Chapter 2020 A Scheme Within A Scheme
Hazel fell silent briefly before she replied softly. “Actually, it was my father who tracked down your whereabouts and purposefully scheduled my arrival to coincide with yours. His goal was to create an opportunity for me to spend more time with you. According to them, it’d be easier for two individuals to develop feelings for each other when alone with each other in a foreign setting.”
Once she got those words off her chest, Hazel bit down on her lip, an expression of unease and nervousness on her face. “I’ve already forgone demanding accountability for the fabrication of those scandalous reports from before…”
Though Danrique only said it halfway, his message was already apparent.
“I know that this has all been extremely troubling for you, but I feel quite helpless too since this was what my father and Mr. Yarrow insisted. They are both quite stubborn and won’t quit until they get what they want, so it’s not really a bad thing that I’m playing along. This would make them give up sooner, no?”
Hazel’s tone reflected her own feelings about the lack of control over her circumstances. She paused and added, “Having grown up alongside you, I know what you’re like. Once you’ve decided on something, nobody can ever hope to change your mind. That holds true both in your professional as well as your love life. That is why I’ve never believed that you may ever develop feelings for me. I just want to continue to quietly support you and always be there for you whenever you need me.”
Her words were so touching and conveyed in such a heartfelt manner that Danrique was unable to bring himself to find fault with her.
Even though they ran into each other at the airport, they had both kept to their own schedules those past couple of days, and she had not gotten in his way at all.
Making that visit to Summerbank so high-profile was also a deliberate act on Danrique’s part.
It was he who had instructed the three great families to fly a representative over for an inspection, and it was also he who wanted the media to be all over that representative. The purpose of that was to send a message to those who were backing Pastor that he, Danrique Lindberg, had his mind set on taking over that city.
What came unexpectedly to him was that, of all the people, the three great families had decided that they would nominate Hazel.
Considering that she was currently in the process of taking over Gerard’s position, Hazel’s presence was justifiable. However, it had also led to some scandals that profoundly angered Francesca.
The latter had behaved like a raging mastiff when they conversed over the phone. As the assassins were charging at him when he was about to explain himself, he had no choice but to hang up to deal with them first.
Alone after being separated from the group, unarmed, and confronted with an overwhelming number of hostiles during that time, he and Hazel sought refuge in the shadows. Francesca’s incessant calls, however, kept giving his position away, time and again.
As he needed to be on standby for Sean’s incoming call, he was unable to switch off his phone. Hence, he could only temporarily block her number.
I suppose that Francesca must be throwing a fit at home, but it can’t be helped. I can only offer her a proper explanation after the situation at hand has been sorted out.
“It was fortunate that you were around tonight, or things might have gotten really ugly for me.”
Hazel did her best to try to ease the mood.
At the banquet earlier that night, she had been harassed by several wealthy businessmen from M Nation. They even knocked a glass of champagne over onto her, drenching her gown and causing her to get cut by fragments of shattered glass.
Just as she was in a most wretched state and at a loss for what to do, Danrique showed up and took her to the lounge to get changed and have her wounds cleaned up.
His gentlemanly mannerisms and considerate care throughout had left her profoundly moved.
“It was nothing, so don’t mention it,” said Danrique nonchalantly. “I’ll gladly help even if you’re just an ordinary friend. Besides, you’re here as a representative of Lindberg Corporation. If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.”
The sense of distance those words projected left Hazel a little disconcerted, but not daring to voice that out, she could only softly reply with, “Yes. I understand.”
“My participation at the banquet was also prearranged,” Danrique further explained. “I wasn’t there expressly to help you!”
“Yeah. I know that.” Hazel bowed her head meekly.
“This place is fraught with danger. There could be hordes of assassins after me every single day and all manner of local tycoons looking to make things difficult for Lindberg Corporation. You should not have come here in the first place!”
Danrique had originally wanted Harrier with him. Firstly, it was to declare his own position to those behind Pastor, and secondly, to humble Harrier.
Harrier, however, was extremely cunning. Not only had he fashioned himself an excuse to get away, but he had also successfully managed to cajole Gerard into sending Hazel in his place.
In his eagerness to hook his daughter up with Danrique, Gerard had unexpectedly fallen for Harrier’s scheming.
