The Real Heiress Is Coming Back (Hannah Carter) novel Chapter 282

Chapter 282 Playing Hard To Get

Chapter 282 Playing Hard To Get

The first was an old photo. The background showed the front date of the villa where Hannah had lived with her adoptive parents at Thole Manor.

In the yard, a row of men in black uniforms and sunglasses stood, with a few others heading inside. Each of their sleeves was embroidered with the Scepter House’s dragon insignia.

“I took this with my phone back when the Scepter House sent people to search your villa,” Howard said, tapping the photo to back up his story.

Hannah studied the photo, her mind swirling with suspicion, but her beautiful face stayed cool and collected.

The next document was a draft merger agreement for MoeMoenc., and pinned to the top was a fresh photo, Dorian shaking hands with MoeMoe’s CEO, the two of them standing in a teahouse somewhere in Kinswood.

Howard didn’t comment on the photo, but Hannah understood exactly what he was getting at.

The Scott family’s main business was e-commerce. During the big 618 online sales event, pre-orders for one of their skincare products had blown past their inventory.

Dorian had come to Kinswood last time specifically to talk with MoeMoe’s CEO about ramping up production and getting those orders shipped out.

By handing over the photo and contract now, Howard was basically telling her that whether the Scott family’s deal with MoeMoe went through or not all depended on how she played her cards.

“You can take the contract home and think it over. Feel free to drop by the Thole Group headquarters anytime,” Howard said.

Howard handed the contract back to Hannah, reminding her, “Thole Group has all the time in the world for you to think it over, but how patient those pre-order customers at Scott Group will be, I can’t say.”

If those hundreds of thousands of pre-order customers all started filing complaints at once, the Scott family would be staring down another major PR disaster.

Hannah lowered her thick, long lashes, hiding her eyes. From Howard’s angle, he thought she was scared, a sly glint flickered in his eyes.

But in reality, Hannah was doing her best to hide the excitement bubbling up inside her.

The Thole family had locked down every detail about her adoptive father’s case, so the only way to get any answers was to play the game from the inside. Ever since Dustin first approached her, she’d been plotting her next move.

Everyone in the Thole family was shrewd and paranoid, and given how touchy her situation was, if she said yes too fast, they’d smell a rat.

So she had to keep rejecting them, make them sweat, and finally act like she was forced to give in. That way, they’d feel like they were calling all the shots and could do whatever they pleased. Only then would they finally drop their guard.

“Nice move, Mr. Thole,” Hannah said deliberately.

She picked up the contract and skimmed through it. It appointed her as the new head of chip R&D for Thole Group. requiring her to develop an exclusive chip within five years.

The salary was bumped up by another 30 million on top of what Dustin had offered, making it 1 billion plus a 2% profit share.

All the usual industry Clauses about intellectual property and confidentiality were there, along with a long list of restrictions clearly defining her authority.

Hannah looked at the harsh contract and couldn’t help but feel amused.

Xenith Systems Group was planning to spend over eight years developing their new chip, but Howard wanted her to

outpace them and get Thole Group’s exclusive chip on the market in just five years.

Still, Hannah grabbed a pen from the holder and signed her name on the line for the second party.

She didn’t see any consequences spelled out for failing to deliver

Seeing this, Howard flashed a sly, fox-like grin. “Ms. Carter, you’re quick on the draw.”

“If you hadn’t pulled out all the stops, Mr. Thole, I wouldn’t have said yes so fast. Honestly, I was still considering Xenith Systems Group’s offer before this, but let’s fac

hole Group’s deep pockets,” Hannah said. Su Successfully unlocked! Hearing that, Howard felt a rush of satisfaction, the inhoffo penny someone away from Xenith Systems Group. He couldn’t help admiring his own cleverness and feeling a surge of pride.

“Don’t worry. As long as you work hard for the Thole family, you be well taken care of,” he said.

After exchanging a few more formalities, Howard signed and stamped the contract. Hannah picked up her copy, along with

1/2

Chapter 282 Playing Hard To Get

the two photos from the desk.

As soon as Hannah left, Dustin walked in.

He saw her leaving with a contract in hand and realized his father had already signed her up. Frustration and

embarrassment welled up inside him.

Every time he saw Hannah, he couldn’t help but remember how dumb he’d been, shaming her right to her face while hyping up Raven, even having some weird crush on Raven back then.

He was sure Hannah must’ve been cracking up inside at the time, and the more he dwelled on it, the more mortified and uncomfortable he felt. He just couldn’t handle how badly he’d embarrassed himself in front of her.

After all, he used to be the one who always bullied Hannah.

“Contact MoeMoe and tell them to keep working with the Scott family,” Howard ordered as Dustin walked in.

Dustin frowned, his tone sharp. “Dad, are we seriously teaming up with her? What if she uses this chance to swipe our secrets?”

“Didn’t I teach you anything? You need to keep your cool. If you want to catch a wolf, you have to be willing to risk the bait,” Howard shot him a sideways glance.

“But…” Dustin started.

Howard cut him off. “No buts. Honestly, I’m almost hoping she tries something funny with Thole Group. If she doesn’t, it’ll be hard to pin anything on her and really make her pay.”

Dustin instantly got what his father meant. He thought, ‘Right, now that Hannah’s signed with Thole Group, she’s just a fish waiting to be gutted.’

With that thought, the shame and anger he’d been feeling faded away.

*****

By the time Hannah stepped out of Howard’s villa, the sun was already setting.

One of the servants called up the security at the gate to send a car for her, but Hannah raised her hand to stop them. She’d already noticed Allen Thole peeking at her from behind a decorative rock not far away, trying to spy on her.

“I know the way. I’ll walk out myself,” Hannah said, and started heading toward the main gate.

As she walked through the traditional corridor, Jingle Bells swaying overhead, Hannah let her eyes linger on the carved images along the walls. Memories of her adoptive mother, Rosalle, came rushing back. There were just too many pieces of her childhood here.

She stopped and sat down on a bench in the corridor.

At this hour, the servants were all inside the villas, busy with dinner for the family, leaving the corridor quiet and empty.

But Hannah still caught the faint sound of movement in the bushes behind her. She glanced back and caught sight of someone in white trying to hide behind the leaves.

A faint smile curled at her lips as she stood up and kept walking The footsteps behind her quietly started to follow.

Hannah began to walk faster, and the footsteps behind her sped up to keep pace.

At the end of the corridor was an artificial lake. Instead of taking the main path paved with cobblestones, Hannah turned onto a smaller, less-traveled trail.

Allen Thole, who had been trailing her through the bushes, stopped dead in his tracks. If he kept going, there were no trees left to hide behind, and he’d definitely get caught.

He waited for a bit, making sure Hannah was out of sight, then quickly moved to the bushes on the other side, expecting to spot her ahead. But when he got there, she was nowhere to be found.

He hung back a little longer, but she still didn’t show. Figuring se must’ve already left, he stepped out from the bushes to look for her.

Just then, a calm and clear voice rang out from behind him. It was Hannah. “Allen, what brings you here?”

2/2

Subscribed

1 Likes