Chapter 78
At that moment, Malisa couldn’t bring herself to say another word for a few seconds. She simply looked at Cora, really looked at her. The expression on Cora’s face wasn’t just one of focus; it was steel. It was the kind of look Melissa had only seen once before, years ago, when Cora was standing in front of a boardroom full of men trying to push her out of her own mother’s legacy. That day, Cora didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t flinch either. And yet, she walked out of that room with the company still in her control.
This was the same face.
Then instead of teasing or pressing, Melissa sighed softly and said with a gentle tone, "Alright, I’ll stop here. I can see you’re serious, and I respect that." She leaned slightly toward her, her hand brushing against Cora’s arm. "But I really want you to think about what I just said—about Robert."
Cora glanced at her briefly, but said nothing.
Malisa continued, "You don’t have to admit it now, but just think about it. Think deeper than the surface. Something might actually happen between you and him. Sometimes things we think are business can turn into something much more... important."
She smiled faintly and leaned back in her seat.
"I’ll rest here now. I’ve said my part."
And with that, Malisa closed her eyes for a moment of silence, as if giving Cora space to process everything.
The car continued gliding down the road, the quiet hum of the engine the only sound between them. Cora, still leaning slightly toward the window, didn’t say a single word. Her fingers were folded neatly in her lap, her eyes scanning the streetlights passing by. Her mind, however, was racing, but not about Robert, at least not for now. Her focus had shifted entirely to the next meeting, the one she felt could turn everything around.
Not long after, the car slowed down in front of an elegant, mid-sized restaurant. It wasn’t overly flashy, but there was something quiet and exclusive about it, the kind of place where secrets were shared in whispers behind thick curtains and well-trained waiters disappeared at just the right time.