Chapter 343: Chapter 343

Connor Shaw was relieved when Elias Sinclair asked him about something unrelated to Quinn Lockwood.

After a brief pause for thought, Connor still felt somewhat puzzled. He knew for sure that someone had entered the office, and apart from Joyce Kramer, it was only her.

"Secretary Kramer and I have both been to the office. I heard you canceled the cooperation meeting, so I came to inquire about the next meeting time. And it so happened I saw Miss Kramer here."

"Mr. Sinclair, did something happen?" Connor noticed Elias’s gloomy expression and felt increasingly strange.

Was something lost? Or had some document been altered?

"Oh, nothing much. He just wants to know who organized the documents on his desk while he was away." Quickly, Quinn Lockwood stepped in front of Elias, offering a casual explanation to prevent Connor from noticing anything unusual.

Hearing this, Connor finally relaxed.

He had been prepared, if it really was an issue of missing documents or commercial secrets, to take responsibility for Joyce, should she be involved.

Because he believed Joyce must have been careless.

"Oh, I see. Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be off then." Connor nodded and left with a courteous, polished smile.

No sooner had Connor left than Quinn Lockwood shivered suddenly.

She turned around to find Elias Sinclair with a face like ice, sinister and harsh.

"What do you plan to do with her?" The man crossed his arms, his deep-set eyes like cold pools of ancient wells.

He had given Joyce Kramer several chances, yet not only had she not improved, but she had escalated her provocations.

This time, he would not let her off.

"No, no action." Quinn Lockwood shook her head and sat down on the sofa.

"I want to know what she’s really up to."

"Watching as the prey falls into its own trap and is counterattacked is far more interesting than catching her directly." Quinn’s eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a dangerous sharpness, and a strange curve formed on her lips.

Whether Joyce wanted to use her to bring down Ariana Lynch, or play petty tricks like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, she was in for the whole game.

She wanted to see who would be the oriole laughing in the end.

Elias Sinclair looked at Quinn Lockwood, who had a mischievous smile, and raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

This woman truly was interesting.

Meanwhile, not long after parting ways with Ariana, Young Master Julian Northwood privately contacted Joyce Kramer.

"So, you are Joyce Kramer, Mr. Elias Sinclair’s primary secretary, the first to handle all major documents." Julian sat in a luxurious suite of a five-star hotel, with an arrogant smile.

"Who are you?" Joyce did not recognize the number, nor had she heard this voice before.

"I’m Julian Northwood. You must have heard my name."

"Rest assured, I’m here with no ill intentions; I just want to discuss some cooperation with you." Julian crossed one leg over the other, shaking it lightly. This update ıs available on NovelHub(.)net

"Young Master Northwood, if you’re looking to discuss cooperation, you should speak to our boss; contacting me is a mistake." Joyce knew Julian’s reputation and had no intention of paying him heed.

With his kind of dissolute behavior, what kind of serious collaboration could he discuss with her?

"Well, if Miss Kramer won’t discuss with me, I’ll have to approach Mr. Sinclair."

"And perhaps I’ll tell Elias Sinclair how you’ve been plotting and slandering his darling wife behind his back!" Julian quickened his leg shaking, sinking into the plush sofa, full of satisfaction.

"Oh dear, I never expected the always elegant and gentle Joyce Kramer to engage in such disgraceful antics behind the scenes."

"I truly wonder if, upon learning of your deeds, Mr. Sinclair will spare you for the sake of old school ties?" Julian clicked his tongue, wearing a leisurely and comfortable expression.

Listening to Julian’s words, Joyce’s face turned increasingly sour.

No matter how she considered it, she would never have imagined that her seamless plan had been detected by an idiot like Julian.

"Young Master Northwood, what are you talking about? I don’t understand." Joyce tried her best to maintain her composure, her voice calm as water.

Julian, seeing Joyce still pretending, let out a laugh: "Haha, Secretary Kramer, you might fool others with your little tricks, but not me."

"You just need to tell me whether or not you’ll discuss today’s cooperation."

"I will." An unusual gleam crossed Joyce’s eyes, her brows knit tightly.

"I’ll be waiting for you at the third-floor restaurant of The Oron Hotel, don’t be late." Julian’s smile widened, full of pleasure.

Joyce hung up the phone and hurried to the hotel, arriving in under 20 minutes.

"Ah, Secretary Kramer is truly a rare beauty. Come, take a look at the dishes I’ve ordered, see if you like them." The instant Julian saw Joyce, his eyes lit up, full of lasciviousness, undressing her with a gaze.

Julian stood to greet Joyce, even grabbing her hand and guiding her to sit down by holding her shoulder.

A flash of irritation crossed Joyce’s face, yet she smiled sweetly at Julian.

"Young Master Northwood, you’re too kind, thank you."

"My pleasure, dining with the beautiful and gentle Miss Kramer is an honor for any man." Julian propped his chin on one hand, unabashedly watching Joyce.

"Young Master, you jest. Let’s talk business. What project did you mean when you mentioned cooperation?" Joyce’s smile stiffened; she wanted to quickly get down to business with Julian and depart once done.

She wished to waste not another second with him; it was a meaningless squandering of time.

"Project? We’re not talking about any project, but personal matters."

"Let me first lay out my terms. A few days ago, my father submitted a cooperation proposal to The Sinclair Group. I want to make slight amendments to a few clauses."

"I need you to extract that contract." Julian’s smile was full of confidence, as if he had no doubt Joyce would cave to his demands.

Upon hearing Julian’s demand, Joyce’s expression changed drastically, responding coldly, "Young Master Northwood, I’ll do no such thing. You might want to ask another assistant."

As she was about to leave, Julian seized her arm, gently stroking it.

"The scandalous photos of Mikael and Quinn Luckwood—you’re the one who arranged for them to be leaked, right? And the affair with the laxatives at The Scarlinne Restaurant, along with the near incident of Savannah Lowell being assaulted during the reality show..."