?Chapter 373:
Xander stood about six feet behind Marissa.
When he saw her gesture with her finger, his cheeks flushed as he interpreted it as a seductive invitation.
A girl leading a man to such a secluded spot and smiling while gesturing naturally led his thoughts astray.
After blushing, he felt a twinge of annoyance and voiced his disapproval loudly. “Tiffany Nash, what are you attempting? Let me tell you, I’ve chosen to remain single all my life.
Your attempts at allure hold no sway over me! Furthermore, have you considered your own circumstances? With a tarnished reputation and two children, do you believe I would find you appealing?
Merely because you possess some artistic talent, do you believe you can entice any man? Youck the qualifications to pursue someone of my stature!”
Marissa cocked her head, mimed cleaning her ear, and then grinned. “I have no intentions of seducing you. Approach, and I’ll share a secret.”
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“A secret?” Xander regarded her with confusion. “What secret could you possibly have for me?”
Marissa flicked her wrist and cajoled, “Secrets are best shared in close whispers. If I speak from here, what if someone overhears?”
Xander hesitated momentarily before finally stepping closer.
As he neared, Marissa abruptly seized the tuft of red hair atop his head, hurling him headfirst into theke.
Caught off guard, Xander ingested several mouthfuls of water before resurfacing. He clung to the water’s edge, coughing violently, then scrambled out and approached Marissa, staring at her incredulously. “Chief Instructor!”
Marissa tilted her head slightly, regarding him with a cold gaze. “It’s been a while. You’ve grown audacious, threatening to tear down my home.”
“No, no, no.” Xander vehemently shook his head. “I would never dare toy a hand on your home!”
After his vehement denial, he looked at Marissa with a mix of deference and uncertainty. “Chief Instructor, is it truly you?”
Marissa gestured towards theke with her chin. “Shall I toss you in again for confirmation?”
“No, no, that won’t be necessary! I’m thoroughly convinced!” Xander hurriedly replied.
Then, with a sheepish grin, he added, “Chief Instructor, I’m deeply honored that you’ve chosen to unveil your true self to me. It’s a privilege!”
Marissa grinned. “So, I hear you’ve ascended to a high-ranking role within the Peridot Consortium?”
“Yes,” Xander confirmed. “I’m now the vice president of the Peridot Consortium.”
Marissa burst intoughter. “Even someone as weak as you can be a vice president? The Peridot Consortium seems weak to me, as well.”
Xander scratched the back of his head, feeling a flush of embarrassment. “I secured the position through connections.”
Marissa teased, “Just how influential are your connections tond you a vice president role?”
“Allow me to exin,” Xander began. “When you and King assigned me to investigate the Peridot Consortium in Blebert, I discovered that the president harbored feelings for my older brother. Leveraging that, I persuaded her to offer me a job.
To please my brother, she bestowed upon me the vice president title. However, in reality, I hold no substantial authority; it’s merely a ceremonial position with a generous sry.”
Marissa picked up on a crucial detail. “So, the president of the Peridot Consortium is a woman?”
“Yes!” Xander affirmed. “Her name is rissa Byrd. She’s twenty-four, strikingly beautiful, and exceptionally skilled inbat. She disys tenderness solely towards my brother but exhibits a cold and ruthless demeanor towards everyone else.”
“How did your brothere to know her?” Marissa inquired.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Xander admitted. “But rissa harbors an intense affection for my brother. Despite numerous rejections, she persists in her pursuit. She even established the Peridot Consortium’s headquarters in Blebert just to remain close to him.”
Marissa narrowed her eyes in contemtion before asking, “Are you familiar with rissa’s background or origins?”
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