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He took a few steps closer, noticing that Maja didn’t look away, so he leaned in.
“Actually, I’m quite a sight when I play ball.”
His breath brushed against her ear as he spoke, tickling her slightly.
Maja had once heard Holden mentioning how rebellious Ian was in his mid-teens, full of fight and the brightest star
in any gathering.
Unfortunately, she never got the chance to see it.
Quietly, she used her elbow to push his approaching body away slightly. Only when the boy was wiping his sweat off
with a towel, surrounded by a group of people, did she call out, “Barton.”
Barton had his school uniform hooked on his fingertips. After wiping his sweat, he put it on neatly and zipped it up,
returning to his usual aloof demeanor.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut he recognized Maja, “What’s up?”
Maja glanced at the time, “You guys still have twenty minutes before class. Can you spare me ten? I want to have a
chat with you.”
Barton had been scouted before, but he wasn’t interested.
“No need.”
“It’s about Coral. I’m her business partner. You probably don’t know much about her work, do you?”
She instantly hit a nerve.
His steps faltered, and he heard Maja say to Ian, “Don’t follow us. Either leave or wait here.”
Ian remained silent, standing in front of the basketball net, his gaze sweeping over Barton.
Maja motioned to the boy, pointing to a chair in the distance, “Let’s sit over there.”
As they walked the couple of hundred yards together, the passing students looked at them curiously, some even
greeted Barton with a smile.
Sitting down on the chair, Maja cut straight to the chase.
“Does Coral know about your feelings for her?”
The question hit Barton like a bombshell.
The boy who had been so aloof just a moment ago was suddenly flustered, his breathing becoming erratic.
He had only met Maja once, and she had seen through him!
“Coral told me your grades have been slipping recently. She’s upset about it, so she hurried back from abroad. I
made a deal with her. If I can find out why your grades are slipping, she’ll give me this investment opportunity.”
Barton’s fingers tensed, his right hand gripping his left, popping his knuckles due to the pressure.
Maja stopped there, not rushing him.
After five minutes, he finally took a deep breath, “I’ll get her to accept your investment, but you need to keep the
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmsecret for me.”
“What about your grades?”
Barton had already stood up, sizing up this woman, his tone unfriendly, “I tanked them on purpose.”
Through this brief exchange, Maja understood.
This young man’s sharp edges were all directed at the world.
But his humility was only shown in front of Coral.
If it weren’t for Maja mentioning Coral right off the bat, he probably wouldn’t be bothered to engage in
conversation.
She looked up at him with a smile, “Thanks for your help, Barton.”
Barton didn’t like this woman. She was too clever.
He had thought he hid it well.
He pursed his lips but didn’t say anything.
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