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bChapter /bb111 /b

Jared hurt me again with what he did, but if bI /bcouldn’t even handle Owen, I was not even in a bce /bwhere dreams and bgoals/b. bwere /bup for discussion.

You only get stronger when you learn to take all the nasty people and things in stride, bI /btold myself. ‘I’ve always believed that a truly ambitious woman needs to have insane willpower and ba /bbclear /bbsense /bof direction.

Reputation didn’t matterb. /bClimbing bone’s /bway upb, /bno matter what one had to step over. In the end, it was all about using bevery /badvantage and forming alliancesb, /bas long bas /bone always put themselves first.

I made a pot of coffee in the living room and called Owen over for some. Grinning at me, he said, “Mrs. Hob, bI /bbjust /basked around and heard you guys haven’t settled on the wardrobes yet. bIs /bthat trueb?/bb” /b

b“/bYeah, bwe’re /bstill discussing it,” I replied.

b“/bWhy not let mypany take care of it? bI’ll /bgive you the lowest price,” Owen said. He might be a pro at flirting, and he could talk his way through any business deal, too.

“Just send me a quote first and I’ll check it out,” I said. Since it’s an open bid, of courseb, /bI have to shop around.

“Sure, I’ll have someone prepare the materials and send them over,” Owen said, nodding happily. “How about we grab lunch together? My treat.”

I smiled and nodded, “Sure, that’s very generous of you.”

“Not at all, Mrs. Hob. Just having you join me is enough,” Owen replied.

Even though he was obviously checking me out, he knew who I was and wouldn’t dare try anything. Then again, for all I knew, maybe Tracy put him up to this, trying to get some dirt to show Jared.

Right after I agreed to have lunch with Owen, Jared called me.

I got up and went to the office to take the call. Jared asked, “Do you have any ns for lunch?”

b‘/bbA /bsupplier invited me to lunch, so I said yes,” I replied. This must be what he always called business socializing.

‘Which supplier?” Jared’s voice dropped a notch.

bJust /bsome young guy, Tracy’s cousin, Owen. Seems like a fun character. Oh, and we’re still haggling over the hotel wardrobesb, /band we haven’t settled on a price yet. I told Owen to send me a quote, too,” I exined.

‘Aiden’s in Hachester. Has he reached out to you?” Jared cut me off.

“Whatb?/bb” /bbI /bshot up from the couch. “Aiden’s here? Where is he?”

“He bjust /bgot in from Shaville yesterday with a few friends. I thought he’d call you,” Jared said calmly.

“He bhasn’t /bcalled me,” bI /bsaid, totally bummed. Aiden Murphy was my brother, and yet he only bothered to contact Jared when he came to Hachester.

bI /balmost forgot that Jared bwas /bthe perfect brother–inw. He was rich, generous, and always on top of everything. Aiden totally idolized him, swearing every year that he wanted to be as awesome as Jared someday.

“bI’ve /bbset /bup lunch with him. Wouldn’t look too good if you, his big sister, didn’t show up, right?” bJared /bdrawled.

“Send me the restaurant addressb,/bb” /bbI /bsaid sullenly.

Jared let out ba /bquietugh on the other end. “Don’t bbe /bupset. Aiden’s bjust /bbhere /bto hang out.”

“I’m not mad,” bI /breplied, and hung up.

Not long afterb, /bbJared /bsent me the restaurant address.

I went out and told Owen I had something else going on at lunch. He looked a bit let downb, /bbut immediately tried to reschedule for bthe /bday after tomorrow, and I ended up saying yes.

When I arrived at the restaurant, bI /bsaw Aiden chatting with a few friends. There was a girl with sses who looked breally /bsweet and innocent, leaning on his shoulder bas /bshe smiled. The two of them definitely seemed to have a spark.

b“/bVictoria?” Aiden jumped up in surprise when he spotted me at the door. “Why are you hereb?/bb” /b

bI /bsmiled and said, “Jared asked me toe. Hasn’t he arrived yet?”

Aidenb, /blooking startled, hurried over and grabbed my arm. “Victoria, can we talk outside for a bsec/bb?/bb” /b