Chapter 1314: Chapter 1309: Goddaughter
The meeting took place at Nicholas Croft’s company at 1:30 in the afternoon. Two investors and a producer arrived at Infi, and to Nicholas Croft’s surprise, Hannah Hargrave came along as well.
One of the investors chuckled and said, "Director Croft, what kind of game are you and Madam playing? Your wife wants to invest but insists on doing so under my name."
Facing the investor’s half-joking remarks, Nicholas Croft merely smiled faintly without responding. Hannah Hargrave, however, walked over, linked arms with him playfully, and said to the investor, "Mr. Huang, I just wanted to surprise my husband!"
"Ah, I’m getting old, I don’t understand the romance of you young folks anymore!" Mr. Huang waved his hands and laughed. Tang, the assistant, invited everyone into the small meeting room. Nicholas Croft also withdrew his arm from Hannah’s hand and followed them inside.
Gazing at her now-empty arm, Hannah narrowed her eyes; her delicately made-up face showed a brief hint of gloom, but by the time she entered the meeting room, she had replaced it with a formal smile.
Infi wanted to produce a fantasy costume drama. The finance team ran through the expense reports for costumes and props needed with everyone, followed by a discussion on casting the lead roles. Just as they were deep in discussion, the meeting room door was suddenly kicked open.
Sophie Foster appeared at the doorway in a fitted cocktail dress. Over a light-colored strapless top, she wore a black short jacket, and though there was no cleavage, her figure was strikingly outlined.
Her black fitted pants and high heels completed the influencer look with her heavy makeup—foundation, long lashes, and bright red lips.
"President, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop her," Tang rushed over, apologizing with his head lowered. If such an important meeting got disrupted, the president would undoubtedly be displeased.
"Get back to work," Nicholas Croft’s stern yet handsome face showed no change as everyone gazed in astonishment at Sophie standing at the door.
Hannah’s expression was not pleasant as she stared tightly at Sophie.
Sophie, with a limited edition handbag on her shoulder, looked coldly at Nicholas Croft, "Nicholas, I’ve set my sights on a certain bag, but I can’t afford it!"
As soon as Sophie finished speaking, the two investors and producer were nearly taken aback.
It had been a few days since they’d heard rumors of Nicholas Croft flaunting his affection with a lover at the airport, but they hadn’t expected this lover to be bold enough to come to his company and ask for money.
Mr. Huang, truly there for the entertainment, glanced at Hannah beside him, then turned to Nicholas Croft with a smile, "Director Croft, who is this..."
"Nicholas! I want to buy that bag!"
Sophie had no patience for their nonsense, raising her voice in displeasure.
Everyone in the meeting room could sense the unusual relationship between the two, otherwise, Sophie wouldn’t give orders so boldly in front of all these people.
Hannah finally couldn’t stay seated, coldly turning to Nicholas Croft, "Explain this to me."
Nicholas glanced at her without a word, then stood up and walked to the door, taking hold of Sophie’s wrist.
For once, Sophie didn’t resist; although her face remained cool, she followed him inside.
"Just the right moment for introductions," Nicholas said calmly, his usually stern face during discussions now softened with a slight smile and warmth in his eyes.
"This is my Goddaughter, whom I’ve just acknowledged recently."
"Goddaughter?" The other investor couldn’t believe it and laughed, "Director Croft, you really know how to play it smart, that’s truly clever!"
The investor gave Nicholas a thumbs up, and Hannah’s expression soured even further as she questioned with a livid face.
"Nicholas, how could you not discuss such an important matter as acknowledging a Goddaughter with me!"
"President Hai, you’re being ignorant; it’s a trend now," Mr. Huang said, smiling at Hannah, "Goddaughter by day, lover by night—wealthy men enjoy this kind of game, haha..." Mr. Huang laughed heartily, then winked at the other investor across the table, "President Li, why don’t we also get ourselves a young and pretty Goddaughter?"
President Li looked up, shook his hand with a smile, "I’m too old, can’t get as lucky as Director Croft."
The two investors joked openly in front of Hannah, her face becoming more unreadable, as she slammed the table and stood up.
"Nicholas, what do you mean by this!"
Nicholas innocently furrowed his brows, one hand holding Sophie’s wrist and the other resting on her shoulder in an intimately undisguised gesture.
"What do I mean? I just acknowledged a Goddaughter, didn’t even hide it from you."
Hannah was so infuriated by Nicholas that she couldn’t speak, but what truly drove her mad was yet to come.
Sophie coldly stared at Hannah; her cool expression made it hard to tell if she had hostile intentions.
Nicholas lowered his gaze to Sophie’s face, unconcerned, "Baby, let me introduce you to this beautiful lady, your godmother. Call her Godmother."
Eyeing Hannah’s enraged face, cold words slipped from Sophie’s mouth, "My mother has long been dead!"
Whether it was Hannah’s illusion or not, she felt this influencer face harbored great hostility towards her, the words tinged with a palpable curse.
She wanted to explode but, upon second thought, gave a sudden cold laugh and sat back down.
After all, she was the main wife, while Sophie was the other woman. Historically, wives and mistresses were like fire and water, naturally making them enemies.
"Nicholas, kindly let your Goddaughter rest wherever she feels comfortable, we still have business to discuss."
With folded arms and a haughty chin lift, Hannah’s gaze met Sophie’s, whose lips curved into a faint, provocative smile. Turning to Nicholas, her cold expression vanished.
"Daddy, Baby wants a bag."
Beautiful girls acting spoiled—no man is immune to it.
Nicholas’s eyes filled with tenderness, as if Sophie was the only one in them.
His tone was just as gentle, as if they were the only two people in the room, "Didn’t Daddy give you a supplementary card? Did you forget it?"
Sophie pouted unhappily, "I want Daddy to swipe the card."
"Alright, Daddy will take Baby shopping for a bag," Nicholas indulgently ruffled Sophie’s hair, then turned to the shocked producers and investors, "I’m sorry, I need to accompany my baby shopping. Let’s talk next time."
"Nicholas Croft!" Hannah ground out his name between her teeth, and he looked at her in puzzlement.
"What’s wrong? Is there something else?"
"I’m your wife!" Hannah raised her voice to emphasize.
