Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Chapter 809 - 418: Ambiguity Beneath the Dining Table

The noon light shone on him, sculpting his sharp features; this face had appeared in her dreams many times, and now it was right in front of her, more mature and charming than ever.

Donna had a faint smile at the corner of her mouth. That day she was too impatient; a man like this should be dealt with slowly. She intended to weave a big net that he couldn’t escape from. Her greatest pride wasn’t her degree from a world-class university but her ability to captivate men—a skill that had never failed, from the young Hughes to now when he finally yielded to her allure.

She was his first kiss, even though he was already experienced in certain matters. Yet, she was his first kiss, which was enough proof that she held a special place in his heart.

Today was also Avery Jane’s first day back at work. By noon, the girls had already become familiar with one another. Before leaving, Joshua Hughes had reminded her with a smile, saying she had knocked her head and couldn’t remember some things temporarily, so it didn’t matter what others said—she would recall them eventually.

So she listened to the girls in the department enthusiastically discussing everything; there were three or four newcomers, and for a moment, the office was lively.

"Avery Jane, what brand of skincare do you use? Your skin is so good." The girls in the office were young, and definitely with decent skin, but Avery Jane’s skin was the best among them.

"I don’t know, they were all bought for me by..." Avery Jane nearly blurted out that her husband prepared them, but those words were stuck in her throat.

In front of the bathroom mirror, there was a row of bottles she used to use, but they were all labeled in English. She seriously examined them and, in the end, only used the lotion.

The brand wasn’t even something she had heard of—it didn’t appear to be any famous brand.

"I just randomly bought them, I seldom use those things." Avery Jane said a bit unnaturally, and then thought for a moment: "Let’s have lunch together today. It’s on me. At the hotel next door, okay?"

When leaving in the morning, Joshua Hughes had mentioned he was very busy today and told her to have lunch at the hotel next to Hughes Clan, saying their buffet lunch was nice, clean, and nutritious.

Handing her the wallet, besides her ID, cash, and various cards, there was also a hotel card inside. He said it had enough money topped up for her to eat properly.

"You’re treating us at the hotel next door?" Hughes Clan was located in the most bustling and best commercial area; next to it was a super five-star hotel, where a buffet lunch for one person costs hundreds, so going there for a few would eat up half a month’s salary. It seemed this girl wasn’t out to make money but to spend it.

A few young girls nodded enthusiastically; the desserts there were rumored to be super nice. They quickly tidied up the items on their tables and adjusted their clothes. In such a high-class place, one might stumble upon a romantic encounter or something—plus, Hughes Clan really emphasized appearance during recruitment, so the girls left together, catching the eyes of the guys from the engineering department.

Especially Avery Jane, with her elegant beige blouse, black parasol skirt, and sheer stockings, drawing calls of ’Goddess has descended’ from the lads.

Just as she reached the company’s lobby, the president’s exclusive elevator came down, and Avery Jane watched as the elevator doors opened and a group of people stepped out.

His tall and striking figure stood in the center, like the moon surrounded by stars.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at his eyes, deep as the sea, feeling that they were like an irresistible whirlpool, once drawn in, she’d sink deeper until carried to the ocean floor.

He did not stop to speak to her and left through the company’s entrance, surrounded by a crowd. Avery Jane felt a bit uncomfortable; clearly, he was affectionate and clingy, yet now he acted as if he didn’t know her. But she couldn’t blame him; it was at her request to keep their identities secret, though she herself didn’t know why she had that idea at the time.

A sudden urge to urgently discover her past welled up within Avery Jane.

"Let’s go now, staring blankly, aren’t you? That’s President Hughes; today is also my first time seeing him. He’s downright handsome." One of the girls nudged the dazed Avery Jane with her shoulder.

"Avery Jane, with your qualifications, if you become the president’s assistant, you’d certainly have a chance. The previous female assistant reportedly also had an ambiguous relationship with the president. The current one, who was just accompanying President Hughes, is said not to be as pretty as you."

The girls started chatting about their favorite post-lunch gossip even before lunch had begun. Avery Jane felt her appetite would definitely be poor today; would such a cliché of bosses and secretaries play out with Joshua Hughes?

