Love’s Cunning Ruse

Chapter 55
Even when Grant led her to the front door of Simpo Co. Julie was still in a state of surreal disbelief
She glanced at her watch, and it was only 6:40 am.
Unlike other workaholic leaders, Kieran had a very regular schedule and usually wouldn’t show up at the company before 7:30
am
Julie looked at Grant helplessly and asked, “Grant, have you had breakfast yet?”
*།
Grant handed Julie two pieces of bread, saying, “I got these especially for you. After this contract is signed, I’ll treat you to a
feast.
Seeing Grant’s work ethic, Julie finally understood why Porter wanted her to follow Grant. What boss wouldn’t want to cultivate
more enthusiastic employees like him?
After eating the two pieces of bread, Julie waited a bit more with Grant.
Employees started to trickle in, and the lobby of Simpo Co gradually got busier.
The receptionist from yesterday had already recognized Julie and Grant and greeted them with a polite smile.
Kieran didn’t expect Grant to bring Julie so early, so he had his driver park right in front of Simpo Co.
As soon as he entered the lobby with Karl, Grant pulled Julie towards him.
“Mr. Hernandez, hello. I am the Chief Lawyer from Accolade Law Firm, Grant,” Grant respectfully handed Kieran a business
card.
However, Kieran didn’t take the card, his attention entirely on Julie, who was hiding behind Grant.
Julie knew the encounter was awkward.
Unable to bear Kieran’s gaze, Julie guiltily looked away.

Karl took the business card from Grant
When Grant looked at Kieran, he noticed his gaze was not on him, but intensely focused on Julie.
Grant timely pulled Julie from behind him, and with a beaming smile, said to Kieran, “This is our intern lawyer from Accolade Law
Firm, Julie We hope Mr. Hernandez could give us a few minutes...
“Julie...” Kieran suddenly interrupted Grant, calling Julie’s name.
The magnetic sound of her name from his lips stirred strong desires within her.
Grant dared not speak further, overpowered by Kieran’s aura.
Julie knew that Kieran was waiting for her to speak, for her to ask him for a chance.
Sometimes, she felt that Kieran was sadistically enjoying the process of deriving his pleasure from her misery
After a few seconds of mental struggle, Julie finally mustered the courage to look up at Kieran: “Mr. Hernandez, the reason we
came here is...”
Before Julie could finish, Kieran suddenly reached out and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
His slightly rough fingertips tenderly brushed her delicate red lips.
The sudden gesture left Julie petrified, unsure of how to react.
The employees in the lobby of Simpo Co. stopped in their tracks, watching as Kieran treated a strange woman with such
tenderness. It felt like an inappropriate display of intimacy that could make tomorrow’s company internal network headlines.
Kieran deliberately brushed Julie’s red lips with his fingertips, finally pinching a breadcrumb from the corner of her mouth.
Then he gently looked at her and said, “Don’t you guys pay attention to your appearance when doing business?”
With that, Kieran turned and walked into the elevator.
Only when the elevator doors closed did Julie come to her senses.
Kieran wasn’t just mocking her, he was mocking her company too!

She angrily wiped her lips, glaring at the elevator door as if she could bore a hole through it with her gaze.
After glancing at Julie a few times, Grant finally said, “This is a good start!”
“What is?” Julie’thought she heard wrong.
Kieran was clearly mocking her just now, and in a broader sense, she might be damaging her company’s image.
But Grant didn’t seem to think so. Instead, he smiled at Julie and said, “Anyway, you’ve made a deep impression on Mr.
Hernandez. Now we exist in his eyes, which should smooth out the following process. So yes, this is a good start.”
A deep impression?
Julie scoffed inwardly. The impression she left on Kieran was probably more than just ‘deep‘
While Julie was lost in thought, Grant suddenly started taking a closer look of her appearance.
Julie felt uncomfortable being looked over from head to toe, saying, “Do I still have breadcrumbs on my face?”
Grant shook his head. “No, it’s just that I suddenly understand why the boss wanted you to join me on this project
Julie looked at Grant, puzzled, “And why is that?”
Because of your beauty. I didn’t think you were especially beautiful when I saw you alone, but when you stood next to Mr.
Hernandez, you were particularly alluring. You exude a certain indomitable spirit! How should I put it, people complement each
other. Now that I see it, your features are really delicate and you have a good figure. No wonder you caught Mr. Hernandez’s
attention Mainly because you are different from other women around Mr. Hernandez, you have a graceful demeanor. Maybe Mr.
Hernandez is tired of his luxurious lifestyle and finds your simple way of life refreshing!”
Julie lost in her thoughts
Grant was right, considering Kieran’s weird behavior lately. Julie reckoned it’s probably because Kieran’s grown tired of his posh
lifestyle and finds her simple life kinda appealing
And so, he waltzed back into her life with his hot planning to settle down‘ attitude.
And he used their past memories to break down her defenses again and again.

