Evil MC's NTR Harem-Chapter 612 - Screen

Unlike the day before—when his sudden appearance had caught her off guard—today, she greeted him with a calm, confident smile.

It wasn't forced. It wasn't defensive. It was the kind of smile that told a man like Thomas everything he needed to know: she had found her footing.

He noticed it instantly.

"Hmm… this is unexpected," Thomas thought, narrowing his eyes slightly as he observed her.

He had always prided himself on being a good reader of people—expressions, body language, hidden motives.

And right now, Jade was giving off all the signs of a woman who couldn't be easily swayed, much less manipulated.

Her back was straight, her gaze steady. There was no trace of hesitation in the way she carried herself.

In fact, she exuded the kind of certainty that only came from being thoroughly, utterly satisfied—in life, in love, in self.

Thomas almost frowned.

This was bad.

Very bad.

He had plans. Carefully crafted, patiently built plans involving her—her curiosity, her vulnerability, her attraction.

Yesterday, he'd felt her walls shake. He'd seen the flicker of something in her eyes—intrigue, maybe even temptation.

But today?

Today, she looked immune.

Someone marked her, he realized, a flicker of jealousy sparking in his chest.

And deep down, even before she spoke, Thomas knew who it was.

Ross.

"A man who can satisfy more than twenty women at the same time is either an absolute monster or a genuine legend. Which one are you, Ross Oakley?" Thomas mused inwardly, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement.

The headlines, the rumors, the whispers — all of it swirled around the name Ross like smoke around fire.

But Thomas didn't linger on such thoughts for long; they were distractions, and he had more pressing matters to attend to.

He turned his attention to the woman walking toward him.

Jade moved with the grace of a queen and the confidence of a CEO, her heels clicking purposefully against the marble floor.

Dressed in a sleek, tailored outfit that screamed power and elegance, she carried herself like a woman who knew exactly what she wanted — and exactly how to get it.

"You look absolutely stunning today, Jade. Is this all for me? I must say, I'm quite flattered," Thomas said, flashing a charming smile as he rose from his seat.

His voice was smooth, calculated — a seasoned player testing the waters with practiced ease.

Jade gave a polite smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Thank you, Thomas, but I'm not here to flirt," she replied, her tone firm yet not unkind.

"Let's go over the details of our contract. My lawyers will be here shortly. Are yours joining us?"

Thomas waved a hand casually as he took his seat again. "I don't need a lawyer. I am a lawyer."

He wasn't bluffing either. With a law degree from Harvard and a track record of ruthless litigation victories, Thomas's legal acumen was as sharp as his reputation for violence.

His knowledge of contracts, clauses, and corporate loopholes was as deadly as the weapons he was rumored to carry beneath his designer suit.

Jade arched an eyebrow but didn't push further.

"Good for you," she said coolly. "Now, if you'll turn to page seven, I'd like to clarify the terms surrounding equity distribution."

The conversation shifted gears into full-on business mode. Legal jargon, financial terms, and strategic projections filled the room.

Both parties moved through the negotiations with sharp minds and sharper tongues, neither willing to yield an inch without reason.

Thomas was impressed. Jade wasn't just beautiful — she was intelligent, prepared, and knew her company inside and out.

About thirty minutes later, Jade's lawyers entered the room — two men and a woman in dark suits, carrying leather briefcases and exuding the stiff aura of corporate precision.

They exchanged greetings, reviewed the paperwork Thomas had already annotated, and cross-checked every number, clause, and signature.

Eventually, everything was in order.

Hands were shaken, contracts were signed, and the deal was done: a one-billion-dollar investment from Thomas into Jade's rapidly growing clothing company — a brand that had already made waves across the US and was poised to expand globally.

As the meeting concluded and the others began to pack up, Thomas leaned slightly toward Jade, a glint of admiration in his eyes.

"You know," he said, "I've met a lot of businesswomen, but very few could keep up with me the way you just did."

Jade smiled, finally letting a spark of genuine warmth flicker across her face. "That's because most of them weren't me."

Thomas chuckled, standing as she did. "I'm starting to see that."

"Since everything's signed and sealed, I'd say that calls for a celebration," Thomas said, his voice like silk draped over steel.

"A few drinks with a new partner—seems fitting, don't you think?"

He leaned back slightly in his chair, watching her with that signature confidence that came from years of getting what he wanted — in the courtroom, on the streets, and behind closed doors.

Thomas wasn't just inviting her for drinks.

He was probing, testing her again, trying to see if the embers from yesterday's tension still burned beneath her polished exterior.

Jade didn't respond right away. Her eyes lingered on the signed documents before her, then slowly rose to meet his.

She didn't flinch, didn't blush, didn't avert her gaze. But she was thinking — weighing her options with the precision of a chess master mid-match.

Thomas could practically hear the gears turning in her head, calculating the risk versus reward.

She was guarded, careful. But he'd seen the flicker — that half-second delay in her breath, the slight shift in her posture.

Subtle, but there. She wasn't immune to him. Not completely.

Not yet.

Though the pull wasn't as intense as it had been yesterday, it hadn't disappeared either.

That much Thomas knew.

It was the same look he'd seen a hundred times before in women trying to convince themselves they were above his game.

He hadn't met one who truly was.

Maybe someday — but not today.