Ashley was so angry that she screamed out in anger.
Julie , on the other hand, was confused when she looked at her, "What's gotten into you?"
"Mom! What have you been planning? If you hadn't done this, dad wouldn't get closer to Valeria.And
they wouldn't have met Hardy.It's all your fault.If Valeria really marries Hardy, you won't be able to do
anything!"
With a livid face, Ashley shouted at her mother.
Julie was stunned when she heard this, "Valeria is going to marry Hardy? Are you sure?"
"No, but dad is determined.If he decides on it, it would most probably happen"
"It has nothing to do with you.Why are you so anxious?"
Looking at Ashley's exasperated face, Julie frowned and said, "Keep your temper in check.I can
tolerate it if you yell at me, but don't yell at your father."
"I just can't stand it! Why is Valeria so lucky? I'm not even half as lucky as her."
"Don't you know your dad? He likes imagining these unrealistic fantasies.Besides, how could Hardy be
interested in her? Especially now when her father's company is at its lowest point"
Julie and Ashley both thought that it was impossible for them to be together.
But Ashley didn't feel any better about what her mother said.
"Do you know what dad said just now? All I did was remind him.I told him that Hardy wouldn't be
interested in Valeria and he started talking about my past.It was infuriating!"
"Well, this is nothing to be angry about.I've told you countless times to stay calm and think before you
act.Even if you were jealous, how could you talk bad about Valeria in front of your father?"
Julie chided Ashley, "Your dad has always been one to side with the one that brings him benefits.You
deserved this anyway”
"Uh, now you're going at me too!"
Ashley was furious.
"I'm saying it for your own good! You have better keep your temper in check.Look at what you have
done now!"
Julie scolded her as if she were a good-for-nothing.
"Since you know that Valeria is just an ordinary person like you, why can't you get acquainted with
Hardy too?"
"I want to get to know him too.But after what happened previously, even Mason, that guy that fell out of
his family book, doesn't want me.How could someone like Hardy ever be interested in me?" Ashley
said dejectedly.
"Are you going to just sit and accept your fate now? Everything you've experienced is just a small
matter.You're still young.Instead of sitting and waiting for luck to knock on your door, you should go and
work hard for it"
Julie sneered and said, "You still have a good opportunity in front of you now”
"What do you mean?"
"I heard that Hardy is going to hold a cruise party.Now that Valeria is connected to Hardy, you can ask
your dad to help you get an invitation from Valeria.If you go to the party, you might meet other great
men."
"Valeria hates me.She would never help me get the invitation, though.This is highly impossible' "Get
your father to ask for it as he can ask Valeria to get him one.I'll ask go ask for you tomorrow"
The next morning, Valeria got up and found herself being on the trending topic with Hardy.
Because her face wasn't in view, everyone was trying to guess her identity.
Hardy was known as the golden bachelor, so everyone had eyes on him.
Many famous actresses tried to make it seem as if they were the ones having dinner with Hardy.
Valeria had a headache when she saw the news staying at the topmost trending chart.
She was so unlucky.
It was just a meal and they had made the headlines.
She didn't know whether William was aware of it.
He should have heard about this by now.
What would he think then? Would he think that she had done it on purpose? He was with Hardy's sister
last night.
But he had clearly seen her outside the hotel even though the news didn't show her face.
Would William think that she had done it on purpose? Thinking about it made Valeria's head explode.
Then, Ronald knocked on the door, "Valeria, let's go to the company now”
"What for?"Valeria asked.
"I'm going to discuss the details of the collaboration with Acma Corporation.It's a very big project.I'm
worried that something might happen"
"Dad, I don't know much about work.What can I do if I go?"
"There's something you can do.Aren't you a designer? We' re going to talk about a collaboration on a
large amusement park.You can express your thoughts on the design as a designer: Ronald was lying
right to her face.He did not expect her to say anything that day.He could tell that Hardy was definitely
into Valeria if he did not stop the rumors from spreading.Thus, he wanted to bring Valeria along as bait
in case of Hardy went back on his word.
Valeria agreed reluctantly after being persuaded by Ronald Ronald looked disapprovingly at her casual
attire, "Go change into a formal set of clothes.Don't be a mess, go make yourself look pretty."
Valeria held back her anger and changed into another set of clothes.She then put on some makeup.
Once her father approved of how she dressed up, they left together.
It was already ten o'clock in the morning when they arrived at the lobby of Acma Corporation.
Ronald, his assistant, and Valeria walked into the main building.
When they were at the front desk, Ronald could feel the difference in the receptionist's attitude.She
immediately called Hardy's office and his secretary came down for them shortly.
"Mr.Brown! Please follow me” she said.
They entered the lift and finally arrived at the discussion room outside the CEO's office.
She then brought tea over and said, "The CEO is still in a discussion.Please wait for a while”Ronald
thought he could see Hardy once he arrived.
He didn't expect that he'd have to wait for him, so he asked Hardy's secretary tentatively, "May I know
who Mr.Anthony is meeting with?"
The secretary smiled and replied truthfully, "He is meeting Mr.Howard now: He must be referring to
Charles Howard.Ronald did not probe as he knew that he was far more inferior to him.So he just waited
patiently.
After half an hour, Charles' voice rang from the corridor.
"William, what's with you? Didn't I ask you to come at 9 oclock for the discussion with Acma
Corporation? It's already 10.Where are you?"
William said something on the other side that agitated Charles.
"Since you're holding this position, you should do your part.This is a very important partnership.We
have prepared this for three months.If this is ruined because of you, I will definitely let dad know about
this."
Listening to the angriness in Charles' voice, Valeria frowned.
What was so important that they needed William to be here? William was so idle and aloof that he
wasn't cut out for discussing business.
Charles knew that himself.So why would he ask William here for such an important business matter?
That was weird.
Charles must have known that they were not going to succeed.
So he wanted to frame William for this result.For some reason, Valeria was worried about William.
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