Over on the other side, after learning about Jiang Chao's background, Mrs. Hill also wanted to poach him. Anyone running a company knew who Jiang Chao was!
Seeing Janelle wasn't with Jiang Chao, Mrs. Hill walked over, a glass of champagne in hand. Jiang Chao raised an eyebrow at her approach. He was very familiar with this kind of situation, so it wasn't surprising at all. However, knowing this woman was his little junior sister's enemy, he decided to toy with her a bit.
"Mr. Jiang, hello. I am the CEO of the Hills Group. I've long admired your reputation."
"Flattery, flattery. Just a bit of empty fame."
"Mr. Jiang is far too modest. The thing is, I believe a talent like you might find our company worth trying. The benefits we offer will definitely be ten times better than Blue Whale Co., Ltd." Mrs. Hill laid out her terms directly. In her eyes, any talent could be bought with money. If you couldn't poach them, it just meant you weren't offering enough. She believed there was nothing in the world money couldn't solve.
Hearing her nouveau riche tone, Jiang Chao found it amusing. She genuinely thought money made her omnipotent.
"How much is Mrs. Hill offering?" he asked, pretending interest.
Seeing him waver, she pressed, "How much do you want?" As long as it wasn't an outrageous demand, she could agree. Poach everyone around Janelle, and what can she possibly achieve?
Just then, Jiang Chao spotted Janelle. "Miss Rovella, could you come here for a moment?"
Mrs. Hill hadn't expected him to call Janelle over. Janelle approached.
"What is it?"
"Miss Rovella, Mrs. Hill says she's willing to pay me ten times my current salary to join her company. What do you think?"
"..." Mrs. Hill was speechless. How could he just blurt that out? Was this something you say aloud?
"If you want to go, I won't stop you," Janelle replied coolly.
"What are you saying, Miss Rovella? You know full well my loyalty lies with you! Don't worry, no matter how much she offers, I won't accept."
"You—!" Mrs. Hill realized she'd been played.
The party progressed. After a while, the music shifted, signaling the start of the waltz.
As the first notes played, Jiang Chao immediately extended an invitation to Janelle. Janelle placed her hand in his, and the two began to glide across the ballroom floor. Both possessed striking looks, drawing everyone's gaze.
"Little Junior Sister, Erik is watching us," Jiang Chao murmured, a hint of mischief in his tone. He'd deliberately positioned himself beside Janelle as the dance started, seizing the opportunity.
"You know who he is. Don't truly anger him." Erik was capable of anything.
"I might have been scared before, but now that he likes you? I'm not afraid at all." Even when beating a dog, you consider its master, right?
"Senior Brother, he and I aren't in the kind of relationship you think." They were truly just bedfellows. For now, they were still captivated by each other's bodies. But it was all temporary. Nothing in this world lasted forever. Once they grew tired of each other physically, it would be time to part ways. Erik staying here now, setting everything else aside, was simply because he hadn't had his fill yet.
"Little Junior Sister, I'm serious. You don't need to be so pessimistic. There are actually many good men in this world. Like your senior brother, for instance."
Janelle couldn't help it; she rolled her eyes. "What kind of man are you? Don't you know? How can you say that with a straight face?" Jiang Chao was a playboy who drifted through life. He had genuine talent, but no capacity for true affection. However, he was very good to his fellow disciples. If they asked for help, he would always agree.
Meanwhile, Erik had casually found a seat. He held half a glass of champagne, lounging lazily, forming his own captivating silhouette. A wealthy heiress couldn't resist and approached him.
"Sir, may I have this dance?" the beauty asked boldly.
"Not interested," Erik refused bluntly. Right now, he only wanted to do one thing: chop off Jiang Chao's hand. That lecherous paw dared to rest on Janelle's waist! Seems he doesn't want it anymore.
"Then, could I have your phone number? You're really my type," the beauty persisted, unwilling to give up.
"Get lost." Erik felt he'd been quite gentlemanly, but this woman couldn't read rejection. Do I look that easy?
Humiliated as never before, the beauty covered her face and ran off crying. Seeing her upset, her friends wanted to confront Erik. However, a single glance from him extinguished that dangerous idea. The man looked genuinely terrifying; they couldn't afford to provoke him. Better to let it go. The group silently retreated without daring to act.
The beauty, seeing this, grew even angrier. "Didn't you all say you liked me? You see me being bullied, and you won't stand up for me?" she demanded furiously.
The men exchanged glances. Finally, one spoke plainly, "Didn't you go flirt with him yourself and get ignored? That's not being bullied."
"Yeah! Did you really think you were some celestial beauty?" The simps decided to simp no more. There were plenty of beauties; why risk it for this one?
As the waltz ended, Jiang Chao released Janelle. "Little Junior Sister, for the sake of my own life, I'm heading out first. Let Erik take you home, alright?" Erik's gaze was already looking at him like he was a corpse. Erik hadn't even reached Janelle yet, but Jiang Chao was already fleeing for his life.
Finally rid of the eyesore, Erik stepped forward and made a formal invitation.
"May I?" (May I have this dance?)
Janelle placed her hand in his. Erik wrapped his arm around her slender waist and guided her into the dance. Janelle had learned dance as a child. While she hadn't practiced the waltz extensively, she danced gracefully. Erik, as heir to the Grand Court Group, was a frequent attendee of such events; the waltz held no challenge for him.
The man was tall, the woman delicate. They were captivating simply standing together. Now, with their movements so intimate, each step seemed laden with suggestion.
"Janelle," Erik murmured, his warm hand resting against the sensitive curve of her waist, "did I forget to tell you tonight? You are truly beautiful." She seemed breathtaking no matter what.
The music was romantic, and his voice was soft against her ear. Janelle leaned into Erik's embrace. At this moment, she felt the urge to sink into him, to drown together. Whatever the final outcome might be, right now, held against him, she felt a profound warmth.