Joshua’s face darkened as he listened to Xylia’s words.
36
Richard was the point of contact between Prairie Rose and Xylia, and as for the man Lily had taken her to meet in that private booth–anyone could figure out who he was without even asking.
He freed up one hand and took Xylia’s, holding it gently in his palm.
“Xylia, this time you have to listen to me,” Joshua said quietly.
Xylia shot him a puzzled look. “Listen to you about what?”
“Tomorrow, set up a meeting with Richard. I’ll handle negotiating the cancetion with Prairie Rose, Joshua said firmly.
Xylia went quiet, her heart heavy with reluctance.
‘It stings to watch such a lucrative deal slip right through my fingers, Xylia thought, frustration gnawing at
her.
‘But worse than that, I just can’t make peace with it,‘ she admitted to herself.
‘It all boils down to theirck of integrity… Stepping away like this leaves me feeling utterly powerless and wronged,‘ Xylia brooded.
But Joshua was right–it just wasn’t possible to keep working together anymore.
She gave a soft nod. “Okay.”
The next day, Richard received Xylia’s invitation, and a flicker of excitement stirred in his chest.
But he quickly squashed that feeling, recing it with suspicion.
‘Xylia’s been dodging me whenever she couldtely. Why would she suddenly want to meet?‘ he wondered.
Still, it had to be business. She was all work, no y these days anyway.
He left early, heading to the location Xylia had sent him.
But when he arrived at the restaurant, he realized the person waiting was Joshua–not Xylia.
Richard froze for a split second, then forced a smile, made his way over, and sat down.
“Why are you here, Mr. Garcia? Where’s Xylia?” Richard asked, trying to sound nonchnt.
Joshua replied coolly, “I’m here to talk about ending the coboration with Prairie Rose for Xylia.”
Richard froze, the smile sliding off his face.
8:09 Tue, Sep <b>30 </b>
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“Mr. Garcia, do you really think you have the right to speak for Xylia?” Richard shot back, his voiceced with
sarcasm.
“I’m her fiancé, so I absolutely do,” Joshua replied, his voice icy. “Enough small talk–let’s get straight to thepensation.”
Richard had absolutely no intention of breaking things off with Xylia.
Joshua can say whatever he wants–it’s not going to change my mind, Richard thought,pletely unfazed.
Richard leaned backfortably, eyes fixed on Joshua. “The partnership between Prairie Rose and Xylic Studio is well underway. If you try to call it off without a justified reason, I’ll have to question Xylic Studio’s integrity, in and simple.”
Prairie Rose was a big name worldwide–and Richard knew it. <fnbb2c> Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnbb2c>
He was basically saying that if the contract got canceled, Prairie Rose’s international reputation might end up ruining Xylic Studio’s standing in the industry.
Richard was straight–up threatening them.
Joshua’s tone was ice–cold, daring. “Go on then, take your shot. Let’s see who gets dragged down first–your name or Xylic Studio’s.”
Joshua wasn’t worried about ying hardball, either. With all the leverage he had on Richard, making him pay wouldn’t even be a challenge.
Richard knew Joshua was no pushover.
Fury burned in his chest, but when he thought about the files he had on Joshua, Richard felt a bit more confident.
“Joshua, I wonder how much longer you’ll keep acting all high and mighty,” Richard sneered.
Finally, Richard caved and agreed <i>to </i>call it quits.
Thepensation for breaking the contract? Fair enough–not a bad deal all things considered.
Once Richard had taken off, Xylia walked in to find Joshua,
“How did you get him to agree <i>so </i>quickly?” Xylia stared straight at him as she asked.
Joshua frowned, picking up on a strange vibe in her eyes. Was she watching him closely, or was she trying to
test him?
Joshua didn’t bother digging deeper into her look–he just gave her a straight answer.
“I’ve got plenty of leverage over him. Rx, I’ll take care of everything,” Joshua said, never missing a beat.
He said it with a spark in his eyes, not noticing the trace of disappointment flickering across Xylia’s face.
8:09 Tue, Sep 30
::.
He’s got plenty of dirt on him, Xylia thought, her mind churning.
‘Sounds like they really do go way back,‘ she mused.
Xylia was out of options–she just had to suck it up and slowly wrap her head around it.
Joshua finally noticed something was off and asked, “What’s up?”
Xylia shook her head.
“Oh, and Noelle’s heading back to Norhill tomorrow,” Xylia added.
Joshua nodded. “Makes sense for her to go back now.”
Since her task’s done, there’s no reason for her to stay in Jupiton.
