Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
“He has gone out on some errands. I can help you leave a message.” Warren’s tone was light, completely unreflective of his serious expression.
Danika decided to reveal what was on her mind. “It’s about Eustace. He isn’t answering his calls, and he isn’t at his office either. I just wanted to know if he’s at the Old Mansion?”
“Mr. Eustace has gone out along with Mr. Quincey. I believe he forgot to bring his phone, hence not answering his calls,” Warren replied without a moment’s hesitation.
Danika knew and trusted the butler, so his words were enough to make her relax.
‘That’s all I needed to hear. Thank you. Tell Grandpa I said hi.”
She then hung up the call and started her work at the office.
Meanwhile, Warren set down the phone and gazed at Old Mr. Quincey, who was now resting in bed. “Sir, why don’t you want Miss Danika to know what happened? She might be able to help us.”
“If news of Eustace’s disappearance spreads, chaos will strike the company. Danika is trustworthy, but…we still need to be careful.” Old Mr. Quincey had fainted earlier after hearing the news. He was just recovering right now.
Warren then switched the topic. “Our men have already gone on a search, but all we found was his car at the bottom of a cliff beside a river, with no one to be found in or around it.”
He didn’t tell the Old Mr. Quincey how high up the cliff was or that there had been blood in the car. Eustace’s survival rate was slim. Old Mr. Quincey’s health had already been declining lately; Warren didn’t want to risk anything happening to the old man if he knew the truth of their search results.
Old Mr. Quincey ordered, “Make sure not a single word of this slips out. Continue the search until they find Eustace, dead or alive.”
He didn’t need Warren to tell the truth, for he had considered that dreadful possibility.
“I’m sure Mr. Eustace is fine, Sir. He’s always been blessed,” Warren consoled him the only way he knew how.
Old Mr. Quincey dropped the subject. “Have Vincent handle Quincey Group. Given his foundation, he’ll be able to hold off any opposition targeting the company now.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.” Warren nodded.
“Make sure they find out who did this to Eustace!”
Anyone who dared hurt his grandson wasn’t going to be let off that easy!
“Already on it, sir, but it’ll be difficult to find any clues as their deed was done in such a short time,” Warren reported though he knew it was disappointing news. He knew their enemy had to be someone powerful to have carried out their task in a matter of hours.
Old Mr. Quincey narrowed his eyes. “Dig anywhere and everywhere until you find out who it is. We WILL find them.”
“Very well, sir. I’ll inform the men. Please, get some rest in the meantime.”
Warren was worried about Old Mr. Quincey’s health after all that had happened. Old Mr. Quincey waved him off. “I’m old, Warren. It won’t make a difference if I die tomorrow. All that matters is that Eustace is alive and well!”
He prayed nothing happened to his beloved grandson. Eustace was his sole heir now.
Your Visit Was a Waste
Danika was preparing to meet her clients after having familiarized herself with the documents from yesterday. She wasn’t about to let Jolene make fun of her.
She notified her client’s secretary and left for their office. She was brought to the lounge to wait. Soon, Danika’s client walked in. Beside him was Brandon Britt.
“Miss Zellweger,* Hunter Meyers, Danika’s client, greeted. He still had to maintain a degree of respect; Danika was a Zellweger, after all.
Danika nodded, ignoring Brandon entirely. “Good morning, Mr. Meyers.”
“Sit, sit.” Hunter gestured at the sofa behind her, sitting down himself.
Danika sat down, clearing her throat and ready to present her proposal. Brandon then cut in, “Miss Zellweger is gracing us with her presence today because of the South City project, am I right?”
“You have keen ears, Mr. Britt,” Danika nodded. She was here because of that project and it alone. Hunter’s company had been awarded the project and had been looking for a joint venture partner, so Danika was there to try her luck on behalf of Zellweger Inc.
Hunter wasn’t surprised. “If that’s the case, then I’m afraid your visit was a waste. Miss Zellweger, as I’ve already signed the venture with Mr. Britt here.”
Danika stiffened in surprise. The Britts didn’t usually partake in such projects, as they didn’t have the relevant skills. How strange.
She glanced at Brandon and realized he was staring steadily at her. “He did this on purpose,” she realized and thought to herself. “For Jolene, no doubt, fl
“I see. It looks like this really was a waste,” Danika said with a smile. Her lack of anger surprised Brandon. He teased, “Are you giving up just like that, Miss Zellweger? Not even going to try and persuade me to give it up?
What if I was open to negotiation?”
Danika frowned and glanced at Hunter instead. Was he really okay with his partner dropping out just like that?
As if reading her thoughts. Hunter shrugged. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me who I partner with-the Zellwegers or the Britts-as I trust both of you to be capable enough for this project. So if the Britts give up. I’ll happily work with the Zellwegers, Miss Zellweger.”
So he still planned to have Danika negotiate with Brandon.
“Could I have a moment with Mr. Britt, then?” Danika asked politely, much to Hunter’s surprise.
