RedNovelThe final outcof the online meeting was a one-month production halt-the absolute limit the crew was willing to accept.
A month later, Madeleine returned to the set with her leg in a cast. For the more challenging scenes, they used a stunt double. For the rest, the director simply relied on close-up shots. It was the best compromise they could manage.
When Madeleine got the news, she was so emotional she called Briony herself to say thank you. Briony told her to focus on her recovery.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtMadeleine promised, again and again, that she wouldn't let the crew or the company down.
After hanging up, Briony glanced at Maynard, who was driving. "Madeleine's a good one." A sudden downpour turned Westerhaven dark in an instant. Rain hammered the windshield, wipers flailing wildly as Maynard slowed the car to a crawl.
He gave a quiet, knowing smile. "You see echoes of Mary in her, don't you? But everyone's different." Briony paused, caught off guard. So he'd noticed.
"You're the boss," Maynard reminded her, his voice even and cool, all business. "Never let personal feelings sway your decisions. Madeleine's ambitious. She wants to make it big, and she'll seize any opportunity she can including trying to win points with the boss." Briony looked at him. "I won't deny Mary's situation makespay extra attention to Madeleine. But I'm getting the sense you don't think very highly of her, Mr. Maynard?" "She's too ambitious." "There's nothing wrong with working hard and aiming high. That kind of drive deserves respect." "Sure," Maynard said as he steered the black Rolls-Royce into the hotel's underground garage, "if she was all about her career, independent and self-reliant, I'd admire that. But that's not Madeleine." "You're that certain?" He parked, switched off the engine, and unfastened his seatbelt. Turning to face Briony, he raised an eyebrow. "Want to know why?" Briony blinked. "Why?" "She slippedher room key once." Briony stared at him, momentarily speechless. The silence in the car thickened.
After a beat, Maynard chuckled.
"What's with that look? Con, I'm a hot commodity, you know.
Honestly, Briony, you keep turningdown, but out there-ask around! Maynard Han, squeaky clean reputation, billionaire, still single, not a whiff of scandal. Half the women in the city would kill for a shot at me!" "Mr. Maynard, you are quite impressive," Briony replied, unbuckling her seatbelt and opening the door. "Which is exactly why you deserve someone even better." "I think you're the best fit for me," Maynard said, getting out and resting his hand on the car roof asz he watched her. "Look how honest I am! I even tell you when someone's trying to make a move onBriony, are you sure you don't want to give us a chance? I'd be so loyal." It wasn't the first tMaynard had said something like this. He brought it up every now and then these days, but Briony was immune by now.
She just smiled, turning toward the elevators.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMaynard, unfazed, locked the car and caught up with her.
The forecast said the rain would last all night. There was even a severe weather warning.
To be safe, Briony and Maynard decided to stay at the hotel for the night and head back to Northborough in the morning.
Westerhaven wasn't like Northborough; it only had one decent four-star hotel. When they went to book a room, all that was left was a single presidential suite.
They were old friends by now, so sharing wasn't an issue. The suite! had two bedrooms, and Maynard E gave Briony the master. With the rain coming down in sheets, neither of them felt like venturing out for dinner. After a brief discussion, Maynard called room service and asked them to bring dinner up.
When the food arrived, Briony was sprawled on the bed, video chatting with her kids.
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