Chapter 520
Andrew smiled calmly. “Alright, one final question.”
Ruby, clearly irritated, snapped, “Mr. Lloyd, enough is enough. You just said the last question was your final one.”
Andrew chuckled, unfazed. “It just popped into my head, Ms. Dickinson. No need to get so tense—this one isn’t about the collaboration, just casual chit-chat.”
Ruby huffed. “Tense? Who’s tense? You’re quite the joker, Mr. Lloyd. Ask your question—I have other matters to attend to. Rhodes Corporation isn’t the only company knocking on Amberpeak’s door.”
Andrew’s smile took on a sharper edge. “I heard from Mr. MacAfee earlier that the two of you discussed the collaboration thoroughly and worked very hard, even late into the evening. Is that correct?”
Ruby froze for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, Mr. MacAfee is very dedicated. We had a detailed conversation yesterday and talked until around nine in the evening.”
Troy, clearly proud of himself, chimed in, “It was exhausting, but for Rhodes Corporation, it’s my duty. Mr. Lloyd, as someone who lives a carefree life of wealth and leisure, wouldn’t understand the dedication and effort this kind of work requires.”
While he highlighted his “sacrifices”, Troy could not resist sneaking in a jab at Andrew’s supposed lack of professionalism.
Andrew, still grinning, said, “Oh, I see. Ms. Dickinson and Mr. MacAfee really did work hard and for quite some time.”
He glanced at Lauren and added, “Coincidentally, Ms. Rhodes and I happened to witness just how hard the two of you were working yesterday.”
Lauren caught on immediately and smiled sweetly. “Exactly, Mr. Lloyd. Yesterday, we were standing outside the Stanton Hotel and saw Mr. MacAfee and Ms. Dickinson leaving together. They certainly seemed to be putting in a lot of effort.”
“In fact,” Lauren continued, her tone turning mischievous, “from the way they were chatting and laughing, one could guess their negotiation likely took place in one of the hotel’s more… intimate king-sized suites. It must have been quite the scene—business discussions so intense they practically brought the house down! Honestly, I’ve never seen such a unique way of closing deals. Truly, Ms. Dickinson and Mr. MacAfee are exceptional in their approach to business—on a completely different level than the rest of us.”
The two played off each other so seamlessly that the room’s atmosphere grew increasingly tense and awkward.
Troy’s face turned beet red, a mix of embarrassment and anger. He stammered, “W–Wait, how did you know we went to the Stan-“
He cut himself off, realizing he had almost given himself away.
Ruby’s face twisted in a mortified grimace. She gritted her teeth and said, “Yesterday, Mr. MacAfee and I simply passed by the Stanton Hotel. Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Rhodes must have misunderstood!”
Andrew raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “A misunderstanding? You’re probably right. No, wait—maybe I’m just blind.”
He continued with a smirk. “Because what I saw last night was Mr. MacAfee holding Ms. Dickinson around the waist as the two left the hotel, laughing, flushed, and looking thoroughly entertained. But now that you’ve cleared it up, I must have been seeing things. I’ll make an appointment to have my eyes checked—maybe there’s something wrong with them!”
The other executives squirmed uncomfortably in their seats, unsure how to respond. Andrew’s words had taken the room to a strange and unsettling place. They wanted to intervene but did not dare.
This was not just a pointed jab at Troy and Ruby—it was a full-blown exposé wrapped in sarcasm. Even if Troy and Ruby had finalized their “deal” in a hotel room, there was no formal rule against it. Some executives even envied Troy. After all, Ruby’s curvaceous figure was jaw-dropping—her hourglass shape and striking features made her a showstopper. For many, she was impossible to ignore.