Chapter 4

"Not necessary!" Louisa refused without hesitation.

George was about to speak when Vivian cut in from the passenger seat, "Ms. Forbes, I'm sorry. This is my fault, and you're having to clean up my mess.

"I feel terrible about it, so I wanted to come apologize in person. George was concerned and insisted on coming with me.

"Please get in. Let's go together. With George protecting us, no one would dare take advantage of us."

Her words seemed innocent enough.

But Louisa caught the smug smile playing at the corners of Vivian's mouth—a blatant show of dominance, completely different from her tearful display at the office earlier.

Evidently, George had consoled her quite effectively.

Louisa smiled too, not even bothering to respond as she moved toward her own car.

Still, Vivian captured the flash of contempt in that smile.

As a privileged heiress who'd always relied on her family's influence, Vivian wasn't accustomed to being looked down upon.

She immediately lost her composure. "Louisa, what's your problem? I'm sincerely apologizing, and this is how you respond?"

"That's enough. Stop arguing."

George reprimanded them both, then gave Vivian a reassuring look.

Turning to Louisa, he said, "She's just an inexperienced young woman. It's understandable she messed up the project. Aren't you being too harsh? Just apologize to her and let's move past this."

For a moment, Louisa thought she'd misheard him. Was he telling some kind of sick joke?

She turned to face George in the car. "I apologize to her? Because she's the Price family's precious daughter? Or because she stole my project? Or maybe because she ruined my project and I'm having to clean up after her?"

After these three pointed questions, George's expression had turned frighteningly dark. He struggled to contain his anger. "How many times have I told you? She's just a spoiled young woman who's used to acting on impulse. Why are you making such a big deal of this?"

So according to him, no matter how badly Vivian behaved, it was just her being "impulsive."

While Louisa, who had done nothing wrong, was painted as petty and unreasonable. Louisa sneered. Did he even realize how biased he'd become?

Beside him, Vivian was clearly delighted, looking at Louisa with an air of superiority.

Louisa let out a cold laugh. "Mr. Capulet, I don't believe I said anything offensive. Your little girl can be as impulsive as she likes—just not around me."

George's expression darkened further.

Louisa couldn't be bothered to continue this pointless exchange. She glanced at her watch, her tone deliberately casual. "We have fifteen minutes before the Taylor Group dinner. Mr. Capulet, are you sure you want me to apologize to your little girl?"

George said nothing more, just fixed her with a cold, intense stare that seemed to drop the temperature around them several degrees.

Louisa completely ignored him and got into her car.

During the drive, she pressed her red lips together tightly, her eyes reflecting layers of frost.

She tried hard to ignore the sharp pain in her heart.

She didn't want to think about George defending Vivian.

She didn't want to remember the look of disgust he'd given her.

None of it mattered anymore. None.

After all, there were only 29 days left.

She drove unusually fast to the Dreamscape Club parking lot—any faster, and she'd have gotten a ticket from the traffic police.

After parking, she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.

After a brief moment of silence, she pushed down all her emotions, composed herself, took out her makeup bag to touch up her face, and then got out of the car.

By then, George and Vivian had arrived as well. Their car parked right next to Louisa's again.

Louisa didn't spare them a single glance.

George's expression darkened even more.

Though neither of them spoke, the tension between them was obvious to anyone watching.

Vivian continued to pour fuel on the fire, saying to George, "George, you're her direct superior. She's just a personal secretary—she doesn't even rank as high as Jared. What gives her the right to treat you this way?"

Walking about ten feet ahead, Louisa clearly heard these words but didn't turn around.

George gave Vivian a warning look, which finally silenced her, though reluctantly.

The three of them went to the reserved private room at Dreamscape Club.

Louisa entered first.

The Taylor Group's representative and two colleagues had already arrived.

The representative was David Foster, a department director at the Taylor Group and the brother-in-law of the Taylor Group's CEO—a portly man in his forties.

David, with his protruding belly, gave Louisa a once-over, his eyes hungry though his words were sharp. "Ms. Forbes, finally! I though you were going to stand me up again today!"

Louisa had anticipated this. She knew the last-minute substitution of Vivian had offended David, and he would hold her accountable.

Instead of defending herself, Louisa smiled. "I'm sincerely sorry, Mr. Foster. Please don't hold it against me and let me make it up to you."

With her taking the initiative to apologize, and being a woman, he couldn't really press the issue further.

David turned to his colleagues, "What did I tell you? Ms. Forbes is straightforward."

He patted the chair beside him. "Ms. Forbes, come, sit here."

His intention was obvious.

Louisa knew that David wasn't just fond of alcohol—he was also notorious for his wandering hands.

If she sat next to him, he would certainly try to touch her inappropriately.

So she pretended not to notice his gesture and sat down leaving one seat between them.

David's expression immediately darkened. He was about to say something when George and Vivian walked in.

David was slightly surprised at first, then quickly recovered, stepping forward to extend his hand to George, his tone becoming somewhat cautious and humble. "Mr. Capulet! What a surprise! David Foster. It's an honor to meet you."

George, of course, wouldn't lower himself.

He ignored David's enthusiastic greeting, offering only a cold glance in response.

David felt awkward, but quickly recovered, pulling out a chair. "Mr. Capulet, please have a seat."

George sat down, his cold gaze sweeping across everyone present.

Louisa acted as if he didn't exist, greeting everyone else and engaging in lively conversation with David.

David personally poured her a drink with a sly grin. "Ms. Forbes, you just promised to make amends, right? Let's start with a toast."