Love At The Right Price

Chapter 44

Tamara impassively retracted her hand, concealing the raging resentment inside her with a calm expression.

“Mrs. Hardy, I’m afraid that you don’t even deserve to stand here if we were to take our personal relationship into consideration, so it’d be best that we remain in a business relationship.”

The smile on Lily’s face stiffened and she countered, “Tamara, what does that supposed to mean? It has been five years since then. Are you still holding a grudge against us?”

Upon hearing her words, Tamara nearly broke into laughter. It’s the resentment that has been keeping me alive up until now.

At that thought, she responded with a cold, stern tone, “Since President Hardy isn’t prepared to talk about the collaboration, let’s not waste each other’s time. I have something else to attend to. I shall take my leave first.”

“Stop right there!” Lily, who finally couldn’t hold back her temper, tightly grabbed Tamara by her wrist.

“It has been five years since, yet you are showing your temper here and now? I wonder how much you can do when you are now in the territory of the Hardy Family! I haven’t even settled scores with you about the incident at Springvale Place!”

Lily snarled and darted a look at the secretary, who instantly closed the office door.

“Listen here, Tamara-you’d better sign the agreement today. Otherwise, things will get ugly.”

However, Tamara continued to remain calm. She couldn’t possibly come unprepared when they finally met again after so many years had passed.

She raised her eyes and shot a glance at Lily. It was a casual look, but she completely overpowered the other woman with her presence. It was apparent that who between them was at an advantage.

“Is this a threat or a kidnapping? I never thought that the renowned Hardy Group would stoop so low to the point of using this underhanded means just to get the contract signed.”

“How dare you?!” Lily couldn’t stand this sort of ridicule. All these years after Tamara had left the Hardy Group, the former had been used to having her own way when she was in the office, so she had never experienced such humiliation before. Plus, after the incident where Tamara degraded her, she had long been wanting to take action on Tamara. Now that the woman was in the Hardy Group, coupled with the fact that Lily had Evan on her side, there wasn’t a need for her to be afraid. Therefore, Lily raised her hand to slap Tamara’s face.

The sound echoed throughout the office, but the person who had been slapped was not Tamara.

Lily’s red swollen face instantly turned into a hideous grimace. Her stunning eyes widened as she growled, “You… How dare you?!”

Tamara scoffed at that. “Only an idiot wouldn’t resist when someone is going to hit them.”

Lily tilted her face, only to realize that Evan wasn’t even looking at her. The latter had his eyes fixated on Tamara as he stared at her passionately.

“I’m going to kill you!” Lily’s last shred of rationality collapsed under Tamara’s sneer and Evan’s awe struck gaze.

Suddenly, Lily grabbed the fruit knife on the desk and charged at Tamara.

Meanwhile, Tamara, who didn’t expect Lily to act like a lunatic, was caught off guard and she

immediately retreated. Then, she turned to her side and raised a leg. With a couple of swift and clean movements, she easily took Lily down, and the latter fell on her knees in an awkward manner.

A shred of disdain flashed across Tamara’s eyes. Five years ago, when she had been in a desperate situation where she was faced with a couple of men, it was only then did she realize how vulnerable she had been.

All these years, in order to protect Tim and herself, Tamara had been practicing sparring. Although she wasn’t proficient in it, she had more than enough skill to take down someone like Lily.

“Evan, help me!” Lily purred with tears in her eyes. It wasn’t an act, though, because her hand had been twisted and it was so painful that it felt as if she had broken it.

Evan glanced at the pitiful Lily, then turned to Tamara’s stunning face. After hesitating for a few seconds, he stepped forward.

“Let go of her!”

“What if I say no? President Hardy, are you going to beat your business partner up?” Tamara raised her head and she met Evan’s gaze, but she didn’t notice that Lily was discreetly picking up the fruit knife that she had dropped due to the impact. At that exact moment, Lily had a fierce expression on her face.