After convincing herself of this, Julie found her lips, where Kieran had just kissed, increasingly uncomfortable.
She rubbed her lips with her hand.
Grant’s getting all hyped up on the sidelines. You need to be confident, Julie. If you put your back into it, you might just win Mr.
Hernandez’s heart, change your fate, and become the Mrs. Hernandez!”
If this was said many years ago, Julie might have been thrilled for days. But now, she just gave a faint smile and asked Grant,
“So are we still waiting for him?”
“Yes, of course we are waiting for him!” Grant insisted.
Julie didn’t argue, just quietly headed to the lounge area like she did yesterday.
Grant, sitting on the couch, was surprised as he touched the cushion, They changed the couch? It was a hard and low quality
one yesterday, now it’s a full down–filled one? But yeah, it’s definitely more comfy than the hard one.”
Julie didn’t pay this any mind and pulled out her phone to check the news.
Noon.
Finally, lunchtime. Even though Julie’s skinny, her appetite is not small at all. She only had two pieces of bread all morning and
she could clearly feel herself on the verge of passing out
Luckily, Grant’s thoughtful. As soon as it hit noon he offered, “You wait here for Mr. Hernandez, I’ll go grab something to eat.”
“Grant, I want carbs, get me pasta.” Julie said straight up.
Grant gave Julie a surprised look and then headed out the door.
However, not long after Grant left, Karl walked up to her and said, “Ms. Abraham, Mr. Hernandez can spare you twenty minutes.
He asks you to go upstairs to see him now”
Julie was actually prepared for a long wait, she even thought Kieran would definitely make her suffer and keep her waiting
downstairs for a few days.

But unexpectedly, he generously let her go upstairs to see him. Ignoring the fact that Grant went out to buy lunch, she quickly
grabbed the relevant documents and followed Karl upstairs.
She thought to herself: even if Kieran tortures her later, she’ll take it. It’s better than him avoiding her all the time.
Actually, Julie hoped Kieran would straight up reject Accolade Law Firm, so she wouldn’t feel torn. Because she was certain,
Kieran would absolutely not cooperate with Accolade Law Firm.
Karlled Julie straight to the conference room and knocked on the door.
A cold voice came from inside, “Come in.”
Julie had seen Kieran countless times, but she had never been as nervous as she was now. Holding the documents Grant
prepared, she stood at the door, like a student waiting for the teacher to check her homework.
After Karl knocked on the door, he turned and left, leaving Julie alone.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Julie finally pushed open the conference room door.
Kieran was sitting in the CEO’s chair, looking at Julie indifferently.
It was not until Julie walked up to the conference table that he calmly said to Julie, ‘Please sit.”
Julie pulled out the chair closest to Kieran and sat down.
“Are you ready to ask me for help?” Kieran lazily propped up his leg, his eyes sharply looking at Julie.
To think this was Kieran’s opening line, Julie felt like the last bit of her dignity was shattered.
Julie put the documents on the table, didn’t hand them to Kieran, just maintained her last bit of pride and said to Kieran, “I won’t
beg you.”
“Well, let’s eat first then Saying this, Kieran pulled out the lunch Karl had prepared from under the conference table, neatly
placing each dish in front of
Julie
Julie was speechless.