Jojo and Coco's Unexpected Love

Chapter 268

Chapter 268 Joseph’s Face Is Filled With Strangeness

“Okay, I’ll grant you 10 percent,” Benjamin reluctantly agreed.

Chloe remained firm. “That’s not enough. I want 20 percent.”

Benjamin’s expression shifted. “20 is too much.”

Undeterred, Chloe pressed on. “Nevertheless, you’ll have to give it to me eventually-to stop Ava from pursuing her intentions to claim it.”

Her directness struck a chord, and Benjamin, who had been deceived for two decades, surprisingly found her reasoning valid. Karen was not to be underestimated. In the future, she would try to extract as many assets from him as possible.

“Fine, we’ll arrange for that, but a portion of the shares is still registered under those bitches’ names. We have to transfer them back before I can allocate them to you.”

Chloe’s gaze flickered before responding, “All right. Then, I’ll remain at Fairlight for now. There are valuable connections here, and I can utilize them to benefit our family in the future. Oh, Dad, even though you’ve divorced Karen, you still need to legally sever your father- daughter relationship with Ava. That way, she won’t have any grounds to cling onto the Johnson name.”

“I’ll take care of it tomorrow. We can’t let them have any advantage.”

Benjamin’s animosity toward Karen had reached its peak. Nothing infuriated a man more than being cuckolded for two decades. He had hoped for Chloe’s return to the family, but she had refused with a justification for her decision. Since her attitude toward him seemed acceptable, he did not dwell on it.

As public transportation had ceased operating at this hour, Chloe planned to get a cab for her journey home. However, just as she was about to step onto the road, a nearby car suddenly switched on its high beams, flooding the street with its light.

She assumed that Joseph had already left, but to her surprise, he was standing by the car. His broad shoulders and long legs showcased his sleek and clean figure, accentuated by the tailored suit he wore. Joseph exuded an air of a top model-distinguished and elegant.

“There’s no need to go through all that trouble to secure the assets under your name,” Joseph remarked.

Chloe’s eyelid twitched, realizing that he had overheard her conversation with Benjamin. She responded, “I find it more satisfying to let them fight among themselves like dogs.”

The market value of the assets registered under the Johnsons was worth several hundred million, yet it fell short of being classified as a large company.

‘But the Johnson Group was built step by step through Mom’s efforts. She invested money and

put countless efforts into it. I won’t easily give it up or allow Benjamin to benefit from it cheaply,’ Chloe thought to herself, her determination growing stronger.

Joseph nodded slightly, seemingly unfazed by the Johnsons’ situation. “Get in. I want to take you somewhere,” he said.

“Where?” Content © NôvelDrama.Org 2024.

“A restaurant.”

“You haven’t had dinner? But it’s almost midnight snack time now.”

“I haven’t eaten. I had a busy day today.” Joseph leaned back in the rear seat and casually added, “I’ll take you to meet a few people while we’re at it.”

“Oh,” Chloe responded, glancing at Lucas, who was diligently working overtime in the driver’s seat. It appeared that many people were working late that day, including some department heads.

The journey to their destination was relatively short, taking only ten minutes. They arrived at a private speakeasy that had garnered a following online. The establishment was known for its exclusivity, allowing entry to only a select few patrons each day. With its clandestine charm and hidden entrance, the speakeasy exuded an air of mystery and sophistication. As they stepped out of the car, the owner himself appeared to greet them and lead the way.

“Mr. Joseph, please come in. Ms. Larson and the gentlemen have been waiting for quite some time,” the owner said, pausing at the entrance of a private room.

Chloe’s suspicion grew. “Ms. Larson?”

Could it be Xavia?

Joseph remained silent, simply pushing the door open.

As Chloe stepped inside, her expression shifted. Indeed, it was Xavia, accompanied by Nathan and Samuel.

‘What’s going on? Did they reconcile and couldn’t wait to share the good news with his buddies? And me being invited here was most likely not Joseph’s idea. Is Xavia asserting her dominance?’ Chloe’s mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts and possibilities. Her palms became sweaty, and her heart felt as though it was being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, leaving her struggling to catch her breath.

Lost in her own thoughts, Chloe remained oblivious to the fact that Xavia, seated in the chair, wore an equally displeased expression on her face.

Nathan greeted them with a cheerful smile. “Ah, Chloe, Joe! You guys are so late. I’m starving to death!”

Chloe mustered a smile and tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I’ve been busy with work at the office.”

Samuel flipped through the menu, voicing his frustration, “Who isn’t busy? I was summoned for an important discussion and ended up waiting for two hours. Maybe next time I should charge for the delay.”

Joseph glanced at him, his expression unchanged, “Submit the reimbursement request to Nate. He’s the one who orchestrated tonight’s gathering.”

Nathan chimed in, “No, although I organized tonight’s meet-up, my intention was simply to hang out with my buddies. Who would’ve thought you had this in mind? Well, forget it. Let’s just consider it an act of goodwill.”

Xavia, quick to catch on, asked cautiously, “What kind of goodwill are we talking about here?”

“Oh, nothing. By the way, how’s your chemotherapy going?” Nathan abruptly changed the subject, causing a slight tension in Xavia’s expression.

“It’s been challenging, but I’m managing,” Xavia replied, her voice carrying a hint of strain.

“Treatment is always tough. Just hang in there, Xavia. As long as the outcome is positive, it’ll all be worth it.”

After the dishes were served, Joseph casually picked up a delectable piece of food and placed it on Chloe’s plate, drawing everyone’s attention to the unexpected gesture.

“This dish is pretty good.”

Chloe was taken aback, her eyes widening in disbelief. It was as if she had witnessed a supernatural occurrence. Joseph had always held a dismissive attitude toward such actions.

In his opinion, eating was a personal affair, and relying on someone else to feed you or peel shrimp was a sign of being overly indulged. But coincidentally, he had reached for a dish that was slightly out of Chloe’s reach.

Only after he had finished the act did Joseph realize what he had done. At the same time, Chloe’s surprise mirrored his own, her expression a mix of astonishment and confusion. An uncomfortable silence settled between them, broken by Joseph’s cold question. “Is there something on my face?”

Chloe shook her head. There was nothing on his face, but it was filled with strangeness!