Chapter 84

The Warner family generally maintained a low profile, avoiding the public eye. However, their business dealings necessitated interaction with various individuals, inevitably leading to occasional friction.

Before arriving, I'd been solely focused on the manager's honesty and the information we needed. I'd completely forgotten about Yasir.

"Let's start with some drinks, shall we?" I offered, smiling to diffuse the tension. These two were my business partners; a fight between them would be difficult to manage.

Yasir scoffed. "Yvonne, why are you drinking with someone like him?"

I froze, unsure how to respond.

Marlon's gaze hardened. "Yasir, are you here to spy on me for Hayden?"

Neither would back down.

I rubbed my forehead, turning to Marlon. "Are we going to continue with this business or not?"

Marlon remained silent.

I glanced at Yasir. "If you're unhappy, you can leave. No one's stopping you." He'd followed me, and now he was stirring things up.

Yasir finally fell silent, sitting on the couch. Ethan, seated nearby, nursed a martini, his expression distant and melancholic.

Marlon's voice startled me back to reality. "The person you're looking for is over there."

I followed his gaze. Not far away, a woman sat in a higher chair, idly sipping a cocktail. Her eyes constantly scanned the room, as if searching for someone.

I was surprised. "Is it her?"

"Irene Yates, thirty-two years old. She left the Parker Group three months after joining, working only on the Kinaew Square contract," Marlon said slowly.

I quickly spotted a flaw. "She left so quickly. It's almost as if someone arranged it!"

Marlon smiled knowingly. "To find out the truth, we'll have to ask Irene herself."

"Do you think she'll talk if we just approach her?" I asked, hesitating.

"Irene's husband is in poor health. She spends every night in bars, looking for men," Marlon said, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"A beauty trap?" I echoed.

Marlon smiled wider. "So smart."

"But who's going—" My question was directed at Marlon, a knowing glint in my eyes.

Marlon's expression tightened. "Do I look like the type to lure women?"

"Then who should go?" I asked, rather pleased with myself. It certainly couldn't be me; even if I were willing, Irene wouldn't give me the time of day.

Marlon's gaze landed on Yasir.

Chapter 811 (Continued)

He was holding a drink, mid-sip, when he understood Marlon's suggestion. He spat it out in shock. Image forgotten, he stared wide-eyed at Marlon. "You're not seriously suggesting I go, are you?"

I almost forgot Yasir was with us. Following Marlon's logic, I assessed Yasir.

"You're not bad-looking. You'll do." I patted his shoulder. "Go for it! You can do this!"

Yasir wiped his mouth. "Yvonne, you can't be serious. There's no way I'm doing that."

"Do you think you're good-looking enough? Are you scared?" I tilted my head, asking earnestly.

Yasir took a deep breath, setting down his drink and fixing his hair. "Of course, I'm confident in my looks. It's just…"

"This little thing, and you won't help me?" I batted my eyes innocently, continuing my plea.

Yasir was trapped. Marlon, ever the strategist, poured Yasir a drink. "This difficult task, I'm afraid only you can handle. Men understand other men better." The flattery seemed to hypnotize Yasir. He downed the drink, stood abruptly, and declared, "Fine, I'll go. There is no woman I can't handle!"

He strode towards Irene, his steps filled with unexpected resolve. I laughed, asking Marlon, "What kind of grudge do you have against him?"

"Nothing, really," Marlon smirked. "We've just crossed paths a few times during business meetings."

His expression turned serious. "Yasir is Hayden's friend. What's he doing here with you?"

"Just a coincidence," I replied, smiling. Whether Yasir was here for the cruise deal or spying for Hayden mattered little; I needed to focus on my own objectives. Marlon's brows furrowed, but he didn't press.

Yasir reached Irene, and I leaned in, watching with interest. "The show's starting," I said. Marlon glanced over.

Yasir took deep breaths before approaching Irene's table. He leaned against it casually, fingers touching his temple in a supposed suave gesture.

He began, "Hey there, beautiful. All alone? What a coincidence… I'm here alone too. How about we share a drink?"

Irene clearly sought a one-night stand; her husband's impotence and her own desires were evident. But Yasir was not to her liking.

She rolled her eyes, picked up her drink, and left. Yasir stood frozen, mortified. The bartender asked, "Sir, does your back hurt?"

Yasir straightened, attempting damage control. "Hey, I've been sitting too long. My body's just…"

I couldn't help laughing.

Chapter 84 (Continued)

I'd heard Yasir was a playboy, a supposed expert at this game. He proved to be more of a rookie.

Marlon nudged me. "Look over there."

I turned to see Irene walking towards Ethan. "What's going on? Could there still be a chance?" I wondered.

"Sir, you look so gloomy," Irene said playfully, greeting Ethan.

Ethan barely glanced at her, replying, "Serum."

Undeterred, Irene laughed and sat beside him. "Looks like you've got something weighing on you. Want to talk about it? Keeping it all to yourself must be so hard." She lightly touched his hand.