"No. Everything''s fine. Alex and I will personally wee you back when you return, Valeria replied.
"Alright. I''ll be looking forward to it," Keith said.
After hanging up the phone, Valeria looked down and saw Alex standing right in front of her. He looked up at her with a bright smile.
"What are you giggling about?" she asked.
Alex was beaming, and he was just like an angel. He asked with utmost seriousness, "Mommy, do you also think Keith is great? Have you started building a little bit of a rtionship with him?" Hearing that, Valeria was stunned.
"Don''t talk nonsense. Go take a bath, and then go to bed. You have kindergarten tomorrow."
Valeria picked up her son and headed for the bathroom.
Alex was not convinced. He continued in his cute voice, "Mommy, is your heart made of stone? Keith is so nice. Hurry up and snatch him before he bes a daddy for other kids!" "Alright. We''ll talk about it after your bath, okay?"
Valeria couldn''t resist Alex''s persistence. He had quite a stubborn temperament.
But it also made Valeria feel a bit sad.
She realized that Alex really wanted a father.
Then the next morning arrived.
After dropping her son off at kindergarten, Valeria prepared to head to thew office.
As she settled into the driver''s seat, her phone rang. It was Jepson calling
"Hello, Jepson. I was just about to head to thew office," Valeria said.
"No. Valeria, go directly to the James Group. We need to discuss that infringement case again," Jepson replied.
Valeria realized that she had to go to the James Group again.
She didn''t want to take this case. But when she thought about Nicky, that old pervert, she sighed and decided to make the trip.
At least it wasn''t Hackett she had to talk with.
"Alright. I got it. You hurry over, too," she said.
"I''m already here. I''m currently in the high-level conference room at the Jannes Group. Come over quickly." Jepson replied. "Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Valeria drove toward the James Group.
At the same time, Hackett was at the James Group.
Hackett sat behind his desk in the CEO''s office and was engrossed in his work.
At that moment, his secretary walked in and asked, "Mr. James, regarding the negotiations for the infringement case, do you want to sit in? Later, Valeria from Cooper Law Oflice will be handling this case...
The secretary hadn''t finished her sentence when the pen in Hackett''s hand stopped at the signature line. And he said in a deep voice. "Say again. What''s the name of thewyer?"
The secretary was startled and felt flustered. She had no idea what she said wrong, but she cautiously repeated, "Valeria. She is awyer from Cooper Law Office."
Hackett thought inwardly, "It is Valeria again."
A faint trace of surprise crossed Hackett''s dark eyes. He thought inwardly, "After four years, Valeria has be awyer?"
He vaguely remembered that Valeria had graduated from aw school.
But Valeria was thewyer in charge of this infringement case. Hackett thought to himself. "Is it really such a coincidence?"
The words Cheryl had spoken in the hospital room yesterday echoed in his mind, along with the recordings he had heard. Hackett thought inwardly. Is Valeria''s return this time to remarry me and regain everything she had lost?"
He put down the pen in his hand and said in a deep voice, "Arrange it. I''ll attend the meeting for the infringement case."
"Alright, Mr. James."
The secretary, who had been near-panicked, initially thought she had made a grave mistake. Now, she was relieved that all, was well. She quickly took the signed documents and hurried out of the office. At the same time, Valeria arrived at the high-level conference room.
Valeria rushed to the meeting and entered the conference room only to realize that the opposingwyers and representatives were already there.
In legal negotiations, punctuality was crucial.
Unfortunately, she had been stuck in traffic on the way, causing a slight dy..
Valeria adjusted her mindset, sat beside Jepson, and politely exined. T''m sorry for the dy. There was some traffic."
The opposingwyers smiled and nodded in understanding.
Jepson whispered from the side, "Let''s get started. The James Group hopes to have a preliminary oue from our first-day discussions." "Understood, Valeria replied as she took out her case files. She prepared to get to work.
However, at that very moment, something unexpected happened
Suddenly, the conference room doors swung open again, signaling the arrival of someone else.
Valeria was too busy organizing her documents to look up
But suddenly, everyone in the room stood up in unison and respectfully called out, "Mr. James."
Hearing that, Valeria was stunned.
And she was extremely shocked.
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Valeria froze in the midst of organizing her documents, with her eyes widening in astonishment. She thought inwardly, "Could it be...
She slowly looked up. At that moment, she was highly embarrassed.
It was indeed Hackett.
With great reluctance, Valeria stood up and shot a nce at Jepson. Then she asked in a hushed tone that only Jepson could hear, "Didn''t you say Hackett is swamped with work and won''t be involved in this case? What''s he doing here?" Jepson had a look of helplessness. He shrugged as if to say, "I had no idea about this situation either."
Hackett immediately noticed Valeria''s presence.
It was the first time he had seen Valeria in a professional suit, and she seemed to exude a hint of feminine charm.
Valeria had applied subtle makeup today. And her long, gentle curls cascaded down to her waist. She wore a blush-colored chiffon blouse and a white pencil skirt that entuated her curves, along with ck high heels.
Her slender waist was as delicate as ever, and her long, shapely legs were impossible to ignore.
Valeria had changed quite a bit over the past four years. More precisely, she had be more beautiful.
In the past, Valeria had gone makeup-free and dressed modestly, quite different from her current appearance.
Hackett withdrew his gaze and took a seat nearby. In a deep, calm voice, he said, "Proceed with the negotiations. I''m just here as an observer.
His presence exuded an aura of dominance, making it feel like he was not sitting on a chair but on a throne. His powerful presence weighed down on everyone in the
Meanwhile, Valeria found it hard to concentrate.
With Hackett in the room, she couldn''t focus on her work. She wished she could find a hole to hide in.
Nevertheless, she forced herself to refocus. She looked at the opposingwyers and said, "Let''s begin. Time is limited."
One hour passed.
The negotiations had been going on for an hour, and Hackett''s gaze had been fixed on Valeria''s profile the entire time. After the negotiation concluded, the opposingwyers and representatives left the room.
"Mr. James, then I and Ms. Sharp will take our leave now," Jepson said respectfully.
However, Hackett''s lips curled into a faint smile as he spoke in a deep voice, "You can leave now. I''d like to have a word with Ms. Sharp alone."
"Well. Alright then."
Jepson nced at Valeria discreetly before exiting the room.
Valeria ignored Hackett. After packing her belongings, she turned and was about to leave the conference room, Hackett suddenly stood up and blocked her path, pulling her into his arms and pressing her against the meeting table. Valeria''s eyes widened, and she looked rmed. She shouted, "Hackett, have you lost your mind? What are you doing?" She struggled to get up. But Hackett held her down on the table tendering her immobile,
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Chapter II
"Isn''t this what you want? You want to get my attention. Now that I''m paying attention to you, why pretend to be innocent Hackett''srge hand gripped her slender waist, and he caressed it.