Beckett took the loss. He didn''t back down because he was scared of the Williams family. It was because he knew that once Joshua made a move, he wouldn''t miss. There were definitely more traps waiting for him.
Beckett didn''t feel like wasting his time.
But his impression of the Williams family had hit rock bottom.
Aurora wasn''t the least bit embarrassed by Beckett''s cold words.
She smiled faintly. "Mr. Torres, you should be well aware of why you were targeted.
"We both know the old adage, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. You and I share amon enemy, Mr. Torres. There''s no need to be so defensive with me."
"Amon enemy?" Beckett looked at her with a mocking amusement. "Don''t tell me... you want to team up with me?"
Aurora didn''t deny it. "Our enemy is too strong. We can only defeat him if we work together."
Beckett burst outughing, as if he''d just heard the funniest joke of the century. He looked down on her, his eyes filled with condescending disdain.
His lips parted as he said coldly, "With just you?"
Aurora seemed not to notice his contempt, her expression unchanging.
"On my own, certainly not. But if I could team up with you, Mr. Torres, we might stand a chance."
Beckett scoffed. "You''re not even a challenge for Joshua.
"Besides, I don''t work with ipetent people, and I certainly don''t want to be dragged down."
With that, he strode away without giving Aurora another nce.
Aurora watched his retreating back, her eyes turning cold and dark.
When Beckett returned, Laurel Quinn went to see him, having heard about his recent loss.
She was speechless for a few seconds before saying, "Beckett, why would you provoke Joshua for no reason?
"Don''t you know what he''s like?
"This time it was just a small loss. If it happens again, he could bankrupt you.
"While the financial hit was significant, it''s not something we can''t handle. The real problem isn''t the money, it''s..."
Her gaze was cool, her words precise.
"It''s the Williams family."
Beckett said, "Aurora even came to me today to talk about a partnership."
Laurel Quinn looked at him sharply. "You didn''t agree, did you?"
Beckett was dismissive. "Her? As if she''s qualified to work with me."
Laurel Quinn said, "Just because
she''s notpetent at her job
doesn''t mean she isn''t good.l
manipting people.
"Otherwise, how could she have won over the Williams men sopletely?
"And how did she get so many family heads to treat her so specially? "Beckett, you might be brilliant in many ways, but you know too little about women.
"You judge everyone by your own standards, and that''s going to get you into big trouble one day."
Beckett believed in thew of the jungle, where only the strong are respected.
He''d been considered a prodigy since childhood, proud and arrogant, and very few people ever earned his respect.
Unfortunately for him, he eventually met his match in Joshua.
Beckett said, "Joshua just can''t be bothered to deal with a woman like her. And since she''s Ste''s rtive, he doesn''t want to cause any talk that would affect Ste.
"Otherwise, you think she''d still be alive? Joshua would have destroyed her long ago."
Laurel Quinn said, "Exactly. So
whateve
you do, don''t get involved
in the Williams family san and
don''t get mixed up with any of them.
"I don''t care if you and Joshua fight it out, but you can''t be making sneaky moves behind his back."
Laurel Quinn''s words infuriated Beckett.
"Am I the one making sneaky moves, or is it that shameless bastard Joshua stabbing me in the back?
"Laurel, you can''t be so biased!"
Laurel Quinn said, "If you hadn''t provoked him, would he havee after you?"
Beckett replied, "So you''re saying I brought this on myself?"
Laurel Quinn stated, "You started it."
Beckett was at a loss for words. "Can''t you just take my side for once?"
Laurel Quinn replied, "I prefer to tell the truth."