Chapter 1701

Ben picked up the project proposal that had been set aside.
Realizing she had misunderstood, Lila felt a flicker of embarrassment but quickly composed herself. Glancing at his actions, she said calmly, “This is the project I want your team to handle. So, can you do it or not?” Jamie couldn’t read Ben’s thoughts. She only knew she didn’t want Lila to get her way. This woman had been looking for trouble from the start, clearly acting with bad intentions. Why give her an opportunity to exploit? But Ben glanced at Jamie, the corners of his lips curving into a gentle smile, almost as if to reassure her. “I think it’s doable.”
He directed the comment to Jamie, but Lila assumed it was for her. Instantly, her earlier frustration vanished, and she crossed her arms smugly. “Did you hear that, Jamie? Ben is your boss, isn’t he? Now that he’s given the green light, you don’t have anything else to say, do you?”
Her self-satisfied demeanor made it seem as if she had already secured her position as Jamie’s client. While technically true, her arrogance was insufferable.
Jamie frowned slightly, her irritation unmistakable.
Just then, Ben spoke again, his tone calm but firm as he looked directly at Lila. “Miss Carson, while I said this project is feasible, that doesn’t mean you have the right to act out of line at Lucas Corporation. Show some respect to my secretary. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to have someone escort you out.”
Lila’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Her expression darkened with embarrassment.
Jamie’s frustration lifted, and for the first time, the idea of taking on this project didn’t seem quite so unpleasant. “Fine, I’ll take it,” she said, reaching out to accept the proposal from Ben.
Lila glanced at Jamie, then at Ben, and sneered. “Don’t let me down, Jamie.”
After Lila left, Jamie turned to Ben. “You could’ve turned her down earlier. Why did you agree to it?”
“If I refused, she’d just find other ways to cause trouble for you. This way, we can deal with her once and for all. Don’t you agree?” Ben asked with a light smile.
Jamie thought about it for a moment and nodded. “You’re right.”
Thinking back on what had just happened, she felt a little frustrated with herself. She had let her emotions get the better of her.
Ben, noticing her self-blame, offered gentle reassurance. His deep, smooth voice was calming. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re still adjusting, but you’re doing well. It’ll get easier with time.”
Jamie exhaled, regaining her focus and determination.
The project Lita handed over was deliberately difficult, something she likely thought Jamie couldn’t handle. But after a full day of careful consideration, Jamie came up with a draft that she believed would work.
She brought it to Ben. “Take a look. Do you think this could work?”
Ben hadn’t had it easy these past few days. His father had long since retired, leaving the company entirely to him. His brother, Noah, was nowhere to be found, leaving the full weight of the business on Ben’s shoulders.
Jamie noticed the dark circles under his eyes and realized he hadn’t been resting properly. He had been working late into the night and waking up early every morning.
Seeing this, she hesitated and pulled the draft back. “Never mind, I’ll find someone else to review it…”
Ben gently but firmly took the draft from her hands, his tone soft but decisive. “Who else are you planning to give this to?”
“I just think you need a break. Aren’t you going to take some time to rest?”
“It’s fine. It’s just a bit of work,” he said without looking up, his focus entirely on the draft as he carefully reviewed it.
Jamie’s heart softened. She felt a sense of comfort, knowing that her efforts were being taken seriously by someone who genuinely cared.