Chapter 12

Emily had run into James before when she was overseas for an exhibition.

Back then, she was super confused because James was supposed to be waiting for her at Crystal Valley Manor.

Without thinking, she blurted out. "Babe, are you getting a new sugar mommy?"

Emily couldn't remember what James said at that moment, but that night,she spent a ton of money to get James back.

Looking back now, she regretted underestimating James.

She showed up at the Golden Birch Group's branch office with her finished sketches. The branch office wasn't as fancy as the headquarters, but it was definitely a landmark in Emerald City.

Getting to work here was already a big deal.

When Emily walked in, no security guard stopped her. She went straight to the front desk and said to the receptionist, "Hey, I'm a designer from the Williams Group here to discuss a collaboration with Mr.Smith.Can you tell me which floor his office is on?"

The receptionist gave Emily a quick once-over, a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes at Emily's bold and striking appearance.

She sneered, "Your husband can't secure the cooperation, so you're planning to use seduction for that? Gross!" Emily kept her cool and said, "You can ask Mr. Smith, and he'll let me up to seduce him with my beauty," Hearing this, the receptionist slammed the table impatiently. "What's your relationship with Mr. Smith? Even if you call, he won't let you up. You better leave now, or I'll call security."

Emily asked her to wait and made a phone call.

In less than a minute, the receptionist got a call and heard a cold voice saying, "Let her come up."

The receptionist's face turned sour, looking at Emily with disdain. "Go up,52nd floor."

The receptionist thought, 'Who is this woman to make Mr. Smith personally call and let her up? After all, Mr. Smith never meets women alone. Just because Emily is good-looking?'

On the 52nd floor, Emily stepped out of the elevator. As she walked down a corridor, someone approached her.

The man whispered, "Ms. Johnson, Mr. Smith is in a meeting.Please wait for half an hour."

Emily stopped in her tracks. "Then I'll go to the reception room."

James wasn't there, so it wouldn't be cool to go to his office.

But the assistant just smiled. "Given your relationship with Mr. Smith, you don't need to worry about such formalities"

Emily felt a bit embarrassed but quickly nodded. No need to hide. After all,she wasn't the one being kept as a lover. Emily went-straight into James's office. The huge French windows offered a view of Emerald River, almost overlooking half of Emerald City. The sunlight poured in, warming everyone in the room.

As Emily toured James's office, she noticed his large desk piled high with files that she couldn't finish in two months, living up to the reputation of Golden Birch Group with its heavy workload.

It was tough for James to find time to play the game with her.

Emily suddenly felt she had too little compensation for James.

She casually picked up a dictionary from James's desk, flipped through a few pages, and a photo tucked in the book suddenly fell out.

She bent down to pick it up and took a look. It was just half a photo,yellowed with age. The person in it wasn't clear, but she could vaguely make out two small braids.

Emily was about to take a closer look when James caught her off guard.

She waved the photo, teasing James, "I didn't expect you to have a cross-dressing phase when you were young. How come you never wore anything like this when I had you around?"

Emily had a phase where she always tried to get James to cross-dress. Of course,it never worked.

James's gaze was cold. "Cross-dressing isn't my thing."

Emily chuckled. James walked over, took the photo, placed it back in the dictionary, and gave Emily a faint glance. He asked, "Why are you here? Have you figured it out?" Emily handed him the design sketches and said, "Mr. Smith has so many requirements for the design sketches. I decided to come and design them myself. You won't refuse,right?"

James narrowed his eyes slightly, looking cold and arrogant, and sneered."Are you here for John? Did you feel sorry for him after I kicked him out a few times?"

Emily frowned. "Even if you beat him up, I wouldn't feel sorry.It's just that the Williams family's jewelry is worth your cooperation. Mr. Smith,you have to give me a chance."

James beckoned her, "Come here."

Emily directly sat on James's lap, wrapped one arm around his neck,and leaned against him. "I'm here. Mr. Smith, how can you agree to cooperate?"

She blew a breath, ligtly brushed her fingertips over James's ear, watching as his ear turned red. James blushed easily.

But James was also bold. He never let himself be taken advantage of, so he pointed to his lips, and Emily obediently kissed him.

It used to be James trying to please Emily, but now the roles were reversed.

Clearly, James was enjoying it. At first, James had his eyes half-open,feeling Emily's seriousness. Then he closed his eyes,holding her waist tightly and deepening the kiss slowly.

Lips and teeth intertwined. Emily's legs were getting weak. As the kiss was about to end, Emily asked James, "Mr. Smith,are you willing to give me a chance?"James almost ground his teeth. He was kissing passionately, while Emily was still thinking about work.

James took a deep breath and said, "Seducing me won't work."

Emily's face turned cold, she pushed James away directly, stood up instantly, and straightened her clothes. "You should have said that earlier.You made me sacrifice so much."

James fell silent. Emily reapplied her lipstick in front of James.

James closed his eyes, still with lingering desire. "You move into Crystal Valley Manor, and we'll cooperate."

"Okay,deal."

When they broke up, Emily gave James five properties, one of which was Crystal Valley Manor.

Crystal Valley Manor was an unnamed villa located in the suburbs,but since she and James spent nights there often, she had a nameplate made especially to hang at the entrance-Crystal Valley Manor.

She used to tease James, saying, "It's actually better to hide you in the house. When my husband comes to catch us red-handed, he won't have any evidence if you wear women's clothes at home."