Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Bruce looked up and happened to see Joanna too.
She was wearing a black below–the–knees skirt. The black heightened her delicate swan neck and collarbone.
Although the dress didn’t expose her bosoms, she still looked gorgeous and sexy.
It was the first time he had seen her in such revealing clothes.
Her entire collarbone and her calves were exposed.
Bruce frowned. He felt a surge of inexplicable anger.
What made him even angrier was that Jaydon was now intimately holding Joanna’s shoulders while eyeing her with adoration.
He could tell from Jaydon’s eyes that the latter really liked her.
The thought of them doing something unspeakable after finishing their meal irritated him.
Bruce was flooded with complicated emotions.
He coughed awkwardly and loosened his cravat with an icy cold expression.
“Bruce, what’s up?”
“Nothing. Go ahead and place the order.”
Roxanne’s face fell.
She had just ordered.
“Bruce, why do you seem so distracted?”
“No, I’m not!”
Bruce tried to contain his irritation but couldn’t keep his eyes off Joanna.
Roxanne finally realized that something was wrong.
She looked in the direction of Bruce’s gaze. RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only
“Joanna!”
Roxanne gaped when she saw Joanna.
A surge of jealousy swept over her instantly.
“No wonder Bruce has such a reaction. So, he has seen Joanna,” she mused.
“Why don’t you say hello to her, Bruce?” Roxanne said sourly.
“What for? Let’s have a toast.”
Bruce raised the red wine glass in front of him.
Roxanne paused, picked up her glass, and gently touched it against his.
“Cheers…”
By the time Bruce finished speaking, he had gulped down the drink. The red wine glass was immediately emptied.
This made Roxanne even more furious, and her complexion clouded.
“Why is this bitch everywhere? It seems like today’s atmosphere is going to be ruined again,” Roxanne thought.
Bruce poured himself another half glass of red wine and gulped it all down.
“Bruce, what are you doing? You’ll get drunk if you drink in such a hurry! You can’t drink Conti like
that!”
This bottle of Romance–Conti was worth a dozen thousand dollars.
People usually took a small sip and enjoyed the lingering taste.
However, Bruce was gulping down the alcohol like it was water.
Meanwhile, Jaydon and Joanna passed by Bruce and Roxanne and took a seat on the left side of the dining room.
They had actually booked another table which was in a better location. However, in order to avoid Bruce and Roxanne, they gave up the table.
The restaurant was fully air–conditioned. Jaydon asked with concern, “Are you cold?”
Joanna rubbed her arms and said, “A little.”
Jaydon looked over at the waiter. “Get us a shawl, please!”
“Yes, Mr. Grim. Just a moment, please!”
The waiter then handed them a dining–room shawl.
Jaydon stood up and stretched out the shawl, draping it over Joanna’s shoulders.
“Thank you!”
The two of them exchanged a smile.
Today’s press conference was a great success.
Under the efforts of Jaydon’s public relations team, Joanna was packaged as an independent, strong, beautiful, and inspiring woman.
As of now, various articles and edited videos were being widely circulated on the Internet.
Within a day, Joanna’s reputation was on the mend.
After the news of the partnership between Haynes Group and CI Technologies spread out, the investors‘ minds were finally at ease.
By mid–afternoon, the share price of Haynes Group had stopped fluctuating wildly.
Jaydon helped her out so much that Joanna thought he deserved to be treated to dinner.
Jaydon looked at her ambiguously and tenderly. He smiled and said, “What would you like to it?”
“I’ll have a steak and a salad!”
Jaydon browsed through the menu. “Make it two then!”
“No problem!”
The top beef in the restaurant was very famous and a must–try.
“Will you join me for a movie after dinner?”
Joanna’s eyes flickered. “Jay, you know the drill. I’ve got to go back and take care of Lilia.”
“It’s just a movie. It won’t take up much of your time.”
“I think I’ll pass. I’m feeling a bit tired today.”
Joanna’s eyes deepened as she politely turned down his invitation.
Jaydon smiled and gently grabbed her hand. “This is a film produced by my company. Today is the premiere. I’d like you to come with me!”
Subconsciously, Joanna flinched. “I don’t know! I…”
She knew that if she agreed to join him later, it would be equivalent to agreeing to be his girlfriend.
“Joann, I accompanied you to the press conference today. It’s only fair for you to accompany me to the premiere.”
“Jay, I’m afraid I’m not good at dealing with grand events like this!”
“You don’t have to deal with it. Just stand beside me and keep me company.”
Joanna smiled. “There are so many beautiful women in your company. Why don’t you ask them to accompany you?”
As Jaydon heard this, his eyes gleamed with disappointment. “Would you like them to come with me? Do you have any idea what this means?”
Joanna merely fell silent.
She knew, of course, that he wanted her to attend the premiere as his girlfriend.
However, she really didn’t want to be in a relationship ever again.
Jaydon squeezed Joanna’s hand and watched her in silence.
“Joann, are you sure you don’t want to give me this chance? Don’t you want to give yourself a chance
too?”
“Jay, you don’t have to do this. I don’t want to ruin our friendship. You know that!”
Jaydon sneered. “Friendship?”
Joanna was taken aback. “Isn’t that what this is about? I’ve always thought of you as my best friend.”
Jaydon’s handsome face darkened. He had done so much more than what a man would offer his friend.
He no longer saw her as merely a friend.
A man wouldn’t be so stupid as to be a saint if he didn’t have feelings for this woman.
“Joann, do you really not understand, or do you just don’t want to understand?”
Jaydon raised his eyebrow and gazed at her with mixed emotions..
He had never felt this frustration from a woman before.
He had never put so much of his heart into a woman like this before.
Sadly, after four years, she still wouldn’t accept him.
Tonight, he would officially confess to her.
If she did not accept him, he would stop his pursuit.
Under Jaydon’s intense stare, Joanna started to feel agitated, and her eyes began to wander. “Jay, don’t be like that! I really can’t!”
Bruce had brought her immense misery.
She was really traumatized.
She was afraid to venture into relationships again. She didn’t want to get hurt.
Only the heavens would know how she got through the last four
years.
“Jay, you’re a good man. You really are! You deserve a better woman! You’re too good for me!”
Jaydon cupped Joanna’s face in his hands and gazed fondly into her eyes. “Joann, you have to correct your false view of yourself. Do you have any idea how good you are? Can you give yourself a little confidence?”