Allison picked up the document and gave it a quick nce.

Nicole said, “If you close this deal, I''ll give you a 20%mission based on the sales department standard, and you canbine it with themission from the legal feester.”

Allison wasn''t too fussed about themission. What she really valued was the chance to negotiate on the case and sharpen her negotiation skills. Back at the Havenbrookw firm she worked for, the sales team usually handled the negotiations before passing the cases to thewyers. She didn''t have many connections there, so she rarely got the chance to negotiate cases on her own.

Allison agreed to take on the task, looking up at Nicole. "Alright, Nicole."

Nicole gave Allison''s shoulder aforting pat. "Tonight at seven, at the Starlight Club. I''ll have Jack go with you. Sorry about the overtime.”

Allison nodded, "Sure, no problem."

At 6:30 PM, Allison went over to Jack''s desk. "Hey Jack, how are we getting thereter?"

Jack shot her an odd look, one that seemed a bit disdainful. "Why not roll up in your boyfriend''s Rolls-Royce Cullinan for some extra ir?”

Yesterday, when visiting a colleague in the hospital, both Elliott and Jack saw Allison stepping out of a Cullinan. Jack had even asked her about it then.

Allison frowned, "It''s a bitte to call him to bring it over. I''ll just grab a cab."

She had her own car, but she had driven it back to the Owens family estate the previous day, and Joshua had given her a ride back to her apartment. She hadn''t yet brought her car over. Plus, Nicole just mentioned that she needed to meet a client after work, so there wasn''t enough time to fetch her car.

Jack sneered, “Oh, feeling a bit stingy? I get it. Regr folks like us rarely get a chance to ride in your sugar daddy''s Rolls. And why''re you taking a cab? Do you think my Porsche Macan isn''t good enough? Of course, it can''tpare to a Rolls."

Allison red at him, her tone sharp, “What are you talking about? Got a problem with me? What''s with all the ''sugar daddy'' talk? What do you mean by that?"

Jack chuckled, “Oh,e on, Allison, don''t take it the wrong way. I''m just admiring your luck innding someone who drives a Rolls. I''m envious."

Allison shot back, "Did I offend you somehow? Did my car cost you anything?"

Jack scoffed, “I don''t have that kind of cash."

Allison replied, unfazed, "I''ve never seen someone so petty. Instead of being envious, why not work hard yourself? What''s with the bitterness?"

Jack''s face darkened at her words. Provoked, he rudely remarked, “Yeah, yeah, I''m bitter. I just wish I were a woman so I could snag a rich guy like you did.”

Allison was so angry her face went pale. Through clenched teeth, she said, “You''re awyer too. You know nder and defamation are illegal. You''d better watch your mouth, or I will take legal action!"

Jack seemed to realize he''d crossed a line. He rolled his eyes, said nothing more, grabbed his briefcase, and left.

Allison took a deep breath to calm down and called a cab.

The Starlight Club was close to thew firm, just a ten-minute drive. When Allison pushed open the door to

the private room, she found Jack already there, drinking with two clients. The clients were middle-aged men

in

15:40

their forties, each with a heavily made-up hostess hanging on their arms. As soon as Allison entered, all eyes in the room turned to her.