"Colonel, I heard that your performance during the war games was very ingenious. Have you been thinking of getting promoted after it? It seems your lucky streak is still strong, to get an opportunity like that." Hank blocked Daisy's path as soon as she walked out of the conference room. He had a displeased look on his face.
"Hank, excuse my incompetence. I am embarrassed to show off in the presence of an expert like you. How could I expect to get promoted?" Daisy hated the irony in his tone. She never attributed her achievements to luck. Hank chuckled darkly. "Who knows? Don't you always get promoted that way? This time might not be an exception." The contempt was evident in Hank's tone. He never believed that Daisy got promoted because of honest work. She must've gotten promoted because the Commander favored her. On capacity alone, he should've been promoted to a higher position than her a long time ago.
"Hank, have you always thought of the Colonel this way? Haven't you seen how capable she is? If she got promoted because of good luck, how come you lost every time you're up against her? Bad luck?" The fierce look Kevin cast Hank was as sharp as a knife. At that moment, his gentleness shifted to hostility. Daisy raised her eyes to Kevin without a hint of joy. Her brows knitted in displeasure. 'Hank gossips like a woman. If Kevin helps me and humiliates him in public, troublesome rumors would spread, ' she thought.
Hank laughed nervously. "Oh no, that was just an innocent joke between me and the Colonel. No need to worry, Major General." Hank restrained himself in front of Kevin. Besides Kevin's much higher rank and position, his strong background alone was enough for him to back down.
"Really? Hank, please watch your wording. What you said didn't sound like a joke. There are boundaries for everything." Kevin always loathed Hank's narrow-mindedness. He usually ignored him because he didn't bother him. But seeing his rude attitude towards Daisy, Kevin couldn't ignore him anymore. He knew that Daisy was tough. But he couldn't help fighting for her when he saw it happening in front of him.
"Yes, yes... I'll work on it." Hank toadied to Kevin, but his hatred for Daisy grew. He had thought that Daisy was pure and lofty. But recently, she had been coming to work in different luxury cars. It seemed that she had a rotten private life. No wonder nobody had seen her husband these years, it turned out that she had been sneaking around with rich men. The Ferrari she had driven to work several times must be a gift from some wealthy man. She even moved out of the residential quarters.
Hank scoffed at Daisy's lifestyle. He didn't know that the wealthy man was Edward. Daisy sneered. She walked past Hank without another glance. What a sycophantic and despicable man! He was arrogant and conceited towards her. But in front of Kevin, all he did was nod his head and wag his tail. It sickened her just to think about it. She would've kicked his ass if she weren't at the military base. How dare he provoke her like that after losing to her so many times before?
"Daisy, he envies others' accomplishments and never reflects on his failures. Ignore him." Kevin ran to catch up with Daisy's pace. He sighed inwardly. 'Does Hank really think that Daisy is alone and has nobody to back her up? It might have been true before. But now, she has Edward and the FX International Group. Edward loves her so much that he won't put up with such things.'
I'm fine. Besides, I'm used to it, so it doesn't bother me. Thank you." Daisy wasn't the type to bite back when bitten by a dog. She didn't care about Hank's drama.
"What's with all the politeness? It's nothing. Don't mention it. Moreover, we're not only colleagues but also relatives. You shouldn't be so polite to me." Kevin gave a wry smile. She was always so polite to him. It was disintegrating his heart into ashes until the last tinge of enthusiasm was gone.
"Any favor, big or small, should be repaid with gratitude. Otherwise, I would be called rude and arrogant again." Daisy twisted her mouth lightly. She knew that the soldiers had been talking about her in private. She chose to ignore it because of her personality. She hated socializing with people.
"I don't think so. Let's go eat." Kevin said sincerely, with a trace of hurt in his eyes. Did she regard him the same way she did to everyone else? He frowned bitterly. He also knew what Daisy meant. Because she didn't fawn on anybody and was aloof by nature, people got the impression that she was indifferent and conceited.
Daisy slowed down her pace and paused. After contemplating for a while, she went towards the canteen. The sincerity in Kevin's tone made her curious. There had been something strange about him since the training camp. She couldn't figure out what it was. Just now, she had seen something in his eyes. But he had covered it well and it had disappeared in an instant. She wasn't sure if she had imagined it. She might be wrong, and it was unlikely that Kevin had feelings for her. Besides, he was Leena's husband now.
That was close. Kevin almost exposed his feelings for Daisy, the love he had hidden deep in his heart for so many years. But he had been quick to put it away, so she shouldn't have noticed it even if she was perceptive. He didn't want her to know about it. He was married now, he had to be more careful.
Hank watched Daisy and Kevin leave with a vicious smile. He wouldn't let Daisy get promoted again this time. It would be too humiliating for him. If he couldn't get promoted, then neither would she. 'Daisy, don't blame me. You should blame yourself for your dissolute lifestyle. You must enjoy driving a sports car to work, don't you? This time, I've got something against you.'
Success always attracted conspiracy and jealousy. Hank's face twisted hideously from his sinister thoughts. He had seen Daisy kissing a man at the entrance of the military base the other day. Although he hadn't seen the person's face, he was certain that he was a stupid old man. No young man could afford a posh car like that.
How would Edward feel if he knew that someone had described him like that? At the moment, the expression on his face was pure displeasure. He was disgusted by Coco's lack of self-respect.
Miss Coco, please put your clothes back on. Your body means nothing to me. If you think you're on a show, you've come to the wrong place." Edward looked at the delicate body before him indifferently. She had angered him by barging into his office, and now she had stripped herself in front of him. How shameless!
"Edward, don't pretend you feel nothing. You have pushed me so far just to get me, haven't you? Go ahead! You can take me right now. Coco assumed that Edward was ruthless to her because she wasn't like other women who were eager to climb to his bed. He was willing to pay a huge amount of money for breaching their contract, just to make her cave in.
Miss Coco, are you out of your mind? Or do you just think the world to yourself? Edward sneered, but didn't avert his eyes from her naked body. Since Coco wasn't embarrassed by herself, why should he feel awkward about looking?
You.... Isn't this what you want? I know you've always like me. But I've never taken you seriously. Now, I put my pride aside to satisfy you. You should be thrilled. Coco always thought that Edward coveted her and had been trying to get her into bed for the past several years. But she never gave him a chance.
Edward let out an incredulous laugh. Where did you get the confidence to sag I'm into you? Let me tell you something, I would rather sleep with a young model than a pretentious hypocrite like you. You're not good enough to attract me, so stop pretending to be pure and innocent. I know everything about you. You're simply a slut. Edward reached out and gripped her neck furiously. He had never met such a self important woman.
What.... Coco looked at Edward in horror. This wasn't at all what she had expected. Je was supposed to be turned on at sight of her naked figure. Why was he so cruel? Was she suddenly unworthy because she wasn't a super star anymore?