Chapter 235

That vague, suggestive comment instantly piqued everyone’s curiosity. The looks directed at Lucas were all tinged with subtle amusement and barely veiled insinuation.

But Ian found something off about the whole thing. That line Lucas had tossed out really did sound a bit like a tease. By saying that, wasn’t he basically confirming what had happened inside? Before the assistant could catch up and ask more, Lucas had already stepped into the elevator and disappeared from sight. Left with no choice, the assistant gave up. Still, recalling Lucas’ words, he figured it was best to let the general manager rest.

What he didn’t know was that his general manager, who was “resting,” couldn’t even read a single line of text. With her mind in complete disarray, Aurora could only redirect her focus toward clients. Face-to-face meetings always carried more weight; it was easier to strike deals when there was some personal connection involved. She’d always believed in that approach, which was why she placed so much importance on client visits.

After asking around and calling in a few favors, she finally managed to get John York’s contact information. At first, John had no intention of accepting her request. He owned his own company overseas and had never even heard of a firm like Walton Corporation. Aurora was well aware of Walton’s shortcomings—strong enough to stand in Ravenshore, but on the international stage, they were practically unknown. That was exactly why she was pushing for overseas expansion, to give Walton a presence abroad.

Whenever she spoke with John, she thought through every word, carefully weighing each message in her mind.

“Hello, Mr. John. I’ve long admired your work overseas. It’s truly impressive.”

John replied with a polite message. “You flatter me. It’s nothing worth mentioning.”

“I’ve heard of you for a long time, Mr. John. There’s an upcoming banquet here in Ravenshore; would you be willing to attend as my guest?”

John paused when he saw the message, momentarily caught off guard.

A trace of hesitation appeared on John’s bronzed face. He had always done business abroad and had indeed considered expanding his market. But Walton Corporation had never once crossed his mind as the gateway into the domestic scene. If Aurora hadn’t reached out, he wouldn’t have even known who she was. He simply couldn’t afford to place his bet on Walton Corporation.

“Miss Walton, let me check my schedule. If I’m available, I’ll definitely be there,” he replied politely.

After that, no matter what Aurora messaged, John didn’t respond again. She felt a wave of discouragement.

Sinking into the plush sofa chair, her long hair fell slightly messy around her shoulders, adding a touch of wild, untamed beauty. She couldn’t understand it. Their conversation had started off well, so why did everything stall the moment she brought up meeting in person?

She called in her assistant and ordered a full background check on John’s business dealings overseas. Her eyes sharpened with determination. She wasn’t going to give up that easily. As the old saying goes, “Knowledge is power—understand your opponent, and the battle’s already half-won.”

The assistant moved quickly and soon sent over all of John’s records. After going through the file, Aurora finally understood why John had rejected her. The truth was simple: he’d never intended to include her in his circle at all. That realization left a chill in her chest. After all that effort, in his eyes, she was nothing more than a nameless, irrelevant player. Still, now that she’d found the root of the problem, she could start crafting the right solution.