Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 83

Finished

Arden hadn’t noticed earlier, but Sienna had changed into a dress. It wasn’t flashy, but it hugged her figure just enough to show it off while still looking sharp and classy.

She’s so effortlessly elegant, Arden thought, admiring how perfectly her mentor always dressed.

Sienna glanced at her. God, to be that young again. Skin like she’s never heard of stress, barely any makeup, just confidence and good genes.

“Why didn’t you put on some makeup?”

“Oh, I thought tonight was your show. I don’t usually wear much.”

Sienna had been in the game long enough to know what kind of person Arden was. Over the past few days, she’d picked up on it: sweet, respectful, sincere. She probably grew up in a family that doted on her, the kind of girl who gave her whole heart when someone treated her well.

And those eyes–big, bright, untainted by the world. She had the kind of face you couldn’t fake. Arden was definitely the type who’d been a campus beauty back in college.

“There’s a lipstick in the glovebox. Never used. Take it.”

Arden hesitated. “It’s yours, right? I feel bad using it. We can stop by a makeup store. I’ll just grab one.”

“Just take it. I’ve got plenty.”

Arden finally went to get it. After putting it on, she made a mental note to get her mentor a small gift later as a thank–you. The lipstick was Givenchy–it had to be at least a few hundred bucks.

Once it was on, Sienna looked her over and gave a nod of approval. “Much better.”

“Who are we meeting tonight?” Arden asked.

“One of the clients from the new energy project. There’s a conflict over equity. Another company’s trying to buy in, and now the guy wants to up the price. He’s holding out for a bigger slice. We’re going to negotiate.”

Arden perked up. It was her first time attending something like this. “Is it going to be tough?”

Sienna nodded. “Most of them are. Especially when money’s on the table.”

They arrived early. Sienna had already reserved a private room, and the other party hadn’t shown up yet.

Arden started feeling a little nervous. Sienna gave her hand a quick pat. “Relax. Just do your best.”

A few minutes later, Sienna took a call. “Mr. Allen? We’ll meet you at the door,” she said, then nodded at Arden to come with her.

“It’s not just him,” Sienna explained as they walked. “Some folks from other companies will be there too.”

“Got it.”

At the entrance, Charles Allen showed up with a whole entourage–around ten people. Sienna greeted him

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Chapter 83 Who’s Protecting

with a warm smile and a firm handshake. “Mr. Allen.”

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He was in his fifties, with thinning hair and a bulging gut. Arden didn’t like the look of him at all. Especially the way his eyes lingered on Sienna.

“Well, if it isn’t the gorgeous Miss Frost,” he said.

“You’re too kind, Mr. Allen. Thanks to your company’s support, our numbers are looking great. Of course I’m in a good mood.”

He chuckled. “You’ve got a silver tongue, I’ll give you that.”

Then his gaze drifted toward Arden. His stare lingered too long. “This your assistant?”

“She’s my intern,” Sienna said. “Just call her Arden.”

“She fresh out of college?”

Arden nodded. “Yes, I just graduated.”

“Figured. Youth really is something else.”

They all took their seats. People from Apex Capital were there too, including a couple of women who were clearly working an angle.

Charles, however, kept steering the conversation away from work, pushing drinks instead. “Come on, Miss Frost. Let’s enjoy dinner and drinks first. No need to rush the boring stuff.”

Sienna had no choice but to fill her own glass. “A toast to Mr. Allen.”

Arden grew uneasy watching her drink like that.

Unfortunately, Charles turned his attention to Arden soon after. His smirk made her skin crawl. “Miss Wynn, why aren’t you drinking? Don’t tell me you’re here to network and you can’t even handle a drink.”

“Juice and milk don’t cut it in this world,” he added.

Arden glanced nervously at Sienna.

Sienna was about to step in, but Charles had already poured a glass and slid it over. “Miss Frost can hold her liquor. You’ll get there too. Have one.”

It was clearly a test. Refuse–and negotiations might be off.

One of the women from Apex chimed in, fake smile in place, “We’ve all been there. You don’t build tolerance by avoiding it. There’s no such thing as ‘can’t drink. Vale Group wouldn’t send someone who only sips juice to a business dinner, would they?”

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