In Crestfall, the Kaye Family might not have held the sa status as the Ford Family, but they were still a formidable and prestigious powerhouse. Hayden Kaye’s father, Russell Kaye, was a legendary tycoon who had dominated the business world for years. Though his reputation had gradually been eclipsed by their own president recently, anyone a little older had heard of Russell Kaye’s renowned na.
As Russell Kaye’s son, Hayden Kaye was a familiar face to many. It wasn’t strange for him to visit the company, but the fact that he’d bought so much breakfast—and that it was all for Vivian Quincy—was certainly intriguing.
The staff in the secretarial departnt couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves. "It looks like Master Kaye is pursuing Vivian Quincy."
"Doesn’t Master Kaye know how tacky Vivian is? On her first day here, she wore floral jeans and was all bundled up. She looked so frumpy, like a middle-aged woman!"
"What’s with his taste?"
Imperium Group was famous for its many beautiful and elite won. You could pick anyone from the crowd, and they’d be a better catch than Vivian Quincy.
Did the great Master Kaye forget his glasses, or is he just blind? To think he’s fallen for a country bumpkin!
The people gossiping about Vivian were quite a distance from her, but they were right next to the main corridor!
Jasper Ford heard them the mont he walked in. The air around him turned frigid.
He cleared his throat. The deep, commanding sound made the entire departnt jump.
"President!" Everyone shot to their feet, calling out in unison.
Flanked by an entourage, Jasper Ford strode toward them. His innate, kingly aura was so oppressive it completely overshadowed everyone else in the room.
Hayden turned around, an eager, pleasing smile instantly appearing on his face. "Morning, Ninth Uncle!"
Vivian was stunned by the words "Ninth Uncle." Her eyes flew wide in shock as she stared blankly at the two n. She was already reeling from the previous night, when Jasper had taken her to et Hayden’s father. She’d spent the whole night wondering how they even knew each other. But hearing Hayden call him "Ninth Uncle" made Vivian freeze completely.
"Bring the proposal to my office." The man’s expression was impassive, but he was clearly displeased.
Vivian snapped out of it and quickly found the proposal.
Seeing that she hadn’t touched the breakfast he’d bought, Hayden said, "I’ll take it for you. You should eat first."
Jasper Ford, who was already several yards away, stopped. "Hurry up."
Vivian didn’t dare let Hayden go. She quickly snatched the docunts from his hands. "I’ll take it myself. You should head back. I need to get to work."
Clutching the docunts, she hurried after Jasper Ford. Once inside the office, he ordered her to close the door. Vivian did as she was told. "President, here is the proposal you asked for."
"Put it on the desk." Jasper glanced nonchalantly out the window at Hayden, who was still lingering outside, and sneered. "It seems he still hasn’t given up after what happened at the warehouse."
Vivian’s face paled, and her hands at her sides clenched nervously. "If there’s nothing else, President, I’ll take my leave."
"Did I say you could leave?" His voice held a dangerous edge.
Vivian, who was about to leave, froze in place.
"Co here," the man commanded.
Vivian bit her lip. After a mont’s hesitation, she walked over.
Jasper studied her deceptively innocent face with amusent. "It seems you still don’t get it. I want you to stay away from Hayden Kaye. Understand?"
"I didn’t go after him. He ca looking for ." Vivian hated the way he was looking at her. ’His gaze is so predatory... so disrespectful...’
Jasper scoffed. "If you weren’t parading that face of yours around, would he even like you? Vivian Quincy, the Kaye Family wants soone with a clean background. Used goods like you shouldn’t even dream of marrying into a prestigious family. Since Hayden calls Ninth Uncle, I have a responsibility to keep him from going astray."
The young woman’s delicate face went deathly pale; she had never been so humiliated. Her eyes reddened as she fought back the pain. "Whether I’m ’used goods’ or not is none of your business! And for the record, it’s your shaless nephew who’s pursuing , not the other way around. If you want to lecture soone, President, go lecture your own precious nephew!"
"So you’ve learned to talk back." Jasper smiled, a brilliant and dangerous expression.
Having waited outside for a long ti without seeing Vivian erge, Hayden grew worried she might go hungry and couldn’t resist knocking on the door.
Jasper cast a casual glance at the door. "Who is it?"
"Ninth Uncle, may I co in?" Hayden asked, his voice full of curiosity.
’Right on cue.’
Jasper smiled. "Co in."
With a powerful tug on her wrist, he yanked Vivian, who had been standing beside him, into his arms.
Hayden walked in and froze, seeing the two of them in an embrace. He was utterly shocked. "You two..."
The man holding Vivian shoved her away. She stumbled and fell to the floor, her face ashen.
No matter how slow on the uptake Hayden might be, he could guess what had just happened. Jasper Ford had a fiancée. They had been together for six years, and he was famously devoted. ’There’s no way he’d be interested in any woman other than Wanda Quincy. That hug... Vivian must have initiated it!’
"Vivian..." Hayden said her na, his voice laced with disappointnt. He needed to know if what he thought was true.
His stare made her deeply uncomfortable. She desperately wanted to explain, but Jasper was standing aside, watching her coldly, waiting. Vivian slowly lowered her head...
’I’m a single mother with a child. A family like Hayden’s would never accept soone like . We were dood from the start.’
’Jasper was doing this to force the issue, to make Hayden give up on her for good!’
Vivian hated being used as a pawn. But Hayden was the first man she had ever loved. ’Since we can’t be together, maybe it’s better to just let him go.’
Masking the pain in her eyes, Vivian said, "You saw what just happened. I won’t hide it from you. I’m in love with your Ninth Uncle."
Hayden looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. He stood frozen for several seconds before slowly shaking his head, a disbelieving smile on his face. "I don’t believe you. You don’t even know my Ninth Uncle. How could you possibly be in love with him?"
"Your Ninth Uncle is richer than you, better-looking, has a better physique, and a higher status. Every girl in Crestfall adores him, and so do I. So, stop pestering . There’s no future for us." Vivian’s voice was cold and emotionless, feigning utter heartlessness. She looked at Hayden with disgust. "I will never be with you. Now leave."
"You’re not that kind of person," Hayden insisted.
Jasper sneered. "She is exactly that kind of person. She’ll stop at nothing for money. This isn’t the first ti, either. She’s tried to seduce many tis before." He paused, then said, "Hayden, a woman like this is bad news."
"I don’t believe it! I won’t let you talk about her like that, Ninth Uncle!" Hayden retorted sharply.
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