Chapter 669

Once breakfast ended, it was time to head back to the office.

Nikolas started toward the car, planning to ride with Cedric and Daniela without thinking twice.

But as he reached for the handle, someone stopped him.

He frowned. "What's this about?"

Cedric stood still, his tone ice-cold. "You'll take the car behind us."

That was all he said. No explanation. No room for argument.

Nikolas was caught off guard by the authority in Cedric's voice. He had expected more courtesy, at least for the sake of their business arrangement.

Clearly,he had misjudged Cedric.

His gaze flicked from Cedric to Daniela, and something clicked. So Daniela was his Achilles' heel.

Without another word, Nikolas walked toward the second car.

Meanwhile,Daniela took her seat beside Cedric in the back of the first one.

As the vehicle rolled forward and paused at a red light,Cedric spoke. "The question Nikolas asked... you haven't answered yet."

Daniela didn't need to ask what he meant.

Her eyes stayed on the passing view outside.

"You said you had no family," he added.

The words hung in the silence.

The driver glanced in the mirror, then quickly pressed the button to raise the partition. The air inside was too heavy to bear.

No one spoke again.

The hope in Cedric's chest faded. What had started as longing settled into quiet resignation.

When the car arrived at the entrance to Phillips Group,the driver stepped out in a hurry, as though escaping something suffocating.

Daniela opened the door.

Behind her, Cedric spoke up. "If you want, I can be your family. I'd never betray you."

Daniela stopped for a second. Her fingers rested on the doorframe. Then, without a word, she got out.

Nikolas stepped from the car behind them, took one look at Cedric, and scoffed. "Pathetic."

He didn't need any more proof. Cedric was hopelessly tied to her.

Moving forward, he would handle things through Daniela.

After the meeting ended, Nikolas made his way over to Daniela alone.

They met at a cafe. He sat quietly,eyes on the traffic outside. "I'm willing to work with you," he said flatly."But I've got a condition."

Daniela took a sip of her coffee, unfazed.

He glanced at her, surprised by her calm.

Most people would be eager over an offer like his.

Why wasn't she?

"My condition's simple," he added. "Cedric must never leave Olisvine."

Daniela raised her eyes, her expression unreadable. Nikolas loosened his tie, suddenly aware of how warm the room felt. "Do you get what I'm saying? My family will purchase every product Phillips Group puts out. No matter the volume, we'll take it all. Isn't that a rare chance? What do you say?"

Daniela gave a faint smile. "You really think that's a rare chance?"

His brows pulled together. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She placed her cup down and spoke evenly. "You just said you'd buy everything Phillips Group made.Based on the current numbers, we're talking fifty billion a year. Over twenty years, that's about a trillion."

Nikolas nodded slowly, his smile still holding. "So,you're saying-"

"But your family's net worth makes that look like pocket change,doesn't it?"

His face tightened. "What are you implying? I don't follow."

"You offer crumbs, then expect eternal loyalty in return. Keep him grateful. Keep him small... Tell me,Mr. McCoy, who taught you to treat people like that?"

His eyes narrowed. "I'm offering a solid deal. What does that have to do with my family's money?" "Nothing? Are you sure about that?" Daniela leaned forward. "In business, I've learned one thing. There's always a price. You know that too. Don't pretend you don't run the numbers."

Nikolas stiffened. His gaze cooled.

Daniela leaned back in her chair and stared at the Phillips Group building across the street. "Let's not play games."

Nikolas opened his mouth, but Daniela cut him off."You released Caiden from the mental institution."

He froze in place.

Seconds passed. Then he lowered his eyes. When he looked back up, the friendly mask he wore earlier was gone.Only cold calculation remained.

"You know who I am," he said, meeting her eyes."You know why I came here."

Daniela nodded. "I do."

Nikolas' expression grew colder. "You're thinking of helping him, aren't you?" His eyes bore into Daniela's,unyielding and intense.

Daniela lifted the cup again, took a slow sip, and set it down. "You think I'm not capable of that?" Nikolas leaned forward. His stare darkened wouldn't dare."

Daniela laughed, her voice calm but firm. Her eyes never left his. "Try me."