Billionaires with Benefits

Chapter 64: Pride or Love

The clock struck ten when Mark stopped his movement, making a dot on the paper. He stared at William who strangely asked him not to sign the paper. Mark didn't expect William would do that.

Didn't William always talk so passionately about this project? The project he claimed he was an inventor? The project he did from scratch without his parent's help?

"What? Is there a mistake in the documents?" Mark asked, shaking his head awkwardly. "I have checked through the documents by myself and I think we can go with signing."

"There's nothing with the documents, Mark! Just ... don't sign it!" William replied bitterly.

Meanwhile, Gaby started to realize that William overheard her conversation with Mark. She couldn't face William. That woman looked at anything but him-in silence.

William gulped. At first, he was hesitating to do this. If Mark signed the documents, he would be able to take a week off and meet Paula. However, knowing the real feelings of Gaby and Mark made him feel uneasy. He felt that he wronged them.

"I come for business. Real business. You like it, you take it," William said in a bland voice. He bit his inner cheeks lightly before continuing, "I have no intention of using Alan from the very beginning. I am offering this business to you with the hope that if you like my business plan you will invest. So, please don't sign the document."

"I like-"

"Sorry, I accidentally heard your conversation, Mark," William cut Mark's words. "Just treat this meeting like any usual business meeting. Sometimes you make it, sometimes not."

.....

William smiled at them bitterly, taking the documents back with no refusal from Mark. Gaby still looked away, tightening her grip on the edge of the table. She didn't feel sorry anyway. That was what she wanted, for Mark not to sign the papers.

Mark glared at Gaby in anger. He blamed her for the incident. His wife had embarrassed him in front of his client in such a bad manner.

On top of that, William was more than a client for Mark ... William was a savior ... saving him from a lifetime of regret.

"It's fine, Mark. This is an investment anyway. Nobody wanted to lose a huge chunk of money," William said, smiling lightly at Mark. He then turned his attention to Gaby. He lifted his eyebrows, asking her if what he said was right.

William packed his things calmly, fighting his urge to tear the papers into pieces. He didn't want to show them how angry he was. He didn't want pity from Mark. He didn't need a mock from Gaby. He had his pride.

His heart clenched, recalling what Gaby said about him and this project. Too young and inexperienced? He did his best to make a rock-solid plan. He made the best team in every aspect and revealed everything to his potential investor as honestly as possible. He told them about the potential advantages and disadvantages without sugarcoating anything. If they still didn't think that the project was convincing, he couldn't help but give up.

"It was nice to see you. Have a nice day!" William left the room just when Mark's assistant was about to re-enter the room. The assistant was looking at him in confusion and about to ask something but she was reluctant when she saw her employer's gloomy expression.

William entered the parking lot and got into his car. He gulped, feeling a heavier burden in his chest. He came back with nothing. What would his dad say?

Whatever!

His pride was at stake. What he wanted to do was a real business. An image of Paula's face flashed through his mind. It made him smile a bit.