This Avery Jane, in such weather, insisted on wearing a skirt, yet was afraid of the cold. The building had heating, and she wasn’t worried, but those stockings were too thin. Her long legs stood there gracefully, making people’s blood boil.

Since Avery Jane was stimulated, her personality seemed to have shifted completely—becoming cute and forthright, not like her previous lifeless, stubborn demeanor that drove others to want to jump up in frustration.

Perhaps this was her original self; only after Wenyard Cooper’s death did she close herself off. Joshua Hughes realized he desired the past’s real Avery Jane even more, so charming and delightful that he seemed utterly attached to her.

Unexpectedly, it was such coincidence when Avery Jane and the other girls arrived, there was a small dining section laid out next to them, where Joshua Hughes and the people here for negotiation sat, about twenty in total. Avery Jane found a seat farthest from them and sat down with her head down.

The young girls began choosing various foods with their trays; the dishes were indeed plentiful and exquisitely prepared, soon collecting plate after plate to carry back. A long food counter and huge artistic floral arrangements separated them in the middle, so they couldn’t see each other.

The downcast mood was quickly drawn to the food, and Avery Jane joined them in eating.

Donna sat across from Joshua Hughes, under the long table, discreetly stretching her legs clad only in black stockings toward him, lightly brushing against the man’s muscular thigh—a thigh so long, sturdy, strong enough to give a woman an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

A bit higher up lay the sensitive section, the bulge under the suit was exactly what she adored—once had driven her to ecstasy.

Was he truly Sir Galahad? Undistracted stance? Donna grinned smugly...

The atmosphere was tense, even during meals, and the personnel underneath were exchanging accounting opinions, alongside discussing the distribution of interest rates for the large special fund issued via Hughes Clan’s investment in the current project.

Hughes Clan stood firm without compromise, insisting that using their investment banking channel required a twenty percent profit sharing. However, Adam Matt’s team wasn’t willing to concede any portion of their profits to Hughes Clan, thus discussions continued alongside dining. No one noticed the flirtation happening beneath the table.

Despite the abundance of food, one filled up shortly. In the restroom, warm water cleansed her hands.

"Let me tell you, earlier that foreigner with chopsticks at the Hughes Clan’s dining table spilled a bowl; when I was cleaning, guess what I saw?" Two people looking like staff entered, sharing quietly amongst themselves.

"I saw that foreign woman stretching her leg onto that man’s thigh; the whole leg was on the man’s leg—so thrilling. The Hughes Clan’s woman doesn’t intend to seduce him here, but in the restaurant of all places, this is way too bold, too open." They seemed to be negotiating something. Do you think there’s a chance of deploying the beauty trap or sexual bribe?"

The younger staffer spoke excitedly, the other, evidently with more work experience, noted the presence of someone in the restroom, coldly stopping her: "Don’t talk nonsense, it’s work time."

"Avery Jane, what’s wrong? Ever since lunch, you seem out of sorts?" A colleague asked with some concern. What happened to the girl? Why did she appear unhappy? Was the lunch too expensive?

All afternoon, Avery Jane felt somewhat stifled: how did they meet, how did they get married? She vaguely remembered wearing a long wedding gown; but why didn’t they have wedding photos?

Gradually, many questions drifted like bubbles, spreading out. She suddenly felt like an alien creature without a past, like even a little grass had roots, yet where were hers?

Everything she knew came from that man’s descriptions; but did he ever deceive her?

If he seriously wanted to deceive her, how would she discover it?

She vaguely remembered a lot of people at her wedding, with many white roses—just why was the groom always shown from behind and was so blurry?

Why couldn’t she see clearly? If it wasn’t Joshua Hughes? This feeling arose from deep inside, making her feel like poison was crawling up her spine, chilling her to the bone.

Her understanding of the world was all from Joshua Hughes—he said he loved her, said she was his wife. But what happened in the restaurant just now, what was it exactly?

If he didn’t want it, couldn’t he refuse?

Or did he simply want to enjoy the benefits of having multiple partners? Avery Jane grew fragile and suspicious in losing her memories, finding the world filled with unstable factors—doubting others while also continuously doubting herself.

The buzzing in her mind led to a sudden dull ache, causing her complexion to turn somewhat pale...