Chapter 470 Fate Is Unpredictable
Isabella bit her lip and begged, “Oscar, don’t be like this. Your mother says you’ve lost some weight these days. That’s why I sent one of my house’s maids to slaughter the chicken at home at six o’clock in the morning. I personally made it for you to help nourish your body. For the sake of my hard work, please have some and not let my efforts go to waste.”
“Isabella, if you’re slacking off during work hours, then you should be removed from your position as the director. Clinton Corporations can’t afford to hire people who laze around. You should just return to the Walker family and be their rich daughter.” Oscar pointed at the door and said mercilessly, “I don’t need your concern. Your pestering only annoys me. Please get out.”
Hearing that, Isabella looked at him sorrowfully. “Oscar, do you really have to be that cruel?”
Seeing how she was reluctant to leave, Oscar immediately gave Linda a call to get the woman out. However, he did not expect another secretary to enter the room. She said cautiously, “Mr. Clinton, Linda has an upset stomach. She went to the restroom and isn’t back till now. I didn’t stop Ms. Walker from entering just now because she said she brought some food for you on Mrs. Clinton’s orders.”
Oscar buried his face into the documents and uttered coldly, “Take her out. If this happens again, you can go straight to the finance department to claim your salary for that month and leave this company forever.”
The secretary let out a sigh and spoke to Isabella in a courteous manner. “Ms. Walker, this way, please. I’m just an employee here. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”
Isabella’s expression turned ugly in an instant. I can’t believe I came all the way here just to be humiliated.
After giving the secretary a glare, she marched toward the office table in her high heels and placed the thermos on it unhappily, pleading, “Oscar, I shall not bother you anymore, but please have some of this chicken soup. I spent two hours making it for you. Please, I’m begging you.”
Nonetheless, Oscar did not even bother to lift his head.
Isabella had no choice but to leave while suppressing her hurt feelings. Yet, she did not take the thermos with her. It looked slightly lonely among the pile of documents.
“Take it away,” Oscar said without lifting his head.
The secretary, who was still rooted to the spot, was at a loss. She then lifted the thermos carefully and said, “Mr. Clinton, are you really not going to have some? This is, after all, Ms. Walker’s kind intention. If I take it away, she might feel sad.”
It was at that moment that Oscar finally lifted his head and glanced coldly at her. “Renee, if you’re still unclear about your position and bring your personal feelings into work, I’ll have to reconsider your suitability for this job.”
Renee could not help but shudder at his words. She nodded hurriedly. “I know what to do. I’ll leave now.” With that, she walked away miserably, her high heels clicking on the floor.
After that, Oscar continued to focus on his work, not at all affected by Isabella’s trivial disturbance.
As he was focused on dealing with all the documents, another knock sounded on the door. “Come in,” he said sternly.
Linda pushed the door open and said, “Mr. Clinton, Mr. Hayes is here.”
Oscar lifted his head and raised his eyebrows when he noticed Julian standing behind Linda. He did not expect Julian to come looking for him during office hours.
“All right. You may leave, Linda,” Oscar said, waving his hand.
“Okay, Mr. Clinton.”
“Oh, please bring in two cups of coffee. One without sugar, the other with less sugar,” Oscar instructed.
“Yes, Mr. Clinton.” Linda walked out and closed the door behind her.
Oscar then got to his feet, walked past his desk, and sat on the sofa with Julian. He crossed his legs elegantly, staring at his visitor. “What brings you here?”
“I heard Clinton Corporations is interested in joining the entertainment industry. Hence, I’ve prepared a proposal. I wanted to discuss it with you and see if I could get a piece of the pie from your company,” Julian said lazily, pulling out a proposal and throwing it onto the table.
Oscar leaned over and picked up the document. After going through it, he said, “This proposal is quite good, but since when did your company dabble in the entertainment industry?”
Adjusting his posture, Julian flashed him a smile. “I’m planning to start an entertainment agency. Besides, my brother is handling the company. There’s no need for a rich heir like me to look after it, so I want to start an entertainment company for fun. Moreover, there are many pretty ladies in the industry. Who knows? I might even get lucky and find myself a girlfriend.”
After studying him in silence, Oscar uttered a sentence that immediately exposed his friend’s lie, “What happened? I’ve never heard you say you were interested in the entertainment industry. Please don’t forget that we’re best buddies. There’s no secret you can keep from me.”
Julian laughed aloud.
“Oscar, sometimes you’re just so smart that I want to beat you up,” Julian said casually.
Oscar merely shrugged, not bothering to respond.
Just then, Linda knocked on the door, bringing two cups of coffee in with her.
