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Chapter_44
Winning Over One’s Heart
I deliberately shared every detail of my trip with Matthew when I returned home, hoping to mask my true intentions. He beamed with approval, offering a compliment I’d been expecting. “You’re a wise partner. You’re understanding and skilled at winning people’s hearts.”
I quickly corrected him. “It’s not about winning people’s hearts, but about being kind. Speaking of Johnson, he’s done a lot for our family. It’s natural for someone like you not to notice these things, but women appreciate the little gestures.”
In reality, I was deflecting his suspicions. I knew Matthew, with his cunning nature, would grow vigilant if I kept anything from him. It was better to let him think I was doing this for him, all while secretly laying the groundwork for my next move.
I continued frequenting the wives of our clients, casually spending time together—meals, manicures, and chats—nothing suspicious on the surface. To Matthew, it all seemed harmless, just another way of “getting to know people.” But what he didn’t realize was how deeply these interactions would benefit me in the future. He praised me for my efforts, “This is good, everyone gets to know each other. I’m out managing while you’re the queen of the household.”
His words were like nails on a chalkboard. I was playing the part, but all the while, I was planning how to make him pay for every misstep.
During dinner one evening, I brought up the topic of the house. “When will we get the money for the house?”
“Soon, once we finalize the payment for the Waterland Project,” he answered nonchalantly.
I feigned concern, glancing at him with a slight frown. “Hurry up. I’m uneasy about the money not being in the account.” I added a little pressure, “I’ve been eyeing a couple of great houses lately. Why do you seem so indifferent about it?”
He deflected. “Nonsense, how could I be? I said before—the project investment is for a big payoff.”
I wasn’t buying it. “Making money is important, but so is Ava. Do you think I want to buy a house just for myself? Won’t you live there too? Ava’s schooling is a big deal now. We can’t let her fall behind, can we?”
I would keep pushing until I had what I needed, even if it meant wearing him down.
Johnson, recognizing how quickly I could influence Myra, had grown cautious. He responded immediately whenever I reached out, no longer taking me lightly. Meanwhile, a piece of good news came through—one that caught Matthew’s attention: the bidding slots for the ATL Empire projects had been finalized.
At first, Matthew hadn’t taken the news seriously, so he handed the details over to me. But what seemed like a random occurrence had turned into a monumental opportunity. The nomination itself meant something. Even if we didn’t win the contract, Tanum Corporation had successfully positioned itself alongside major players like ATL Empire. This was the foundation it needed in the city’s building materials industry.
However, the next step was critical. The company had decided that such a significant project required Matthew’s direct involvement. But that meant putting up a considerable upfront investment, which was risky and would give him a headache.
I reviewed the situation carefully. To outshine two other companies and reach the final stage, we needed the upper hand in holiday products. Matthew might be able to handle it, but I wasn’t confident he could secure the deal. Though I didn’t want to relinquish control of the project, he was the ultimate decision-maker. Then it hit me—the coat. I needed to reach out to Atlas again.
It was time to make another calculated move.