Married To My Ex's Brother, Reborn Miraculously
Chapter 48: The meeting with Mr. Lee

Chapter 48: The meeting with Mr. Lee

Augustine’s posture stiffened instantly, the warmth in his gaze vanishing, replaced by deep concern.

"Take me there," he ordered, springing to his feet.

Gustave gave a curt nod and swiftly exited, with Augustine on his heels.

Anne arrived at the upscale hotel where the meeting was set to take place. She stepped into the elevator, riding it straight to the top floor. As the doors slid open, the sharp click of her heels echoed against the marble floor.

Moving with poise, she strode down the elegant lobby, her destination clear—the gleaming double glass doors leading to the restaurant.

She pushed them open and stepped inside, her gaze sweeping the room. The atmosphere exuded wealth and exclusivity, with guests who were unmistakably from affluent circles. However, she paid them little attention.

Keeping her posture poised and confident, she made her way toward the private chamber the company had already reserved. As she entered, her gaze fell on a man in his late thirties, lounging on the sofa with a cigar between his fingers.

He paused mid-drag, his eyes narrowing behind gold-rimmed glasses as he took her in. "You?" he murmured, raising an eyebrow while sizing her up.

Anne stepped forward with unwavering confidence, her chin held high. "Good evening, Mr. Lee," she greeted, her tone crisp and professional. "I’m Anne Clair, Mr. Beaumont’s secretary. Unfortunately, my boss was unable to attend the meeting, so I’m here on his behalf."

She extended her hand toward him.

Mr. Lee shook her hand, his gaze intense enough to unsettle anyone. He had already received a message from Denis:

’I’m sending my secretary in my place. She is quite the catch—enjoy yourself. Just make sure to sign the contract.’

A lecherous smile curled on his lips as he held onto her hand a moment too long. "Your boss spoke highly of you, mentioning your remarkable skills. I must say, I’m quite eager to see them in action."

Anne’s stomach churned at his words, instantly sensing his vile intentions. But she refused to let anyone take advantage of her. Masking her unease, she forced a composed smile and firmly withdrew her hand from his grasp.

"You flatter me, Mr. Lee," she said smoothly, taking a seat beside him. "I’m simply here to do my job. Let’s discuss the terms." She opened the file, ready to present the details.

But before she could begin, he reached over, shut the file, and swiftly snatched it from her hands. "Business can wait. Let’s start with a drink and get to know each other first."

Setting the file aside, he poured a generous amount of amber liquid into a glass and slid it toward her. "Here—have a drink with me."

Lifting his own glass, he took a slow sip, his eyes scanning her with clear intent.

Anne glanced down at the glass in her hand before meeting his gaze. "It seems Mr. Lee is more interested in pleasure than business," she remarked with a playful lilt. "I had the impression you were quite serious about working with the Beaumont Group."

Mr. Lee chuckled, swirling the drink in his glass. "What have I been doing all these years if not business?" he mused aloud. "Signing contracts is routine for me. If I don’t finalize a deal with the Beaumont Group, there are plenty of other companies willing to take their place. But a woman like you—intelligent and stunning—is a rare find. I’d rather not waste time talking about business."

Anne hummed briefly before taking a small sip of her drink. "To be honest, Mr. Lee, you shouldn’t sign the deal."

"Uh?" He blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard. "And why do you say that?"

"I know this isn’t what you expected to hear, but I prefer to be honest with you," she said seriously, making her intentions clear—she was here to ruin Denis’s reputation. "My boss used to be dedicated and focused on the company’s affairs. But lately, things have changed. His priorities now revolve around his girlfriend, not business."

Mr. Lee studied her, his expression unreadable. He had his suspicions, but her words piqued his curiosity.

Leaning in slightly, Anne lowered her voice. "After five years together, his first love left him. But now she is back, hoping to reconcile. The problem? He is already in a new relationship. And now he’s torn—should he stay with his current girlfriend or return to his first love?"

Mr. Lee took a long sip of his drink, mulling over her words. "Quite a dilemma," he murmured.

Anne continued, gesturing animatedly. "Because of this mess in his personal life, his focus on work has completely crumbled. The company is in turmoil. Haven’t you heard about the confidential information leak?"

Mr. Lee stiffened, recalling the rumors he had dismissed earlier as just another piece of business gossip. "I did hear about it. Are you saying it actually happened?"

Anne widened her eyes, feigning surprise. "Of course it did! Why do you think he isn’t here for this meeting? He is busy trying to clean up the disaster. The board members are furious, the investors are demanding their money back, and one of our biggest projects is on the verge of collapse—all because of his negligence."

A shadow of doubt crossed Mr. Lee’s face. He had been eager for this collaboration, but now uncertainty clouded his thoughts. He needed to reconsider.

Seeing his hesitation, Anne knew her words were taking effect, boosting her confidence. She leaned back slightly, delivering the final blow. "If I were you, I’d think twice before doing business with him. What if you end up losing money?"

Outside the hotel, Denis sat tensely in his car, his gaze locked on the towering building ahead. Every few moments, he checked his phone, hoping for a call or at least a message from Anne. But there was nothing.

With each passing second, his restlessness deepened, frustration building like a storm inside him.

Haris, seated behind the wheel, was just as uneasy. He couldn’t understand why Denis hadn’t gone in yet. If he was worried enough to follow Anne here, why was he hesitating?

"Sir, we should go in," Haris finally said, breaking the silence. "What if Miss Clair is really in danger?"

Denis didn’t respond. His grip on his phone tightened.

’Anne,’ he thought bitterly. ’You’re so stubborn—you’d rather sleep with another man than ask for my help.’

The idea only stoked the fire of his frustration, making his patience wear even thinner.

In the meantime, he unexpectedly saw Augustine’s car rolling in through the hotel gate. Denis’s posture stiffened. "What is he doing here?" he muttered. The realization soon struck him. Anne had certainly called Augustine for help.

"Anne Clair, you are something," he snarled. "Haris, drive the car. We are going in."

Haris turned the wheel and drove through the gate.