Chapter 4 The Encounter

The moment Jeffrey stepped into the house, he enveloped Verena from behind, pressing a kiss onto her neck.

Verena resisted the unwelcome sensation, but the necessity of spending the night with Jeffrey, avoiding a dubious game involving Blaine, swayed her decision in favor of preserving Oasis Group.

As Jeffrey's hand ventured further, Verena's body quivered, yet a semblance of reason compelled her to speak.

"Mr. Yates, have you agreed to grant the loan?"

In response, Jeffrey withdrew his hand, refastening the buttons he had undone for her.

"Are you attempting to seduce me solely for the loan?"

Verena sensed the desire in his dark eyes diminishing rapidly.

A wave of embarrassment washed over her, and she averted her gaze, choosing silence because the truth lay in Jeffrey's question.

"Ms. Wheeler, don't flatter yourself too much!" Jeffrey teased, his gaze fixed on her disdainfully.

He acknowledged her beauty, aligning with his aesthetic preferences. The anticipation of intimacy with her lingered in his thoughts.

Yet, this desire fell far short of compelling him to alter his course and confront Blaine beforehand.

"I don't hold myself in high regard, but could you please assist me? Once we secure the loan, everything will be in order," Verena implored, her tone marked by humility.

However, Jeffrey responded with a cold smile.

"If I were to hand out money to anyone who spends a night with me, we would become a charitable institution," he asserted.

Before she could say anything more, Jeffrey continued, "Women should have self-respect. What distinguishes your actions from those of a prostitute?"

With those words, he departed, leaving Verena behind.

Verena stared at the empty house, realizing her attempt to leverage Jeffrey against Blaine had failed.

In the subsequent days, Jeffrey remained elusive, and Verena found herself navigating a whirlwind of parties, tirelessly seeking loans.

The hectic pace nearly made her forget the near-intimate encounter with Jeffrey.

One day, in pursuit of financial support, she arranged to have dinner with Isaac Gill, a connection from her father's network.

Unintentionally, the dinner turned into a drinking spree orchestrated by Isaac.

In a befuddled state, Verena sought refuge in the bathroom. To her surprise, in the corridor, she stumbled upon Jeffrey, surrounded by a cohort of elites and magnates.

Clad in a meticulously tailored black suit, Jeffrey exuded an air of cool arrogance, reveling in the adulation of older executives. His noble birth set him apart from the rest.

Jeffrey merely cast a passing glance at Verena, offering no greeting. They appeared as strangers.

Understanding his reluctance to engage with her, Verena averted her gaze and retreated into the bathroom.

Unbeknownst to her, as she disappeared from view, Jeffrey's deep eyes remained fixed on her retreating figure.

Casually inquiring about the state of the Oasis Group, Jeffrey effortlessly gleaned information from those around him.

"I heard the Oasis Group is on the brink, facing a tight funding chain, and the shareholders are pushing for a drastic sell-off."

"Frankly, it might be wise to sell Oasis now. Look at the other members of the Wheeler family. They've cut their losses. I can't fathom why Verena, the illegitimate daughter, is still hanging on."

"Isn't she Mrs. Wheeler's daughter?" Jeffrey frowned.

"No, it's rumored that the late Mr. Wheeler brought her home from outside. There was a major dispute between Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler at that time. Mrs. Wheeler reluctantly agreed to raise the girl at home," the informant explained.

"Perhaps she remembers that history. Even as the Wheeler family scattered, she's still insisting on supporting Oasis."

Jeffrey absorbed the conversations with his inscrutable dark eyes.

Meanwhile, Verena, after enduring a bout of vomiting, composed herself and prepared to return to Isaac.

She encountered Jeffrey in the corridor, where he was leisurely smoking.

In the muted glow, Jeffrey's features appeared as flawless and alluring as the craftsmanship of a master.

The smoke he exhaled enshrouded him, and his eyes, reminiscent of that night filled with obsession, became slightly blurred.

Due to Verena's previous encounter, she hesitated to place hope in a man who had departed before their intimacy. Offering him a slight nod in greeting, she intended to walk past him and enter the room.

However, at that moment, his magnetic voice cut through the air. "You know that man won't lend you any money, so continuing to drink is futile. Why are you so obstinate?"

Jeffrey's words left Verena momentarily stunned. Turning around, she saw Jeffrey still smoking, reluctant to pin her hopes on him once more.

"Oasis was founded by my father. It's like his child. It's the legacy he left in the world. I can't bear to watch it crumble. Even if there's the slightest chance, I'll do my utmost to save it," Verena explained.

With a respectful nod, she expressed her gratitude. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Yates."

Turning to enter the room, she was taken aback when Jeffrey extinguished his cigarette and pressed her against the wall.

His heated breath fell upon her face in an assertive manner. "Ms. Wheeler, what will you do if I help you?" he inquired, his eyes intense.