Chapter 8

"No need, Maya. I'll be heading back soon."

Kimberly hadn't had a cold or fever in a long time. The last time she was punished was more than two years ago. In the two years she had been with Louis, Maya hadn't given her much trouble.

"Alright then, come back early. I'll have Susan make some chicken soup for you."

Maya didn't insist and hung up the phone after speaking.

Kimberly put away her phone, forced her aching body to walk outside the hotel, and took a cab back.

In the car, she took out the cold medicine from her bag and took it, not touching the sandwich at all. Over the years, she had developed the habit of never eating outside, always maintaining a noble and elegant image in public places.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Vincent drove back to the company and immediately called his assistant, Rex Ingram, into the office.

"Mr. Watson, this is the financial report for this quarter."

Ray placed a document in front of Vincent.

Vincent glanced at it briefly, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked up at Ray. "Has the guest list for the charity gala in a few days been finalized?"

"It's already finalized. Here's the list."

Ray took out a tablet, pulled up a document, and placed it in front of Vincent.

"Did you invite the Knight Family?"

Vincent didn't look at it, just asked casually.

"The Knight Family's company isn't very large and doesn't contribute much to the Watson Group's operations, so they weren't included. Are you planning to help the Knight Family?"

Ray was a bit surprised and asked tentatively. Vincent lowered his head and said indifferently, "Why would I help the Knight Family?"

Vincent's voice was calm, but it carried an inexplicable pressure.

"Sorry, Mr. Watson, I spoke out of turn."

Ray felt a bit nervous. The Watson Group's charity gala always invited the top families and celebrities. A family like the Knight Family wouldn't even make it past the threshold.

Ray had thought that Vincent's relationship with Kimberly had progressed quickly in the past few days and that this might be an exception, but it seemed he was wrong.

In Vincent's mind, only interests mattered. Exceptions were probably only made for that one person.

There had been news recently that that person might be coming back.

Kimberly returned to the villa. Susan had already made chicken soup. Although she didn't have much of an appetite, she drank a bowl at Maya's insistence.

"Kimberly, get some rest later and take a few days to recover at home."

At the dining table, Maya had a rare gentle smile. Kimberly wasn't used to seeing her like this.

"Susan, take good care of Kimberly these days and help her recover quickly."

"Yes, Madam."

Susan nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Maya. I'm full and would like to go upstairs to rest."

Kimberly had a severe headache. She was about to stand up and leave when Maya called her back.

"Wait, Kimberly."

Kimberly turned around, looking at Maya in confusion.

"You know about the Watson Family's charity gala in a few days, right?"

Maya looked at Kimberly tentatively. Kimberly paused and then remembered.

The Watson Group held one every year. She had attended with Louis before. Now, without Louis, Maya definitely couldn't get into such a high-profile event.

"I know, but since Louis and I broke up, our relationship is pretty bad. He probably won't take me."

Kimberly looked at the chicken soup on the table, feeling a chill in her heart. She knew Maya's concern came with conditions.

"Then you can ask Mr. Watson. Haven't you been close to him these days? How hard is it to get an extra invitation? Just act a little coy."

Maya walked over to Kimberly, holding her hand and patting it gently.

"Vincent and I aren't that close yet."

Kimberly pulled her hand away from Maya's. The Watson Group's gala was something everyone wanted to get into. She was nothing to Vincent. Why would he give an invitation to the Knight Family?

"You've already slept with him, and you say you're not that close? Don't think I don't know what you did last night. Kimberly, have you forgotten everything I taught you? Are you that useless? If I had known you were this useless, why did I raise you?"

Maya's face suddenly turned cold, glaring at Kimberly as if she was about to punish her again.

Kimberly looked at her, her hands clenching tightly before slowly relaxing. She suppressed her emotions and said calmly, "Got it. I'll try."

"That's more like it. Not try, you must get it. Vincent hasn't let any woman get close to him for years. Since you can sleep with him, you need to seize the opportunity. Men are all the same."

Maya's expression softened a bit. Kimberly just listened quietly without saying a word.

Just endure a little longer. Once she passed the foreign company's review, she could leave this cage for good.

For several days, Kimberly stayed in her room recovering, not going out. When she was awake, she studied some flirty lines and occasionally sent messages to Vincent.

Vincent's replies were bland, but sometimes Kimberly's flirty lines would get a reaction, and they would chat a bit more.

There was some flirting, but Kimberly didn't know how to bring up the invitation until three days before the gala when Maya threw a big fit.

Kimberly had no choice but to bring it up.

She sent a message in the morning, and Vincent didn't reply until the evening, not with a text but with a call.

When the call came, Maya was yelling at Kimberly. Her hand shook, almost hitting the hang-up button.

Maya didn't speak, just stared at her, signaling her to put it on speaker.

Kimberly had no choice but to turn on the speaker and answer the call.

"Mr. Watson, it's so late. What do you need?"

Kimberly deliberately spoke in a coy voice. There was no response from the other end for a few seconds before Vincent's lazy voice came through.

"Is your brain fried, or do you want to have sex?"

Kimberly's face turned red to the roots of her hair. She instinctively looked at Maya, unable to say a word.

Maya frowned upon hearing this and gave Kimberly a warning look before leaving the room.

Once the door closed, Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her normal voice. "I thought Mr. Watson liked that kind of voice."

"I prefer sex over voices."

Vincent paused for a moment before saying, "If you want the invitation, come get it yourself."

Before Kimberly could say anything else, the call ended, and Vincent sent a hotel room number.

She didn't need to be told what it meant.

Vincent had seemed uninterested in women for years, but it turned out he was just suppressing his desires, now all unleashed on her.

Kimberly changed into a sexy short dress and put on makeup before heading out. As she passed through the living room, Maya was sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee.