The Bride He Took For Granted novel Chapter 21

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< The Bride He Took for Granted

Chapter 21

“Then… could you introduce me to him?” Elise asked, looking at Kevin hopefully.

?

Kevin wanted to help her, but he didn’t dare cross Harold.

The head of the legal department had tried something similar once. He’d recommended an attractive young attorney to Harold-and Harold had dressed him down in front of everyone.

“This is a company, not a matchmaking service,” Harold had said coldly. “Use your position to pull something like this again, and you’re out.”

The memory alone made Kevin break out in a cold sweat.

“I’m sorry, Ms. White.”

Elise didn’t want to make things any harder for him, but she wasn’t about to give up. She slipped the letter of intent back into her bag and returned to the lobby, where she put in a formal request to meet with Harold.

The receptionist told her to go home and wait to hear 7:15

ibles long

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< Chapter 21

Elise nodded grimly.

Getting in to see Harold really was harder than getting an audience with the president.

A cold drizzle fell outside, perfectly matching her mood.

Umbrella in hand, Elise stood at the entrance and looked up at the skyscraper disappearing into the clouds.

If only she could fly straight up to the top floor…

******

Meanwhile, a black Maybach rolled to a stop in the building’s ground-level parking lot.

The man in the back seat didn’t look up. “Get the speech from my desk and bring it down.”

The windshield wipers swept the rain from the glass.

Harold glanced toward the building entrance and spotted a familiar, slender figure.

Then Elise remembered—she still had Harold’s number

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< Chapter 21

She pulled out her phone and brought up his contact. But just before she called, she hesitated.

Am I taking advantage of him? Using his kindness to get

what I want?

She wavered for a moment.

But if she couldn’t land this project, she’d never raise the $100 million she needed to break off her engagement…

Gritting her teeth, she hit Call.

As she waited for him to pick up, her heart hammered.

Inside the Maybach, an unfamiliar number lit up Harold’s phone.

Surprise flashed in his dark eyes, and he instinctively looked toward the woman near the entrance.

He answered, still watching her.

Elise’s voice shook when she spoke.

“Mr. Nash, this is Elise White from Novatech. Sorry to 378

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bother you…”

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< Chapter 21

His lips barely moved.

“What is it?”

His tone gave nothing away. Elise’s stomach knotted, and she had to force the words out.

“I have a project I’d like to discuss with you. I can guarantee it’ll turn a profit. Could you spare ten minutes? No-five. Just five.”

Harold was silent for several seconds.

Each one made Elise’s heart pound harder.

“Ms. White, there’s a process for this. Use it. Going around it will only hurt your chances. And this is my personal number. I don’t take business calls on it.”

His voice remained calm and unhurried, but Elise burned

with humiliation.

So the rumors were true. Harold Nash never bothered to

spare anyone’s feelings.

She’d been in too much of a hurry. The project could 17:15

benefit them both, and landing it would put her in

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< Chapter 21

better judgment.

Landon was always telling her she was too rational. Too cautious. Boring, even. She’d hated how much she overthought everything too.

Now she wished she’d overthought this.

Why had she chosen now, of all times, to stop thinking things through? Why had she made this humiliating call?

Heat flooded her face.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Nash. I shouldn’t have called you about

this.”

She hung up and fought the urge to smack herself in the forehead, yank at her hair, and scream.

Then someone stepped out of the building.

Elise pulled herself together, lowered her umbrella to hide her burning face, and hurried through the puddles to flag down a cab.

Harold watched it all. 578

■ 17:15

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So you can be impulsive after all. You regret things. You even blush. Then why are you trying so hard to deny who you are?

When Harold’s secretary returned with the speech, he stopped short.

A faint smile still lingered on Harold’s lips.

It had been a long time since he’d seen Harold smile like

that…

Once he had the speech, Harold headed to UCLA.

An elderly professor had invited him several times to give a guest lecture.

The auditorium lights dimmed, and a spotlight tracked Harold as he walked onto the stage without notes.

The sleeves of his dark gray shirt were rolled to his forearms. He rested one elbow on the podium, his sharp profile drawing more than a few admiring looks.

A female student stepped onto the stage to present hing with flowers, and cheers erupted throughout the auditorium.

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