Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 442

Chapter 442: The Uninvited Guest

Everyone fell silent at once.

For years, SL’s day-to-day decisions had all come from Mr. Brooks. The real chairman never intervened in anything big or small—he was legendarily private, never showing his face.

Even these core employees had never seen the chairman. But now they were hearing Riley was an old friend of his, and that he even "had a crush on her"—

They exchanged glances. It was clear they’d better start cozying up to Riley.

...

Elsewhere, Mr. Brooks stood respectfully beside Selina.

"Miss, would you like to announce your identity now?"

Selina shook her head calmly. "No need."

Mr. Brooks shot a sharp glance at Logan. "If you don’t go public, but I announce you as the project lead, there will be plenty of complaints. Miss, I don’t want you getting hurt."

Selina blinked. "We can announce it, sure. But there’s something I don’t get."

Brooks nodded. "Please ask."

Selina tilted her head curiously. "Has Nelson Family ever done business with SL? Or does Riley have any connection to SL at all?"

Logan’s eyebrow lifted.

Brooks frowned in confusion. "Of course not. Miss, why would you ask that?"

Selina drawled, "Because everyone out there is saying I’m pathetically in love with her, so I’m desperate to hand her the lead position."

Brooks fell silent for a long moment. "...."

Finally he asked, baffled, "Riley’s really saying that in public?"

"Not just Riley—the whole Nelson Family is swearing it’s true." Selina rested her chin in her hand. "So I’m asking: did SL ever work with her? Did someone give her this delusion during negotiations?"

Brooks shook his head firmly. "Absolutely not."

That was odd. Selina didn’t believe Riley would dare spread that kind of "rumor" without some hook to hang it on.

...

Brooks went off to finish preparations for the press conference and annual gala, leaving Selina and Logan in the lounge.

Logan eyed her meaningfully. "You’re really not going to announce who you are?"

"It’s too showy." Selina waved dismissively.

The SL Group chairman title would mean constant flattery everywhere she went. She didn’t want it. Too much hassle.

Better to stay behind the scenes.

As for Riley? That little soap bubble of a lie would pop on its own without Selina ever needing to show her face.

...

"Sir, it’s almost time." Jack knocked on the door.

Logan stood, his smile lazy. "Mrs. Reid, you realize if you don’t come out as the boss, Brooks and I will have to handle all the press?"

Selina batted her lashes. "Then I’ll just have to trouble Mr. Reid to go make us money. Everyone already calls me a gold-digging fox, you know."

Logan’s mouth curved, a rare note of tenderness in his voice. "All right. Then would the fox spirit kindly accompany me to the banquet hall?"

...

Inside the ballroom, Logan and Brooks shook hands onstage to announce the partnership.

Selina picked an out-of-the-way corner to sit down. She’d barely peeled an orange when she overheard people gossiping nearby.

"Hey, think the SL chairman will show?"

"No way, that guy’s a total mystery..."

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