Tangled Temptations

Early morning, Harvey sat in his office, poring over documents.

Denise slipped through the door, her voice a hushed whisper. "Attorney Horigan, Ms. Ruby's agent, has been here several times. He wishes to speak with you."

Harvey took a sip of his coffee. "Which Ms. Ruby?"

Denise faltered, then steeled herself to remind him. "The famous actress Ruby."

Ah, her...

Harvey almost forgot. Ms. Ruby had posted something on Twitter, and he had deliberately silenced her. Now, no one probably dared to cast her in their films. Harvey's tone was icy. "Not interested. Don't bring me such news again."

Denise nodded and left to relay the message.

Ruby's agent was disappointed. He tried various ways, but Harvey refused to meet, clearly upset. The famous actress was suppressed, and her career was in a slump.

At Everest Technologies, the top-floor conference room.

A product development meeting was underway.

Out of nowhere, an eager suggestion came up. "Ms. Laurent, I suggest we get Ruby to endorse our newly developed body wash."

The room fell silent at the remark. Natalia sat next to Eloise, hardly daring to breathe.noveldrama

Unexpectedly, Eloise didn't get angry. Instead, she asked calmly, "How much does she usually charge?"

"20 million."

Eloise stood. "Tell her to bring her quote and come to Everest Technologies."

By afternoon, Ruby had arrived. Eloise met her in the company's gym.

Ruby was known for her arrogance. She was young, rich, and famous, and believed she was far superior to someone like Eloise. but when she saw Eloise working out, her confidence wavered.

Eloise's physique was far better than she had imagined. Perhaps due to motherhood, her figure had a fullness to it. Her waist was incredibly slim, and her legs were long, straight, and smooth. She was sure any man who laid eyes on Eloise would not forget her.

Ruby's voice was tense. "Mrs. Horigan."

Eloise heard her but didn't respond. Natalia leaned in to remind her. "Ms. Laurent, Ms. Ruby is here."

Eloise finished her workout, breaking into a sweat. She wiped herself with a towel, sat in the rest area, and gestured for Ruby to sit.

"Call me Ms. Laurent. I'm not Mrs. Horigan anymore."

Ruby's agent quickly placed the quote in front of Eloise, boasting about Ruby's past accolades. The implication was clear - they wouldn't accept anything less than 20 million.

Eloise didn't even glance at it. Her eyes swept over Ruby, and she spoke in her usual calm tone, "Ms. Ruby is in good shape."

Ruby forced a smile. Now that she was closer to Eloise, she could see her skin - flawless, rosy, and soft. Combined with her immense wealth, Ruby found it hard to maintain her arrogance.

Natalia brought over coffee, and Eloise had a cup of herbal tea.

After half a cup, she was straightforward. "Our company needs a model for our body wash ad. I agreed to meet Ms. Ruby because she's cheap. Of course, that quote is outdated. I believe no one in the industry dares to work with Ms. Ruby now. But if Ms. Ruby agrees to my quote and cooperates with Everest, her troubles will be solved instantly."

Her words were sharp and to the point. Ruby's agent hesitated. "What price are you willing to give, Ms. Laurent?"

Eloise replied calmly, "2 million."

2 million? It was as if she was robbing them. Ruby's agent was adamant about not accepting the offer.

Eloise picked up a magazine and flipped through it casually. "I won't force you. Natalia, please show them out."

She was just trying to bargain. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to stand the sight of Ruby.

Natalia smiled and prepared to escort them out. But Ruby didn't move. She spoke up, her voice tensing. "I agree. 2 million it is."

The 2 million felt like a slap in the face, but the opportunity was too important for her to refuse. She had underestimated Eloise - Eloise was ruthless.

Ruby was far from comfortable. After signing the stringent contract, she blurted out, "Ms. Laurent, aren't you curious about my past with Attorney Horigan?"

Eloise glanced at the contract, her response casual and dismissive. "I didn't ask in the past and see no need to do so now. If you decide to write an autobiography, I'l be happy to buy a copy."

Ruby's face burned, and she found it hard to keep her composure.

Once she left, Eloise called in the manager of the R&D department, tossed the contract at him, and said in a monotonous tone, "Name this body wash 'Heartthrob.""

The manager looked at the contract. 2 million for Ruby, and a product named Heartthrob. This would certainly infuriate her.

Eloise sat and played with her phone. She said casually, "She loved stirring up controversy with her tweets. It's only fair to return the favor."

This new product was bound to be a hit. Just as Eloise predicted, on the first day of the new product launch, "Heartthrob" sold 12 million units across all platforms, leaving their competitors in the dust.

Everest Technologies' stock hit the upper circuit for three days. Parker personally called to lavish praise on Eloise, even offering to let her manage Horigan Inc. if she wished. He would take care of the kids.

Eloise flatly refused.

After hanging up, she soaked in a luxurious bathtub. The tub was filled with bubbles, and Eloise held the body wash, a faint smile on her face.

After her bath, she got up and wrapped herself in a robe. It was quite late, and she was about to check on the kids and then go to bed. But as she stepped out of the bathroom, she noticed an additional presence in her bedroom.

Harvey sat on the plush bed, puffing on a cigarette. Dressed in all black, he looked incredibly attractive. His smoking was tantalizingly enticing.

Eloise had no interest in admiring him. She tightened her robe and asked coldly, "What are you doing in my bedroom? We're divorced. Do I need to remind you daily?"

Harvey gave her a quick once-over, casually declaring, "I'm here for Linda and Darrien."

Eloise took a seat at her vanity mirror, combing through her long tresses. "You shouldn't be in my room, Harvey. We can talk in the living room if it's necessary."

Harvey snuffed out his cigarette. He cut to the chase, "You obviously don't like Ruby, so why did you hire her as an ambassdor?"

Eloise continued to brush her hair, chuckling at his question. "Do you want the truth?"

Harvey's dark eyes were inscrutable.

As Eloise started to apply her skincare products, she spoke in a measured tone, "This new line of body wash required a big investment, but it's just... lackluster. The initial feedback wasn't great, and then Ruby came begging. She was a bargain, I snagged an A-list actress for 2 million. Plus, there's her little scandal with you, Attorney Horigan."

Eloise laughed softly. "And who wouldn't want to know which scent Attorney Horigan prefers?"

She finished her sentence and took a moment to sniff her own neck. It was such a simple gesture but so tantalizing in Harvey's eyes.

This woman was infuriating and detestable, yet he was undeniably drawn to her.

Harvey stood and moved closer, his hands resting on either side of her as he leaned in, his voice husky, "What if I said that I prefer your scent?"

Eloise's face turned frosty. She replied coldly, "Sorry, but you won't have a chance to taste it again."

Harvey looked at Eloise seated before him, his desire to pull her into his arms was genuine, but he held himself back.

Enought chit-chat, Eloise started to get down to business. "Where are my diary and voice recorder?"

"Do you want them? If you do, let me stay here tonight. I won't do anything, I just want to be with you, to be with the kids."

Eloise knew this was a man's trick. She was about to dismiss him when the nanny's panicked voice came from outside the room. "Madam, it seems Darrien is running a fever."