Four Men Crave My Love

Chapter 4 The Game Officially Begins

By the time I returned to my villa, dawn was just breaking.

I was sitting on the sofa, changing the bandages on my injured leg when the sound of slippers dragging across the floor caught my attention.

"Jolene? Did you go see a guy?" My assistant, Alice, jogged up to me, pushing her black-framed glasses up her nose using her middle finger. Her round face was full of surprise. "If Howard found out you're covered in hickeys from other men, he'd be furious!"

"What I have with him isn't what you think." I covered the wound on my leg with my nightgown, keeping my tone calm.

'Eugene Howard is the man who saved me. Alice was sent by him to take care of and help me, believing I was Eugene's lover. In reality, Eugene and I are just co-conspirators with a shared secret, both seeking revenge and pulling strings from the shadows.'

"You don't need to explain. Other than Sarah, I've never seen him care so much about any woman." Alice sat down beside me, scrutinizing my pale complexion. "You look awful. You didn't end up at the men's club to blow off steam because you couldn't settle things with Hall, did you?"

"There was a little accident. We might not be able to sign the supplementary contract." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"I know you were stressed out before you came back, to the point of losing sleep, but you can't go looking for a guy just because the contract didn't go through. Howard would be pissed, right?" Alice murmured quietly.

"I'm going to get some sleep. We can talk about the contract after I wake up." I stood up and headed toward my bedroom.

"Fine, I still don't get why Howard insists we partner with Quekory Group. The Sally & Silk perfume brand has zero growth potential. He's really putting us in a tough spot." Alice sighed, shrugging helplessly.

The bedroom in the villa was organized before I returned to the country, and today was my first time resting in it.

On the desk by the door was a picture frame with a photo of me and my parents, all smiling happily.

It was the only family photo we had.

Underneath the frame was a note in Eugene's handwriting: The game officially begins.

*****

Two days later, at Quekory Group, I entered the building's elevator in a black suit, accompanied by my assistant and four perfumers, and headed straight to the sixteenth floor.

Upon entering the conference room, I immediately spotted Hall sitting at the far end of the long table.

He squinted at me without standing up. "Jolene Howard."

"Hello, Hall Miller." I took a few steps forward, smiling as I extended my hand.

He glanced down at my leg but didn't shake my hand. "Take a seat."

Alice whispered in my ear, "What a rude jerk. No wonder you're stressed."

I smiled but didn't say anything, and then sat down next to Hall.

Once everyone was seated, Hall tossed a file in front of me and said dismissively, "The other day I woke up with blood on the bed. Don't try to tell me you're still a virgin and want me to sign that supplementary contract like this."

Though he spoke quietly, Alice overheard and looked at me in shock.

"You might want to work on your bedroom skills," I responded calmly.

He let out a mocking laugh. "Are you saying it was my fault? Who was moaning so sweetly last night?"

"Let me remind you, I gave you that courtesy, not for you to turn it against me," I said with a smile, taking the contract. "Whether you sign it or not doesn't matter. We're prepared to offer value that matches your price. That's all there is to it."

I handed the contract to Alice. "Tear it up."

Perhaps not expecting me to be so straightforward, Hall paused, his expression worsening.

The projector displayed the PowerPoint presentation for the project, and my team of perfumers shared their creative processes.

They spoke passionately, and Hall seemed genuinely pleased, joining the others in applause. "Brightline Group has won several awards in the past two years, thanks to your innovative perfumers, right?"

"It's all thanks to Jolene leading the team." Walt walked over from the front row, sitting next to me and twirling his pen with a smile.

"Is that so? Then I'm sure Jolene herself must have some impressive skills." Hall looked at me provocatively. "Why don't you smell our latest product from last season and create a batch on the spot, just to show us what you've got?"

Before I could respond, Alice spoke up, unable to hold back. "Please show some respect. You're questioning a lead perfumer who won an award at the Flygiola International Competition last year!"

"Well, that's what you say." Hall leaned back in his chair nonchalantly, a look of disdain on his face.

Like many others, he doubted my abilities, thinking I wasn't fit to lead such a strong team.

'A young woman like me from an ordinary background holding this much authority naturally attracts bias and scrutiny.'

"Mr. Miller, do you regret this and want to pay us a hefty penalty fee?" I asked calmly.

"I don't have time for games. I'm not here for you. I'm here for your team."

Seeing I was about to say more, Walt quickly interrupted, "Thank you for your confidence in us, Mr. Miller. We'll do everything we can to beat Telion Group in the next competition!"

Hall beamed. "If you actually manage that, I'll make sure you get a bonus."

'Dealing with Hall like this left me with no desire to argue. He founded the perfume brand Sally & Silk to pursue Sarah, aiming to defeat Telion Group's decades-old brand within just a few years. Sarah is a perfumer, and Telion Group has a powerful team, so after graduating, Sarah stayed with them to learn. Rumor has it Sarah is set to become their future CEO's wife. Hall just wants to get her attention to prove he's better than the other men around Sarah.'

After the meeting, I took Alice down the elevator.

Alice said, displeased, "That guy is so immature. He really thinks we don't know he's been pouring the family business' profits into covering the losses of Sally & Silk just to win over a woman?"

"Whatever he does is his business. As long as we get the right compensation, we just need to do our jobs," I replied, stepping out of the elevator and taking out my phone to send work assignments to the studio.

A strong gaze in front made me look up. Sarah stood in the lobby on the first floor.

She wore a long green dress, had gauze on her forehead, and looked a bit haggard, catching the attention of everyone passing by.

Just like that night, she strode toward me.

This time, I didn't avoid her. Instead, I met her gaze directly.

"Jolene, you're lucky," she whispered, her voice like a demon's murmur. "You didn't die. Why don't you hide like a rat in the gutter? What exactly are you trying to do?"