Chapter 317

“Mr. Noah, I assure you, I won’t start anything if you don’t. I’ve trained in taekwondo, and though my leg isn’t fully recovered, I won’t get messed up in the office.” Brielle’s tone was nonchalant as she made her way to the couch and took a seat.

Noah’s face tensed up, completely baffled about what she was getting at. Hadn’t she already agreed to go along with his plans? Was she playing hard to get?

He took a moment to collect himself before sinking into his office chair. “Alright, I’ll behave. We have all the time in the world to discuss things. So, what’s on your mind?”

Was it the future? Dreams? Or something else?

Truth be told, Brielle was quite the looker. If it weren’t for his feelings for Alivia, Noah would’ve considered keeping her close just for her beauty alone. But with Alivia’s brilliance setting the standard, Brielle just seemed bland in comparison.

“I heard Kingston Enterprises contract made its way to you, Mr. Noah?”

The last thing Noah expected was for Brielle to bring up business. His expression darkened a bit, but remembering that their interactions were improving, he nodded.

“Yes, that project has been handed off to Mr. Ryan. Mr. Dorsey had a sudden change of heart about working with Kingston Enterprises, and then the contract was pulled back. It’s under review here before it goes to Mr. Dorsey.”

William held a firm position at Dorsey International, stable as ever over the years. Compared to Ryan, who was ousted a while ago, William was now second in command only to Max. Some of the staff even whispered about the changes within Dorsey International, with William opposing Max.

However, only the higher–ups knew that no one could shake Max’s position. Just like how easily he had Ryan pack his bags and leave. Now, Ryan was desperate to return, but it all seemed futile.

Brielle had only intended to discuss the contract but found herself tangled in information she hadn’t known. Had Max pulled the contract with Kingston Enterprises? When did that happen? She remembered the bidding war ending not too long ago, so the contract withdrawal had to be recent. Was it before or after Catherine’s kick?

Despite her better judgment, she couldn’t help but feel a peculiar sweetness swirling in her thoughts.

Even if Max had decided to distance himself now, during their time together, Max indeed lived up to his promise to look out for her. When someone treated you well, you had to acknowledge it. So even if their relationship ended abruptly, she harbored no resentment towards Max. It was just a matter of status, nothing more.

“Mr. Noah, what’s your take on the project?”

Noah hadn’t scrutinized the contract too closely since it was William’s responsibility. It was 15:07 just a formality in his office, awaiting his signature before it would be passed to William.

“It should be fine. After all, Kingston Enterprises fought its way through tough competition, naturally outperforming others in many areas.”

Brielle pulled out the file she had been holding.

“Kingston Enterprises has strong overall capabilities, but I’ve uncovered something troubling. The CEO, Bradley, has a son who’s been overly indulged by his parents. Two years ago, the boy was involved in a fatal accident, which never hit the news. However, there are murmurs about it resurfacing. Moreover, he’s deep into vices like drinking and gambling–reportedly blowing through a billion in a month and accumulating sizable debts. His subsidiary is even behind on paying its workers. If this gets out, it’ll undoubtedly affect Kingston Enterprises, and by extension, Dorsey International won’t escape unscathed. Switching partners mid–project is no small feat.”

Brielle’s competence was unquestionable, and the vulnerabilities of Kingston Enterprises she outlined were real concerns. But the project wasn’t Noah’s to manage, “I’ll mention your concerns to Mr. Ryan, but whether he’ll take them on board is another matter.”

Brielle lowered her gaze. Before coming here, she was unaware that Max had rejected the contract, so she didn’t see anything amiss with William’s proposal to partner with Kingston Enterprises. Now, pondering deeper, she sensed there was more at play.

If Max had acted for her sake, then William’s move might’ve been a ploy to force Max’s hand. against Kingston Enterprises. What William didn’t anticipate was that Max and Brielle’s relationship had already ended.