The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Jasper nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

“Impressive,” he said. “Well then, we’ll draft an agreement, Ms. Lila.”

He raised his glass for a toast.

Lila lifted hers immediately, her movements smooth and confident.

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“My brother isn’t good at handling alcohol,” she said politely, casting a brief glance at Mark. “And he’ll be the one behind the wheel, if you don’t mind, Mr. Jasper.”

Jasper chuckled softly, his gaze warm and amused. “Of course I don’t mind. It’s an honor to have a toast with a beauty like you, Ms. Lila.”

Lila’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile as their glasses clinked together.

“To success,” she said, her tone measured, confident, and perfectly composed.

“To success,” Jasper echoed, his eyes lingering on her just slightly longer than necessary.

Mark shifted uncomfortably beside her but said nothing, relieved he wouldn’t have to touch his own glass.

For Lila, the toast wasn’t just a formality. It was a reminder: charm, composure, and strategy were her weapons. And tonight, they were sharper than ever.

As Lila and Mark stepped out of the private room, a man approached them with a firm, commanding presence.

“Jasper!” the man greeted warmly.

Jasper turned, smiling. “Mr. Foster, good to see you.”

The man was older, sharp-eyed, and carried the kind of presence that immediately demanded respect.

“This is Lila and Mark Everith,” Jasper introduced. “I told you-they have a very interesting software. Mark’s work is exceptional, and Lila has guided the strategy and investor relations.”

Mr. Foster extended his hand to Lila. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Lila. Mark. I’ve heard a lot about your project.”

Lila shook his hand politely, noting his steady grip. “Thank you, Mr. Foster. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Mr. Foster nodded approvingly and gestured toward a private room. “Come, let’s sit and discuss this in detail.”

As they followed, Jasper leaned slightly toward Lila and whispered, his voice low enough for only her to hear, “Old man Foster owns a storage network that could really boost your software’s capacity. He also has global connections. If you play your cards right, this could accelerate everything for you.”

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Lila’s lips curved into a soft smile. This is incredible.

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“Jasper… thank you,” she whispered back, her tone genuine. “Not just for introducing me, but for helping me meet different investors and suppliers. You’ve made this so much easier.”

Jasper gave her a small smirk. “That’s what connections are for. You just have to use them wisely.”

She hesitated, then confessed quietly, “I actually requested a meeting with Mr. Foster before, but I was turned down. I never thought I’d get another chance.”

Jasper nodded knowingly. “Sometimes it’s about timing-and a little leverage. You’ve got both tonight.”

Inside the private room, Lila took her seat across from Mr. Foster and Mark, her mind racing with opportunity. Storage networks, global connections, and investor introductions-all suddenly within reach.

She kept her composure, offering polite smiles while absorbing every detail, every suggestion, every insight.

For the first time since leaving Blackthorne Industries, she felt a surge of control.

This is the way forward, she thought, determined. No contracts, no obligations-just strategy, execution, and results.

And Lila Everith intended to make every opportunity count.

Throughout the dinner, Mr. Foster kept his eyes on Lila, subtly refilling her glass whenever it dipped below half.

Jasper leaned toward him and said smoothly, “Mr. Foster, Lila isn’t good at handling alcohol. I’ll take care of this for her.”

Politely, he took Lila’s glass from her hands, setting it aside with careful composure.

Mr. Foster smirked, replying to Jasper, “She should have expected this. After all, this kind of setup will be her normal meeting when the time comes.”

His gaze shifted to Lila, sharp and calculating, and he lightly rested his hand on the thigh of the woman seated next to him, a subtle display of power.

Lila smiled politely, her tone calm and confident. “Soon, Mr. Foster, I’ll be able to match your alcohol tolerance.”

Mr. Foster’s eyes darkened with a meaningful look, the weight of it both assessing and teasing. “You’d better hurry up, or you might fall behind,” he replied, his smirk widening just slightly.

Jasper, observing quietly, gave Lila a small, approving nod. Stay composed. Play the game, it seemed to say.

Lila exhaled softly inwardly. She had anticipated challenges like this, and she had handled them before.

They can test me all they want, she thought. I’ve got this under control.

The dinner stretched late into the night. Lila maintained her composure, her polite smiles and strategic

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Chapter 43

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words keeping Mr. Foster engaged while Jasper quietly protected her from the more intrusive attention.

But eventually, even Mr. Foster could no longer hide the lust in his eyes. His hand lingered too long on the woman seated beside him, and the tension became impossible to ignore.

Sensing the moment, Jasper stood smoothly. “Shall we excuse ourselves?” he suggested.

Lila and Mark followed suit, offering polite nods as they rose from the table.

The three of them-Lila, Mark, and Jasper-excused themselves and exited the room.

Mark guided Lila carefully toward the car. She was a bit tipsy, the careful restraint Jasper had provided allowing her only just enough to feel the warmth and buzz of wine without losing control.

“Almost there,” Mark murmured, steadying her as they reached the vehicle.

As they drove away, Lila leaned slightly back in her seat, her mind replaying the dinner and the delicate dance of power and charm she had navigated.

Meanwhile, Jasper remained behind for a moment, watching the car disappear into the night.

A slow smile spread across his face.

She handled that perfectly, he thought. And she doesn’t even know how much leverage she just gained tonight.

The city lights reflected in his eyes, and for a moment, he allowed himself the rare satisfaction of witnessing someone play the high-stakes game so well-someone who was clever, composed, and quietly dangerous.

And Jasper knew one thing: this was only the beginning.