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Just like his friend, Alexander was also sure that he already had this little girl hooked, and that she would happily agree to his invitation. Of course, compared to a coffee shop, many things could happen after a romantic dinner, and he never was one to dally.
Didn't Jake say that the White Deer's little princess was impossible for him to conquer just like this? Look, it only took a few sweet words, and this little beauty was sure to be moaning under him after tomorrow's dinner.
Unfortunately, his dreams were interrupted by the vicious woman by the little girl's side, as before Emilia could voice her agreement, the gray-haired woman had already slammed her fist on the table in rage. "Impossible! I won't allow it!"
Before Alexander could recover from the shock of the sudden turn of events, Emilia pretended to be dissatisfied as she jutted her lower lip out in a childish pout. "What do you mean, Noelle? I can do whatever I want, and I—"
The older girl sneered. "Young miss, if you really insist, I can always tell your older sister about this matter, and let her handle things her usual way."
To both Jake and Alexander, it appeared as if Emilia was immediately cowed at the mention of this 'older sister', her sulking expression making her look like someone had just snatched her candy.
Of course, as they had already discussed everything with Sam, this was obviously all just a premeditated play to fool the two men, who had no opportunity to get a single word in during their 'argument'.
Although those in the know would be aware that it was impossible for Sam to act against her little sister based on Noelle's complaints based on her usual behavior, it was impossible for either of these two to be able to think of such things.
Alexander had only heard a few vague rumors about the little girl's older sister being a siscon who dealt with her suitors severely, so he didn't doubt what he heard.
Moreover, as the one who would be inheriting most of the White Deer Corporation's power directly, this girl's older sister was bound to be both domineering and uncompromising. Even if her orders were unreasonable, Emilia would probably have no choice but to obey them.
Of course, Alexander couldn't just let this little fish that had already entered his net escape. At the same time, he thought this was a good opportunity to lower the gray-haired girl's image in the mind of this naïve little princess. "Are you her assistant, or bodyguard? Either way, is this any way to talk to your boss?"
Noelle scoffed. "Who are you? Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?"
Alexander's expression immediately turned ugly. "Y-You…! Unprofessional!"
"D-Don't be mean to her! Noelle is like my big sister, okay?"
The dark-haired man barely resisted the urge to smack Emilia across the face. 'This dumb bitch! We're not even together yet, and you already dare to speak up against me? Plus, how can you let your own servants boss you around? But then again… it's good that she's dumb.'
Alexander believed that had Emilia been even slightly less dumb, it would have been a little more difficult to make her fall for him without exposing his identity. Of course, she would still belong to him once he did so, but that would risk making some of those unruly bastards point fingers at him once he won the competition against his step-siblings.
Knowing that he couldn't afford to lose his temper now, Alexander took a deep breath to calm himself down. "I-I see… But shouldn't you still be able to make your own decisions? You're not a little baby who can't think for herself, are you?"
Emilia hurriedly shook her head in denial. "O-Of course not! I can think for myself!"
'Not very well, though, right?' Alexander thought sarcastically, but didn't let it show on his face. "Then you should do what you want. Tell me, do you want to go to a dinner with me?"
Emilia's expression turned conflicted as her eyes flitted between the 'handsome man' sitting across the table and the dark expression on Noelle's face. "I-I wanted to before, b-but…"
Alexander grit his teeth while hating the sheer stupidity of this girl. He had seen a lot of stupid 'love brain' girls before who would go crazy for him, but never knew that it would be even more annoying to find one that was actually so cowardly that she didn't even dare to go crazy.
He knew that if he didn't give this indecisive little girl a wake up call that she would miss the opportunity in front of her, she might just delude herself into thinking that he would do all the work for her.
Alexander sneered. "Are you sure that's your final answer?"
Noelle shuddered internally from disgust as she frowned. "This gentleman, I don't know what kind of intentions you have for my little boss, but I suggest you keep those disgusting thoughts from showing up on your face."
The dark-haired man pointed a finger at her in shock, unable to believe someone could dare to insult him so directly. "Y-You—!"
Noelle sneered. "Forget about lunch or dinner, you will never be meeting her in private, ever."
While Alexander was speechless from both rage and disbelief, Emilia tugged at the gray-haired girl's sleeves with a pleading look. "N-Noelle…"
Noelle almost faltered and gave in before realizing that Emilia was only playing. 'F-Fuck! Is there any need to be so realistic?!'
Trying her best to restrain her twitching lips, the gray-haired girl snorted coldly. "You want me to tell on Sam?"
Emilia immediately shrank back in 'terror' as she turned to the dark-haired man. "S-So what if we can't meet in private? W-Why don't you come to madam Green's party next Saturday? I—"
Alexander's expression had just started to ease when he heard the vicious woman chuckle darkly.
"Emilia, are you seriously going to attend a party now, just for him? I recall you skipped everything before?"
The crimson-haired beauty immediately waved her hands in a panic. "I-It's not like that, I-I was just focusing on my studies, so—"
Noelle nodded. "Then you do that. I remember there is a big event coming up in your school later, so be a good girl and focus on your performance. Don't get involved with messy people like this guy."
The younger girl could only reluctantly bite her lip as she looked at Alexander, inwardly wondering why Noelle's acting skills seemed to get better and better in such a short time. Is it true that serious people are more talented? Or is Noelle just especially diligent?
Alexander's face had already turned green from rage when he heard the gray-haired woman mock him over and over, but he knew that he couldn't lose his cool now. In front of so many admirers and in a public place, if he really did so, the image he had built up after so much effort might be lost overnight.
Normally, Jake would have long since tried to speak up for his friend, but today he remained strangely silent. Unfortunately, Alexander was too angry to notice such minor details.
But while the dark-haired man was still trying to regain his bearings and suppress his rage, Noelle had already asked for the bill without consulting her boss. "I believe your excuse for inviting us out was to apologize for that day, right? I haven't heard a sincere word from your mouth yet, and I'm about done with you. If you have nothing more to say, we'll be taking our leave!"
Alexander's face was dark. "You think you can keep her from me forever?" Going by her reactions, he already considered Emilia as his, so the only obstacle in his way was this annoying woman.
Noelle seemed to see through his thoughts at a glance, and sneered derisively. "My little boss doesn't have the time to deal with people like you. I'm not keeping her confined, just preventing her from going to dirty places where she should never have to step foot in the first place."
Alexander knew that this woman was much smarter than the little girl by her side, and he couldn't deceive her at all. "Y-You! Good… Good! Then it shouldn't be an issue if I were to come to a place she's already in, right?"
Noelle chuckled. "If you disturb her at school, I'll have to report you to the police for stalking and harassment."
The dark-haired man felt like he was going to suffocate from his own rage if he kept talking to this 'unreasonable bitch', but that meek little girl kept silent by the side, leaving him with no choice but to butt heads against this bullheaded woman. "Heh… don't tell me you intend to keep this little bird locked in her home and school all the time? Which girl in the high society is raised like this?"
Emilia also seemed to regain her spirits at this moment. "T-That's right, Noelle! I remember that I should also start attending some important events. I-I should also share some burden for big sis."
Her voice was soft and milky, and anyone who paid attention could hear the guilt. Clearly, she intended to use it as a means to meet up with him, Alexander thought. 'Good, although she's dumb, at least she's not stupid enough to not fight at all, or she really wouldn't deserve me favor, even for a single night.'
His smug smile immediately collapsed when Noelle sneered. "Of course, little boss. But do you think this ruffian has the qualifications to enter the same venue as you?"
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