He Chose Her, The Desert Chose Me - Chapter 12: Chapter 12
You are reading He Chose Her, The Desert Chose Me, Chapter 12: Chapter 12. Read more chapters of He Chose Her, The Desert Chose Me.
Arthur's face went rigid as he froze in place, visibly digesting everything. Without uttering another word, he seized Bella's arm and stormed out of the hall.
When they returned later, his expression had turned to ice, every muscle in his face tense with barely contained emotion. The conclusion was obvious - he'd seen the security footage.
Though our confrontation ended without a clear winner, I'd accomplished what mattered: I'd gotten under their skin. From that moment on, they wouldn't be able to pretend I didn't exist.
Soon after that night, Meyer Group and Findley Group officially inked their deal to co-develop the lucrative northern suburbs. The agreement stipulated equal investment and a 50-50 profit split - a partnership that promised massive returns.
Arthur clearly relished the arrangement. Our seamless collaboration only reinforced his trust in Meyer Group's reputation and financial muscle. Riding this wave of goodwill, we landed several other high-value projects with equally impressive profit potential.
As work progressed, my interactions with Arthur multiplied. During one site inspection, Daniel excused himself to meet other clients, leaving us alone. Seizing the opportunity, Arthur invited me to dinner. I accepted, fully aware of the dangerous game we were playing.
The upscale restaurant glowed with warm, golden lighting that created an intimate atmosphere. As the evening progressed, Arthur's behavior shifted - his glances grew longer, his words looser, his cheeks flushed with alcohol.
Then, without warning, he lunged across the table, pulling me into a forceful kiss.
The slap rang out like a gunshot.
"Control yourself, Mr. Arthur!" I hissed, voice dripping with frost. "We're business partners - nothing more! Or have you forgotten we're both engaged?"
But Arthur wasn't backing down. Breathing heavily, his eyes burned with raw desperation. "You're not Sheren," he choked out. "You're Lilly, aren't you?"
My heart seized, but my face remained an unreadable mask. "You're drunk," I stated coldly, rising from my seat. "I don't know any Lilly. Get yourself together before you embarrass us both."
He stood abruptly, voice rising. "Stop lying! I knew it was you the moment I saw you! Those eyes - they're the same! Why are you pretending? What happened to you?"
I responded with icy silence, stepping back with deliberate disdain. "Go sleep it off, Mr. Arthur. Don't make a spectacle of yourself."
I strode out without looking back, finding his assistant waiting outside. "Your boss is wasted," I said curtly. "See that he gets home in one piece."
The next morning, Arthur called with groveling apologies, blaming alcohol and mistaken identity. I accepted with cool detachment, warning him never to repeat such behavior.
As I hung up, Daniel entered, his gaze sharp. "The bait's been taken," he said with quiet finality. "Time to set the hook."
I nodded, my eyes glinting with cold determination.
The next day, Findley Group imploded. Explosive reports accused their hotels of illegal operations and revealed construction projects using shoddy materials while cheating migrant workers out of wages.
The scandal spread like wildfire. Overnight, their stock cratered. Panicked partners demanded immediate payments, sending their finances into freefall.
Desperate, Arthur scrambled for lifelines. That's when Meyer Group extended a "generous" £5 billion loan - a seemingly noble gesture masking an expertly laid trap.
Just as Findley Group began stabilizing, their VP of Finance dropped a bombshell - evidence of decade-long tax evasion. Authorities froze their accounts and ordered operations suspended.
Arthur was drowning in the perfect storm.
Yet through it all, his frequent interactions with me hadn't gone unnoticed. Bella's jealousy reached its boiling point.
The pieces were in position. The stage was set.
The collapse was inevitable.
When they returned later, his expression had turned to ice, every muscle in his face tense with barely contained emotion. The conclusion was obvious - he'd seen the security footage.
Though our confrontation ended without a clear winner, I'd accomplished what mattered: I'd gotten under their skin. From that moment on, they wouldn't be able to pretend I didn't exist.
Soon after that night, Meyer Group and Findley Group officially inked their deal to co-develop the lucrative northern suburbs. The agreement stipulated equal investment and a 50-50 profit split - a partnership that promised massive returns.
Arthur clearly relished the arrangement. Our seamless collaboration only reinforced his trust in Meyer Group's reputation and financial muscle. Riding this wave of goodwill, we landed several other high-value projects with equally impressive profit potential.
As work progressed, my interactions with Arthur multiplied. During one site inspection, Daniel excused himself to meet other clients, leaving us alone. Seizing the opportunity, Arthur invited me to dinner. I accepted, fully aware of the dangerous game we were playing.
The upscale restaurant glowed with warm, golden lighting that created an intimate atmosphere. As the evening progressed, Arthur's behavior shifted - his glances grew longer, his words looser, his cheeks flushed with alcohol.
Then, without warning, he lunged across the table, pulling me into a forceful kiss.
The slap rang out like a gunshot.
"Control yourself, Mr. Arthur!" I hissed, voice dripping with frost. "We're business partners - nothing more! Or have you forgotten we're both engaged?"
But Arthur wasn't backing down. Breathing heavily, his eyes burned with raw desperation. "You're not Sheren," he choked out. "You're Lilly, aren't you?"
My heart seized, but my face remained an unreadable mask. "You're drunk," I stated coldly, rising from my seat. "I don't know any Lilly. Get yourself together before you embarrass us both."
He stood abruptly, voice rising. "Stop lying! I knew it was you the moment I saw you! Those eyes - they're the same! Why are you pretending? What happened to you?"
I responded with icy silence, stepping back with deliberate disdain. "Go sleep it off, Mr. Arthur. Don't make a spectacle of yourself."
I strode out without looking back, finding his assistant waiting outside. "Your boss is wasted," I said curtly. "See that he gets home in one piece."
The next morning, Arthur called with groveling apologies, blaming alcohol and mistaken identity. I accepted with cool detachment, warning him never to repeat such behavior.
As I hung up, Daniel entered, his gaze sharp. "The bait's been taken," he said with quiet finality. "Time to set the hook."
I nodded, my eyes glinting with cold determination.
The next day, Findley Group imploded. Explosive reports accused their hotels of illegal operations and revealed construction projects using shoddy materials while cheating migrant workers out of wages.
The scandal spread like wildfire. Overnight, their stock cratered. Panicked partners demanded immediate payments, sending their finances into freefall.
Desperate, Arthur scrambled for lifelines. That's when Meyer Group extended a "generous" £5 billion loan - a seemingly noble gesture masking an expertly laid trap.
Just as Findley Group began stabilizing, their VP of Finance dropped a bombshell - evidence of decade-long tax evasion. Authorities froze their accounts and ordered operations suspended.
Arthur was drowning in the perfect storm.
Yet through it all, his frequent interactions with me hadn't gone unnoticed. Bella's jealousy reached its boiling point.
The pieces were in position. The stage was set.
The collapse was inevitable.
End of He Chose Her, The Desert Chose Me Chapter 12. Continue reading Chapter 13 or return to He Chose Her, The Desert Chose Me book page.