Chapter 141

Skylar glanced at the ring on Mark’s finger—an expensive antique. Such items wouldn't be worn by people of their social standing unless they symbolized wealth and status. After all, contemporary high-end brand accessories are more fashionable. But

She curled her lips slightly, then glanced at the beautiful models seated on the sofa. It was a pity, she thought; some men treated women like fleeting trends. She felt these men didn't realize they were stepping deeper into an abyss.

"Did Mr. Martin bring his secretary today?" Annie asked, her voice slightly raised. Her gaze finally swept across the room.

Ethan suppressed a laugh. "Ms. Silver, did you just notice there are several of us here?"

"She probably only just saw Mr. Martin!" Lukas joked.

Annie's gaze finally settled on Skylar. She remembered Skylar; it was hard to forget her. The last time, in Joe's car, she'd seen Joe staring blankly at Skylar. At the time, she'd simply assumed Skylar fit Joe's type, explaining his lingering glances.

She hadn't considered Joe's character deeply then. She'd assumed he'd seen plenty of women like Skylar. She'd wondered how he could openly stare at someone on the street, especially considering she was his secretary and Paul was present. She'd also wondered why he needed a female secretary—the reasons were easy enough to imagine.

Suddenly, her heart tightened.

"Hello, Ms. Silver. I'm Mr. Martin's secretary," Skylar said, stepping forward to introduce herself since Annie had already spoken. She hadn't expected to meet Annie in person; in real life, she was even more beautiful than on television. True to her scholarly family background, she possessed a refined temperament.

Annie smiled politely and gently nodded. "Hello."

Joe noticed Mark talking to Skylar; a smile still lingered on her face. His expression darkened as he approached. Seeing Joe, Mark sat back down on the sofa and put his arm around a model.

Skylar was surprised to see Joe approach her directly. She wondered if he was worried about upsetting Annie.

"Is the orange juice good?" Joe asked.

Skylar nodded, slightly bewildered. "It's quite good, a bit sour."

Annie saw Joe go directly to Skylar, and her expression stiffened.

Rowan, ever sharp, sensed the tension and called everyone over for cake. Afterward, he remembered inviting Joe and Annie that day to subtly encourage them. He figured he might as well let things unfold naturally.

"Annie, did you drive?" he asked.

Aware of the situation, Annie shook her head. "I had wine at dinner, so I took a cab."

(The final line "Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out" appears to be unrelated and should be removed.)