Chapter 20
“Yes.”
“No problem. That’s what I do best. I’ll get you the photos within a week, guaranteed.”
Miranda decided to test him out first and wasn’t in a hurry to reveal too much.
“What’s your rate?” she asked.
“I’ll need to see who I’m dealing with first. Can’t give you a quote without knowing your husband.”
Miranda pulled out her phone and showed him a photo. “His name is Felix Gibson. He’s the CEO of Gibson Investment Corporation.”
The man’s eyes widened in shock. “Your husband is Felix Gibson? The richest man in Atlantis City?”
Seeing the look on his face, Miranda calmly withdrew her phone. “If it’s too much for you to handle, we can drop it.”
“No, no. I’ll take the job. As long as you can pay, I’m in,” the man said, his eyes lighting up. This was a huge opportunity for him.
“He didn’t even know Felix Gibson was married? This Mrs. Gibson really kept a low profile,” he thought
Miranda saw that he seemed confident, so she moved on to discussing payment. In the end, they settled on three hundred thousand.
It felt expensive, but for her daughter’s custody, Miranda gritted her teeth and agreed.
“You’ll need to cover my travel costs upfront,” the man added. “About $100,000.”
Miranda nodded and transferred the amount on the spot.
With Mia away at the Gibson estate and the lab’s prep work set to begin after the holiday, Miranda didn’t have anywhere else she needed to be. She glanced at the time and called James.
“Hello?”
“James, want to grab lunch together?” she asked.
“Sure! My treat.”
“We’ll see about that,” Miranda replied with a smile.
They met at the same restaurant Sophie had taken her to last time
“Mira, you should start mentally preparing. Felix is very likely to invest in the project,” James said, holding his teacup.
Miranda nodded. “I know.”
She wasn’t deliberately hiding it from him. She just wanted to wait until she was officially part of the lab before mentioning it. After all, once she filed for divorce, she would have to make her career public anyway.
While Miranda and James were chatting and enjoying lunch, someone near the entrance noticed them. It was Hayden. He stopped mid–step, surprised to see James and Miranda dining together.
“Hayden, what are you staring at? Come on, let’s go,” one of his friends said, slinging an arm around his shoulders.
Hayden had been about to walk over and say hello to James, but seeing how engaged he was in conversation with Miranda, he decided to hold back and followed his friends into their private dining room instead.
As Hayden walked into the private dining room, one of his friends clapped him on the shoulder and said, “Hayden, did you ask about that favor I mentioned last time? I’m really serious about working with Gibson Investment Corporation.”
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Chapter 20
+25 BONUS
“Oh! I’ve been so swamped, I forgot,” Hayden replied with an apologetic smile. “I’ll ask him now.”
He picked up his phone and dialed Felix.
“What’s up?” Felix answered.
“Hey, about that new development project–my friend owns a design firm and is really interested. Any chance you could meet with him sometime?”
“Let’s talk after the New Year. I’m tied up until then.”
“Sure, that works. Oh, by the way, I just saw your wife. She’s having lunch with James Moore.”
“Really?” Felix’s voice was cool and flat.
“Everything good between you two?”
“We’re fine.”
Hayden gave an awkward laugh. He wasn’t trying to pry. “Alright then, just checking in. We’re eating now. Catch you later.”
After he hung up, one of the guys leaned over. “Felix Gibson is married? I thought he was with that piano prodigy, Xena Spencer. I saw them flying out of the country together once at the airport.”
“You guys didn’t know?” Hayden looked around the table. “He’s been married for six years.”
Everyone at the table shook their heads. The man who had spoken earlier looked envious.
“Well, Xena Spencer is a total knockout. I’ve seen beautiful women, but she’s on a whole different level.”
“She’s not just a pretty face,” another chimed in. “She’s a gifted pianist. That kind of artistic aura? No ordinary beauty can compare. I walked past one of her billboards once and couldn’t take my eyes off it.”
Hayden let out a chuckle. “Let’s not start any rumors, alright? Felix has a wife and a five–year–old daughter.”
His friend raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? He kept that well under wraps. I’ve never seen anything about it in the media. But hey, with that kind of money, it’s not exactly shocking if he’s got a few women on the side. You know how it is–some guys always think the grass is greener.”
Hayden laughed and cut him off before he could say more. “Alright, enough gossip. His wife’s a knockout, too. Just pour the drinks.”
By the window in the main dining hall, Miranda and James had already started eating. Their conversation had shifted to medical theory, and James clearly appreciated Miranda’s perspective.
“Your dad was a remarkable man. I only worked with him for two years, but I admired him deeply.”
Miranda smiled. “He was also pretty stubborn, and his temper wasn’t great.”
James laughed. “True. When he taught at our university, he stirred up so much trouble a few student groups even organized protests!”
Miranda laughed with him, but a shimmer of sadness welled up in her eyes. James noticed instantly and grew uneasy.
“I’m sorry, Mira. I shouldn’t have brought that up.”
She quickly dabbed the corner of her eye. “It’s alright.”
Just then, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she stood up. “I’ll take this outside.”
She stepped out of the restaurant before answering. “Hello?”
Chapter 20
“Mommy!”
The voice on the other end wasn’t Felix. It was Mia.
“Mia? Sweetheart, how come you’re calling?”
“Mommy, are you coming to Grandma’s for dinner tonight? Great grandma and I miss you.”
Miranda smiled. “Of course, Mommy will come for dinner tonight
Mia’s voice lit up. “Great–grandma, Mommy said she’s coming!”
“Okay! Come early. I’ll be waiting for you!” Mia said sweetly, clearly passing on the message.
“I will. Mommy promises to come early,” Miranda replied, her voice warm.
+25 BONUS
After hanging up, Mia ran to the living room and handed the phone back to her dad. “Daddy, Mommy said she’ll be here soon!”
“Great,” Felix said with a smile.
Just then, a housekeeper approached. “Sir, Mrs. Gibson Sr. would like to see you in the sunroom.”
Felix put away his phone and walked over. Mrs. Gibson Sr. was in the sunroom, trimming the branches of a potted plant.
When she saw him enter, she looked up and asked, “That girl Xena is she still here?”
Felix understood what she was implying and nodded. “She’s in Sienna’s room. They’re chatting.”
“Send her home before three. Mira’s coming for dinner tonight. It’s not appropriate for her to still be here.”
“Alright,” Felix nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, in Sienna’s room, she had just shared a long–held secret with Xena.
