I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 16

Xander looked at her, the corners of his lips slowly curving up.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, the lenses catching a sharp, icy glint under the hallway lights. Through those lenses, his eyes carefully assessed her.

"You are quite courageous, Ms. Newman. To push Bonnie and still have the nerve to stand before me and bring this up."

Nora pressed her lips tightly together. She had no way out.

Taking a deep breath, Nora looked up to meet his gaze head-on.

"Because I'm completely out of options. I have to grab the olive branch you extended as tightly as I can. You are a magnanimous man, Mr. Harrison, and you wouldn't hold a grudge against a child. I'm asking you to give me a chance, and give the Institute a chance."

She paused, collecting her thoughts before pressing on.

"Within one month, I guarantee you will see satisfactory results. You won't regret it."

As soon as the words left her mouth, even she felt they sounded a bit arrogant.

Standing opposite her was the CEO of Harrison Group, the man at the helm of a top-ten business empire in the country. For a woman who hadn't stepped foot in a lab in five years to stand before him and declare he wouldn't regret it sounded dangerously presumptuous.

But she had no other choice. If even she didn't believe she could pull it off, why would Xander believe her?

Xander narrowed his eyes slightly, though his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"You're so certain I won't regret it?"

Nora lifted her eyes, her gaze firm. "I am."

Xander stared at her for a few seconds, his smile deepening.

"You talk a big game, Ms. Newman. Among everyone I've collaborated with, no one has ever dared to guarantee I wouldn't regret it. I'm quite curious to see what results you can bring to the table."

Nora's heart leaped, her eyes lighting up. "Does that mean you agree?"

Xander shifted his gaze away from her and spoke with agonizing slowness.

"I agree. But I have one condition."

"I assume you brought the contract?"

Nora paused, quickly pulling a document from her clutch.

She had specifically prepared the contract before leaving today. Even though she was entirely unsure if she could pull off this negotiation, she brought it anyway, and thank God she did.

Xander took the contract, flipping through it with a quick glance. He then pulled a sleek pen from his suit pocket and cleanly scrawled his bold signature across the final page.

He handed the contract back to Nora.

Nora took it. Looking at the bold, forceful signature on the paper, the heavy weight in her chest finally vanished.

She looked up and smiled brightly at Xander. "Thank you, Mr. Harrison. Here's to a successful partnership."

Xander gave a curt nod.

Nora tucked the contract into her clutch and turned to walk out of the hallway. She had only taken a few steps when someone stepped out from around the corner.