A Stingy Man
Nancy and Eliana talked for a very long time.It wasn’t until night fell that Nancy finally bade goodbye
and left.
The second she stepped out, Eliana’s sweet smile vanished, as if it was never there in the first place.
She turned to Maurice and said to him in a robotic tone devoid of any emotions, "Our cooperation is
over.Don’t forget the rewards you’ve promised me."
Her curt and cold tone hardened Maurice’s gaze.He hissed icily, "Is that all you care about? Money?"
"What else?"
Eliana stopped in her tracks and stared at him, scoffing, "Are you saying you’ll be responsible for me?"
Maurice frowned.
"I can do that."
"No, thanks.I don’t need someone like you to be responsible for me.But if you really want to make up to
me, answer my question honestly."
Eliana took a deep breath, steeling herself.
"Hodge Chadwick talked to you at the dinner party.Has he worked for you?" Maurice’s eyes darkened
instantly.
"Why are you asking that?"
How odd.
Why was Eliana asking him about Hodge out of the blue? Maurice found it suspicious.
Perhaps Gerald told her to pry into something? Eliana was unwavering.
Her eyes bore into Maurice’s as she pressed in a firm tone, "Answer me, Maurice.It’s very important to
me."
She looked so serious that Maurice found the whole situation to be delicious irony.
As it turned out, she couldn’t hide her secret anymore.
Maurice wasn’t about to answer.
Instead, he sneered disdainfully, "That’s our company’s confidential information.Do you think I have to
tell you everything just because you slept with me?"
His callous words were such that Eliana felt her entire body heat up from anger.She was so furious that
she ended up laughing despite herself.
Obviously, she never expected there to be any difference in their relationship even after that night.
Maurice’s refusal to answer her further strengthened her assumption.She had been right.
The ambiguous feelings she harbored for him that had been swirling about at the back of her mind
disappeared instantly.
Gone were her lingering desires for him.Her heart turned cold, and she no longer cared.
Maurice stared down at her, ever cold and imposing.
He reminded her icily, "Don’t forget, you’re an employee of the Moran Group.Behave yourself."
"Well then, Mr.Moran.As you refuse to answer, there’s no point in me staying in the company.I’ll
resign.We’ll never see each other again after this."
Having said that, Eliana leveled a burning gaze at him.
There was not a hint of fear in her eyes, only steely determination.She should have known better.
The Moran Group had strict management, and finding the truth here would be a near impossible task.
Rather than continuing a fruitless effort, it was much better to stop while she could.
Right now, it was obvious that any interaction with Maurice was a pointless attempt with a guaranteed
failure.
Maurice, for his part, was stunned.
Never did he imagine she would tell him such words.He was instantly flustered and upset, but quickly
recomposed himself.
Suppressing his emotions, he maintained his cold front.His eyes were dark and unfathomable,
rendering his thoughts unreadable by anyone who looked at him.
"So, you’re intent on drawing a clear line between us?"
"That’s right."
"What if I don’t agree?"
It was Eliana’s turn to sneer.She scoffed, and replied to him in a voice dripping with mockery.
"Oh my, Mr.Moran.Do you enjoy keeping all the women you’ve had a one-night stand with in your
company?"
Maurice, annoyed, grabbed her chin and lifted it slightly so that he could look into her eyes.He wished
he could read her mind and see exactly what she was thinking.
"Tell me, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Perhaps you harbor feelings for me…?"
"No."
Eliana was quick to cut him off.
Despite her firm reply and cold appearance, what she felt on the inside was another story.His question
sent her into a fluster and her heartbeat rose rapidly, thumping painfully against her ribcage.
Somehow, her throat grew dry and her voice was stuck.She didn’t harbor feelings for him, nor did she
have a crush on him.She shouldn’t.
Never!
"Goodbye, Maurice."
Having said that, she spun on her heels and left without sparing him another glance.
This time, Maurice didn’t stop her.He simply remained rooted at the spot and watched quietly as her
figure strode out of the villa.
As soon as Eliana reached the exit, Corbin stopped her.
Corbin gave her a polite nod and said respectfully, "Mr.Moran instructed me to see you off."
"That’s unnecessary."
She immediately refused without missing a beat.
Corbin, however, didn’t move.
Instead, he reminded her patiently, "It’s not easy to hail a taxi here."
Eliana stopped in her tracks to take a deep breath.
She turned around to head to Maurice’s Maybach, which was parked at the garage.
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