<b>Chapter </b><b>343 </b>


    Marguerite’s brain was struggling <b>to </b>function properly.


    She stared nkly at Frederick, watching as he stubbed out his cigarette and shed a smile. “Long time no see.”


    Long time no see? They had <b>just </b>seen each other <b>the </b>day before yesterday!


    Wasn’t she supposed to meet a potential client today?


    <b>Just </b><b>as </b>she was about to make a hasty retreat, Maurice walked into the office, positioning himself between Frederick and Marguerite.


    “Marguerite is one of the most promising perfumers at the Winston Group,” he said. “I believe she’ll meet all your needs.”


    Marguerite waspletely dumbfounded. What was going on? So there was no client looking to coborate with her after all, and it was Frederick who hade to see Maurice, and Maurice had rmended her to him!


    Marguerite was stunned. The thought of the once fierce rivals bing partners was shocking enough. But now Maurice had thrown her into this whirlwind in front of everyone. What was he up to?


    Frederick gazed at Marguerite, and she returned his stare, but neither of them said a word. Maurice cleared his throat, pulling Marguerite closer to Frederick and gently exined, “Frederick has a new project outside the city, a newly built residentialplex. They need a batch of air fresheners that can remove formaldehyde.”


    It took Marguerite a while to force herself to regain herposure. She replied in a tone devoid of emotion, “If you need to remove formaldehyde, you should contact a cleaningpany. I’m not the right person for this.” She turned around to leave after saying these words, but Maurice’s hand quickly snaked around her waist, pulling her into his embrace without any regard for Frederick’s presence.


    “No, you’re the perfect person for this,” he said, his warm breath hitting the top of Marguerite’s head, but she felt a chill run down her spine.


    She locked eyes with Maurice, his inscrutable gaze growing more intense. His eyes were always so dark, like a deep, unfathomable well, making it impossible to see whaty at the bottom.


    “An on–site inspection is necessary to remove formaldehyde. Would you two be avable to apany me?” Frederick’s indifferent voice cut through the tension. Marguerite instinctively tried to push Maurice away, but no matter how hard she pushed, he wouldn’t budge.


    Maurice slightly turned his body<b>, </b>using one hand to hold Marguerite’s waist<b>, </b>and gave Frederick a smile. “Sure<b>, </b>we’re avable now.”


    But at that moment, Frederick’s phone rang. Marguerite caught a glimpse of the caller ID–it was Yuna. Frederick apologized, “Excuse me, I need to take this call,” and he was <b>the </b><b>first </b>to leave the <b>office</b>.


    Feeling the grip around her waist loosen, Marguerite pushed Maurice away and looked at him with wide eyes, her voice filled with usation, “What are you trying to do<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    From start to finish, Maurice remained indifferent, “Why not make money from him? Using his money to save his near–bankruptpany isn’t a bad idea.”


    “Maurice!” Marguerite finally lost her patience and raised her voice, “You are such a bastard!”


    But Maurice seemed unfazed. He leaned in closer to Marguerite, a mysterious smile on his face. <b>“</b>If anyone else insulted me, I would have sent them straight to hell. But you’re Marguerite, and I love it when you scold me.”


    Marguerite’s face turned pale, and she backed away, “Keep your distance!”


    He was such a dog! She should really take him to a psychiatrist.


    “Are you in such a hurry to draw a line between us in front of your ex?” Maurice reached out to tuck a stray hair behind Marguerite’s ear, but Frederick chose that moment to open the door and enter the room.


    The room was instantly filled with an awkward silence.


    Maurice casually withdrew his hand. Marguerite instinctively looked at Frederick, trying to read the expression on his face. But his emotions were hard to decipher. He merely nced at her, paused for a moment, then said in a t tone, “I’ll send you the address. I need to pick someone up, so I’ll be thereter.”


    Damn it! Why did Frederick always catch the moment of Maurice’s deliberate PDA with her?


    But who was he going to pick up? Yuna? It made sense. They were so in love, they probably wished they could spend every moment together.


    Yuna and Frederick were the ones truly in love, but her rtionship with Maurice was nothing but a charade.