Chapter 220: Chapter 218: You’re Going on a Date, What Would I Do There?

Mia Grant hadn’t slept well. Plagued by insomnia, she had dragged her system, which was also awake, into playing cards all night.

In the morning, she went downstairs for a quick meal, then went back to her room and crashed, sleeping until evening.

She was woken by a call from Simon Adler.

Simon Adler had made time to go with her today, but she didn’t think it was necessary.

"She’s going to be tougher to deal with than the last two."

"It’s just a meal for a blind date." ’It’s not like we’re going into a fight.’

"You don’t get it." Simon Adler said she’d understand when they arrived.

It wasn’t until Mia Grant arrived that she realized the meeting was at Carla Sinclair’s home.

Downstairs, she looked at Simon Adler. "Is this right?"

’Who has a blind date at someone’s house?’

"She doesn’t have time to go out. Her flight just landed a little while ago."

"Then we should reschedule."

"She said her schedule is packed for the next two months. Why else do you think she never got back to you? If you tried to make an appointment now, you might get a slot around March of next year. By then, Silas Grant will be on his second marriage."

"..." Mia Grant kicked him. "Is she some big-shot actress?"

"She puts on more airs than an actress." Simon Adler shot her a cold glance, then looked down to brush the dust from his pants. "Don’t let that happen again."

He was referring to her getting physical.

Mia Grant: "You had it coming."

"Tsk." Simon Adler started to retort.

"Excuse me, could the two of you not flirt in front of my building?"

A cool female voice suddenly cut in from across the way.

They both froze.

Mia Grant looked over and met the woman’s cold, yet familiar, gaze.

She had always assumed the resemblance in the photo from the file was just a trick of the angle.

’I can’t believe it... the resemblance is uncanny.’

A flicker crossed Mia Grant’s eyes before she put on a smile. "Miss Sinclair, hello."

"You’re from Silas Grant?"

"The Old Master," Mia Grant corrected.

Carla Sinclair’s gaze didn’t linger on her, nor did she seem to register her words. She turned to Simon Adler, her expression just as cold.

"Let’s talk upstairs."

With that, the woman turned and walked away, leaving them with nothing but her cold, retreating back.

Mia Grant pursed her lips. "Is she always like this?"

"Yep." Simon Adler, clearly used to it, pulled her along to follow.

"Her personality is even worse than yours. If she weren’t the eldest daughter of the Sinclair Family, I doubt she would’ve made it this far in one piece."

"..."

Mia Grant frowned. "With a personality like that, you think she’s a good match for my brother?"

"You aren’t actually trying to find him a woman to peacefully spend the rest of his life with, are you?"

"What else? Then what have we been doing for the past two days?"

Simon Adler: "...Weren’t we just going through the motions?"

"Are... we?"

They exchanged a look, and for a rare moment, they were in perfect sync, seeing the same trace of disdain and disgust in each other’s eyes.

This was Carla Sinclair’s sprawling, single-story apartment in Portia, where she lived alone.

In an apartment so large you could practically drive around in it, there were only two living creatures: her and a dog.

After they entered, Simon Adler made himself at home, pulling Mia Grant down to sit with him.

"What do you want to drink?" It wasn’t Carla Sinclair who asked, but Simon Adler.

’?’ ’Shouldn’t the host be the one asking that?’

Simon Adler shot her a meaningful look. She glanced over and saw Carla Sinclair on the phone, apparently handling a work call.

She clearly had no time to host them.

"Never mind." Mia Grant stopped him. ’We’re not here for coffee, anyway.’

She assumed that since Carla knew she had guests, she would get off the phone quickly.

Who would have thought Carla Sinclair would stay on the call for a full eighteen minutes.

Mia Grant suddenly felt a pang of regret.

’I really should have gotten that coffee, because now I’m getting sleepy.’

When Carla finally hung up, Mia Grant breathed a sigh of relief, ready to get straight to the point.

"The marriage alliance? He’s not my type."

"Why? You’ve hardly spent any time with Mr. Grant, have you?"

"We’ve had a few meals. He’s a very unappetizing person."

"..."

This was the first time Mia Grant had ever heard anyone describe Silas Grant that way. Beyond her shock, she couldn’t help but feel a little curious.

"I hate it when someone takes calls during a meal and ignores me."

"..."

’And who was it that just ignored us?’

Mia Grant blinked and turned her head to look at Simon Adler.

’Is she always like this?’

He met her gaze with a look that said, ’Yes.’

’Arrogant, rude, completely self-centered. That was Carla Sinclair.’

Mia Grant opened her mouth to speak. "That is a bit rude, I admit, but Mr. Grant is rarely like that. He has many good qualities."

Carla Sinclair stared at her. "You like him."

"Huh?" Mia Grant froze.

It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact. Carla Sinclair seemed to be noticing Mia’s looks for the first time, her gaze sweeping over her features, blatant and direct.

Carla Sinclair: "What’s your name."

’We’re getting a little off-topic,’ Mia Grant thought.

"Is that a difficult question to answer?"

"Does that have anything to do with why we’re here today?" Mia Grant’s patience was wearing thin. "I was hoping we could get through this meeting normally, pleasantly, and quickly."

Carla Sinclair narrowed her eyes. "Do you know who you’re speaking to?"

"I just know this is how normal people have a conversation."

There was no way Carla Sinclair could miss the sarcasm in her tone. She sat up a little straighter, the slip dress she wore clinging to her toned, curvy figure. She leaned forward. "In Portia, no one speaks to me like that."

"Is the purpose of our meeting today an in-depth discussion of your status and reputation?"

Mia Grant’s lips curved into a faint smile. "If that’s the case, I’d suggest holding a press conference. It would be much more effective."

Beside them, an ill-timed laugh broke the tension.

It came from Simon Adler.

Both women shot him a look.

He just smiled and raised his hands. "My apologies. Please, continue."

He was like a spectator with a front-row seat to the drama. Mia Grant thought he might intervene or try to mediate, but he did neither.

He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the tense, combative atmosphere.

Mia Grant lost all desire to continue the conversation.

She hadn’t even been this impatient when she was talking to Quinn White.

’Simon Adler was right to come with me today,’ she thought. ’If this keeps up, I’m not sure I’ll be able to leave this place in one piece.’

’I’ll have Simon cover our retreat. I’ll slip out first.’

"I’ll ask you one more time. What is your name? If you don’t answer, I’ll just ask Silas Grant myself."

"..."

Mia Grant couldn’t believe that even now, Carla Sinclair was still stuck on this question.

"Her name is Jenny Lee. Any other questions?" Simon Adler, finally acting like a decent human being for once, came to her rescue.

He was, however, using Lee’s name.

Hearing his voice, Carla Sinclair looked over at him as if noticing his presence for the first time. "Did Silas Grant send you?"

"The Old Master."

"How interesting," Carla Sinclair remarked. "Making his subordinate and his subordinate’s woman handle his blind date for him."

"...As I said, it was the Old Master’s idea."

"I understand. You can go now."

"?" Mia Grant’s eyes went wide. "You..."

"I’ll give the matter of the marriage alliance some serious thought. You can go."

"How long will you need to consider? Are you free tomorrow? Why don’t you have dinner with Mr. Grant so you two can talk in person?"

"Whether or not I have time depends on you."

Mia Grant froze. "Me?"

"Will you be there?"

"It’s your date. What would I be doing there?"

"So that’s a no." Carla Sinclair nodded and said without a hint of hesitation, "Then I’m not free tomorrow."

"..."