20. Suprised Meeting

"Father, I think I managed to persuade him. You should prepare the documents that I need. I don't think it will take long for him to get a big project."

With a big smile she was confident of Adrian's abilities. But Henry still doesn't seem convinced.

"Tsk... We'll see Nadine..."

Nadine denied her father, a thin smirk still adorned at her beautiful face.

"Father... You've chosen him to be your assistant. Why do you seem to doubt him now?"

Nadine smirked when she heard Henry snort in annoyance.

"Adrian asked for 2 more days. But I'm sure he will accept it."

Her father chuckled again.

"Let's just wait and see. It's late now. I don't want you to be late tomorrow."

Nadine smiled again and immediately hang up the call. She hoped that Adrian would make a decision about her father's offer soon.

***

"Morning Nadine."

Nadine immediately turned when she knew who greeted her.

"Ehm... Morning Adrian."

Seeing Nadine's surprised face, Adrian just smiled and sat down for breakfast. The maid who saw Nadine still gaping with disbelieving faces could only shake their heads.

"What's your plan today?"

Adrian did not immediately answer Nadine's question. But he seemed to think for a moment.

"I'm going to visit aunty for a bit. And I'm going back home. I have something to prepare."

Nadine seems very curious. But she chose not to ask any further.

"Hmm.... You can ask them if you need anything."

Nadine spoke while pointing at her maid.

"Oh yeah... Last night I told my father about your answer."

Adrian immediately looked up at Nadine.

"Relax.... He said he would wait for your answer."

Nadine chuckled seeing Adrian's surprised face.

"Oh... Okay I'll give you an answer as soon as possible."

They continued their breakfast with a little talk. It was clear that Adrian was on to something.

***

"Anna, is there a meeting scheduled for today?"

Anna is checking something on her tablet.

"No miss."

Nadine, who was still busy opening the document in front of her, asked again.

"Is there an urgent meeting scheduled?"

Anna quickly answered him.

"No Miss. But this evening, Mr. Henry will ask you to meet him."

Nadine stopped checking her document.

"Huh? Oh... Okay...."

Nadine only answered briefly and continued her work.

"Is something bothering you?"

Nadine immediately stopped her work and looked at Anna expectantly.

"You are indeed the best Anna."

Nadine finally told her the deal she had made with her father.

"Miss..... Why are you so happy to test Mr. Henry's patience now?"

Nadine just grimaced answering Anna's question.

"I didn't ask for it... He offered it himself."

Anna took a deep breath when she saw Nadine pouting.

"Haaaah.... Miss, you always obey Mr. Henry's orders. I think you should also do it this time."

Nadine still looks more and more annoyed because Anna is defending her father.

"I don't think you should bother investigating fraud at Resort Miller. It's just a waste of your time."

Nadine was about to argue with Anna, but Anna quickly continued her word.

"But I think if you have a little bit of patience and follow Mr Henry's game you will be able to get what you need."

Nadine looks very happy with Anna's last sentence. And gave her a big smile.

"You are indeed the best Anna, you are indeed my best assistant!!"

Anna smiled faintly at her boss who was acting like a child very often now.

"That's why you pay me dearly."

***

"Huh!!!"

Benjamin's scream made Marie cover her ear.

"Nadine really spoils you Adrian... What a rich sugar mom...."

Marie pinched Benjamin's arm hard because of his words. Adrian, who was getting used to it, just sighed.

"What do you think aunty?"

Seeing Adrian who was seriously asking her, Marie smiled faintly.

"What Nadine said is true. This is a great opportunity for you."

Benjamin nodded enthusiastically confirming his mother's words. But Adrian still had doubts.

"Our resort isn't going anywhere, Adrian. But this chance will be lost if you don't grab it quickly."

Marie's words made him think again.

"But I wouldn't have much time to help look after you aunty, if I were Mr Henry's right-hand man."

Benjamin immediately chuckled hearing Adrian's reason.

"I'll take care of mom. I'm just taking some part time jobs for now."

Adrian still looks doubtful and is still thinking hard.

"I'm just rehabilitating Adrian. The doctor also said everything is fine and it's just a matter of finishing the therapy."

Benjamin approached Adrian and hit him hard on the back.

"Just accept it. And build the trust of those high-end businessmen. When the resort back in business, we will find it easy to find investors."

Seeing the smile on Benjamin's face, Adrian became a little relieved.

"But the decision is in your hand, Adrian. I'm sure Nadine doesn't force you either."

Adrian was surprised because his aunt knew that Nadine did not force him to take the offer at all.

"If you can work there. You can help me get close to Anna."

Benjamin eagerly persuaded Adrian to accept the offer.

"Benjamin.... You really don't give up on that."

