Chapter 105: Clarisse Newton

"All good things, I hope." I said, keeping a polite smile pasted on my face.

It was… weird. I could see both Jasmine and Jenny inside her.

On second thought, it wasn’t weird. She was their mother. They had to have picked traits from her. Traits different from the obvious physical ones.

My eyes drifted down to her breasts before I controlled myself. Looking would be a weakness she would catch and if she can, she’d use it against me.

On second thought, maybe I should look and signal my… desire. Make my intentions plain from the start.

This was a MILF in every sense of the word. Sensual, curvy and best of all, divorced.

She was as single as a beanstalk. I won’t be getting in between any loves. But there’s just a teeny tiny problem.

Clarisse Newton isn’t an ordinary woman.

There were a lot of things I’d been able to gather from the reports Elsa had given me but one thing stuck out. The one thing Clarisse was attracted to.@@novelbin@@

Wealth.

It’s… odd. She wasn’t a gold digger, no. She wasn’t after relationships in order to gain wealth. She already had that on her own.

But that didn’t change the fact that she was only attracted to wealthy men.

On second thought, that isn’t actually weird. Most women are attracted to wealthy people. Mostly because wealth signifies protection and provision.

Not all women who are attracted to the wealthy are gold diggers.

You know, I’ve been having so many second thoughts in the span of a second. That’s weird, alright.

I turned my attention back to the conversation at hand.

Where were we? Oh, yeah. I’d remarked if it was all good things she’d heard about me.

"That depends." She said, tilting her head to one side, a vicious smile appearing on her face.

I almost took a step back before controlling myself. Why was she smiling like that?

"You’ve been rather active in New York’s financial scene lately. One could almost call it… disruptive."

Ah. I see.

She wanted to know where I stand in the scheme of things. Well, I wasn’t about to make it easy for her.

Why give a straight answer when you can… flirt?

"Disruption often paves the way for innovation." I said, taking a tiny step closer to her, as if adjusting my footing. "And innovation is necessary for survival in a world that never stops changing."

Her smile widened but somehow morphed from vicious to cold. How was she doing it?! "A clever answer." She said.

That was when Jenny interrupted us, clearing her throat.

Well, I can blame her for that. Especially when her mother looked like she was about to eat me for breakfast.

I paused.

Well, I wouldn’t mind getting eaten for breakfast if I get to tap that ass.

I got a quick look in, my eyes roaming over Clarisse’s bosom as her attention was on Jenny.

"Mother." She smiled. "Nico here has been very helpful in helping me settle into my new position at Apex."

"Has he now?" Clarisse raised her prow, her tone chiding but not unkind. "You’ve always had a penchant for seeking out... unconventional friendships."

"And unconventional doesn’t mean ineffective." Jenny said, holding her ground. "Nico’s experience has been invaluable."

Clarisse’s eyes flicked from Jenny to me to Jenny and back to me, her expression unreadable. "Maybe." She mused.

"But experience is only as good as the motives behind it." She said, staring me straight in the eye. "Are you a man to be trusted, Nicholas?"

I held her gaze, not backing down. "My motives are simple, Ms. Newton. I support those who deserve it."

Clarisse studied me as the silence between us dragged on, Jenny glancing between the two of us.

Then, she bursted into laughter, startling Jenny and I.

"Oh, my days." She demurely closed her mouth with a hand. "I like it."

"W- what?" Jenny stared at her mother in confusion.

"The fire in his eyes." Clarisse smiled at her daughter. "I like it. Reminds me of his father. He also had that fire when he was determined about something."

"Nicholas." She turned to me. "I believe we have much to discuss."

I blinked in surprise, wondering where this was going.

"You’re curious, aren’t you?" She smirked. "Why did your father send you away? What was your mother like? Why does he favor his daughters but not you?"

"I-" I choked, my eyes wide. Was she really going to tell me? Was she going to answer the questions that have been simmering inside me?

"Maybe, I’ll answer and maybe I won’t. Who knows?" She giggled. "We’ll have to meet again for that to happen."

That was when I realized it.

I’d fallen into her trap.

I’d given her the exact reaction she needed to know that she’d found something that could be my weakness.

As far as she had the answers to these questions, she now has a hold over me.

Fuck.

This could be my only chance at getting the answers I needed.

"My secretary will reach out to you, Nicholas. Come and maybe you’ll get your answers."

"Of course." I said, inclining my head. "I look forward to it."

Clarisse nodded once, then turned to Jenny. "Enjoy the evening, darling. And remember. Perception is everything."

With that, she swept away, leaving us both exhaling quietly in relief.

Jenny turned to me, her eyes wide. "That... could have gone worse."

I nodded in agreement. It really could’ve gone worse.

"She’s testing me." I said, watching Clarisse as she mingled with another group.

"Well, I can definitely assure you that she likes you." Jenny said.

I turned to her, raising a brow. "And?"

"Her setting up a future meeting means she isn’t approving or disapproving of us working together. She still hasn’t decided on her choice."

"That’s true." I nodded. "So, what’s next?"

"We continue with what we’ve been doing." She said. "Knowing mother, she’d probably invite you to her office on the day of the interim board vote and make you watch."

"But most of the work from then on falls on me."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She just told me exactly what she needed from me."

"And what’s that?"

"Independence."