As soon as Colton and Mny left, a hushed calm settled over.


    Ken, ever calm, turned to his assistant Sherman with a steady gaze.


    “Something came up in the office.


    Go take care of it.”


    Sherman hesitated, a look of confusion on his face.


    Wasn''t everything already settled?


    But as soon as she saw Ken''s sharp, unyielding gaze, she knew better than to protest.


    “Got it!” Sherman squeaked.


    He walked away quickly, and as he did, Allison reached into her purse and pulled out a wet wipe to clean her hands.


    “Thank you for your help, Mr.


    Lloyd,” she said in a silky smooth voice.


    “It’s no big deal,” Ken replied in his usual calm tone.


    They walked in sync toward the basement parking lot, their footsteps echoing softly.


    The silence between them wasn''t awkward; on the contrary, it wasfortable, as if they had done this a thousand times before.


    “Are you really going to let that opportunity slip through your fingers?” Ken finally broke the silence.


    “The Everett Group is the biggest name in advertising in the world.


    They could be a valuable asset, you know?”


    I knew Allison wasn''t one to follow the rules exactly.


    It wasn''t like her to let Colton have an easy way out, especially when such a prize was at stake.


    A subtle smile yed on Allison’s lips, her expression carrying an air of mystery.


    “I always keep my promises, Ken.


    But if Colton cane to an agreement with Mr.


    kely? That’s entirely up to him.


    I refuse to lift a finger to help.”


    The opportunity with the Everett Group held weight for the Stevens Group, but for Allison it was just another card in her hand, one she didn''t mind discarding, not with the bigger picture she had in mind.


    Plus, this matter involved Ken.


    He had intervened on her behalf, and while Allison knew he wasn''t one to shy away from conflict, things could getplicated if tensions red.


    People would inevitably start whispering behind her back.


    Thest thing he wanted was to drag the Lloyd family into these legal battles.


    Plus, he hated having to do favors.


    Ken didn''t need to hear her say it to know what was going on in her head.


    He could always read her, and it was clear to him now that she wasn''t giving up the opportunity out of a sense of duty.


    “So you pretend to go along with Colton’s wishes on the surface, but secretly you’re setting him up to fail,” Kenmented in an omniscient tone.


    "I know Ferdinand; he may seem easy-going, all smiles and chatter, but once you betray him, that''s it.


    He won''t work with you again."


    Given Ferdinand’s influence, one knew better than to trifle with him.


    The Everett Group had immeasurable power, capable of controlling the global narrative at Ferdinand’s whim.


    His instincts were sharp, and his strategic mind was leagues ahead of the average.


    PR professionals always put on a friendly face, but behind closed doors they were ruthless.


    They had the ability to destroy someone''s reputation with a single well-timed article.


    “You catch on quickly, Mr.


    Lloyd.” Allison smiled, appreciating the ease of talking to someone who understood without exnation.


    “I spent three years with Colton.


    The man ispletely oblivious.


    Probably because Mr.


    kely was too polite thest time they met.


    Even when he cut Colton out of the deal, he did it so smoothly.


    Colton probably thinks they’re still on good terms.”


    But in reality, everything pointed to one fact: Ferdinand could not stand men like Colton: reckless, short-sighted troublemakers who cared only about quick profits.


    Such guys might enjoy immediate gains, but they would never seed in the long run.


    "Even if Colton takes my ce," he added with a knowing smile, "who knows what will happen when the financing getsplicated? If things go wrong, it will all blow up in his face."


    Ken smiled, his eyes shining with admiration.


    “You really are something, Miss rke.”


    Today he had not only openly confronted Colton, but he had set him up.


    His finesse was impressive.


    A satisfied smile yed across her lips as she looked at Ken appreciatively.


    “In any case, I owe you a debt.


    Thank you for stepping in today, Ken,” she said sincerely.


    “If I had to take on those two clowns by myself, things would have gotten a little…murky.”


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    Ken raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes yfully.


    Was she serious? She always yed the role of the damsel in distress, as if she wasn''t the one orchestrating everything.


    In fact, Ken had a feeling that if he hadn''t intervened today, Colton and Mny would have been facing something much worse.


    “Oh, stop acting,” he sneered, though there was a hint of bite in his tone.


    “Anyway, if you really want to thank me, why don’t you help me get rid of that poison? We’ve crossed paths so many times and been through a lot together.


    Why is it so hard for you to trust me?”


    Allison gave him an incredulous look, raising her hands in feigned innocence, as if ying dumb.


    “What the hell are you talking about? Do I look like someone who would go around poisoning people?” She gave a soft, mockingugh.


    “Oh, that? It was a joke.


    I just gave you some vitamin candy.


    Vitamins are good for you, you know? Wait a minute.


    You didn’t think I was serious, did you?”


    Where was he going to find poison in that cave? There was no point in carrying poison with him when he went out.


    Allison never saw herself as the type of person to give up.


    If push came to shove, she would fight until herst breath.


    And if she fell, she wouldn''t do it alone.


    Ken blinked, briefly taken aback by her casual confidence, before realizing he’d been yed.


    But instead of anger, a smile yed on his lips.


    “So you’re going to tell me everything in advance, huh? And you’re not worried that I’ll get angry? You must trust me more than I thought.” As he spoke, he casually pressed the elevator button, as if they were talking about the weather.


    “Do you need a ride home?”


    “No, thank you.” Allison made a gesture of turning her car keys in front of him.


    She knew he wasn’t offering her a ride out of courtesy; he obviously just wanted an excuse to find out where she lived.


    “I have my own car, Mr.


    Lloyd.


    I wouldn’t want to bother you.


    Besides, we’re not close enough for a ride home, are we?”


    “Aren’t we?” Ken raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice.


    “Have you forgotten that night already?”