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Chapter 170: Be on the Lookout

The governor raised his hands in surrender. He saw the audience through his peripheral vision and snorted, passing the conversation as light humor. "Ambryan, you take things too seriously. I said that as a joke. You need to loosen up a bit more."

Whispers emerged around the room. The two succeeded in capturing their full attention. Stuart Wilson moved closer to the sitting area. He was about to interfere when someone pulled his arm.

A meter away, Eve stood still with her feet apart. It was subtle but she noticed Ambryan's jaw move. He was grinding his teeth while his eyes darkened under a deep glare. He struggled to keep his temper in check. 

She hadn't seen that expression from him in a long time.

"It must be our difference in humor then," Ambryan replied crispily. "I don't see what's so funny about my girlfriend's sexual appeal."

"Aha" the governor drawled. It was an old kind of humor. Something the youngster couldn't appreciate. Didn't men talk about the opposite sex this way? Even a few trending songs talked about sexual pleasure. 

Ambryan rose to his feet and made his way off the couch. "Please excuse me." 

The governor panicked, trying to stop him. "Ambryan"

Eve blocked his hand with her arm. She didn't hear the whole conversation but she did understand the gist of it. Her brown eyes simmered in flames. The heat crawled into her veins and pumped into her system.

"Sir Hathaway seeks to be left alone," she stated. Stepping closer, she stared down the old man until he sat back on his seat. "Please do not disturb him and respect his wishes."

Then, without a second look back, she turned around and followed after her boss. 

Ambryan walked to the other side of the room. The commotion had been small. It wasn't enough to make him leave just yet. Eros Productions had a few business partners present. If he left now, it would deem him as immature in their eyes.

But if he hadn't stepped away, he might have punched the old geezer. It irritated him that would be seen as not only immature but also disrespectful to his elders. He loosened the tie around his neck. 

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"Sir Hathaway, would you like the car ready?" Eve asked behind him. She kept her right fingertips on the side of her eyeglasses. Wen was sure to bring the vehicle right away if he gave word.

"No." Ambryan sighed, spinning on his heel. He fixed the tie that he had pulled. "I still need to stay for a bit longer. Tricked into a party or not, Mr. Wilson managed to gather his best connections. It's a good opportunity to mingle and create negotiations."

The chatter came to life once again. Stuart Wilson had changed the topic. Thankfully, his close associates helped him out and threw in some laughs. The crowd dispersed into small groups. A music player had been turned on to further lighten the mood.

Eve moved to her boss' side. She tried to follow his line of sight as he scanned the room. "Were you planning to do business with the governor then?"

"Of course not. It's someone else."

"Who?"

Ambryan nodded his chin towards the sofa. "Calvin Knoc."

The name rang a bell. It was plastered in several news articles over the past few years. The man had a reputation almost as big as Ambryan's. But instead of production, Calvin Knoc focused on the distribution channels. He had made his mark on that side of the industry.

Until he became the CEO of one of the biggest streaming sites globally.

"You're planning to stream the series," Eve breathed out. Her mind proceeded to calculate the possible impact. A proper distribution strategy was essential in their sales. Often, broadcasting companies would claim exclusive rights and limit their market to their audience.

For the other side, a famous production company could lure more viewers to their distribution medium. It was a decision that involved statistics. Something she wouldn't be able to make on the spot.

Ambryan hid a smirk. "Good insight." 

Eve held her chin. "Didn't we already have a deal with a TV company?"

It had been part of the proposal when 'Define Love' had been planned. Although it wasn't management who negotiated, it was included in the highlights from the production team's presentation pitch. The fact that they already had a possible distributor solidified the potential of their project.

"Not quite." He shook his head, tucking his hands into his pant pockets. "The industry is evolving fast. Although sales in cinema and in television haven't dwindled drastically, it may not be the best market moving forward. We're not sure how long this series will last. We need every option available if possible."

Taking a deep breath, Eve exhaled through her nose. He had a point. It wouldn't be like Ambryan to not try the option. He'd make his decision once all the possible doors had opened.

"If you wish to speak privately, I will keep an eye around."

Ambryan spared her a glance. She wore her stern face. It was always present during business gatherings. It never failed to amuse him. "I've never seen you scold anyone like that."

"I could almost say the same to you." Eve swallowed a scoff. She mentally facepalmed for almost slipping. "Your composure is always in check around these people. Not even the most annoying person could break you."

"True. Wonder what happened."

'You're asking me that?' Eve mulled in her head. If she had known the answer then, she wouldn't be confused. Her eyes flickered to their corners. She almost did a double take. 

She could have sworn Ambryan had been smiling. 

The two moved back into the crowd. Ambryan took the extra effort to smile whenever he met someone's gaze. It was simple but it helped project what kind of mood he was in, dismissing the tension from earlier. They relaxed and spread the word about his sophisticated behavior.

Eve sharpened her senses.

Calvin Knoc had stood up. He walked around the couch and bumped into the both of them. He raised a copper eyebrow and his skinny hands. An empty glass of champagne dangled at his fingertips. The gold sheen on his round eyeglasses glinted under the lights.

"Ambryan Hathaway," he greeted. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Then, he put his hands down, pointing the glass towards his fellow CEO. The corner of his lip curled upwards. "Let me guess. This is about that new series your company is producing."

Chuckling, Ambryan motioned for them to step aside. 

Calvin followed and sipped, only to realize the glass was empty. Eve offered him a new glass of champagne and the same to her boss. Calvin blinked in surprise. His black eyes lit up. He nodded in gratitude and exchanged for it. 

Eve turned around and stayed a meter away. She placed the empty glace on a tray carried by a waiter. Her hands folded over her abdomen. Squaring her shoulders, she mimicked Wen's stance. 

"I'd say this is one of the most hospitable services I ever had," Calvin said, taking a drink. "I know that seems exaggerated but it is true. You have an attentive secretary."

"I'll take that as a compliment on her behalf," Ambryan mused. He wasn't sure if Eve had heard it. But he became more convinced when she took another step further away from them. 

Calvin shrugged and raised his glass. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we? What kind of offer do you have for me?"

Eve avoided the governor's direction. Looking back on it now, she was grateful that Ambryan hadn't reprimanded her. He may had done something similar but her reaction added fuel to the fire. It affected his image and the company'sespecially when she wasn't directly involved in the incident.

She would be lucky if she still had a job tomorrow. 

That governor may not be able to touch Ambryan but she was a different story. She shivered at the possibility. Her lips mouthed a mutter. The blood in her ears drained little by little.

"Don't draw meaningless attention, speak only when spoken to, avoid unnecessary affiliation with the boss, never interfere with his personal matters, always follow his orders"

Eve wanted to cry. There was a reason why those rules existed. Had her dual affiliation with Ambryan affected them? This wasn't good. Although he hadn't scolded her for it, she should still remember them whenever they attended business gatherings.

"Eve!" 

"Sir Wilson," she answered, bowing her head. Her hands squeezed together. It seemed like the host finally recalled her name. But what could that mean? She still remembered how he reacted to her presence earlier.

Stuart handed her a glass of champagne. "I know you're on the job and some of us are too despite how this looks. You should have a drink as well."

Eve shook her head slowly. "Thank you for the offer, Sir Wilson, but I already had my fill."

He considered her words and said, "Then, you won't mind if I drink it for you?"

"Not at all."

As cautious as possible, Eve stepped away from Stuart. He mingled around her area while he drank the champagne. It raised her guard up. Her instincts told her that he had hidden motivations. 

She hardened her expression, hoping it would throw him off.

"That was quite a scene you did earlier," Stuart began to say.