Chapter 12

Simon nodded, then shook his head. It was hard to explain the situation. "On one hand, there's a rumor about an ancient site being discovered there, with tremendous potential to be developed into a tourist spot. On the other hand—" Simon hesitated before continuing, "The new design studio that approached us has someone with significant backing. It's said that one of their members is connected to Trix Pharmaceuticals." Jacob's expression darkened as he replied, "Trix Pharmaceuticals?" Simon nodded. "It appears that the studio owner is the granddaughter of Trix Pharmaceuticals' CEO and the sole heir to the company." "The board believes we should build goodwill now, especially since our future focus is on medical equipment. This could pave the way for smoother advances in this field." Jacob raised a hand to cut off Simon's explanation. He opened the car door and said, "We'll discuss this at the office." As he looked up, he found Nicole staring at him with earnest concern. Jacob hesitated. After a chaotic night, the rain had dampened Nicole's dark hair, causing it to cling to her beautiful face. Her silk blouse, slightly out of shape from his grip and soaked from the rain, subtly outlined her perfect figure. She looked vulnerable. Jacob released the door handle and took two steps back. He nodded toward Nicole and Sue before saying, "Get them home safely first." Simon was taken aback, and Nicole seemed equally incredulous. She scrutinized Jacob as if he had lost his mind. Jacob cleared his throat and glanced at his phone. "There's still a few matters to discuss with the lawyer. Once we're done, you can drop me at the office on the way." Next, Jacob turned to the anxious-looking Simon. "Tell the board members to wait a bit longer. They wouldn't want me dealing with legal issues, would they?" With that, Jacob slung his coat over his shoulder and returned to the police station. Nicole watched him disappear through the door. She was still trying to process what had just happened. Something in her gut told her the discussion with the lawyer was just a pretext. Jacob intended for Simon to take her home. But why? Yesterday, Jacob had gone to great lengths to finalize their divorce, even offering financial incentives. "Mrs. Blake." Simon's voice interrupted her thoughts. He stopped in front of Nicole and gestured for her to enter the car. "Please tell me your current address so I can navigate my way." Nicole snapped out of her daze after receiving a slap from Sue. She shifted her gaze from the anxious-looking Simon to the luxurious Maybach. Suddenly, Nicole realized something important and cursed inwardly. Her Sofita Resort development project wouldn't be finalized if Jacob didn't return to the meeting. She had even meticulously dropped hints to ensure the Blake Group would notice the connection between her studio and her influential grandfather. All of Nicole's efforts were to ensure the bid for the Sofita Resort project. What's the point if Jacob didn't return to the office? "Mrs. Blake?" Seeing that Nicole was still lost in thought, Simon called out again, forcing a smile as he faced her. "Mrs. Blake, shall we get going?" Nicole winced and waved her hand. With Sue in tow, she headed straight to the street, bypassing the Maybach. "It's all right. I'll hail a cab. I like to stand by the streets and experience what it's like to wait endlessly." Jacob deliberately remained at the police station for ten minutes to allow sufficient time for Nicole and the rest to depart. As soon as he stepped out, he spotted the familiar Maybach and a teary-eyed Simon. "Mr. Blake, Mrs. Blake insisted on taking a cab. I tried to convince her, but she wouldn't listen." Simon felt like his world was crumbling. Were there explosives in his car? Why was everyone refusing to ride in it? Jacob's expression darkened. Did Nicole do that on purpose? Was she so eager to distance herself from him that she'd rather take a cab? Jacob opened the car door, then closed it with a resounding thud. Just as Simon was still uncertain about the next step, Jacob rolled down the window and said, "To the office." With that, Jacob wound up the window and refused to speak another word. Simon hurried to the driver's seat and drove him to the office. Since moving out of the villa, Nicole had nowhere to stay and had been temporarily staying in a large apartment in the city center with Sue. Once they arrived home, they discarded their coats and collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion. Soon after, Sue mustered up the energy to turn to Nicole, saying, "Aren't you going to be embarrassed by your ex-husband because of that resort project? I told you to come clean about your identity earlier. "If the Blakes knew you were the sole heir to Trix Pharmaceuticals, they wouldn't have dared to bully you all these years." Nicole chuckled dismissively. "It doesn't matter. I don't care about their respect." She spoke with a maturity that was beyond her age. "I can't reveal my identity yet. Trix Pharmaceuticals is dealing with shareholder disputes. My grandpa wants me to stay hidden for the next couple of years. Otherwise, I'll become a target." She added with a bitter laugh, "And then there's my mysterious biological father. Ever since the terrorist attack when I was eight, he hasn't shown up. Who knows what those lunatics are capable of doing?" Sue nodded as she understood Nicole's predicament. "However, your assets are all overseas. You only have the empty studio here. When I offered to invest in your studio, you refused. "What do you plan to do? You've worked so hard on this. Are you just going to quit?" "Of course not!" Nicole sat up abruptly, arms crossed as she rationalized. "Who says I'm quitting? Does the boss always have to be present for every deal? "It's a studio. We must have a few sales or marketing managers, right?" Sue stared at her friend incredulously. "Are you serious, Nicole—" Before she could finish speaking, Nicole patted her on the shoulder and said, "All right, it's settled. We'll buy cars tomorrow. One for you and one for me. Since it's Jacob's money, we won't feel guilty spending it." Nicole happily went to bed while Sue remained bewildered. Although Jacob and Nicole were at odds, he was always a generous man. Before the insurance reimbursement came through, he transferred money to Sue's account, which was equivalent to the market value of the Ferrari. For some reason, he also transferred three million dollars to Nicole. "He must be flooded with cash."