Joshua thought it was time for Noelle to head out–but Noelle had other ideas.
She’d booked her flight, sure, but actually leaving? No way.
Even with Richard’s help that night, she’d stille up empty–handed–and she couldn’t stand it.
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Noelle needed a whole new strategy–something that would help her take Joshua for herself, once and for all.
So Noelle dialed Joshua’s number.
When he picked up, she made her voice extra soft and pitiful, almost pleading.
“Joshie… are you still mad at me?”
Xylia clutched Joshua’s phone, feeling awkward as she looked across at him–there he was, totally absorbed in scrolling through news on her phone.
Joshua’s expression was <i>cool </i>and indifferent, clearly not bothered by whatever was happening on her end.
Xylia spoke up, direct and unfazed, “He’s busy right now. If you need anything, just talk to me.”
You could hear Noelle practically breathing fire on the other end, her breaths quick and unsteady.
She was doing her best to hold back the rage boiling inside.
She stayed silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
This time, her voice didn’t sound cutesy or fragile at all.
Instead, there was pure contemptcing her words.
“Why are you picking up his phone anyway? Where’s Josh?” Noelle drawled, her tone dripping with disdain.
“He’s busy,” Xylia replied coolly, no hint of emotion slipping through.
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Xylia didn’t bother to exin further–she just stuck to the same response as before.
Noelle realized she wasn’t going to get any answers, so after taking a deep breath, she said, “<b>I’m </b>heading out tomorrow. Why don’t you twoe back for dinner tonight?”
There was a clear reluctance in her words, but even so, you could still catch a trace of hope in her tone.
Xylia shot Joshua a questioning look.
Joshua looked like he couldn’t care less.
So Xylia just agreed without another word.
After hanging up, Joshua finally turned to look at Xylia, an impatient frown etched onto his face.
“Why bother having dinner with her?” Joshua asked, his tone t and a little cold.
“What, you worried she might tempt you and you’ll give in?” Xylia shot back, a sly smirk tugging at her lips.
Joshua put down his phone, then suddenly pulled Xylia right into his arms–holding her close, possessiveness clear in the gesture.
“Keep talking nonsense and I’ll really get mad,” Joshua said, half–serious and half petnt, his grip refusing to loosen.
‘Aww, look at you–throwing a little puppy tantrum, Xylia mused, her smile full of teasing affection.
Xylia couldn’t help but ruffle Joshua’s silky silver hair, grinning at how good it felt under her fingers.
“What, can’t handle a bit of honesty now?” she teased, her voiceced with yful mischief.
Joshua finally realized she was just messing with him, and he couldn’t help but let a yful smile slip.
Xylia, still in his arms,ughed like a blooming flower. As Joshua moved, strands of her hair fell aside, showing off a bold hickey on her pale, wless neck.
Joshua’s gaze turned noticeably darker–he lifted his hand and brushed his fingertips gently over that red
mark.
“That’s not honesty, it’s nder. Are you prepared to ept your punishment?” Joshua murmured, voice low and teasing.
Xylia’s heart did a backflip, and before she could react, Joshua caught her off guard, stealing a kiss just as she looked up.
His teeth grazed her lips, and the mix of gentle pain and sweet pleasure sent sparks through her nerves.
They were still in the restaurant, for crying out loud.
Xylia <b>was </b>on edge, worried that a waiter might walk in
any second.
She clutched Joshua’s sleeve tightly, parting her lips, about to say something.
But that just gave Joshua the perfect chance to deepen the kiss.
Xylia was pinned there, enduring the “punishment” for what felt like forever before Joshua finally let her go.
She gasped for air, copsing into Joshua’s arms, too breathless to say another word.
“Are you still talking nonsense?” Joshua teased, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.
He ran his fingers through her hair, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
Xylia shot him a yful re, shoved him off, and stood up.
“Seriously, can’t take a joke anymore? Are you running out of patience with me?” she teased, sounding slightly pouty.
Joshua could only shake his head–Xylia had just tossed yet another baseless usation his way.
Now he finally got why people online always say, “Women’s hearts are impossible to read.”
Because with Xylia, he never had a clue what wild usation she’d pin on him next.
Joshua spent a good while trying everything to coax Xylia, not letting up until her signature smile finally returned.
Seeing him like that, Xylia couldn’t help butugh–he looked so adorably flustered that she found it kind of hrious.
She had no idea what was up with her these days; her emotions were totally out of whack, mood swings flipping from annoyed to over–the–moon in the blink of an eye.
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