Chapter 19 What Was the Result?
Colton was unaffected at all by the fact that he was seen through, evidently with the smile on his face. Calmly, he uttered, “Can’t be too careful when it’s about the partnership of two companies. Besides, I’m only showing respect for F&M Apparel and Miss Lisa yourself.”
Nicole was astounded by how the man before her complacently described his pretense as “being careful.”
Zachary, on the other hand, could tell there was some sort of pre-established relationship between the two and smilingly said, “Since we’re all here, why don’t we find a seat and talk about the partnership between F&M Apparel and Gardner Corporation?”
Nicole nodded. The partnership with Gardner Corporation would only be beneficial, unsimilar to working with the associates of Mann Clothing Co., who were so easily persuaded. Although Gardner Corporation was clearly inferior to F&M Apparel in the clothing market, their advanced information technology was one of the most formidable in the field, which was also why F&M Apparel was willing to work hand-in-hand with Gardner Corporation.
Sitting by the conference table, Nicole put aside all her personal grudges as well as her bias against the Gardners, while Colton began the discussion of the partnership. The two remained assertive and opinionated with their thoughts regarding the work as every single word spoken was conveyed professionally. Meanwhile, Zachary looked at Nicole as she confidently and charmingly proposed her ideas.
“For the next season, F&M Apparel will be concentrating on casual wear, mainly on the refinement of the material used in manufacturing those products…” Whenever Nicole was talking about work, it was as if she was an entirely different person. She wouldn’t miss even the most insignificant detail.
Out of nowhere, a man came over and whispered to Zachary, to which the latter revealed a stiff expression before turning to Nicole. “Nicole, something came up, and I gotta go tend to it. I shall leave the matter to you and President Gardner.”
Nicole nodded. “Alright.”
Zachary’s departure left the remaining two on the wide couch. At that moment, Colton’s eyes twitched and he grew silent as he looked at Nicole. He waited for Nicole to finish up the discussion and slowly said, “Miss Lisa, I have a personal question for you. Do you have the time?”
Nicole paused for a moment as she looked back at him, clueless to his intentions. She then lifted her head and countered, “What is it?” As far as she could remember, she did not have any private interaction with Colton.
“Is your son four years old this year?” He stared at her with a hint of fascination in his inky eyes, though he didn’t make it obvious.
Hearing that, Nicole immediately grew defensive. She peered at him with her eyes filled with wariness. “Why do you ask?”
Colton then laughed. Initially, he thought Nicole was trying to flirt with him. However, given her identity as the Chief Designer of F&M Apparel and the way Zachary spoke to her, he found no point to support and justify that thought. He lifted his commissures and claimed, “A boy named Hayden sent his hair to me and wanted a paternity test done.”
At once, Nicole’s body froze. Hayden? My son Hayden wants a paternity test done with Colton? She was visibly dazed. She knew Hayden suspected that Colton was his real father, but she had never expected him to be this bold. She raised her eyes to look at the face that was almost identical to that of her son’s. If she didn’t know that Joseph was the man she slept with five years ago, she, too, would have suspected that Colton might have been Hayden’s father.
Accordingly, she forced a smirk, clarifying, “Ah, that boy always wanted a father, and he might have overstepped his boundary seeing your dashing look. I hope you don’t read too much into it.”
For some reason, Colton grew enthralled by her hasty expression. Languidly, he opened his mouth as he looked at her with his ebony eyes, and with a voice so magnetic, he stated, “Well, I bought it, so I did the paternity test.”
What?! Nicole was so stunned her entire body was petrified. Her jaw dropped as she fixed her unbelieving eyes on the man. She was thoroughly perplexed.
“Then… What was the result?”