“She really is ready to do whatever it takes,” he thought. He got up from his seat and left the room, nudging Brandon’s shoulder and teasing, “Be a gentleman, will you?”
Brandon was grinning like a cat about to eat a canary. He had thought Danika would never stoop so low, but now that she had, his impression of her had really fallen. What a whore, he thought. No way could she compare with Jolene.
“Don’t think I’ll give up on the venture that easily. You better propose something of equal value,” Brandon said, sitting beside her. Danika was incredibly attractive for a divorcee, so he wouldn’t mind having a taste.
He didn’t care about this project whatsoever. In fact, if it weren’t for Jolene coming to seek his aid, he wouldn’t have taken it up.
“Oh? I’m not sure what Mr. Britt would view as equal value.” Danika retained her polite smile, though there was a dangerous gleam in her eye.
Joint Venture
Brandon was beaming from their proximity, Danika’s stuck-up impression slowly declining in his mind. He circled an arm around her shoulders.” What do you think?” He gently slid a finger down her arm as he spoke, grin turning lecherous.
The next second, Danika twisted his arm and pressed him down on the sofa.
“Ow, fuck!” Brandon yelped.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Britt?’ Danika snarled.
“Don’t test my patience, Danika Zellweger,” Brandon huffed, embarrassed from being easily manhandled. “I can step out of this venture as long as you sleep with me once.”
Danika laughed and let him go, sitting on the seat across from him. “I thought you liked Jolene?’
“That has nothing to do with me wanting to sleep with you.” Jolene would only be happier if he did.
“I can help you marry her, you know.” Danika didn’t waste her time dragging things on any longer.
Brandon gaped at her in shock. That was unexpected. “You can…help me marry Jolene?”
He wasn’t an idiot; he knew Jolene wasn’t serious about it. In fact, she was only using him to get what she wanted. Though Brandon wasn’t upset about it, he knew things couldn’t go on like that forever. That was why he’d agreed to help Jolene so that she could like him a little bit more, and hopefully, she’d want to marry him one day.
“Of course, I can. Don’t forget; I’m the favorite.” It wasn’t a difficult task for Danika, especially when her father was already on board to marry Jolene off. Only the suitor’s identity was uncertain right now.
Brandon still didn’t believe her. Jolene wasn’t that easily manipulated, right?
“I’ve spoken to my father about Jolene marrying into your family. I don’t mind, and neither does he.”
All that was left was Jolene’s consent. But really, when has this ever been Jolene’s decision to make?
Brandon immediately perked up. As long as Graham Zellweger wasn’t opposed to this marriage, it was pretty much a done deal.
“What do you want, then?” he asked curiously.
Danika shrugged. ‘Isn’t it obvious? I want you to step out of this venture with Hunter Meyers.”
“That’s it? You understand that your family doesn’t need this project, right?”
Brandon asked, frowning. The project was at most insignificantly helpful to the Zellwegers, so he didn’t buy that Danika could be so easily placated.
But Danika affirmed her stance. “It might not be important to my family, but it is to me.”
It was her first official business deal on the company’s behalf. She couldn’t let Jolene nor the staff belittle her ability to get things done. Heck, she’d even belittle herself if she failed.
“Done.” Brandon agreed. Now that Danika had promised his marriage to Jolene, he could safely let go of this joint venture project.
Danika was unsurprised to see his assent. Only an idiot would fail to see how amazing this deal was.
They soon had Hunter come back to sign the venture with Danika, leaving Hunter surprised as to how Brandon and Danika completed their deal in such a short time.
High and Mighty
Hunter glanced at both Brandon and Danika. ‘She’s an outstanding woman… what a pity,” he thought.
“You can always come to me for any business projects, Miss Zellweger. I’m sure I can give you just as much as Mr. Britt can,” he said.
He wouldn’t have allowed Brandon to sleep with Danika if he hadn’t already signed the agreement with him.
Danika immediately knew what he was implying. She shot him a cold stare.” I’m afraid it’s not what you think, Mr. Meyers. Nothing of the sort happened between
Mr. Britt and me.” Before she left the lounge, she even warned, “I hope no word of such rubbish spreads out to the public, Mr. Meyers. I won’t hesitate to quell any accusations about me.”
Danika didn’t mind such rumors, but she had the responsibility to silence them now that she was recognized as a daughter of the Zellwegers.
After she left, Hunter cursed, “Why the fuck is she still acting all high and mighty? She’s the one spreading her legs just to get what she wants.” Brandon shot him a look. He said kindly, “She’s not acting, man. Nothing happened between us.”
“Really?” Hunter asked. He could take Danika’s word as an attempt to retain her dignity, but now that his friend had come clean, he really had to take his word for it.
“Yeah. She’s intelligent, that one. She found another way for me to sign off the deal,” Brandon said. No wonder Danika was able to take care of Jolene that easily.
Hunter frowned but didn’t ask what it was. Brandon would likely keep it a secret from him, too. “What about the project? And messing with her?”