Free Web NovelChapter 70: Chapter 70: Got a Gig
It was just one crude word, but it perfectly conveyed Sonia Quincy’s disgust.
"What are you doing?!"
Willow Quincy didn’t react, but the girl sitting across from him shot up from her chair and snapped impolitely, "Are you nuts?"
"You’re the one who’s nuts." Felix Preston, ever protective, shot back right on the heels of her words.
The girl retorted, "What do you mean I’m nuts? I’m not the one who randomly threw money at someone and told them to get lost!"
Felix Preston glared at her coldly. "If you think it’s so unfair, feel free to pull out a stack of cash and throw it at Mr. Quincy. I’m sure Mr. Quincy here wouldn’t mind."
"Right?"
"Heh..." Willow Quincy let out a cold chuckle. He picked up the scattered People Currency bills one by one, then neatly arranged them in order of denomination.
"My, how you’ve grown." He clutched the thin stack of bills, pushed his chair back, and stood up, smirking at Sonia Quincy. "You even have money to throw at me now. I guess you’re not as poor as I thought."
Sonia Quincy’s face darkened, and she was in no mood for his passive-aggressive games. "Willow Quincy, how many times do I have to say it before it gets through your thick skull? I have nothing to do with the Quincy Family—or you—anymore! Can you just stop interfering in my life?"
"..." Willow Quincy’s grim smile froze on his face. The air around him instantly grew heavy at her words.
Sonia continued, "Does it matter to you if I’m poor? Do you care if I can afford to eat? Why can’t you and Cecilia Quincy learn some boundaries and stop being so damn possessive over the life of a stranger!"
"..." Willow Quincy’s fingers tightened, crumpling the thin People Currency bills into a wrinkled ball.
"Sonia Quincy, I’m trying to help you. Don’t be so ungrateful."
Sonia laughed. "Oh, well in that case, thank you so much."
Willow Quincy stared at her, his jaw clenched tight, but said nothing.
Sonia went on, "You know, I’m starting to think there’s seriously something wrong with you. When I was still with the Quincy Family, you couldn’t stand the sight of me. My very breathing was a mistake in your eyes. Now that I’ve been kicked out, just like you wanted, you suddenly put on this act like you can’t bear it, all ’for my own good.’"
"You should get your head checked."
"Why do you have to be so nasty?" Even though Willow Quincy had seemingly rejected her for this blind date, the girl still jumped to his defense.
"Can’t you speak nicely? Willow was kind enough to treat you to dinner, and this is how you repay him—?"
"Shut up!"
Felix Preston cut her off with a sharp command. "My wife is talking. What right does a nameless outsider like you have to butt in?"
The girl raised her voice defiantly. "I just can’t stand the way your wife is acting!"
Felix shot back, "How my wife acts is none of your business. If you’ve got nothing better to do, go help wash dishes in the kitchen."
"You—!" The girl was left speechless by his retort.
To see the normally gentle and refined Felix Preston turn so caustically sarcastic was truly a shock.
Sonia glanced at him in astonishment, then proactively slipped her hand into his, lacing their fingers together.
Willow Quincy’s eyes turned red with fury as he watched their intimately joined hands.
"Willow Quincy." Sonia raised their joined hands, waving them flauntingly in front of him. "I have a husband, a family, a child. Whatever my situation, I don’t need your hypocritical pity."
"Don’t think I don’t know what filthy ideas are running through your head. I’m warning you: if you dare bother me again, I won’t hesitate to make your life a living hell."
"Let’s go, honey. We’re going home."
The mere sight of anyone from the Quincy Family was enough to ruin her mood. She shot Willow Quincy one last vicious glare and started to pull Felix away.
But Felix didn’t budge.
He pulled Sonia into his embrace, holding her in a stance of absolute possession.
"Mr. Quincy," Felix began, "we’re both men. I know exactly what you’re thinking. Let me give you a piece of advice: a man in your high position shouldn’t harbor thoughts he’s not supposed to have. Otherwise, it’s a long way down, and the fall will shatter you to pieces."
Hearing this, Willow Quincy arched an eyebrow in disdain. "Are you threatening me?"
Felix replied, "Yes, I am. I may have gone bankrupt and lost my influence, but I’m not completely useless. You and your sister have harassed my wife time and again, and it’s had a major impact on her life."
"If you don’t back off, I have no problem going head-to-head with you."
"Go head-to-head with me? Hmph..." Willow Quincy’s smile was pure mockery; he clearly didn’t take Felix’s words seriously. "Mr. Preston, who do you think you are? What makes you think you’re in any position to challenge me?"
Felix said, "It’s true I don’t have your kind of power, Mr. Quincy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t win against you. You’ve already lost to me once. Even with all your strength, what exactly are you going to challenge me for? What is there left for you to take from me?"
"..." Willow Quincy didn’t answer.
"Let’s go. I don’t want to waste any more time talking to him," Sonia said, her patience completely gone. She grabbed Felix and turned to leave.
But after two steps, she suddenly turned back.
"Willow Quincy, I despise you."
An intense wave of jealousy immediately flooded Willow Quincy’s sharp eyes.
"Willow, are you alright?" the girl asked, stepping forward worriedly as she studied his expression.
"Who gave you permission to insult her?" Willow demanded in a frigid tone, his gaze lowered.
"I..." The girl was stunned and confused. "I insulted her because she disrespected you first."
"Get lost." Willow didn’t waste any more words on her, dismissing her outright.
"What did you say?" The word was so cutting that the girl’s eyes instantly turned red.
Willow repeated patiently, "I said, get lost!"
"...You’re horrible!" The girl angrily snatched her bag from the chair. The moment she ran out of the restaurant, her tears began to stream down her face.
...
Lynn Preston and Mrs. Preston had finished their meal and left long ago.
Lynn Preston had bought tickets for a new movie. After picking them up, she sent a photo of them to Sonia, telling her and Felix to meet them at the theater right after they finished eating.
It was a Sunday, so the movie theater was quite crowded.
There was still half an hour before the movie started. Since Sonia couldn’t stand for too long, she and Felix found a corner to sit down.
"It’s too noisy in here. I’m going to step outside to take this call. Wait here for me, okay?" They had just sat down when Felix’s phone rang. He headed out, leaving Sonia sitting by herself.
With nothing to do, Sonia pulled out her phone to scroll through some videos, but she was interrupted by a WeChat message from Mina Jennings.
—Hey, Bloom Preston. Got a minute?
Sonia replied instantly: Yeah, what’s up, Ms. Jennings?
Mina Jennings: Got a gig for you. You in?
—!!!!
Sonia didn’t hesitate: I’m in!
Mina replied with an "OK" emoji.
—I have a friend from college who’s getting married in two months, but she hasn’t been able to find any wedding jewelry that she likes. She came by my studio the other day and happened to see your designs. She loves your style and wants to commission you to create a custom wedding set for her.
—She’s a fairly popular influencer with over a million followers. If you can land this commission, it would be a huge boost for the "Bloom Preston" brand.
