Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

”I thought you’d already gone back to Aethelgard.”

”Why would I go back? That Blackwood fellow hasn’t gone back either, has he?” Elijah Hawthorne said with a certain languor.

”What would you like to drink? I can have someone make it for you.”

”If you were truly sincere, you’d make it for me yourself.”

”Then what would you like? I’ll go make it for you.” Ivy Sherwood stood up as she spoke.

’After all, Elijah Hawthorne did save me last time. I really should thank him properly.’

”No need. I was just teasing. I’m here on official business today.”

”What official business?” It was rare to see Elijah Hawthorne looking so serious.

”Iris has such a great reputation now. I’m here to discuss a partnership, of course. I wonder if Boss Sherwood has any interest in collaborating with the Hawthorne Group.”

”Are you serious?” Ivy Sherwood hadn’t expected Elijah Hawthorne to actually come to her to discuss a collaboration.

Compared to the Hawthorne Group, her company was smaller than a speck of dust. And now, the head of the Hawthorne Group himself had come to discuss a partnership.

”Of course. You aren’t currently working with DG, are you?”

Ivy Sherwood shook her head. Quentin Blackwood had suggested having DG partner with Iris, but Ivy had refused.

She didn’t want a partnership that was only secured because of her relationship with Quentin Blackwood.

”Good. Then I’ll take an exclusive buyout. You can name your price.”

’A big shot is a big shot, after all. So extravagant.’

Ivy Sherwood said, ”If it’s just a straightforward partnership, then I’d welcome it, of course. But I’m not an expert in this area. It would be better to let our companies’ project departments handle the negotiations.”

Elijah Hawthorne chuckled. ”What, are you afraid I have an ulterior motive? That I’m trying to use you?”

After a pause, he continued, ”Or are you afraid Quentin Blackwood wouldn’t approve?”

”What does this have to do with Quentin Blackwood? He doesn’t interfere with my work. But if your company needs fragrances, I can have a batch sent over right now. Let me see... do you have any requirements for the scents? Would a hundred thousand bottles be enough? Consider it a thank-you for saving me last time!”

”That won’t do. Business is business, and a favor is a favor. I want you to stay indebted to me. You can pay me back slowly when the opportunity arises in the future.”

Elijah Hawthorne wasn’t lacking in material things, but a personal favor was a different story.

Ivy Sherwood’s face fell. ’If I have to wait for some future opportunity, it won’t be easy to repay.’

’It would be perfect if an opportunity came up where I could save Elijah Hawthorne’s life. Of course, that’s not to say I’m cursing him or anything.’

Ivy Sherwood said, ”How about this? If you have time, let’s play a round.”

”Play what?”

Ivy Sherwood pulled out a deck of poker cards. ”Whatever you’re best at.”

A flicker of amusement crossed Elijah Hawthorne’s eyes. ”You want to gamble with me?”

”If I win, we’ll consider the favor repaid now, and you’ll accept the fragrances. If I lose, I’ll owe you the favor for next time. How about it?”

A smirk played on Elijah Hawthorne’s lips. ”Your calculations are so obvious they’re practically hitting me in the face. So, to be clear, you get something if you win, but if you lose, nothing changes, is that it?”

In truth, Ivy Sherwood just wanted to practice with Elijah Hawthorne. She had just learned some card-playing techniques from Quentin Blackwood and wanted to test them against an expert.

She had thought about practicing with Quentin Blackwood, but he always went easy on her. Elijah Hawthorne was undoubtedly the perfect choice.

”Then what do you propose?”

”Simple. If you lose, you continue to owe me the favor, and you have to have dinner with me tonight.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Ivy Sherwood’s eyes. ’Dinner again? Does Elijah Hawthorne have no one to eat with? Why is the wager always dinner?’

But she quickly agreed. ”Fine.”

Ivy Sherwood unwrapped the cards and began to deal. Elijah Hawthorne asked, ”No cutting for high card?”

