Chapter 5 Why Did She Feel Insulted

On the following morning, Novalee left Lyle with a friend and made her way to Patel Group headquarters.

Upon her arrival, the receptionist activated the elevator for her and directed her inside. Once out of the elevator, Novalee was greeted by a young man wearing glasses at the door. "Welcome, Miss Shaw. I'm Josue Price, Mr. Patel's special assistant. He's anticipating your arrival. Follow me, please."

"Mr. Patel?" Novalee's steps faltered.

"Exactly," Josue confirmed, smiling. "Mr. Millard Patel, the present CEO of Patel Group."

Novalee was mildly taken aback that Millard wished to meet with her. She knew of this enigmatic Patel Group leader, of course, as there were countless whispers about him, though few had actually glimpsed his face.

People said he favored working behind the scenes, overseeing the growth of the Patel Group. His visits to the company were rare, and he often used a private elevator, keeping his presence concealed.

His mystique only fueled the public's fascination with him.

Was Millard personally handling this project?

Fresh from her return to the country, was Novalee about to meet this mysterious big shot?

As she followed Josue into the CEO's office, excitement bubbled within her. In hushed tones, Josue respectfully informed the man behind the desk, "Mr. Patel, Miss Shaw has arrived."

After a brief glance at Novalee, he said, "I'll take my leave, Miss Shaw," before exiting and closing the door.

A strange sensation intensified within Novalee as she studied the man behind the desk.

He sat facing away from the door, apparently on a phone call. As he ended the call and turned around, Novalee finally saw his face.

"It's you!" she exclaimed, eyes wide.

How could it be him?

The man she kissed at Pattie's engagement party the previous day, confined to a wheelchair, was Millard Patel!

The realization prompted her to glance at Millard's legs, noticing the special wheelchair once again.

Was there something wrong with his legs?

Was this the reason he evaded public appearances?

Millard was also looking at Novalee. She seemed fierce in a white suit, lacking the allure from the previous day.

He saw nothing extraordinary.

Millard's eyes roved over Novalee before settling on her face. "You're Novalee Shaw from Luminary Pictures?"

His voice was deep and resonant.

Returning to reality, Novalee nodded, stating, "Yes, Mr. Patel. I'm Novalee Shaw from Luminary Pictures' Orlea branch. I'm here to discuss future collaboration with your distinguished company."

In an unemotional tone, Millard inquired, "Miss Shaw, are you the Shaw Group founder's granddaughter? The primary income for Shaw Group is film and TV too, isn't it? Collaborating with Luminary Pictures would diminish our dealings with Shaw Group. You vanished after childbirth six years ago. During that time, your ex-husband, Rowley Mitchell, and half-sister, Pattie Webb, controlled Shaw Group. Is that why you're here?"

Novalee hadn't anticipated meeting Millard today. She never imagined he was the same man she had kissed yesterday, nor had she foreseen that he'd already investigated her and found out her intentions.

Millard's penetrating gaze made her feel she couldn't deceive him.

Collecting herself, she replied, "Mr. Patel, I have no ties to Shaw Group now. I'm only responsible for Luminary Pictures' Orlea branch. I came only to discuss our cooperation."

Yet, Millard carried on, disregarding her words, "Miss Shaw, even if you're here to counter Shaw Group, it's of no concern to me."

He arched an eyebrow. "I can grant you this partnership, even making Luminary Pictures our primary collaborator in film and TV."

Novalee's eyes twitched at his assurance, but he continued, "I have just one condition."

Novalee felt as if this man had complete control over everything, and it made her squirm with discomfort. Her gut urged her to steer clear of this dangerous figure.

But then, memories of six years prior flooded her mind. She clenched her fists and then slowly loosened them. "What's it, Mr. Patel?"

Millard's eyes lingered on her, and he beckoned with a crooked finger, saying, "Come here. I'll tell you."

She frowned, eyes shifting to Millard's wheelchair, before deciding to walk toward him.

As Novalee came within a meter of Millard, his wheelchair shot forward, his hand reaching out to pull her close.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, suddenly finding herself in his arms, his warm breath sending her thoughts scattering. She looked up, her mind blank for a moment.

On the verge of questioning Millard's intentions, she watched him draw his face near.

With urgency, she thrust against his chest, pushing him away. "Mr. Patel, what is this about?"

They were close enough for her to catch his cologne's scent.

"You owe me for yesterday, Miss Shaw. Aren't you going to make amends?"

Her face paled a shade. "Mr. Patel, I've already apologized for yesterday. Given the circumstances, I had no choice but to kiss you. If you need compensation..."

"Apologize? Compensation?"

Millard stared at her like she was a trapped animal. "Do you think I need your money?"

Her lips tightened. As Patel Group's CEO, Millard didn't lack money at all.

"Then, Mr. Patel, what do you desire?"

He released her, and she stood, her eyes wary.

Millard didn't directly respond to her inquiry. Instead, he remarked casually, "Novalee Shaw, your birth name was Novalee Webb. You were once married to Rowley Mitchell and are Pattie Webb's half-sister. Your biological mother was the daughter of the Shaw Group's founder. And, your father, Hiram Webb, hailed from more modest origins. He was involved with another woman, yet he concealed it and married your mother solely for the financial gain from the Shaw Group."

Novalee took two steps back, interrupting him, "Why have you dug into my past? Because of what happened yesterday?"

Millard's eyes lifted. "Yesterday's engagement party turned into a city-wide joke, Miss Shaw. It was your doing, wasn't it? If I were to inform Rowley and Pattie that you orchestrated the events of yesterday and are currently working for Luminary Pictures, can you imagine the outcome? I'm uncertain about the dynamics between you and Rowley, as well as the reasons for your return after six years of absence. Nonetheless, Shaw Group is thriving under Rowley's leadership. If Rowley discovers your connection to Luminary Pictures, you might encounter difficulties in staying in Valmead, don't you think?"

Novalee's fingers quivered slightly.

Millard was right. Though she had returned to the city, she had hidden her association with Luminary Pictures from Pattie and Rowley.

Locating her in the whole of Valmead wasn't an easy task for Rowley and Pattie.

But if Millard were to expose this secret...

With gritted teeth, she responded, "Your words make no sense to me, Mr. Patel."

He glanced at her, smiling thinly, then wheeled himself back to his desk. "Pretending ignorance now? I've told you, I can cooperate with you on this project, but it comes with a condition."

He handed her a contract titled Mutually Beneficial Relationship Contract.

A blush crept on Novalee's face. "Mr. Patel, I'm not that kind of person!"

Her anger surged, though she struggled to keep calm. "Mr. Patel, I see that you're not genuinely interested in cooperating with Luminary Pictures. If you only wish to insult me because of yesterday's events, I'm leaving."

With that, she exited the CEO's office.

Left alone, Millard frowned, confusion in his eyes. He dialed a number. "She declined. She said I was insulting her. But I wasn't. My offer was genuine. Why did she feel insulted?"