The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Eric retrieved the project proposal from his office and returned with the paperwork, which he duly handed to Otis. "I've gone over the proposal."

Otis asked in surprise, "Shouldn't I be discussing this with Zane?"

Eric cocked a brow. "Why would Mr. Huxham personally discuss the details of a small-scale project like this with you?"

Otis countered, "Why wouldn't he?"

Taking his seat, Eric pointed out sardonically, "Can you imagine how busy Mr. Huxham will be if he must attend trivial project meetings such as this one every day? He wouldn't have enough time to sort out his work even if he had 48 hours in a day!

"He's a busy man, and if you aren't interested in continuing this discussion, we're happy to hand the project over to someone else. We're not exactly dependent on you."

Otis scowled. "I see..."

"Great," Eric replied curtly. "Let's begin, shall we?"

look at Yelena, who understood his silent instruction and took the seat beside Eric. "Could you give us an idea of what Mr. Huxham has been working on

Huxham's work is out of my job scope," Eric answered

not afford to tick off someone like Eric, even if he was only a secretary. She took a deep breath and pressed, "Can I

idea why Yelena even bothered with

a child with another man. What's there to like about her? With Mr. Huxham's

shot her a withering look. "So why doesn't he marry someone young

she was a decent woman. She was a good comic artist whose work appealed to a wide audience. More importantly, she was

must have ensnared him through unsavory

have been in a romantic relationship long ago. He said acerbically, "As

however you want. It's not as

subject. "Mr. Jamison, shall we proceed with the negotiations? If not, I'm afraid I have to ask you to

understood that Eric was

thing for his plan to have Yelena seduce Zane to fail, but losing out on a business opportunity in the process would be a shame. As such, he snapped at Yelena, "Shut up. We can talk about this after the