CHAPTER 170: YOU SHOULD SIGN IT RIGHT NOW

"Ice Queen? What are you talking about?" Ellie asks Helena.

"That woman is Clara Dean. She is the most ruthless, cold-hearted bitch of a lawyer. She is a nightmare to deal with, no matter who is sitting at the other end of her. Fuck! Ellie, you didn’t tell me Adam’s lawyer would be her," Helena says.

"How would I know?" Ellie speaks back. She is confused as to why Helena looks so troubled.

Even if Clara is the woman Helena says she is, why does it matter now? Isn’t she just here to help Adam look through the legal documents?

Adam and Clara approach Ellie and Helena.

"Guys, this is Clara, a very close friend and also my legal advisor," Adam introduces Clara to the girls.

Ellie stands up and greets Clara with her gentle smile.

"Nice to meet you, Clara. My name’s Ellie," Ellie says, extending her hand forward. Instead of shaking her hand, Clara stares at her, assessing her from head to toe.

Ellie starts getting a little nervous under Clara’s scrutinizing gaze. "Ummm," She tries to say something as her hand is still in the air. Luckily, Clara decides to spare her and shakes her hand.

"It’s good to meet you, too," Clara says.

"Miss Dean, hello, my name-" As Helena tries to speak, Clara cuts her off. "I know who you are, no need for any formalities, let’s sit down and get to business," Clara says.

Helena shuts up and sits down following Clara and Adam. Adam gives Ellie an apologetic smile as she looks a little bit shaken by Clara’s cold demeanor.

Even Adam is surprised seeing her act like this, even though he is aware of her reputation as a ruthless, cold-hearted lawyer; Adam never got the chance to experience it.

Now seeing Clara immediately dismiss Helena and assert herself before the girls made Adam realize that Clara doesn’t play around when it comes to business.

If she is already this cold towards people on a normal basis, he can only imagine how much of a headache she must be inside a courtroom.

"Have you prepared the legal documents?" Clara asks, looking straight into Helena’s eyes with her chilling gaze. Helena perks up and nods her head. "Yes, it’s right here," She says and takes out the legal papers she prepared to transfer some of the business under Adam’s name.

Clara takes the papers and begins looking through them. The entire table falls into a chilling silence as the only sound that can be heard is the paper flipping when Clara is done with it.

Ellie starts twitching as she is not comfortable with such chilling silence. She might be an introvert and loves silence most of the time, but not when in the presence of other people, because it just makes her more uncomfortable.

"Let me go get some coffee for you guys," She says, getting up.

"Double Espresso, no sugar," Clara says without lifting her head. Ellie then looks at Adam to see if he wants anything. "Iced Caramel Macchiato, one teaspoon sugar," Adam says with a smile.

Ellie nods and leaves, and as for Helena, she already knows what she likes.

Clara takes her sweet time going through everything meticulously. She would occasionally raise her eyebrows in surprise, and sometimes she would frown as if she noticed something off about the contract.

Helena sits there, nervously, watching every small change on Clara’s face, wondering if at any moment Clara would grow horns and stare into her soul before shredding her a new one.

Helena has heard horror stories from a few people who have worked under Clara. They told her they have never met anything as good as Clara before, and that’s why everyone wants to work under her, but Clara is not someone who tolerates mistakes. A single error would lead to her publicly humiliating you for being dumb.

Many who have worked under her quit, but those who managed to survive are all now well known names in the law circle.

Even Helena tried to work under Clara, but she didn’t pass even the first screening process that Clara held.

Ellie returns with their coffee. She hands Adam his, who takes it off her hand with a gentle smile. She then places Clara’s before her. Clara doesn’t even bother looking at Ellie; she grabs the coffee mug and starts drinking without taking her eyes off the documents.

Another five minutes go by, and the silence continues. Adam can’t help but be amused by seeing how Clara’s presence alone is enough to intimidate these girls.

Ellie is a bright girl who loves to talk about everything food and restaurant, and Helena is your flirtatious type who can’t keep their mouth shut. Now look at them, they haven’t even dared open their mouth to utter a word, just so that they don’t disturb Clara, who looks very focused.

Clara finishes her coffee and puts the legal documents down before looking right at Ellie and Helena. "I have seen what I needed to see. Now, would you please give me and my client some time to talk everything through?" Clara says, sounding as professional as she can.

