Chapter 14 Flirt

• The subway was noisy and crowded, but his clear voice rose over the crowd firmly. As Noelle listened to his statement, her eyes reddened before she burst into laughter.
• “I thought that you were a quiet person when I first got to know you. Looks like you’re a flirt, huh?” Noelle slapped his shoulder forcefully, in that way that a male buddy would.
• He’s not only a flirt. I literally got goosebumps from his words. His words were far better than any sweet talk.
• After the wedding, everyone looked at her through the veils of their own preconception. He was the only man who told her that she was a valuable jewel, recognized by wise people only.
• “Do you have a girlfriend?” Noelle was curious.
• Dominic shook his head.
• “You’re single?” She grinned happily, the corners of her eyes wrinkling up adorably. “We women are in luck, then. I have a few friends who are single too. I’ll introduce them to you next time.”
• Dominic’s lips twitched uncontrollably again. Oh... that’s what she meant. I thought...
• “There’s no need for that.”
• “Why? Do you already have a crush?”
• Dominic shot the enthusiastic young woman a smile. “Yes,” he responded with a nod.
• “Oh, I see.” Strangely, Noelle felt slightly disappointed at his answer.
• I am envious of his crush. What a lucky girl!
• When they stepped out of the subway station, it was dark and windy. As it was slightly cool, Noelle hugged herself and shivered slightly.
• Suddenly, something heavy landed on her shoulders, accompanied by a familiar male scent. Looking up, she realized that Dominic had draped his coat around her.
• “I’m not—”
• “It’s okay. I’m a man. The cold doesn’t bother me at all.”
• “Nevertheless, I’ve already reached my company.”
• “You might be cold in there too.”
• Fine, he sounds very convincing. Beaming, Noelle held the coat up as she pointed at her company behind her. “We’ve arrived. Thanks for walking me here.”
• “Mm.”
• “What about you? Where do you live? Do you live nearby?”
• “Regent Park,” uttered Dominic, picking a low-profile project that his company had worked on.
• “Oh? The one developed by Pierce Group?” Noelle exclaimed in wonder. She observed him curiously. After all, Regent Park was a high-end residential area that was developed by Pierce Group. Only the rich and influential could afford to stay there.
• Is he really just a reporter?
• “You know where it is?”
• “You mean Pierce Group? The evil and unscrupulous business? They were persistent in buying my house. I was thoroughly annoyed!”
• Stunned, Dominic coughed twice. Oh, so I’m an unscrupulous businessman to her. ”Didn’t you say that Pierce Group’s President was pursuing you?”
• “Oh? Yes, yes,” Noelle replied awkwardly. She chided herself for being so talkative twice before she flashed the man a grin. “He resorted to unscrupulous means to reach his goals, so I rejected him. Besides, I believe that their housing project’s quality is low, seeing how evil they are. You should move out if the opportunity arises.”
• Well, she’s really petty, huh? Dominic couldn’t help but imagine how she would react after she discovered his real identity.
• As soon as Noelle’s figure disappeared into Shining Entertainment, Dominic finally looked away.
• A black Maybach came to a stop in front of Dominic. Clinton alighted from the vehicle to open the door for his boss with a wide grin on his face.
• Ha! I saw everything. Mr. Pierce ignored the guests at the auction and refused to show up because he took the subway with Noelle!
• I can’t believe that Mr. Pierce had taken the subway. He has so many luxurious cars collecting dust in his garage! Clinton witnessed how Dominic had exited the subway station with Noelle as he handed her his coat. He did it sleekly, like the gentleman he is.
• Who says Mr. Pierce is bad at flirting? Still water runs deep, huh? He gave her his coat so he’ll get to see her again. Evidently, he’s an expert!
• “Why are you grinning?” Something told Dominic that Clinton’s grin was too unreserved.
• “Oh, nothing,” Clinton paused. He thought that his reply was too perfunctory as he soon added, “Mr. Pierce, I saw the ninth Wonder of the World today!”
• “What is it?”
• “A blue moon!”
• Dominic was speechless.
• “Mr. Pierce, if your family discovers that you have a girlfriend—”
• “Stop talking!”
• “Yes, yes,” came Clinton’s reply. He was happy for his boss.
• In the Pierce family, Dominic and Declan’s marriage had been their parents’ concern all along.
• In the car accident that had happened five years ago, Dominic suffered from memory loss while Declan ended up with an intellectual disability. Pierce Group had plunged into a crisis. Dominic’s partner from back then had left him too.
• Dominic left the country and waited for a duration of five years for the right moment. Upon his return, Pierce Group regained its former glory in just a few months. Only the Pierce family and Clinton knew how hard he had worked.
• It has been five years. It’s high time for Mr. Pierce to get a new girlfriend.
• “Clinton.” Clinton was driving when Dominic suddenly called his name.
• “Yes, Mr. Pierce.”
• “What do you think about a swimwear commercial shot in the South Pole?”
• “The South Pole? That sounds creative.” Shooting a swimwear commercial at negative thirty degrees Celsius? Wouldn’t the model freeze?
• “You think so, too? Contact Garcia Swimwear’s person in charge and inform them about my suggestion. They should film the commercial for their new collection at the South Pole, using their current model!”
• “Sure,” answered Clinton. Huh? Did someone offend Mr. Pierce? Sending the model to shoot a commercial at the South Pole? That sounds horrible.
• “Clinton!”
• “Yes.”
• “Noelle was the one who saved Declan. She was the girl whom I’d saved a year ago. You knew about this, but why didn’t you inform me of it?”
• Clinton fell silent.
• Is Mr. Pierce blaming me for this? Hey, this is unfair!
• “Mr. Pierce, I’ve tried to tell you—”
• “I’ll deduct your bonuses if you withhold information from me from now on!”
• “Yes!”
• Ah, this is so frustrating! I’m innocent!
• “Sophia, I want to retaliate!” Noelle plopped into the chair and told Sophia Smith angrily.
• Sophia had only just returned from an event with an artist to whom she was assigned. She was reading the feedback from the client when Noelle made the announcement. Switching off her laptop, she told an annoyed Noelle sternly, “Retaliate? You’re upset because Jojo took that commercial from you? Noelle Hooper, you knew what caused this. After signing to Shining Entertainment, Estelle is cutting off your resources. The only way to get out of this is to terminate your contract. Even so, can you afford the penalty of ten million?”
• Noelle fell silent at her words. Indeed, the best way would be to terminate her contract. However, she could barely survive now as it was, let alone pay the penalty.
• She used to have some savings, but after the scandal, the money had been used up to compensate the advertisers for breaching her contracts.
• “I think that you should talk to Estelle. She’s your sister, after all. If you beg for her help, she might help you.” Sophia sighed and suggested.