Chapter 327
Hugo didn’t let his guard down but agreed to meet Pearl.
Enswood was only a two-hour drive from Bodgow, and since Richard was still unconscious due to the poison, Pearl decided to temporarily entrust his care to the family doctor while she met with Hugo alone.
Choosing a five-star hotel not far from the Jordan residence for their meeting, Pearl arrived to find Hugo already seated and sipping on tea.
“You’re finally here. I thought you lied to me,” Hugo remarked, tilting his head to indicate that she should take a seat.
Pearl picked a chair as far away from him as possible. She refrained from touching any of the items on the table and abstained from drinking anything.
Hugo played with his teacup and said, “Why? Are you afraid to drink the water? I’m not an animal, you know. There’s no need to be concerned. I don’t drug people.”
Pearl changed the subject and cut to the chase. “Did you bring the ginkgo?”
“Yes, but it’s not with me. It’s in my room upstairs. Would you like to come and see it?” Hugo replied casually.
“No, just tell me, are you only willing to give it to me if we agree to give you the shares?” Pearl looked up and noticed his hungry gaze. His squinted eyes didn’t seem to hold any warmth. Instead, they conveyed a sense of mockery.
Hugo shrugged. “Something like that.”
“But Richard is currently unconscious, and I don’t have access to the shares. You’ll have to wait for him to transfer them once he wakes up,” she explained logically.
Pearl made sense, but Hugo wasn’t having any of that. “After he wakes up, the ginkgo will be gone. What should I do then?”
Pearl maintained her composure. “If you don’t trust me, you can record our conversation. If I fail to fulfill my promises, you can sue me.”
Hugo shook his head dismissively. Her attempts at deception were feeble and ineffective in his eyes. “You’re too clever, Pearl. Unless you make everything explicitly clear, your promises won’t hold up in court. Do you think I’m unaware of that?”
Watching Pearl sit up straight, he had a malicious idea. He leaned in close to her. “Why don’t you spend a night with me, and I’ll willingly give you the ginkgo?”
Pearl didn’t hesitate and delivered a resounding slap to his face.
Hugo was momentarily stunned by the unexpected slap. After a moment, he turned to face her angrily, his eyes filled with irritation. Yet, a challenging smirk still played on his l*ps.
“Feisty. I like that.” He ran his tongue along his cheek, touching the stinging sensation from her slap. “Such a strong reaction. Are you still a virgin? Richard must be quite the gentleman. If it were me, I’d have devoured you by now.”
“You’re disgusting, Hugo Waldorf.” Unable to secure the ginkgo through negotiation, Pearl
decided to pursue a different approach. She stood up, ready to leave.
However, as she began to walk away, her b*dy suddenly felt weak, and she slumped back into
the chair.
“What… did you do?” Alarm bells went off in her head.
“I used a fragrance that induces dizziness. I apologize. I’m not much of a gentleman, more of an animal,” Hugo confessed. With his right hand, he lightly brushed her face and gave an evil smirk. “Pearl, do you think Richard will lose his mind if I sleep with someone he hasn’t slept with yet?”
Pearl wanted to curse at him but realized her vision had grown hazier by the second. The last thing she saw was the wickedness in Hugo’s eyes, tinged with a sense of pride at seizing the opportunity at the right moment.