Ellie nods her head. "Please, take as much time as you want," Ellie says and takes Helena with her, leaving Clara and Adam alone.

"What do you think?" Adam asks.

"You should sign this immediately," Clara says, taking Adam by surprise.

"Why?" Adam asks.

"I don’t know why her lawyer would draft such a legal document, but this thing is filled with loopholes; you can basically take over the entire business by exploiting them. It’s as if they were put here intentionally," Clara says.

"I knew it, something was wrong about her," Adam says to himself.

"What was that?" Clara asks.

"It’s just, when I saw her, Helena. I knew she was a snake. She is willing to fuck over her friend for no reason," Adam says.

"Well, anyway, you should sign this and be done with it. When the business is at its highest, I will help you take over completely," Clara says.

Adam looks at her, surprised. "Aunt Clara, I didn’t know you were this ruthless," Adam says, smiling.

"I don’t care about others; my concern is only reserved for people who are dear to me," Clara says.

Adam smiles. "I appreciate the love, Clara, but I can’t sign that," Adam says.

"Why? This is the best contract anyone can sign. Her lawyer is basically handing over everything to you on a silver platter," Clara says.

"Because I don’t like snakes, and I am not investing in this restaurant, but its owner. If this restaurant is going to be a success, it’s because of Ellie. I believe in her vision, dedication, and passion she has for this restaurant, and I won’t let some jealous snake ruin it for me," Adam says.

Clara looks at Adam with surprise in her eyes. She didn’t expect Adam would be so caring. Unlike before, with how he completely ripped off Terence and his partner, he is showing compassion towards Ellie.

Clara remembers Ellie beautiful face and her charming smile and wonders something.

"Are you just being easy on her because she is easy on the eyes?" Clara asks with a teasing smile.

"She is beautiful, isn’t she? But that’s not it. Like I said, I believe in her vision and I don’t think this restaurant wouldn’t go anywhere without her. She is a partner worth having. It’s not the same with my other business. Anyone can create that. It’s just the first one in the market and soon there will be more like it. I am just one of the first to take the leap," Adam says.

Clara smiles.

She realizes that Adam really knows his thing. Sometimes it’s the business, and sometimes its the people behind the business. You need to have the eye to see that, and once you do, you will always be the one in control.

She is proud of the man Adam has become. So young, but already so smart.

As she looks at his handsome side profile and his charming smile, Clara blushes a little as she feels her heart skip a beat. ’Again.... Too bad I am already an old hag, and he is my dear friend’s son. I shouldn’t be having such feelings towards him,’ Clara thinks and checks herself.

"So what do you want to do?" Clara asks.

"Write a new one, make it air-tight, and make sure that no side can be exploited," Adam says and begins listing everything he wants to be implemented.

Fifteen minutes later, Ellie and Helena come back.

There seems to be some eagerness in Helena’s eyes. Her eyes immediately shift to the papers on the table, trying to find something, but she doesn’t find it. Disappointment flashes in her eyes.

’Why didn’t he sign?’ Helena wonders, looking at Adam.

"So, are we good? Should I put my signature on them?" Ellie asks.

She can’t wait to take this next step towards her restaurant’s growth. With the money she will get from Adam. She will be able to implement so many things she couldn’t before.

"No, my client is not happy with the draft," Clara says.

"Oh? Is there something wrong with it?" Ellie asks, as she immediately becomes nervous and looks at Adam, who just gives her a trust me smile.

"There are many things wrong with it. It’s filled with loopholes. You should hire a better lawyer. Whoever drafted this is a poor excuse for a lawyer," Clara says coldly.

Ellie’s eyes widen, and Helena’s face turns red from embarrassment.

"I will return tomorrow with newly drafted documents. We can then proceed with the signing." Clara says.

"Oh... okay," Ellie says. Still trying to process what Clara just said.

"We will take our leave. Let’s continue this talk tomorrow, Ellie. Don’t worry, partner. Clara here has OCD. She doesn’t like it when the legal documents don’t meet her standard," Adam says with a laugh, trying to break the tension.

Hearing this, Ellie takes a sigh of relief.

"That’s okay, let’s continue this tomorrow," Ellie says, smiling.