Benjamin laughed at Adrian's words.

"Ha ha ha... Of course not."

Adrian and Marie couldn't help but sigh at Benjamin's enthusiasm.

"Maybe I should take it."

Marie smiled and Benjamin excitedly cheered Adrian.

***

"Father.... Did you want to see me?"

Nadine saw her father was waiting for her.

"Yes..."

Nadine then sat across from her father. The serious look on his father's face showed that there was something important that his father wanted to discuss.

"Nadine... You know that Barret Corp. has asked many times to immediately start a collaborative project with us?"

Nadine was slightly shocked to hear the name of the company.

"You said you didn't waste your time, right? Why do you even put aside the cooperation we've had with them for almost 15 years?"

Nadine clenched her fist to reduce her nerves at her father's question.

"I just wanted to postpone it for next year. We can't hold our new hotel project just to finish one project that's still in the concept planning."

Henry sighed and leaned back in the chair.

"Nadine... This project is worth the same as your five hotel development projects. This time we're not just talking about a new hotel. But also business development, Nadine."

Nadine knows that very well. But she couldn't say that she didn't want to do the project with that company.

"I'll keep running that project. But I'll do it after all the projects I'm working on are finished."

Henry smirked and still patiently listened to his daughter's explanation.

"So I can really focus on developing this business. This will be a new business for us father. I need to learn it first."

Nadine carefully explained the reason.

"I don't want our restaurant and shopping mall business development to fail because I don't master it."

Actually that's not the only reason. Nadine had a specific reason why she had put the business on hold for a long time.

"Isn't our partner experienced in the restaurant business?"

Nadine glared at her father as if she knew who he meant.

"You've known Alex since high school, he's the heir to the biggest restaurant and fast food business here. You don't have to worry about that."

Nadine was silent hearing the name called by her father. The name of the person he desperately avoided meeting.

"Alex's father has been constantly asking to speed up this project..."

Henry looked at his daughter's face which had been silent that day. He felt like he was looking back at his daughter who always obeyed him.

"They also wanted to see you because they couldn't attend your wedding."

Henry was silent and waited for an answer from Nadine.

"I need a little more time father. I'll try to talk to them."

Henry sighed and seemed to give up on Nadine.

"Okay... Okay... They're still abroad to manage their new branch, maybe they'll be back here next year. I'll help you tell them."

Nadine looks happy and it makes Henry smile faintly.

"You'll break Alex's heart again if you cancel this project."

The happiness on Nadine's face faded and she looked a little gloomy.

"If you hadn't met Adrian maybe Alex would have been a hus-..."

Nadine quickly cut off her father's words.

"Father.... Didn't I already ask you to cancel our marriage in the beginning. So why are you making a fuss about it now."

Henry sighed again.

"Haaaaah.... You're right..."

Nadine felt the atmosphere in the room getting uncomfortable. And she wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

"Speaking of Adrian... Has he made up his mind."

Henry, who knew his daughter was uncomfortable with their conversation, immediately changed the topic of their conversation.

"He still wants to talk to Marie about this."

Henry looked confused.

"Marie? Who is she? Why is she even discussing this with other women? And why did you let him do that?"

Nadine looked confused for a moment but then she laughed at her father's words. The tense atmosphere in the room melted away instantly.

"Pfffft... Father... Haven't you researched the Millers one by one."

Henry looked even more confused.

"Marielle Miller... Ring a bell, father?"

Henry nodded but his face still looked confused. Nadine chuckled when she saw her father, who always has a big confidence, look so confused in front of her.

"Marielle Miller or I used to call her Marie. She's Adrian's aunt. Ha ha ha....."

Henry was silent and then he seemed to know who Nadine was referring to.

"Oh..."

Henry only answered briefly and enjoyed the laughter of his daughter who seemed satisfied to tease him.

"Ha ha ha.... Father he won't make a scandal so calm down..."

Henry sighed and smiled faintly.

"You have to make sure of that...."

Nadine stopped laughing and smirked at her father.

"Are you done? I'll go back to my office."

Nadine immediately returned to her office because she didn't want to continue discussing her relationship with Adrian.

"I think that's enough. I'm just waiting for your husband's decision."

Nadine nodded and then she stood up from her chair and walked toward the door.

That day wasn't really that tiring but her father's question made her feel drained.

Arriving at the door of her office, she was a little surprised to see Anna standing in front of her office.

"Anna, why don't you come in?"

Anna sighed and immediately approached Nadine.

"Miss Nadine.... You have an important guest."

Nadine looks confused, she didn't have time to ask about the guest. From inside her room someone came out and he excitedly hugged Nadine.

"What the..... Alexander Barrett!!!"