Chapter 95 - Collaboration

Angeline had just finished her meeting with lawyer Yasser and was on her way home when she called her mother. "Hi Mom, I'm coming to the restaurant because I miss you," Angeline said when her mother answered the phone. "Really? But I just closed the restaurant. You should rest at the studio because I'm sure you're tired," her mother replied, not wanting to tire Angeline. "But I want to eat your cooking," Angeline pleaded and started to whine. "All right, I'll cook something for you-" "Mom! I'm here!" At that moment, Angeline's ex-son-in-law arrived with a super loud entrance, startling her mother. "No, come tomorrow," her mother, who had already agreed to Angeline's visit earlier, now hurriedly told Angeline to come back tomorrow and abruptly hung up the phone. "Mom, is there any food for me?" Bryan shouted, asking for food like a hungry child would ask his mother. "Why did Bryan come? Isn't today his day off from the restaurant?" his mother asked, confused. "I came to the restaurant because I was hungry, isn't that allowed?" "But the rice is all gone, so it's better for Bryan to go back." "Ah, is Mom turning away a customer? Anyway, I'm not going anywhere or moving an inch until you give me some food," Bryan whined, leaning his body on the table as a sign that he wouldn't leave until he got some food. Although her mother seemed annoyed, she was always secretly pleased when Bryan visited, even if he used the excuse of wanting to eat at her restaurant. "All right, hold on a second," her mother said and went into the kitchen. A while later, Bryan was happily eating his meal, and his mother wanted to leave him alone so he wouldn't be disturbed. "Mom, where are you going?" But Bryan suddenly grabbed his mother's hand and she sat back down. Bryan wanted to ask about Angeline, but the words were swallowed. "How can Mom still look so beautiful even though she's old?" "Well, Bryan's eyes are sharp, it seems." His mother then put the garnish on Bryan's rice and told him not to eat just rice. Bryan was touched by his mother's loving treatment, even though he was no longer her son-in-law. "Mom! I'm here, look what I brought!" Surprisingly, Angeline arrived and his mother reflexively handed Bryan a drink. Bryan couldn't refuse because he was surprised to hear Angeline's voice behind him. "Go now, don't make any noise," his mother scolded Bryan quietly. "Okay," Bryan complied. He stood up with his back to Angeline, but Angeline, curious, blocked Bryan's path. She finally realized that the man with her mother was Bryan. Bryan, caught off guard, feigned indifference and looked at Angeline. "Why? I'm just eating." "We should talk outside," Angeline suggested, inviting Bryan outside for a private conversation. "Bryan, are you still visiting my mother?" "Yes, is there something wrong with me visiting your mother?" "I'm asking you to stop visiting my mother." "I know you are her daughter, but I don't need your permission to visit my mother. "If you keep visiting my mother, she'll get attached to you, and in the end, she'll be the one who suffers. Bryan, you shouldn't let people take care of you if you can't take responsibility for it. Bryan was certainly confused by everything Angeline said. How could Angeline be so cold when it came to him and her mother? Did love require responsibility? "You don't have to be overly dramatic with me, Ellie," Bryan deliberately used the name Ellie instead of Angeline. "I'm just visiting Ellie, there's no ulterior motive. I did not come here because I still have feelings for you. There are none," Bryan continued. "What? Are you really comfortable and okay with seeing me?" Angeline asked in surprise. "Yes, I have no feelings that would make me uncomfortable when I see you. Everything is normal." "Oh, I see. So is it because you no longer have feelings for me that you sent this offer of cooperation?" "Yes. Is there something wrong? Does it bother you?" "But why me? There are many artists here." "Hahaha... my goodness! You're so arrogant. Are you bragging to me now? Listen, it was the staff who recommended you for this collaboration project. So there's no way I'm going to turn it down just because of our personal feelings in the past. It's purely business." "Are you serious, is that true? There are no hidden agendas?" "Yes," Bryan replied firmly, but he turned his face away and couldn't look Angeline in the eye. That was enough to show that Bryan was lying. And Angeline's insistence was enough to show that she still very much hoped that Bryan had personal feelings for her. "Okay, so what if I refuse your offer?" "Well, that's no problem. No one loses." Angeline felt satisfied with this answer and wanted to leave, but Bryan continued his sentence. "If Angeline refuses it, it's like Angeline is a coward trying to run away. Unless Angeline has a good reason to turn down the project." Angeline was provoked. She certainly didn't like being called a coward. "What? Why should I run away from Bryan? What am I afraid of?" "That's up to you. I have to go back," Bryan said and went inside to say goodbye to his mother. In her studio, Angeline couldn't stop thinking about Bryan's words. Bryan had said that he had no feelings for her anymore, which was why he felt comfortable around her. Those words were unexpectedly unwelcome in her heart. Because her mind was filled with them, she didn't even notice that she was sharpening her pencil too much. Angeline then looked at her pencil and muttered to herself, "Indeed, why should I run away? This morning, Bryan practiced the lines he would say when Angeline came to sign the contract. He kept repeating the lines that he was the contractor and Angeline was the contracting party. Bryan was elated because Angeline had finally agreed to work with his company. "If Angeline signs this contract, she has to obey me!" Bryan exclaimed. "All right, I will obey whatever you ask," Bryan continued, even imitating the softness of Angeline's voice. "If I ask Angeline to eat, she has to say yes." Bryan laughed at his own behavior. Then Ellie arrived in Bryan's office. Bryan prepared the contract and Angeline hesitated a bit before signing it. "You can read it again if you want," Bryan said. "Okay," Angeline replied, managing to convince herself, and she signed the cooperation contract. Bryan smiled with satisfaction. "I have one condition. I only want to work with John," Angeline said and started to leave, but Bryan stopped her. "No, you can't. The contract has just been signed, so wouldn't it be better if we, as employees, went to a movie or had dinner together?" "I'm not hungry." "Well, if I invite you, you shouldn't refuse. Remember, I'm the contractor and you're the client." "But it was Bryan who made the offer, and besides, it's hard to find an artist like me. Excuse me," Angeline said casually. Bryan couldn't say anything and just let Angeline leave his office.