After pping Ethan, Alice said, ''Chloe, not me, asked me to buy that cake.


    “Alice, are you crazy? Even if I was wrong, why would you throw it in my face?* Ethan was furious, wiping his face with a tissue.


    Alice smiled."Now you remember. Chloe likes that cake, not me. You should thank me!"


    Seeing a taxi, Alice got in. Ethan yelled, “Alice, get out! I have questions. Did you deliberately call Mary to Pear Orchard that day?"


    Alice looked out the window. "You kept Mary''s identity a secret, didn''t you?"


    "I didn''t deliberately hide it! How would I know Mary hadn''t told you?" Ethan''s voice was hesitant. You should have told me you were taking her to dinner." If he''d known, that incident wouldn''t have happened.


    Alice''s gaze was mocking. "If I told you, I wouldn''t have seen that show. Thanks to Chloe, for daring to steal someone else''s dress. People would think she had something going on with you."


    "Alice, did you tell Mary that I have something going on with Chloe?" He realized why Mary had been cold to him. The Al project was crucial, and he couldn''t lose the Parker family''s support. His tone became serious. "Keep your mouth shut."


    "Then don''t be a son-inw. You can''t handle that kind of life."


    Hearing "son-inw, Ethan angrily tried to pull Alice out, but the taxi sped away. Alice found it hrious. Her phone rang; she knew who it was and hung up. At Maple Leaf, Alice went to the tech department to discuss technical issues that required more testing.


    The team leader said, “It''s been a while. Congrattions on winning the preliminary round!” “Thanks.” Her colleagues knew she was a streamer.


    While Alice tested data, the team leader said, “I heard Windham Corporation is also working on an Al project,peting with ours."


    Alice paused. "Didn''t they lose the bid?" Luke''s team had disbanded, Fourth Brother''s scandal broke, and though she''d agreed not to press charges, it had caused damage, and Big Brother had lost money. Did he even have money to invest in Al?


    "They got an investment and partnered with an overseaspany."


    Alice thought this was different from her past life. Second Brother had invested everything in Al, and she''d helped, winning the bid and sessfullyunching the product. But Maple Leaf still held the advantage.


    Someone


    said, "The boss


    wants you


    you in his office. Meeting in ten minutes." Alice knew what the problem was. She took her printout to the office and saw Jack. She thought it was Andrew Yates. He was in a suit, looking austere. He looked good in a suit. He looked up."Standing there doing what? Afraid I''ll eat you? Come in." Alice entered, leaving the door open. Only the two of them were in the office. She ced the documents on the desk. "Data issues and optimization suggestions."


    Jack took them, but he didn''t look at them, just lightly rubbing his fingers over them. Alice was


    surprised.


    Their eyes met. Jack noticed her short skirt and long legs. His voice wasn''t steady."Last night..."


    "No need to exinst night." Alice cut him off. She''d seen Julia behind Jack after leaving Pear Orchard and tried not to think about what they''d talked about.


    Jack''s expression darkened. He''d nned to exin, but she was prickly. He could only try to appease her. He couldn''t bear hearing break up."


    He whispered, "Still angry?"


    "Why would I be? I wasn''t the one whose face was pped." Alice looked at him defiantly, acting nonchnt. "Really?” Jack stood up and approached her.


    Alice stepped back. This is the office."


    He turned and locked the door. Alice''s heart skipped a beat. What was he going to do? Jack looked into her eyes. Before, she was easy to read. Now, sometimes he couldn''t understand her.


    He lowered his voice."I denied the engagement with Juliast night."


    They were close, the distance intimate. Alice looked away, "Oh.”


    Jack was stunned. It felt like punching cotton. He felt frustrated.“Xiaolu Ning, how can I make you stop being angry, hmm?" He couldn''t touch or scold her.


    Alice smiled. I don''t know." That smile felt like a knife to Jack.


    Alice turned to leave. He looked at her legs and pulled her back."Going so soon? We''re not done." Alice''s hands rested on his chest. “Let go, then talk."


    Jack mumbled, "Don''t wear such short skirts to work."


    Alice felt rebellious."Is it pretty?"


    He nodded honestly."Pretty." But he didn''t want other men to see.


    "Then that''s that. I''ll wear what I want."


    Jack looked away, cursing himself for being controlled by a young woman. But he liked it. Jack said, "There''s an industry exchange this afternoon. Your brother should be there. He''s been quite high-profiletely."


    need to


    "People with real ability don''t need be high-profile." Alice


    Jack chuckled. "I''ll go with you."


    was


    confident.


    Alice was stunned. "People know you at industry exchanges, right?" She remembered he''d always avoided such events to conceal his identity.


    He looked at her seriously. "Yes."


    Aren''t you afraid you


    my brother will find out?"


    "He should be afraid, not me." Jack''s tone was arrogant.