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Novel Catalog
Chapter 16
Bonnie’s response hung in the air like a calm before the storm. “Well, I’m from Pyralis, like you. And on top of that, you’re the richest guy in the city. Why wouldn’t I work with you?”
Ivor stood there, speechless. He hadn’t expected her answer to be so blunt, so casual, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll get going,” Bonnie said flatly, turning her attention away from him.
Before Ivor could ask her any more questions, Jim, her towering bodyguard, stepped forward, positioning himself firmly between the two. His eyes, cold and unwavering, met Ivor’s.
“You heard her, Mr. Ivor,” Jim said, his voice low and unyielding.
Ivor couldn’t ignore the subtle threat in Jim’s tone. The bodyguard was trying to usher him away, making it clear he was no longer welcome.
Ged, sensing the tension, quickly whispered to Ivor, “Ms. Bonita isn’t exactly a social butterfly. You should be grateful she even spoke to you. Let’s leave, okay?”
But Ivor wasn’t convinced. A gnawing feeling in his gut told him that there was more to this situation than he was seeing. Bonnie’s words felt too rehearsed, too guarded. He needed to dig deeper. Something about her was off, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that if he just pressed a little more, he would uncover the truth.
Jim, sensing the hesitation, turned to Ivor with an icy stare. “Anything else we can do for you?”
Ivor sighed, frustration mounting. “No, no. We’re leaving,” Ged insisted, pulling Ivor away from the scene before things escalated further.
As they walked off, Ivor’s mind was still racing. “What’s gotten into you, Ivor?” Ged asked, his voice laced with confusion. “Everyone knows Ms. Bonita doesn’t like talking to anyone. Besides, her bodyguard is Jim Ray, the King of Combat. You heard what he’s capable of, right? He just won the International Fighting Championship. We don’t have our own bodyguards with us right now. If things turn ugly, we’re toast!”
Ivor wasn’t listening. His eyes were still scanning the room, searching for any sign of Bonnie. “Do you see Bonnie anywhere?” he asked, distracted.
Ged glanced around, his face creased with thought. “Bonnie? Why?” He stopped to look around and suddenly seemed to realize something. “Come to think of it, she left a while ago.”
Ivor’s heart skipped a beat. A fresh wave of unease washed over him. He couldn’t explain it, but something felt wrong. Why had she left so abruptly?
Meanwhile, at the hotel, Vera and Gresham were in a quiet frenzy, looking for Bonnie.
“How strange,” Vera muttered, scanning the crowd. “Did she get lost on her way to the restroom?”
Gresham scowled. “I’d rather she disappear than embarrass us in front of everyone.”
They turned to Trina, who had been watching quietly from the sidelines. “Trina, you need to make every effort to meet Professor Terry’s expectations,” Gresham said sternly. “Do whatever it takes to secure a place at the research institute during the internship recruitment next month, okay?”
Trina’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ll do my best and make you and mom proud!” she said eagerly, thinking that she had caught Professor Terry’s attention.
Gresham gave her a satisfied nod. “If you can get into Ms. Bonita’s team, we’ll throw you a fancy party and invite everyone to attend.”
Trina grinned, grateful for her parents’ support. “Thanks, mom!”
Back at the hotel, Jim was clearly bothered by the ongoing situation. He frowned, his thoughts heavy.
“Are you really going to get engaged to Ivor?” he asked, his tone tinged with frustration. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
Bonnie, sitting at a nearby table with a glass of juice in hand, took a sip and shrugged casually. “You know I don’t like owing anyone any favors. And anyway, Sigmund did once save me and my foster parents.”
Jim’s brow furrowed. “Even so, you’d be making a huge sacrifice.”
Bonnie leaned back in her chair, her gaze distant for a moment. “Sigmund is adamant that I repay him this way. Besides, it’s only for one month. After that, I don’t have to see Ivor ever again.”
Jim’s expression softened slightly, though his concern still lingered. “Even if it is for one month, I would—”
Bonnie cut him off with a light chuckle. “Hey, don’t dwell on him. Let’s talk about you instead. Did anything interesting happen during the championship?”
Jim, visibly relieved that Bonnie wasn’t taking Ivor’s situation seriously, allowed himself a small smile. “Not much, really. It was just another championship, but it felt good to win, of course.”
Bonnie leaned in, intrigued. “Tell me more. What was it like facing off with the other fighters?”
Jim’s mood lightened as he launched into his story, his earlier concerns about Bonnie’s engagement fading into the background. ‘Bonnie’s right,’ he thought. ‘We don’t need to keep talking about that outsider.’
The next day, Ivor arrived at the school to pick up Bonnie. His face was impassive, but his eyes were sharp as he watched her walk toward the car.
“We’re getting engaged tomorrow. Grandpa wants you home to get ready for that,” Ivor said flatly, not bothering with pleasantries.
Bonnie, her expression neutral, gave him a brief nod. “Sure.”
Ivor studied her through the rearview mirror as they drove, the silence between them growing heavy. After a long moment, he couldn’t hold back any longer. “How did you know Ms. Bonita would choose to work with my company?” he asked, his voice quiet but insistent.
Bonnie didn’t immediately respond. She stared out the window, as if weighing her options carefully. Then, with a faint smirk, she replied, “It was just a guess.”
Ivor’s eyes narrowed, still unsure whether he was being toyed with. But Bonnie’s answer, though vague, only deepened his suspicions. Something was definitely not adding up.