"Pfft!"


    Anya had just taken a sip of water when she heard Cam''sment, and she immediately sputtered, spraying water everywhere.


    She quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth before shooting Cam an annoyed look. "Keep talking like that, and I''ll tear that mouth of yours right off!"


    "Grr..." Cam made a face, thenughed heartily. "Aww, look at you all protective! Seems like you really care about him, huh?"


    The two friends had a lively conversation, catching up on everything from their school days to their journeys after graduation.


    Sitting beside them, Zachary couldn''t help but feel a bit like the third wheel. However, through their stories, he learned quite a bit about Anya''s past.


    ording to Cam, back in college, Anya was the most admired beauty on campus, with countless admirers vying for her attention. But she had never dated anyone, which often made Cam wonder about her orientation jokingly.


    As Cam took a bite of her steak, she casually asked, "By the way, Anya, has your half-sister caused you any more trouble?"


    For a split second, Anya''s smile froze. She shook her head and quickly changed the subject. "Let''s not talk about her. How about that streamer you rmended? Think she''s worth signing?"


    "She''s got potential. She has a really sweet and innocent vibe, and she''s got a great singing voice. We could sign her, but let me be clear. I''m not lowering my standards just because we''re friends," Cam replied, her tone bing more serious.


    After all, both women were driven entrepreneurs with solid principles.


    "Of course! But there''s actually one more thing I was hoping you could help with," Anya said, smoothly steering the conversation toward the Economic Development Zone project.


    "Zac, you''re in charge of this project and know the details best. How about you share your thoughts with Cam?"


    "Sure!"


    Finally getting to the main topic, Zachary eagerly outlined his ideas.


    Cam paused, giving him her full


    aed locked on him t


    attention: Her sparkling and gaze


    bet


    time as he exined the pre


    "Ms. Gaines, that''s everything I wanted to cover. What''s your take?"


    He spoke for nearly half an hour, covering everything in detail, from small nuances to future market prospects.


    He waited for her response, but to his surprise, it waspletely unrted. "You


    know, you''re even more charming when you talk business!"


    Zachary was speechless. Caught off guard by her sidetrackedment, he nced at Anya for help.


    Anya just shrugged with an amused smile. "Don''t worry, that''s just how she is. But she heard everything you said."


    Turning back to Cam, she asked, "So, what do you think, Cam? Is this project worth pursuing? If not, I''ll just drop it."


    "It could work, but I''d need to discuss it with my brother first."


    Cam gave no definitive answer. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to help. It was just that this decision wasn''t entirely up to her.


    Previously her father had controlled


    thec Developments


    But


    he had fallen ill six


    ago, he had handed things over to her younger brother, John Gaines.


    John was 25 butcked business acumen or a broad perspective. He focused only on short-term gains. This greed had already led severalpanies to abandon their


    [e''


    investment efforts in the zone. In


    short, he wanted too


    soon.  t?


    h, too


    "Your brother?" Anya''s face showed a hint of difort. She was having second thoughts in her heart.


    Cam nodded, looking exasperated. "Yeah, my brother! The same idiot who used to follow you around like a lovesick puppy."


    Zachary suppressed a smirk, wondering if it was really okay for her to roast John like that in front of her best friend and an outsider.


    Anya frowned slightly, contemting whether to give up. "Maybe we should just forget about it..."


    "Are you afraid?"