Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Your Niece Bullied Me

Lindsay Joyce was dressed in a blouse and dress pants with a pale lilac overcoat draped over her shoulders. Her hair was swept into a loose updo. She walked with an air of purpose, her presence commanding.

Her sharp gaze swept across the banquet hall, finally landing on Claire Kendall.

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment.

Claire Kendall instinctively turned away.

Yvonne Warren’s eyes lit up when she saw the OCHH team. She muttered to herself, "So they did come."

Picking up her wine glass, she hurried over. "Ms. Joyce..."

Lindsay Joyce gave a polite nod, her tone civil but distant. "Hello."

Then, she walked right past her, heading toward Grace Rhodes at the head table.

She presented two master-class Seraphine porcelain teacups. "Mrs. Rhodes, it’s been a long time. Happy birthday. I wish you a lifetime of joy and laughter."

Grace Rhodes chuckled, glancing at Claire Kendall. "You two... even your birthday wishes are identical. Just like old times, you were..."

Ian Rhodes nudged her arm at just the right moment. Grace Rhodes caught herself and laughed awkwardly, trailing off.

Having been ignored, Yvonne Warren swallowed her displeasure and prepared to make small talk with the OCHH executives.

She forced a graceful, composed smile. But when she turned around, the OCHH executives had all swarmed over to Claire Kendall.

"Ms. Kendall, long time no see!"

"It’s been forever since we pulled an all-nighter for a big meeting together. I really miss our college days."

Someone lowered their voice and asked, "Nati, how about coming back to OCHH for a bit? The money’s not an issue. We just really want to do something big."

In the distance, Yvonne Warren clenched her fists. She couldn’t hear their conversation, but from reading their lips, it seemed someone had mentioned "Nati."

’That bitch Claire Kendall! She must have just found out I want to poach Nati, so she ran over to sow discord.’

’But why do the OCHH executives seem so familiar with Claire Kendall?’

’Something felt wrong, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.’

Claire Kendall clinked glasses with each of them.

They were all founding members of OCHH, having been there since the brand’s inception in college. They knew Ian and Grace Rhodes very well.

"You guys might not care about the money, but I do! I’ve got a family to support, you know!"

Claire Kendall tilted her head back and downed a mouthful of wine. Her voice grew heavier. "Besides, I’m not Nati anymore."

As the sharp liquor slid down her throat, her irritation began to subside.

The group fell silent. All at once, their eyes darted toward Lindsay Joyce, then quickly away.

Someone spoke in a hushed tone.

"To be honest, Ms. Joyce was very concerned about you from abroad. When you were at the Sinclair Group, with the raw material crisis and the order backlog, it was Ms. Joyce who stepped in to help."

"All these years, she’s even kept an office reserved just for Nati."

Claire Kendall’s hand, holding her wine glass, froze in mid-air.

As the atmosphere grew tense, Yvonne Warren saw Lindsay Joyce leaving the head table and immediately rushed after her.

"Ms. Joyce, please wait!" She stopped, putting on her most sincere expression. "I’m sorry to bother you, but I’d like to discuss the acquisition proposal for OCHH."

Lindsay Joyce stopped. Her expression was calm, but a flicker of impatience showed in her eyes.

She didn’t answer right away, just stared at Yvonne coolly with a condescending, appraising gaze.

The look made Yvonne Warren extremely uncomfortable, as if she were a commodity being appraised. She gritted her teeth and maintained her smile.

"Ms. Joyce, the Sinclair Group is fully prepared for the OCHH acquisition."

"Fully prepared?" Lindsay Joyce repeated softly. "Ms. Warren, in that case, why don’t you tell me about OCHH’s segment proportions, its profit and loss situation, its stylistic characteristics, and its future market trajectory."

Yvonne Warren stiffened.

"My apologies, Ms. Joyce. I can’t answer those questions at the moment. But the Sinclair Group has prepared substantial capital."

The implication was clear: no other company could outbid the Sinclair Group. That was the source of her confidence.

"And this is what you call being fully prepared, Ms. Warren? OCHH isn’t looking for a buyer based on money, but on suitability."

Lindsay Joyce continued, "Oh, and by the way, I heard you’re also trying to poach Nati?"

Yvonne Warren’s heart skipped a beat. She shot a venomous glare at Claire Kendall. ’It must have been her.’

She explained hastily, "Ms. Joyce, it’s a misunderstanding. I just genuinely admire Nati’s talent..."

"Ms. Warren, don’t bite off more than you can chew." With that, Lindsay Joyce turned and walked away.

Panicked, Yvonne Warren lunged forward to stop her. In her haste, she tripped on the hem of her wide-leg trousers, stumbled, and pitched forward.

Lindsay Joyce sidestepped her.

Yvonne Warren hit the ground hard. Her wine glass shattered, splashing wine everywhere. The surrounding guests stepped back, eager to watch the drama unfold.

A shard of glass cut her hand, and blood dripped freely from the wound.

The fall was so hard she didn’t have the strength to get up. Yvonne Warren looked up and met Lindsay Joyce’s cool, detached gaze.

In that instant, Yvonne Warren understood.

’She did it on purpose!’

’She deliberately made me a public spectacle! But I’ve never done anything to offend Lindsay Joyce. Why would she do this?!’

Not far away, Claire Kendall couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

’It was the first time she’d ever seen Yvonne Warren so thoroughly humiliated.’

Yvonne Warren scrambled to her feet, her teeth clenched. "Claire Kendall, don’t you get cocky! I have plenty of ways to acquire OCHH! Don’t think kissing up to Lindsay Joyce is going to help you!"

She limped out of the banquet hall, looking utterly wretched.

Claire Kendall felt a wave of satisfaction, but when she recalled what the OCHH executives had said, her heart grew heavy again.

’Lindsay Joyce,’ she thought, ’didn’t we agree to part ways and never have anything to do with each other again?’

She put down her wine glass and left the banquet hall.

The villa’s back garden was silent, and the salty sea breeze washed over her face.

A jacket with a familiar scent was draped over her shoulders from behind.

After a moment of silence, he spoke. "Still staring? What’s so great about the ocean? Am I not better to look at?"

"Mmm... not nearly as good-looking as you." Claire Kendall wrapped her arms around his waist and said playfully, "Your niece was bullying me just now. What are you going to do about it?"

Miles Warren pinched her nose, his voice a mixture of affection and exasperation.

"Claire Kendall, are you even trying to be reasonable?"

"She fell so hard she looked like a turtle on its back, and you’re saying *she* bullied *you*?"

Behind them, a venomous gaze was locked onto their figures.

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