Chapter 47

Meanwhile, Tyler sipped on some coffee as he sat on the couch, discussing the issues he spotted in Rachel’s proposal.

He pointed at the data and remarked, “If you submit these figures to upper management, they might find it too costly. If you want to seize the rights to manage the project, you’ll have to propose a price lower than that of Lewis Enterprise. Businessmen care only about profits.”

“But I’ve gone through many rounds of calculations, and this is the lowest I can go,” Rachel said with furrowed brows.

“How are you going to thank me if I manage to drop the figure?” Tyler spun a pen with his fingers, the sight captivating Rachel.

“I’ll treat you to a meal.” She couldn’t afford anything more than that.

What an unscrupulous businessman he was! She had already given him her entire proposal in exchange for nothing more than just her involvement in the design of Project Oasis. She didn’t even want the dividends–this was a deal that was pure profit for Tyler.

Tyler leaned back; he put his hands behind his head, crossed his legs, and rested his feet on the coffee table.

“Fine. I want to go to Moon & Barrel.”

Moon & Barrel!

A meal at that restaurant would set Rachel back by a five-figure sum. Tyler certainly didn’t shy away from making such a bold request.

If it weren’t for his reputation, Rachel would have serious doubts about whether he was truly poor. Why else would he keep trying to take advantage of her?

Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Tyler said with an arched brow, “What? Can’t bear to part with your money?”

Thinking how Tyler might piss off William by snatching Project Oasis from under his nose, Rachel bit the bullet and agreed to the request.

“Sure, how about within the week?”

Tyler raised an eyebrow and asked teasingly, “So eager to treat me to a meal?”

Rachel couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. “I might be busy and won’t have time for a meal after that.”

“Sure. Wait for my update, then.”

Seeing that it was getting late, Rachel urged him, “Hurry up and tell me how I can lower the cost.”

Overly high figures may hike up the future price per unit. Who wouldn’t want higher earnings?

Tyler hooked a finger at Rachel, as if he were signaling to a dog.

“Come here.”

Rachel stiffened at Tyler’s cue, but she decided to let it slide. Just as she was about to move, another figure beat her to it.

“Woof, woof!”

The dog ran faster than her and sat before Tyler, sticking its tongue out and wagging its tail, thinking that Tyler was going to reward it with a snack.

Rachel looked at how eager the dog was and, at that moment, saw a hint of herself in its eyes. Suddenly, she realized there was something wrong with Tyler’s cue…

“Go away. I didn’t call for you.”

Tyler’s gaze swept past the dog, and it shrank back in fright.

Rachel kept reminding herself not to be as eager as a dog, but she just couldn’t shake that feeling away.

“Mr. Hunt, I’ll just watch you from here.”

Tyler wrote down some figures with his pen, and Rachel paid close attention to his explanation. She didn’t expect him to really manage to drop the figures.

Rachel was still wondering at which step the figures started dropping, when the dog started barking at the entrance. She instinctively looked at the door, and her eyes widened in shock.

Wasn’t that William’s car?

By the time she recovered from her shock, William’s car was parked at the entrance. He stepped out, trudging toward the house.

Rachel’s heart started racing. “Why is William here?”

Tyler, on the other hand, remained as cool as a cucumber. He crossed his legs and swung them leisurely.

“Are you afraid of him?”