfriend. Who would be able to get the project if not her?
It was then someone knocked on the meeting room door, followed by the voice of the receptionist. âSir, please head inside.â
Nigel originally thought he was coming to the meeting room to see Queenie and take a short rest.
Clearly, he was not expecting to receive such a shock right after stepping inside. Do I have the wrong room? Why is there a meeting here?
âNigel, come in!â Queenie rose to her feet and beckoned him over.
Seeing her there, Nigel immediately relaxed and entered the room. Then, he pulled out the chair beside her and sat down. Just as he took a seat, he noticed Brandon sitting beside her and quickly got up to greet him politely, âMr. Silverstein.â
Brandon chuckled and reciprocated passionately, âNigel, have a seat and make yourself at home.â
After Nigel sat down, he felt everyoneâs eyes on him. In actuality, the crowd did not expect the president of the Manson Group to be so young! He looks to be about twenty-five to twenty-six years old at most. So, heâs young and remarkably handsome. Miss Silverstein has good taste in men!
âMr. Manson, the matter goes like thisâI heard your company has a landscape outsourcing project that is looking for investors, and our company is very interested in it,â Queenie explained the situation to Nigel before turning to Joseph. âMr. Hummer, please elaborate on our companyâs strength in that area.â
Albeit nervous, Joseph maintained his composure and began introducing the companyâs strength after organizing his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Nigel blinked his eyes, obviously having no idea what was happening. After all, Silverstein Enterprise only needed to obtain his consent to become the investor in that project. However, he still listened to Josephâs introduction attentively.
âMr. Manson, what do you think of our companyâs credentials? Are we up to your standards?â Queenie asked him deliberately.
While applauding, Nigel nodded without hesitation. âI have no problem with your introduction, which perfectly fits our requirements. As such, Iâll appoint your company as the contractor for that project.â
The meeting room instantly descended into an uproar. They never expected that they could take down a project worth many billions so easily! It was beyond their imaginations!
âNigel, you donât have to agree so quickly. You can take a good look at our capabilities before making that decision,â Brandon said out of guilt since he thought it was Queenie who had been pressuring him.
Smiling, Nigel looked at the highly capable woman beside him and assured him, âMr. Silverstein, I highly approve of your company and believe that you do have the capability to rise to the occasion.â
It wonât matter if you donât because weâre all family.
âDad, Iâll leave the rest of the meeting to you and bring Nigel to my office.â
âSure, go ahead!â Brandon nodded, not expecting them to reconcile just after one night.
Once Nigel and Queenie left, cheers filled the entire meeting room. The higher-ups were elated and more certain about Silverstein Enterpriseâs future development. With such a huge backer, Silverstein Enterprise would definitely have an optimistic destiny!
On the other side, there were still traces of a young womanâs aura inside Queenieâs office. Seeing the blue couch, Nigel comfortably sat down while she poured him a cup of water before joining him.
âHow about I treat you to lunch? To thank you for giving my dad such a huge project.â She offered.
With narrowed eyes, Nigel reasoned, âHeâs your dad now and he will be my father-in-law soon. Weâre going to be family, so why the formalities?â
A blushing Queenie had no choice but to accept his justification. Indeed, thereâs no need to be so formal with him.
âMiss Silverstein, are you feeling better now that youâve taken down a huge project? Are you still mad?â
he asked with a smile.
Meanwhile, she was secretly rejoicing. Thank goodness, we reconciled so quickly.
âDonât lie to me again. If you dare to do it, I wonât ever forgive you,â she warned.
Having discovered her character, Nigel promised sincerely, âI wonât.â
With a light snort, Queenie riposted, âWho knows? After all, Iâm not that important to you, and even without me, thereâd still be many women eager to run into your arms.â
He embraced her with a stretch of his long arm and retaliated nervously, âWho said that? Besides you, I wonât be interested in anyone else.â
Obediently leaning against his chest, she discovered that his heart was beating quicker than earlier; it was obvious that her words had frustrated him.
âAlright, then. This matter is now over, so letâs not mention it again.â As Queenie snuggled in his embrace, she realized that she was overly enraged last night, which led her to overthink the situation.
âWould you like to come to my house for dinner tonight? Iâll introduce my parents to you.â Nigel decided to speed things up since he had not thoroughly considered it previously. He merely wanted to hide his relationship so that they could date in peace, but now, it seemed that he was wrong about that.
âTonight? Iâm nervous.â Queenie immediately sat up. âAre your parents nice to talk to?â
âOf course! Iâm sure theyâll want me to marry you immediately after they meet you,â he assured her with a smile.
Hearing that, she blushed as she shrank her neck. âWhat? No way!â
âThey have been pestering me to get married for a long time now and theyâre worried I might not be able to find a wife! I didnât bring you back home before because I was afraid that they might scare you away with their enthusiasm.â
Queenie burst out laughing. âHow could they be worried about you not finding a wife? Youâre such an excellent person.â
After sighing, Nigel explained, âMaybe because I was waiting for you.â
Tears welled up in her eyes as she suddenly felt grateful to Bonnie for stealing Leslie. Otherwise, she would have missed an amazing man like Nigel because of the marriage her family had promised.
However, she still felt that she was not fully prepared to meet his parents, so Nigel did not pressure her on that. Anyway, his parents would not arrange any more blind dates for him now that they knew he had a girlfriend.
On the other hand, Brandon was also delighted by todayâs event. It was the first time he had landed such a large project with such ease! Moreover, he had just witnessed his daughterâs confidence and thought that if he handed over the company to her, she would be able to make the right decisions and seize the chance to push the company to greater heights.