Billionaire and His Scheming Beauty novel Chapter 42

"Virginie did that foolish act on purpose. I was toying with Olivier at the time so she deliberately wanted me to think she could do whatever she wanted with Olivier's tokens of affection to her, that she was favoured by him. Even if she stopped appreciating those gifts and tossed it to a servant, Olivier would never be upset at her for it. That I am nothing compared to her.

If it was up to me, I would snap the bracelet and make her eat it down, then mess her up. But Olivier is different. I asked him what he thought afterwards and he replied that Virginie could do whatever she wanted with the bangle since it was gifted to her. He also said so long as she was happy it was fine."

Fleur clenched her fingers, eyes looking far away.

"Olivier is quite infatuated with her. Virginie really is a despicable person, always looking for his pampering yet still in love with Samuel Muller."

Honestly, this was all the confidence Virginie had.

Her sense of security in this big world never came from any respect or harmonising with others. It was all because she was spoiled.

Virginie was so unruly because she knew Olivier loved only her.

"People are greedy in nature," Fleur sighed.

"Isn't that right? That's why I supported you in killing off Virginie and snatching Olivier from her."

Fleur's eyes were misty as she said, "...Do you think I should make a gamble then?"

"Gamble on what?"

"That in four days Olivier will fall in love with me and be rid of Virginie." Let him test her, Fleur did not care.

"..." Odette exhaled, saying admirably, "You're the only one brave enough to and can last these four days. I admire you."

The task seemed impossible. Four days was not a lot of time.

Fleur would gamble then, since she liked to see how these unexpected outcomes affected those around her.

Moreover, this was not only a bet between Olivier and herself, it was also a contest between Virginie and her.

"Make some lunch, I'm hungry."

Odette inhaled sharply. "You want me to cook?"

"Yes. I don't know how to."

"Fleur Leroy, look at who you're speaking to. Me, Odette Durand, cook for you? Hey, don't grab me, let go..."

Five minutes later, two women were in the kitchen.

...

"Is this salt or sugar?"

"How would I know? Taste it yourself."

"Fleur, are you out of the mind? Go back to your house if you want to  cook!"

"No. Cooking with you is much more fun, I get to learn how to seduce men too. Hurry up and get the meat out."

Odette cursed: "F*ck!"

Fleur was always bossing her around!

......

Odette could not take it anymore and had kicked her out after an hour.

Fleur's right hand was still injured, though there was now an abnormal redness around the bandage. Her finger had come into contact with water and had not been wrapped properly.

She was not too concerned though, and got in the car.

She was not in a hurry to leave either, sending a text to Olivier, "Are you busy later? Let's have lunch together if you're not."

Fleur had to spend her time wisely. Four days would pass by soon.

Her phone rang half a minute later.

"Hello?" Fleur casually leaned into her seat, but her expression swiftly changed the next moment.

"It's me."

Virginie.

Virginie had called her with Olivier's phone. Fleur looked at her finger against the sunlight, seemingly watching the thin veins beneath her skin flowing.

"Miss Lopez, you really are...impressive." Olivier was actually more impressive, being able to like Virginie.

"Don't get sarcastic with me. Olivier postponed all his plans this afternoon. Miss Leroy, you framed both of us last night. Do you think I'll just let it go like that?"

"That doesn't matter to me. Do as you please. If you want to vent and cry to Olivier and actually succeed in it that's kudos to you. But please, have a bottom line. Olivier likes you and always indulges your tantrums. Please don't hurt him so much."

"Oh, so you do know that he likes me. Then what me and him does no longer concerns you.

...

The call ended.

Fleur ground her teeth, clasping onto the phone. This woman was truly...the eldest brat of the Lopez family, arrogant and self-centered.

Fleur hated her so much she wanted to tear her apart.

......

Back in Olivier's office, Virginie had just placed the man's phone down when Olivier's secretary Yves came in with some chrysanthemum tea.

...

Yves frowned when she saw what Virginie did. Mr. Martinez never liked his phone to be used by others.

But because this was Virginie, Yves didn't say anything. The president favoured her, and Yves was just an assistant, so he dared not object. He placed the tea down. "Miss Lopez, your tea."

"Thank you. Did you put sugar in it?"

"I already know your preference for sugar to drown out the chrysanthemums' bitterness, so I've already done so." Mr. Martinez had also instructed him of this a long time ago.

Virginie took a sip and said, "Thank you." It was sweet with only a hint of bitterness that neutralised the sugar. It tasted just right.

The door opened as Olivier came in with some documents. He hesitated for a moment when he saw Virginie but went to his desk anyways.

"Free schedule today?" Olivier signaled for Yves to leave.

Yves bowed and left.

Dressed in a windbreaker, Virginie shied up to Olivier and placed her hands on his desk. "I'm always free when it comes to you."

Olivier's lips moved as if smiling, but he said nothing.

His wine-red shirt reflected off the bright sunlight, magnifying his masculine appeal.

Virginie pouted, a playful look in her eyes. "Let's have lunch together. I've invited you so many times."

Olivier sat down, resting his arms on the armrests. He casually looked at her, expression unreadable.

"Are you just here to invite me to lunch?"

His words were tinged with cold.

"Yes...and no."

"Tell me."

"It's just, what happened last night made me uncomfortable. Fleur tricked me, didn't she set you up too?"

"Did you come to me to be cajoled or stand up for you?"

Both.

In the past, Olivier would have indulged whatever she did, not even directly address her unexpressed thoughts like this.

Because he knew she would be embarrassed.

But now, he neither seemed to care for that nor for her embarrassment.

"I..." Virginie sat down, palms starting to sweat. "I'm sorry. I'll first explain why I rejected your proposal that night."

"Miss Lopez, a refusal is a refusal. Why is an explanation needed? Do you think I was asking a favour of you?" That was a marriage proposal.

Virginie's eyes flared uncertainly. She took a few deep breaths, expression tensing up. "Alright, let's not talk about that night then. We'll just talk about Fleur. Why is she left unscathed? Are you just going to let her use you like that?" She no longer mentioned the marriage proposal.

Olivier's eyes were dark and indifferent, creating a distance that was all that more attractive.

"I know you're not pleased about this, Olivier. You're definitely...thinking of a comeback."

"Miss Lopez, you're not as smart as you think. Don't simply guess."

Olivier interrupted her.