Cecilia glared at Owen for a moment before reluctantly accepting the cup of coffee he offered. With a hint of sarcasm, she remarked, "No wonder you're the head honcho of the Ikella Group. Always playing chess with people's lives."
Owen took the jab as a compliment and chuckled, "Thanks for the praise, Cecilia. As long as you don't call me a fool, I'm good."
Cecilia just rolled her eyes in response.
Right then, her phone rang.
"Where's my phone?"
"Right here."
Owen turned to get her phone and handed it to her, sneaking a glance at the caller ID-it was her future mother-in-law.
The moment Cecilia saw that it was her mom calling, her headache seemed to intensify.
She steeled herself to answer the call.
"Mom."
"Cecilia, do you even care about your shop anymore? What time is it? You haven't been in all morning, and it's snowed under with customers."
Becca didn't outright ask what Cecilia was up to.
But her scolding tone made it crystal clear she was furious.
"Mom, I—I'm on my way. Is it really that busy this close to noon?"
"What, you've got a problem with being too successful?"
"No, Mom, not at all. I'm coming right now."
Becca huffed, "You'd better."
her, just itching to let loose. She didn't
Becca ended
rushing me to get back to the shop. She's probably pacing the floor there right now. I slept so long that I forgot I had a business to run." Cecilia hastily gulped down the coffee and thrust the cup back into Owen's hands
sent some help over. They'll manage no matter how busy
and followed
his cards right; with his future mother-in-law angry, it was his duty to escort Cecilia and face the music with
Cecilia didn't reply.
was still fierce, and if it weren't for her mother's call, she might have
sent some bodyguards to assist, and while the shop was
Jay, one of the bodyguards, waited outside
Mrs. Martinez,
Jay greeted them.
address. It wasn't worth the effort to
to the coffee
got into the car, with
calls to Walter and a couple
Martinez, Ms. Porter came looking for you again today,
frowned and asked, "Didn't she
in Pinehurst. After visiting the company yesterday, she'd promptly
in again this morning?" To persuade him to be her pawn, she was quite diligent, flying over in a private jet to meet
her, and I had to step in. She left a threat before she went, saying you
Walter's account, Owen snorted, "Throwing threats on my turf? Ms. Porter really is
grew up arrogant. She had clung onto Nathan, and with the status of Nathan's girlfriend, she felt even more entitled in
being arrogant can't easily change their
tabs on her. I want updates on her movements the moment she
might target Cecilia, Owen felt the need to be cautious. He was
"Got it," Walter replied.
call, Owen turned his attention to
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