As she placed them on the table, Julian smiled and said, “Linda, you’re so beautiful, capable, and caring. Anyone who marries you is a lucky man. Actually, why don’t you consider me?”
Linda was a wise woman. Naturally, she knew Julian was making a joke. She smiled politely and replied, “Mr. Hayes, I’m just a lowly secretary. A son from a prominent family like you is way out of my league. Anyway, please carry on with your discussion. I’ll take my leave.”
A hint of admiration appeared in Julian’s eyes as he smiled. “Linda, I really appreciate understanding women like you. If Oscar mistreats you one day, feel free to jump ship to my company. I promise to increase your pay.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hayes,” Linda said and left the room.
“What is this? You fancy her?” Oscar asked, lifting his cup of coffee.
Julian laughed and lounged back on the sofa. “I wouldn’t dare snatch your staff. However, I’ve got to admit that Linda is a strong, capable woman. With a secretary like that, you should give her more power.”
“Since when did you become a mediator for my employees?” Oscar questioned, raising his brow.
In response, Julian shrugged and changed the topic. “Oscar, are you interested in investing in my new entertainment agency after reading my proposal? I’m thinking of running this company as my primary business.”
“What’s up with you?” Oscar asked in confusion.
“Would you believe me if I said I got into a tiny dispute with my father?” Julian asked in return.
“Excuses.”
“He took a liking to some family’s only daughter, and he wants me to date her. Why should I date someone whom I’ve never even met? In the end, I couldn’t hold it in and got into a fight with my dad. Thank goodness he didn’t fall sick from getting angry. Anyway, I was a little impulsive and told him I wanted to go solo,” Julian explained nonchalantly as though he was talking about someone else’s affairs.
“Based on your capabilities, you won’t fail even if you go solo. However, what I want to know is why you suddenly got into a fight with your father? If I remember correctly, you’ve always respected him.”
“It’s nothing much. It’s just that I don’t have any plans to get married for now. He keeps bugging me about it, so I finally lost my temper and talked back to him.”
Oscar eyed him for some time, processing his words. Suddenly, he said, “It’s been so many years. Have you still not forgotten her?”
Julian stiffened when he heard his friend’s words. Feigning ignorance, he shrugged his shoulders and said with a smile, “What are you talking about? I’m a playboy with no strings attached, okay? Don’t slander me as some person who’s loyal to their relationships.”
Hearing that, Oscar retracted his gaze. “I won’t ask anymore if you don’t want to talk about relationships. However, I have to remind you that woman already married a foreigner two years ago. You shouldn’t limit your options and be so hung up on her. It’s not worth it.”
Suddenly, Julian burst out laughing so hard that tears streamed down his cheeks. However, there seemed to be traces of desolation and an inexplicable sadness behind his laughter.
“Oscar, I never knew you could say such funny jokes,” he teased.
Oscar rolled his eyes and said, “You’re not young anymore, Julian. It’s time to think about getting married and having children. All our close friends like Michael, Lucas, Yohan, and Lewis have all found the most important woman in their life. On top of that, Michael’s and Yohan’s wives are pregnant. You should hurry up as well. After all, that woman is already gone.”
Julian laughed bitterly. “Don’t you think you’re going a little overboard by exposing my past relationship like that?”
“Aren’t you a professional playboy? Yet, you can’t even forget a woman who betrayed you in the past. And now you’re going around saying things like you’ve never fallen in love and that you don’t know what it’s like. These words can only work on young, innocent girls, my friend,” Oscar said calmly.
Julian side-eyed him. “I just realized today is not a suitable day to come looking for you.”
“Okay, that’s enough. You’re already here. Aren’t you here to talk about starting an entertainment agency? So let’s get back to the main topic. I think your proposal is quite good. I’ll consider collaborating with you,” Oscar said.
Julian raised his brows, finding his reaction suspicious.
“On one condition. You have to apologize to your father and get serious in looking for a future partner. I don’t want you to be alone for the rest of your life.”
“Are you trying to be a matchmaker?”
“Do we have a deal?”
“Well, I actually have a candidate, but I want to get your approval first.”
Oscar eyed him suspiciously.
“I think the eyes of Amelia’s cousin look similar to that woman’s in my memory. If you agree to let me pursue her, I’ll actually consider your condition.”
Oscar immediately shot him a look that seemed to question his eyesight.
“I’m serious. Their eyes really look alike. Maybe it’s because I miss her. Anyway, can I pursue her?”
“No way,” Oscar rejected without hesitation. “You can pick anyone to replace that woman but not Amelia’s cousin. I’ll never let you harm her.”
Julian shrugged and said, “I’m just saying.”
What Julian did not know was that he had a strong fate with Eva—a fate that would link them together for the rest of their lives.
