Chapter 661

She took a sip of the fruit wine, and her eyes sparkled. “Is this the house special, brewed by the owner himself?”

Kenzo raised an eyebrow, observing her fingertips resting on the glass. The cozy warmth of the room, combined with the pleasure of a favored drink, left her content as a cat curled up in a sunbeam.

She was pristine and poised. Persian cats were known for their standoffish nature, after all.

*Sure, join me for dinner and the script is yours.”

Brielle blinked, hastily setting down her glass. “I can’t just accept that. I’ll pay you whatever the highest bid from the other companies was. I know you’re not hurting for money, but taking this script for nothing wouldn’t sit right with me. I’d feel awkward coming to you for business again.”

“There’s always a next time for business, but my terms might change by then,” Kenzo’s gaze drifted to her fingertips lying gently on the edge of the table. She probably wasn’t used to being in such close quarters with men. Initially tense, her fingers were tight, but after a bit of wine and their long acquaintance, she had relaxed. Her fingertips lightly touched the table, her face adorned with a smile.

“You’re not here on behalf of your sister, are you? Like, asking me to break up with Max or something?”

Kenzo chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischievous amusement. “Do I seem like that kind of guy to you?”

“Not really, but Alivia has always been the apple of your eyes. If she asked, you’d probably say yes.”

Everyone in the Barnes family did seem to revolve around their little princess.

“Alivia did give me a task, but it wasn’t to use the script to get you to dump Max.”

“What is it then?” Brielle was puzzled. The wine was so delicious she couldn’t help but indulge in a few more glasses.

“To seduce you.”

She choked on her drink, coughing so hard her face turned crimson, and tears nearly spilled from her eyes.

Her complexion was glowing, her hair neatly tucked behind her ears with a few stray strands framing her face. Now her ear tips were reddened from the coughing, her eyes shimmered like a lake at sunrise, and even her fingertips had taken on a pink hue.

Brielle figured Alivia must have lost her mind. Why couldn’t she just be happy with whatever Michael arranged? Why send her own brother to seduce someone?

Hearing those words from Kenzo sent a shock through Brielle as intense as when her colleagues caught her kissing Max that morning. To make matters more awkward, her sweater was now damp with spilled wine, its scent enveloping her.

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

She placed her glass on the table and opened the door of the private booth, heading down the hall to the restroom she remembered well.

Just as she was about to enter, she caught sight of a man resembling Max passing by on the other side. Her steps faltered. Max was supposed to be finding Annie, so what was he doing here?

Almost on autopilot, Brielle followed, watching as Max entered another booth. Whether it was the wine’s aftereffect or her vision blurring, she couldn’t be sure. Peering through the slim gap between the booth’s door and its small window, she saw Max sitting on the center–most couch, Annie nestled against his shoulder, their voices murmuring within.

Chapter oo The reason she was sure it was Annie was because of the photos her colleagues had shown her earlier. The woman’s outfit was identical to the one in the photos.

Brielle’s breath hitched, and she instinctively wanted to flee, but she heard a man’s sneering laugh from inside. “Mr. Dorsey, you sure know how to live it up, coming to a place like this for a dame. You rejected all those women I sent you way back when and even mocked me for it. And now, look who’s fallen for the charms of love.”

Max’s hand rested on Annie’s head, his tone nonchalant. “Murray, times change.”

Murray’s eyes lingered on Annie, who indeed possessed a certain allure. It seemed Max hadn’t lost out this time. “I hear Miss Annie has secured a teaching position at Harvard. No wonder you’re so protective. But then, I’ve also heard that Miss Annie isn’t your real preference, Mr. Dorsey. Or is that girl just a stand–in for someone else?”

Annie, leaning into Max’s embrace, responded coldly to that insinuation. Standing outside, Brielle could almost imagine it was her voice that she heard. “I’ve known Max for over a decade: That woman looks a bit like me, but that’s the only reason he fell for her so easily. I don’t mind his fleeting affair.”

Murray suddenly let out a laugh, raising his wine glass in a toast. “Well then, if you’re done with the lady, do you mind if I make my move?”

“Be my guest.”

Max’s gaze remained fixated on Annie as if Brielle were nothing more than a plaything he had tired of.

Brielle stepped back, bumping into a wall of a person. Turning around, she realized it was Kenzo. Just as Kenzo opened his mouth to speak, she covered it quickly with her hand and whisked him away from the scene.

The reason she was sure it was Annie was because of the photos her colleagues had shown her earlier. The woman’s outfit was identical to the one in the photos.

Brielle’s breath hitched, and she instinctively wanted to flee, but she heard a man’s sneering laugh from inside. “Mr. Dorsey, you sure know how to live it up, coming to a place like this for a dame. You rejected all those women I sent you way back when and even mocked me for it. And now, look who’s fallen for the charms of love.”

Max’s hand rested on Annie’s head, his tone nonchalant. “Murray, times change.”

Murray’s eyes lingered on Annie, who indeed possessed a certain allure. It seemed Max hadn’t lost out this time. “I hear Miss Annie has secured a teaching position at Harvard. No wonder you’re so protective. But then, I’ve also heard that Miss Annie isn’t your real preference, Mr. Dorsey. Or is that girl just a stand–in for someone else?”

Annie, leaning into Max’s embrace, responded coldly to that insinuation. Standing outside, Brielle could almost imagine it was her voice that she heard. “I’ve known Max for over a decade. That woman looks a bit like me, but that’s the only reason he fell for her so easily. I don’t mind his fleeting affair.”

Murray suddenly let out a laugh, raising his wine glass in a toast. “Well then, if you’re done with the lady, do you mind if I make my move?”

“Be my guest.”

Max’s gaze remained fixated on Annie as if Brielle were nothing more than a plaything he had tired of.

Brielle stepped back, bumping into a wall of a person. Turning around, she realized it was Kenzo. Just as Kenzo opened his mouth to speak, she covered it quickly with her hand and whisked him away from the