Kelly would certainly live a happy life if she accepted Brian's love from the beginning.
Perhaps she wouldn't grow resentful and turn to a life of crime if she became a young mistress of the Zorn Family, even if she couldn't take over Parker Corporation. Given how massive the Zorns' family business was, Brian would certainly allow her to join Zorn Holdings if she wanted to. In that case, she could show off her potential just as much.
Too bad there were no what-ifs.
"President Parker," Brian greeted Adam nonchalantly, leading Kelly to sneer. Who was the one who always called my dad 'Mr. Parker'? So, it's 'President Parker' now that you've found someone new, huh?
Nine out of ten men were b*stards, while the remaining one was always someone else's husband.
Meanwhile, Adam responded with a hum impassively.
He sized the young woman next to Brian up. She appeared to be in her early twenties, but she looked pretty unadulterated too. He also thought she looked a little familiar. He knew he must've met her in the past; he just couldn't remember which family she belonged to for a moment.
"Kelly, hi." Brian greeted Kelly too, who smiled insincerely. "Are you not going to introduce your date to us, Young Master Brian?"
At that, Brian pressed his lips together for a moment, then turned to his new girlfriend.
She was the woman he just barely took a fancy to after going on the many blind dates his mother arranged for him. She was a daughter of the Sullivan Family and had just graduated from college, so she had a youthful vibe. Yes, she knew his story with Kelly, but she didn't mind it. After all, he and Kelly never married. Hell, they never even became an official couple!
"Miss Dulcie of the Sullivan Family." Brian introduced his girlfriend, "Dulcie, they are—"
"Oh, I know them," Dulcie interjected with a bright smile, then greeted Adam courteously, "Good afternoon, President Parker."
Then, she walked over to Kendall with an even brighter smile and wrapped her arms around Kendall's as though they were old friends. "Hi, Young Mistress Coleman. I've heard so much about you. I finally got to meet you. You're much prettier than I thought."
"You're gorgeous too, Miss Sullivan," Kendall replied with a smile.
If one looked closely, one would find that Dulcie and Kelly shared some similarities.
No wonder Brian befriended Dulcie. He thought of the young woman as Kelly's replacement!
Though Brian and Kelly had dated at one point, Kelly was already pregnant with Jackson's child. So that meant Brian wasn't her only man, and it ultimately became a lifelong regret of Brian's.
Dulcie, on the other hand, was still young and unadulterated. So, she could make up for that regret.
"Aw, you flatter me, Young Mistress Coleman. You know, Young Mistress Coleman, I really look up to you. Can we hang out in the future? Can we exchange numbers so that we can chat anytime?"
Who'd have thought Dulcie wanted to befriend Kendall as Brian's girlfriend?! It was as though she was oblivious to the fact that Zorn Holdings and Coleman Empire Holdings had fallen out.
Before Kendall could say no, Brian cut in. "Dulcie, Young Mistress Coleman has many things to see to. She doesn't have time to play with you. Don't bother her anymore."
"Oops, forgot about that." Dulcie stuck her tongue out cheekily. "But I'm sure you have the time for a break, right? Yasmine told me you're a fun character. Yasmine and I will invite ourselves to your place when you take a break, alright?"
Yasmine was older than Dulcie, but because Dulcie was seeing Brian and believed she would become Yasmin's sister-in-law, thus making her Yasmine's senior, she just unilaterally decided that she was on a first-name basis with Yasmine.
In actuality, Yasmine and Dulcie didn't really get along, for they had very different personalities.
Dulcie was the youngest of her siblings, with a brother and two sisters before her. Her parents passed away when she was little, so it was her older siblings who raised her. As she was the baby of the family, even her sister-in-law and brothers-in-law spoiled her, she shared some temperament with Yasmine. Hence, the two would get into a fight easily when neither would give in to the other.
Fortunately, Yasmine and Jeffrey were passionately in love. So, she and Dulcie merely came face to face most of the time. They had yet to actually spend time together.
"Miss Zorn is busy dating Mr. Schubert right now. I suggest you don't be a third wheel. Who knows? Mr. Schubert might get jealous if you drag her over," said Kendall with a smile. Though she didn't give a hard no, everyone was able to read her rejection when they were all shrewd.
"Touché," said Dulcie as she stuck her tongue out cheekily again before returning to Brian.
Of course, she didn't greet Kelly, her love rival.
She snubbed Kelly on purpose.
Adam was an elder as well as the head of Parker Corporation, so Dulcie naturally had to greet him. Kendall, on the other hand, was the Young Mistress of the Coleman Family, the most distinguished woman in all of Orapolis, as well as the target of every woman's envy and jealousy. Regardless of her relationship with Brian, she genuinely wanted to befriend Kendall.
As young as she was, she still knew the Coleman Family was Orapolis' local king. So, it would be great if she could befriend one of them. If she couldn't, she shouldn't cross them either.
The Zorns had already crossed the Colemans, and Dulcie was well aware of the fact.
She was actually hoping to befriend Kendall so that they could whisper to each other's man and alleviate both families' feud.
Dulcie fell in love with Brian at first sight. He treated her with courtesy, and their families were thinking about forming a marriage alliance. However, her brother also said it would be best for Zorn Holdings if their relationship with the Colemans was alleviated.
Since she wanted to marry Brian, her brother and sisters would do everything in their power to secure a glorious and wealthy future for her. If Coleman Empire Holdings and Mendelson Group crushed Zorn Holdings as they did to Whittle Holdings, then her married life with the Zorns would only be a miserable one.
Her older brother also reminded her not to fall too deeply in love, for he wanted her to break up with Brian if Zorn Holdings really couldn't alleviate their relationship with Coleman Empire Holdings, lest the Sullivan Family got dragged along.
Hence, Dulcie tried to befriend Kendall to secure her future with Brian.
Too bad Kendall turned her down.
Meanwhile, Kelly, whom Dulcie deliberately snubbed, pursed her lips grimly, raised her chin, and straightened her back, saying, "Let's go inside, Dad. We shouldn't let President Knoyll wait too long."
She was reminding her father as well as not wanting to stand there and be snubbed.
Adam hummed a response, then turned to Brian. "We have a client to meet, Young Master Brian, so if you'll excuse us."
"Please, President Parker." Brian smiled, then led Dulcie aside, giving way to Adam and the others.
With that, Adam passed by Brian with his two daughters and two secretaries and entered the hotel without ever looking back.
If it weren't because Edward Knoyll was a major client and also from the neighboring city, Adam really didn't want to come to this place.
Everyone living in Orapolis knew he was Dylan's father-in-law, so business meetings would usually be held in one of the hotels under Coleman Empire Holdings. Even if it wasn't in one of the Colemans' hotels, it wouldn't be hotels under Zorn Holdings or Mendelson Group.
After all, Mendelson Group and Coleman Empire Holdings were foes, and Zorn Holdings also had recently made themselves an enemy of the Colemans.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Love Knows No Bounds novel (Kendall and Dylan)
Beautiful story....