Chapter 1452

She knew people were always like this–they liked to leave themselves a way out.

Once Mike went back, he probably wouldn’t consider the deal again. The best move, she thought, was to strike while the iron was hot.

“Mr. Lee, since you’ve already given it some thought, why not sign the contract right here?”

“Do you really have to rush it?” Mike couldn’t help questioning.

Deep down, he preferred to delay the signing as much as possible.

Given Walton Corporation’s current state, it wasn’t his ideal partner.

If he had a better option, he would never settle for them.

After all, people were drawn to profit and avoided risk. No one liked standing still.

Tessa smiled. “Mr. Lee, I know what you’re thinking. But I’ve already promised that our partnership will bring you the highest possible returns.

“I’m sure you’ll want to compare with other companies, but whatever they can offer, we can match it, and Walton Corporation is a long-established name, far more reliable than the rest, don’t you think?”

Her tone carried both persuasion and pressure, laced with a hint of charm and coaxing.

She had no choice–she desperately needed this project.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to hold her ground in the company, and others would use this as ammunition against her.

They were always comparing her to Aurora, whose company was thriving. In every meeting, Aurora’s name inevitably came up, and just thinking about it made Tessa feel stifled.

She wanted, more than anything, to prove that she wasn’t inferior to Aurora. She simply hadn’t tried hard enough before.

If she truly put in the effort, she could secure projects like this just as easily.

“You make a good point.”

Mike really began to think over what Tessa had said. He picked up the contract and carefully went through every line, unwilling to miss a single word.

In the end, he realized she was telling the truth—she had already given him the highest profit margin possible.

Even if he worked with another company, it was unlikely he’d get such favorable terms, and she had already made significant concessions.

“Alright, I’ll sign with you.”

Tessa’s heart lifted. “Mr. Lee, I promise you, this will be the smartest decision you’ve ever made. I won’t let you lose out on this.”

“With you saying that, I’m reassured.”

Mike almost instinctively reached out to pat her thigh, but when his gaze met her face, he awkwardly pulled his hand back.

Old habits nearly got the better of him. He cleared his throat, as if to cover up his embarrassment.

Tessa held the signed contract, eager to leave as soon as possible.

Since the deal was sealed, there was no need for polite small talk.

It was painfully awkward–every second spent with this lecherous man felt unbearable, especially remembering how, at the start, Mike hadn’t even recognized who she was.

Just thinking about it left her feeling unsettled.

She picked up the contract. “In that case, Mr. Lee, I look forward to working with you.”

Just as she finished speaking and was about to leave, Mike reached out his hand toward her.