Ivy Sherwood said, ”I just learned some new techniques. I came here to get my butt kicked by you.”

”Learned them from Quentin Blackwood?”

Ivy Sherwood: ”...”

’He really guessed it in one go.’

Elijah Hawthorne said, ”Even Quentin Blackwood wouldn’t necessarily beat me at this.”

Ivy Sherwood said, ”Well, I’m just giving it a try. If I can’t win this time, there’s always a next time, and a time after that, right?”

Ivy Sherwood kept her eyes down, concentrating on dealing the cards. She didn’t see the glint in Elijah Hawthorne’s eyes when she mentioned ”a next time, and a time after that.”

”Are you already thinking about asking me out for a next time?”

Ivy Sherwood hadn’t even noticed what she’d said. It was only when Elijah Hawthorne pointed it out that she realized he had completely missed the point.

”Isn’t the point that sooner or later, I’m going to win? Besides, I think we’ll have another chance to face off.”

A smile played on Elijah Hawthorne’s lips. ”Alright. I’ll be waiting for your ’next time’.”

Ivy Sherwood was extremely focused, trying to calculate the cards in Elijah Hawthorne’s hand. He was an old fox, cunning and with a thousand tricks up his sleeve. If she wasn’t careful for even a moment, she’d fall into one of his traps.

Ivy Sherwood was already quite skilled, but she was no match for Elijah Hawthorne. In the end, she was utterly defeated.

”Another round?” Elijah Hawthorne asked.

Ivy Sherwood said, ”Can we? I don’t have anything left to wager, though.”

”Come on. I won’t charge you tuition.”

The mention of tuition reminded Ivy Sherwood that she still hadn’t paid her ”tuition” to Quentin Blackwood yet.

Still, it was a good opportunity to learn from Elijah Hawthorne, so Ivy Sherwood began to shuffle the cards again.

Time flies when you’re having fun. Ivy Sherwood lost more often than not, but she was overjoyed whenever she managed to win a hand or two.

The smile was plain on her face, and she didn’t notice that Elijah Hawthorne had been watching her the whole time.

After losing more than she won, Elijah Hawthorne finally said, ”You seem so happy even when you lose.”

Ivy Sherwood said, ”It’s not about winning or losing. I just feel like I’ve improved a little. At least I’m not a complete newbie like before.”

Ivy Sherwood checked the time. ”Let’s go. My treat for dinner.”

”No need. I’ll treat you.”

”This is Lustre. I’m the host and you’re the guest, so of course, I should be the one to treat you. Don’t worry, this isn’t to repay the favor for saving me. Consider it a thank-you gift for being my practice partner for so long.”

Elijah Hawthorne didn’t refuse. ”Alright.”

”But before we go, I need to let Quentin Blackwood know.”

”You can, but I have no desire for this to become a dinner for three. If he comes, I’m not going. We can just postpone this meal.”

”Don’t worry.” There was no way she was bringing Quentin Blackwood today. Otherwise, she probably wouldn’t be able to stomach the meal.

’On a day like this, I want Elijah Hawthorne to be happy.’

Ivy Sherwood went over to make the call, telling him she was going to have dinner with Elijah Hawthorne.

Quentin Blackwood was busy with other things. They had agreed to go have some fun out on the ocean, and that, of course, required some arrangements.

Although he was unhappy about it, Quentin Blackwood still said, ”If you have dinner with him today, then in a few days, you’re coming with me to Aethelgard!”

Ivy Sherwood hadn’t expected him to set conditions. She thought about it; she hadn’t been to the Aethelgard branch in a long time, so she could use the trip to get some work done too. She agreed, ”Fine.”

”Be careful during dinner. Don’t eat any food that he hasn’t taken for himself. Don’t just drink any random beverage. Don’t listen to a word he says. What restaurant are you going to? I’ll come pick you up later.”