CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: I’M GOING OVER NOW

Hearing the word "husband," Vivian Miller’s smile froze instantly, and a trace of undisguisable displeasure flashed through her eyes. She struggled to maintain her calm facade, forcing a smile, "Haha, right. You wait here, I’ll go for a walk."

Victoria Sinclair sat quietly in the chair outside the meeting room, tightly clutching her bag strap, her eyes occasionally glancing at the tightly closed door.

Suddenly, a slight sound of footsteps broke the silence, followed by the low sound of the door opening.

She stood up nervously.

Some people gradually walked out of the meeting room. From their older age and dignified demeanor, they didn’t look like employees, more like shareholders.

This was no ordinary meeting. Luckily, she hadn’t been misled by Vivian Miller to rashly barge in just now.

These people walked steadily, gracefully passing by Victoria Sinclair.

Finally, she saw Eugene Vaughn come out.

He walked with his head down, looking at some documents, giving instructions to the assistant beside him, not noticing her.

"Eugene," Victoria Sinclair called to him softly.

Eugene Vaughn stopped in his tracks and looked up at her.

His eyes darkened slightly; he closed the files, handed them to his assistant, and walked toward Victoria Sinclair.

Victoria Sinclair’s fingers absently fiddled with the strap, as if that was the only way to relieve the tension within her.

Eugene Vaughn approached, instinctively took out his phone and glanced at it. After confirming there were no missed calls, he put it back in his pocket.

"How long have you been here?" His voice was deep and gentle, with a hint of subtle concern.

Victoria Sinclair gently shook her head, "Not long, I just arrived."

"Next time, you can call me first," he said.

"Okay," Victoria Sinclair wasn’t sure what he meant by that.

Was he worried about her waiting too long?

Or did he hope she would make an appointment first to avoid disrupting his work?

Eugene Vaughn instructed his assistant, "Print two copies of the contract drafted this morning and send them to the office."

The assistant responded, "Got it, President Vaughn."

He then said to Victoria Sinclair, "Let’s talk in my office."

Victoria Sinclair nodded lightly.

Eugene Vaughn’s long legs walked steadily forward, and Victoria Sinclair followed behind him, walking quickly to barely keep up.

Looking at the broad and imposing figure of the man, his black suit fit him perfectly, exuding elegance, stability, and an impressive presence.

As they turned the corner.

Eugene Vaughn suddenly stopped, turning his head toward the corner.

Victoria Sinclair didn’t stop in time and bumped right into him, retreating a step in fright, rubbing her forehead, and softly saying, "Sorry."

Eugene Vaughn turned to look at her, seeing she was mostly unharmed, he pointed to the door ahead, "Wait for me in the office."

"Okay," Victoria Sinclair didn’t think much of it and walked past him ahead.

Eugene Vaughn watched Victoria Sinclair enter the office, then turned left into the stairwell, pulling Vivian Miller out from inside.

Vivian Miller rubbed her arm, grimacing in pain, "Eugene, let go... let go... it hurts!"

Eugene Vaughn’s expression was indifferent and stern, "Why are you at my company again? What are you sneaking around here for?"

Vivian Miller quickly explained, "I didn’t come to see you. Isn’t Jenny interning at your company? I came to find Jenny—she won’t be off work for another hour, so I had to wander around and do some live streaming to pass the time."

Eugene Vaughn: "Jenny’s on the third floor, and you came to the twentieth?"

Vivian Miller, feeling wronged, "My sister-in-law couldn’t find you, so I brought her up here."

"Go down." Eugene Vaughn released her arm and turned to walk back to the office.

Vivian Miller rubbed her arm, which was sore from Eugene’s grip, and angrily ground her teeth, pouting in grievance.

She walked to the elevator and pressed the button.

Before long, the elevator door opened, and the assistant came out with two contracts.

Vivian Miller immediately stopped him, "Assistant Palmer, wait a moment."

Assistant Palmer looked puzzled, "Ms. Miller, what is it?"

"Are those contracts for President Vaughn?"

Assistant Palmer replied, "Yes."

"What are they? Do they have something to do with that woman?"

Assistant Palmer said solemnly, "This is commercial confidentiality. If you want to know, Ms. Miller, you can ask President Vaughn."

"I’m his best friend. There are no secrets between us." Vivian Miller said irritably, snatching the documents from Assistant Palmer’s hands, turning her back to him, flipping through them quickly.

Assistant Palmer panicked, quickly trying to take them back.

However, considering the difference between a man and a woman, the more she dodged, the harder it was for him to retrieve them, "Ms. Miller, please return the contracts. This is Vaughn Group, not your private garden; don’t go too far."

Vivian Miller sneered and returned the contracts to Assistant Palmer, "What’s the big deal about it being a commercial secret? It’s just an investment contract."

Assistant Palmer was furious, his face darkening, as he headed back to the office with the contracts.

Vivian Miller entered the elevator, and as the door slowly closed, her eyes, once full of anger and disdain, gradually became sinisterly cold.

——

The spacious office was grand and impressive.

Victoria Sinclair sat opposite Eugene Vaughn’s desk, flipping through the contract Assistant Palmer brought in. After a while, she placed the contract on the desk, sat upright, and met Eugene Vaughn’s gaze.

Eugene offered her a pen; she didn’t take it.

"Weren’t you here to sign the contract?" he asked.

Victoria Sinclair spoke calmly, "President Vaughn, I know very well that my company isn’t worth this price. Your terms are very enticing, and any business person would sign this contract without hesitation, but absolute ownership is my principle, and I will not compromise."

Eugene Vaughn raised an eyebrow, putting down the pen with an ambiguous smile, "Do you think I would agree to a 49% stake?"

Victoria Sinclair’s eyes were resolute; her voice was gentle yet firm, "I don’t think you’d agree."

Eugene Vaughn fell silent, his deep eyes, like an abyss, quietly gazing at her.

Victoria Sinclair’s ears felt slightly warm under his gaze, her mood inexplicably tense.

For years, he had commanded the business world with decisiveness and force, his presence overwhelming, an intense gaze pressing down on anyone.

Since both had their principles, Victoria Sinclair felt there was no need to force it.

"I came here today hoping to make another effort, hoping you would consider investing less, taking fewer shares." Victoria paused, pursing her lips and hesitating for a few seconds, her tone stiffening slightly, "But not working together is fine too. I don’t want to be too tied down with you..."

Before she finished her words, Eugene Vaughn’s face darkened, interrupting with a cold, decisive voice, "Okay."

Victoria Sinclair was taken aback.

Eugene Vaughn solemnly added, "I’ll have the assistant modify the contract. You’ll hold 51% of the absolute controlling rights, but management and pricing must be turned over to me."

The sudden turn of events and such a straightforward agreement stirred Victoria Sinclair’s emotions, bringing a restrained smile to her lips, as she nodded in acceptance.

Just then, the phone rang.

Eugene picked up the phone on the desk, glanced at it, and furrowed his brows slightly, answering, "What is it?"

Victoria Sinclair had no idea who was on the other end of the phone or what they said, but she saw Eugene Vaughn’s expression suddenly serious as he stood up nervously and walked out in a rush, "Where? I’m coming now."

Victoria Sinclair watched his urgent back disappear out of the office, dazed.

Without leaving a word, he left her there.

She could roughly guess that the call was from Vivian Miller.

In that instant, she felt both sadness and irony.