Chapter 9: I Like Her for No Reason

The red wine swayed gently in Neve's glass as she shook it. A playful smile adorned her pink lips as she spoke confidently, "Mr. Baxter, you like Yanis, don't you?"

It wasn't a mere question or a test; Neve seemed utterly certain of her statement.

Ivan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Neve's directness. "Miss Bennett, it's true that Yanis is exceptional and possesses a charm that's hard to resist. It's no surprise that I find her appealing."

Had it not been for the fact that Ivan caught sight of Zane approaching, he might not have responded to Neve's remark.

Zane stood beside Neve, his expression mildly bemused as he addressed Ivan, "According to Mr. Baxter, all men should find Miss Thompson attractive, right?"

Meeting Zane's gaze head-on, Ivan replied, "There's nothing wrong with your conclusion, Mr. Lawrence."

A brief pause ensued as both men exchanged sharp glances, their subtle clash of wills apparent.

Zane then looked at Ivan and asked with a touch of irony, "So, Mr. Baxter, don't tell me you don't like Yanis!"

Before Zane could continue, Ivan interjected, "Oh, no, Mr. Lawrence, there's nothing wrong with my taste. Both you and Miss Bennett are exceptional individuals. It's just that, for some reason, I find myself drawn to Yanis."

This banter between the two men ended with narrowed eyes, neither conceding ground to the other.

Neve observed their exchange with amusement, her eyes dancing with mischief.

"You do me too much honor, Mr. Lawrence," Ivan responded, remaining composed. "Well, I should go find Yanis."

Sensing that his emotions might escalate if he stayed any longer, Ivan turned and left.

Yanis was currently engaged in conversation with Magnus and Travis in the lounge.

Magnus wore a warm smile as he addressed Yanis, "Have you decided what you'll be painting?"

Yanis glanced at Magnus with a nod. "Do you have any specific requests from your business partner?"

Magnus shook his head, "Not really. Time is limited, so let's keep it simple."

He then paused before looking at the time and saying, "He should be arriving soon. I'll have someone bring him over, and you can discuss it in person."

Yanis expressed her agreement, "That sounds great."

Magnus motioned to a man standing nearby, instructing him, "Go and ask Mr. Lawrence to join us."

Travis and Yanis exchanged curious glances when they heard this.

Travis furrowed his brows slightly and inquired, "Who is the joint venture partner?"

"The Lawrence Group," Magnus replied.

Travis's expression tightened even more as he pressed further, "And who is your business partner?"

"Zane Lawrence. He's in full control of the Lawrence Group," Magnus clarified.

Travis appeared somewhat taken aback, his eyes darting towards Zane.

However, Magnus didn't notice Travis's reaction and went on to introduce Travis to Zane, "Zane, this is Travis Cooke. I'm sure you've heard a lot about him."

Zane acknowledged with a polite bow, "Good afternoon, Magnus."

Only then did Zane take a seat next to Yanis.

Travis couldn't help but frown as he observed this.

Magnus, unaware of Travis's thoughts, introduced the two further, "Travis, this is Yanis Thompson, my talented student. She's the artist behind all those paintings you bought."

This revelation surprised both Zane and Yanis.

Zane hadn't expected the captivating paintings he admired to be Yanis's creations.

As for Yanis, she was astonished to discover that Zane had been the one buying and appreciating her art.

Amidst the revelations, Zane reached out a bony hand towards Yanis, "Miss Thompson, I've heard quite a lot about you as well."

Caught off guard, Yanis hesitated momentarily before reaching out and shaking his hand. She replied with a composed tone, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Lawrence."

Their hands soon parted, and Magnus continued their discussion about the joint venture.

As the conversation progressed, Yanis couldn't help but notice the tension between Zane and Travis. However, she chose to remain focused on her task, unwilling to engage in the underlying tension.

With the business event unfolding around them, the joint venture between the Duncan Group and the Lawrence Group was revealed. A site in Manches City was to be developed into commercial buildings through this partnership.

Numerous influential families and business tycoons attended the event, including those who admired Travis's artwork.

After greeting various attendees, Yanis quietly followed Travis, who commanded respect among the businessmen in Manches City.

As they exchanged pleasantries with the guests, Travis inquired quietly, "Did you have any idea that Zane would be here?"

Yanis nodded, "No, I had no prior knowledge."

Travis grunted, giving Zane, who was accompanied by Neve, a cold look. "How dare he flaunt his deceit in public!"