Chapter 278

“Ms. Dawson, rest assured. Here at Echo City’s Tyler Group, we’ve always been above board with our dealings. Even if there’s an investigation, I can guarantee it won’t trace back to you, Ms. Dawson.”

While speaking, Preston looked at Freya with a confident smile. “Doing business with me is all about high risk and reward. I don’t take you for the faint-hearted, Ms. Dawson. If you were, you wouldn’t have approached me in the first place.”

Freya shifted uncomfortably under Preston’s gaze. Preston was no saint. His demeanor reeked of that all-too-familiar trader’s greed. Initially, Freya approached Preston to secure her future. Little did she know how difficult he would be to deal with. She couldn’t fathom how someone like Preston would become devoted to Eloise.

“Okay, if this is Mr. Tyler’s goodwill, I accept it. But I want it in writing,” Freya declared.

Preston raised his eyebrow. “Say the word.”

“If anything related to Tyler Group goes south, it has nothing to do with me.”

“Ms. Dawson, don’t you think that’s a bit cold?”

“I have no emotional ties to you.”

“If you sign, I’ll accept this share agreement. But if you don’t…” Freya trailed off, leaving Preston awaiting her following words. Taking a deep breath, Freya went on, “If you don’t sign, I’ll turn myself in. We can both go down if it comes to that.”

Preston’s reaction was to laugh, a rarity for him. Neil was the first to chuckle, saying, “Ms. Dawson, you seem unaware. If you turn yourself in, the ‘fish’ might not die, but the ‘net’ will break.”

Freya knew of Preston’s influence abroad, and he was considered a dark horse in Echo City. But Preston’s adversary was no ordinary foe. It was Kieran. The saying goes, even a mighty dragon cannot crush a local serpent. If Kieran sought to oppose Preston, the outcome of their conflict was uncertain.

Rather than being implicated later, Freya preferred to clear her name from Preston’s dealings from the outset.

“Fine, I’ll sign,” Preston conceded.

Neil interrupted, “Ms. Dawson, this boils down to trust. You should know Preston seldom operates by the book. Even with his signature, there’s no guarantee he’ll keep you out of it.”

Neil’s solemn advice was met with a cold glance from Preston, silencing him immediately.

Freya retorted, “That’s overseas. Here is Echo City. A signature here holds legal weight. Mr. Tyler, being new to Echo City, likely doesn’t have the connections I fear.”

“You’re right. This time, I’ll honor my word.” Preston said in an almost patronizing tone and instructed Hans to have their lawyer prepare another contract.

While waiting for the contract, Preston’s attention finally settled on Freya’s bandaged arm. Wrapped in gauze, her arm, alongside the bruises on her face, painted a picture of her recent ordeal.

Feeling Preston’s gaze on her, Freya shivered and asked, “What are you staring at?”

“To see Ms. Dawson still standing, despite such harsh treatment, is truly remarkable.”

“You knew?” Realizing Preston was aware of her tribulations fueled Freya’s indignation. “Had you not meddled with the Harwood family, I wouldn’t be in this mess. Mr. Tyler, next time you plan such actions, could you at least give me a heads-up?”