CEO Proposed to His Ex-wife 99 Times novel Chapter 279

At Bennett & Co., Hector was getting tired after reading documents all morning.

Around noon, VP Dickins walked in to demand that Hector came along with him as he met a client for lunch. He also talked about how Hector should start adapting to a life where lunch or dinner engagements abounded.

Hector was hesitant, since he’d planned to visit Katherine at noon.

Keeping his voice low, VP Dickins said, “Come with me. You’re only going to secure your position at the company if you can maintain good relationships with our clients.”

“Fine,” nodded Hector.

Hector walked out with Dickins and got into a car, which drove all the way to a restaurant.

Inherently averse to any such occasion, Hector asked, “Shouldn’t business meals be arranged for dinner? Why is this arranged for lunch?”

“Mr. Channing is only available for lunch since he’s leaving on in the evening. Don’t worry, I’ve acquired permission for both of us not to go into the office in the afternoon.”

Dickins got out of the car, followed by Hector. The private room they booked was already filled with their clients.

Dickins was well seasoned for these occasions, greeting everyone warmly as he entered the room. And he introduced Hector to the group as VP Bennett, a new addition to Bennett & Co. who was still learning the ropes. He also put specific emphasis on Hector being the brother of David Bennett.

Upon hearing the latest part, the clients changed their attitudes immediately and acted in a much more friendly manner to Hector, who made his best efforts to smile at and greet the group in return.

When negotiations began, Hector remained seated in silence most of the times, not really knowing what to say. His thoughts were already a thousand miles away.

Marshall, too, was at a business lunch that day. Initially the agreement was to have Mr. Grant represent them at the lunch, but when he heard around noon that it was Martin Newman they were meeting, he made the instant decision to take his father’s place.

Marshall had met this Newman guy before, and he had been absolutely malicious, bringing over a bottle of drugged wine and even persuading Marshall himself to have a glass of it. Marshall hadn’t forgotten about that incident.

Marshall arrived at the restaurant almost half an hour earlier than Newman, who entered the room laughing and got hold of Marshall’s hand the minute he walked up to him. “Mr. Grant, it’s been a while.”

“It has been indeed,” replied Marshall with a nod. He hadn’t seen Newman around after the bar, and with all his personal issues, Marshall hadn’t had the time to take care of this guy.

Not knowing what Marshall was thinking, Newman was grinning wildly, his facial muscles all pushed together.

Nobody else was present at the lunch, since Newman preferred a smaller group. Marshall didn’t mind, and he signaled the waiter to come over and take their order.

There were only Marshall and Newman in that big private room, and neither of them brought up what had happened at the bar.

Newman recalled Marshall leaving the bar with a woman that day, but his drugged-up and hyperexcited mind could not notice who Marshall had taken; he could only focus on what the woman in his own arms had looked like.

The two of them helped themselves to the several bottles of wine with abandon. As he got tipsy, Newman’s true character began to jump out. “Since you’ve been drinking, I assume you won’t be heading back to the office this afternoon. How about I take you somewhere fun?”

Marshall smirked. “How about I take you somewhere fun? I’m capable of having fun, too.”

Newman laughed as he pointed a finger at Marshall. “You’re a smart guy, Mr. Grant, and I like hanging out with smart people.”

Marshall smiled silently.

After some more drinking, he made the excuse of using the bathroom to get out of the room and call Peter. When Peter picked up, he immediately said, “It’s ready.”

“Good,” Marshall said before he hung up.

He then went to the men’s room and lit up a smoke by the sink. He’d been goading Newman on to drink more, but he’d had to drink quite a few glasses himself, and was feeling his stomach turn at that very moment.

Marshall finished the cigarette and stubbed it out on top of the garbage bin. As he turned around, he came across Hector who was about to come in.