CHAPTER 203: MY TYPE

"Melissa, can you go to Summit Partners for me?"

Melissa’s mouth remained open while Derek moved closer to her side. His eyes gleamed with determination as he nodded at her.

"You went there once, and they approved the proposal because of you," he clarified. "Maybe if you go there, you will be able to clear my name of whatever slander Travis has spread!"

Melissa pursed her lips, looking at the desperation spreading across his face. She might have come here to ask him about the situation with the Summit Partners and perhaps comfort him, like she always had. However, back then, she was the one who would offer to help, which he would usually reject and tell her not to worry about it.

But that only made her more diligent in her efforts.

Only now, for the first time, did Derek ask her to do something for him. It was the first time, but for some reason, she didn’t like the feeling that came with it.

"Just this once!" he insisted, clasping his hands together.

"But Derek..." she bit her lips, watching him frown. "It’s not that I don’t want to help. It’s just that the last time I went to Summit Partners, I knew what to do because I was familiar with your proposal. But since then, I haven’t been up to date with the deal."

His eyes lit up. "That’s alright!" he insisted. "I can send you the current progress or explain it to you. It’s not much yet, so you’ll be able to catch up!"

Melissa sighed faintly. "Okay."

"Good! Thank you, Melissa!" Derek quickly pulled her into his embrace, hugging her tightly with a grin. "I knew I could always count on you!"

However, she wasn’t smiling like she used to and just let him express his happiness. When he finally let her go, a smile quickly took over her face as soon as their eyes met.

"By the way, Derek... I hope you don’t take this the wrong way," she hummed. "But why can’t you just go to Summit Partners and discuss whatever misunderstanding happened? I’m sure they would listen to you since they acknowledged you as the lead person in charge of the project."

This time, his mouth curved into a deep frown.

"Grandpa warned me not to go to Summit Partners," he said, clicking his tongue. "He threatened that if I did, he would call his lawyer and take my name out of the inheritance."

"What?" Melissa frowned, now understanding why he asked her first. "Isn’t that... isn’t that a little excessive?"

"I know, but he wouldn’t budge! I told him that I would clear my name of whatever slander Travis had told the Summit Partners, but he wouldn’t allow me!" He ruffled his hair in irritation, fuming every time he remembered. He then held her hand, cradling it.

"He threatened me not to do anything and to stay away, but nowhere did he say not to ask somebody else to do it!" Derek frowned, looking at her with slight dejection. "Melissa, I need this project. You know that, right? It’s not just for me, but for you as well."

"If I lead this project, my wife will not have to worry about anything!" he added with another deep sigh. "It’s why I’ve been working hard on this for both of us."

Derek wasn’t lying; he truly wanted this project not just for himself but also for Melissa. After all, even though he couldn’t stop himself from looking at another woman, he deeply cared for Melissa. His success was also hers, and he wanted to be the man she would be proud of.

Meanwhile, Melissa’s heart softened as her disappointment in him melted away, replaced with guilt. Just moments ago, she was not pleased with him, thinking he was becoming more complacent. Not just that, but she had been disappointed with him even before, thinking he hadn’t been putting effort into her or even initiating a date.

Now that she thought about it, Derek had only neglected her since the deal with the Summit Partners opened up.

He probably was truly working hard, she thought. It’s just that the other members of the Lancaster family were more sly. Unlike them, Derek was quite naive in some ways. Besides, Derek was in a position that didn’t require him to scheme, but rather, one where people schemed behind him to take him down.

After all, he was the only person who was in direct line to the chairman.

"I will do my best, Derek," she smiled reassuringly. "But no promises, okay?"

"Thank you!" Elated, Derek hugged her again. "Melissa, even if there are no promises, that’s fine! Knowing you’re willing to help me and even tried is good enough for me!"

Her lips curled up, patting his back as she hummed. "Mhm."

Melissa didn’t stay long at Derek’s place after he explained the current deal with the Summit Partners. He even handed her a copy of the documents so she could understand them well. However, before she left, Derek nagged her about what to say, ask, or do.

In the end, she didn’t even have time to ask him about what happened when he confronted Lola.

"That’s not important right now, though," she whispered to herself, stepping out of the vehicle. She turned her head, her eyes gazing up at the entrance of the Summit Partners’ building. "Manager Kang and I already have it under control."

She would get Simon and her role back, but first... she had to get back Derek’s role. If it were true that Derek was slandered, then she could find a way to get him back into the project.

With that thought in mind, Melissa nodded to herself and made her way to the entrance. She had been here before, so she didn’t hesitate and walked inside without a pause. But as she did, her phone began ringing in her bag.

Melissa rummaged carefully through her bag. Just as she took her phone out and looked ahead, she was a second too late before she bumped into someone’s chest. Her hand rested on the man’s chest, clutching it to avoid falling back.

"Uh..." she winced a little, feeling slightly irritated. Seriously, couldn’t people look at where they were walking?

But being in the Summit Partners building, she didn’t want to cause a scene and remained demure.

"Ouch..." she muttered, fluttering her eyelashes up. She was about to speak when her gaze landed on the person gazing down at her with a chill in his eyes. But that detail was something she easily ignored, her mouth falling open at the man before her.

He... he’s my type.