Chapter 644

After the meal, Ann dabbed her lips with a napkin and looked Asher squarely in the eye. “Alright, let’s have it.”
Asher feigned confusion. “I’m not sure I understand, Miss Templeton.”
She smiled thinly. “We’re both adults, Mr. Fletcher. Let’s not pretend. Tell me what you really want from me.” Ann was no fool. She knew from the moment he’d approached her that he had an ulterior motive.
Seeing his cover was blown, Asher dropped the pretense. “You are as perceptive as they say, Miss Templeton. You’re right, I do need a favor from you. It’s a small thing, really, for someone in your position.”
“Go on,” she prompted.
He leaned forward. “As I said, I’m in the jewelry business. My company is currently preparing to go public
Go public? Ann’s eyes narrowed as the pieces clicked into place. “So, you want me to help you steal my cousin’s design?”
“Steal’ is such an ugly word,” Asher corrected smoothly. “Mr. Gonzales is a rare talent. We simply wish to… be inspired by his creativity.”
“Inspired?” Ann scoffed and stood up abruptly, her voice laced with outrage. “What kind of person do you take me for, Mr. Fletcher? That’s my family! How could I ever betray him?” It was a ridiculous notion. Tammie was her only lifeline.
“Miss Templeton, please, don’t be hasty,” Asher said calmly. He typed something into his phone and pushed it across the table to her. “If you provide us with the final design draft from CL Jewels, we are prepared to offer you this amount.”
Ann’s eyes fell on the screen. An eight followed by seven zeros.
Asher saw the flicker in her expression and knew he had her.
“The going rate for that design on ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ
the market is only sixty million, Miss willing to
Templeton. My boss is wil
offer you more.” He paused for
effect. “And he’s prepared to pay a two-million-dollar depositupfront.”
Ann’s jaw tightened, her expression unreadable. After a long moment, she said firmly, “I will not betray my cousin.”
Asher simply placed a business card on the table. “Let’s just consider ourselves new friends, Miss Templeton, regardless of your decision.” With that, he stood up and walked away.
Ann remained seated, her gaze fixed on his retreating back.
An hour later, she returned to the villa. The lights were on, and the housekeeper,
Lindy, opened the door for her. “Welcome back, Miss Templeton.”
“Lindy,” Ann acknowledged. “Is Tammie still working?”
“Yes, he’s still in his study.”
Just as Ann was changing her shoes, Tammie appeared at the top of the stairs, a wide smile on his face. “Ann, I have some news. I. introduced you to my good friend, Benedict He should have addedy on WhatsApp. You two should chat. He’s a great guy, a real diamond in the rough. Even if it doesn’t work out romantically, you could still be friends.”
Set her up? With Benedict? If she remembered correctly, Benedict came from a dirt-poor family. Everything he had, he’d earned through scholarships and hard work. How could someone like that ever be worthy of her? A subtle, bitter expression crossed her face. So this was what it meant to live on someone else’s charity. Even when he claimed to see her as a cousin, this was the best he could offer.
Forcing a sweet smile, she replied, “Thank you, Tammie.”
Once in her room, Ann pulled out the business card and sent a text: [I’ll do it.]
Eighty million dollars. With that kind of money, she could live the life she wanted, free from the judgment and pity of others. She would never be dependent on anyone ever again.