Perfect Match: Irresistible Desire For You
Chapter 18

The video continued playing, but Joseph’s eyes were only focused on the calm, confident woman leading Synder Group representatives. He looked at the list of people who negotiated the contract for the other company and then realized that everyone did a self-introduction at the start of the meeting. His finger paused on the first name on the list—Ashley Guzman.

As he stared at the woman’s name, Joseph was filled with an inexplicable sense of excitement. It was rare for a woman to pique his interest, and it seemed like she was an impressive one in all aspects. ‘Grandpa will be satisfied with her, and she is a good candidate to be a surrogate mother.’

His grandfather, Leonard Marshall, was the only family whom Joseph had left. Leonard was a highly decorated senior officer in the military. Tragically, two years after his retirement, he lost his son and daughter-in-law. Despite his different background, Leonard resolutely took over the responsibility of managing a leading company in Ariosa that was established by his son and daughter-in-law and, more importantly, the upbringing of his young grandson.

During the period of Leonard’s management, his rigorous military style and excellent management style had cemented Empire Group’s leading position among the city’s companies. Then, since he handed the reins to Joseph seven years ago, the company had become even stronger.

Now, Leonard was already in his seventies, and after a full life rife with ups and downs, there was nothing more he wished for other than for Joseph to replace a good girl to marry and have a child with as soon as possible. Only then could he live a peaceful life free of worries.

Joseph dearly loved and respected his grandfather, who was the most important person in his life. He was aware of his grandfather’s wish for him to marry and start a family of his own. However, his dislike for women proved to be an insurmountable barrier, and he had no time to think of such things. Now, fate sent him a woman he couldn’t reject. For his grandfather’s sake, he should make his move—after all, he was never a passive person.

With this thought in mind, Joseph pressed a button on the intercom and left instructions with the receptionist to take Ashley to the CEO’s office directly once Synder Group’s team arrived next time.

After that short conversation, Joseph happily continued with his work.

With the exception of Lina’s untimely interruption during the last meeting, everything was going well for Ashley. The higher-ups had agreed to the Empire Group’s price, so they were scheduled to resume negotiations with the other company on the following Monday. This time around, Lina would be joining the team.

For the next two days, which happened to be the weekend, Ashley went back home as usual. The Guzman family’s villa was decorated in the European style and contained all kinds of facilities. And yet, despite its size and opulence, the house never lacked warmth.

The servants had been working in the family for many years. Being retirees, Ashley’s parents usually spent their time gallivanting around the world like a loving couple on their second honeymoon. They had left the Guzman Group in the capable hands of Ashley’s brother, Mike Guzman.

That weekend, her parents were out on one of their trips again and were expected to come back after a month. Ashley already knew that her parents weren’t around and that her brother was in the office, so she went ahead and had dinner first. Afterwards, she finished up some of the work she had brought with her in the study.

About half an hour later, Mike came home and went to the study to see Ashley after dinner.

“Mike, you’re back!” At the sound of approaching footsteps, Ashley turned around to greet Mike, who was smiling fondly at her.

Mike pulled out a chair and sat down next to Ashley. Seeing that she was still working, he asked, “How’s your work going recently? If you have any difficulties, you can always ask me for help.”

“I know that. That’s why my invincible brother is the best! I don’t need any help, though,” Ashley replied in a cute voice of a spoiled child.

Mike had always been affectionate towards Ashley, and he never hesitated to offer or give his help in any way he could. However, Ashley didn’t want to be a woman who depended on others for protection, so she decided to work in another company instead of Guzman Group.

Ashley’s heart felt light and warm as she gazed at her handsome brother. All of her troubles seemed to have disappeared, if only at that time.

Mike had predicted her reply nearly word for word, so he didn’t say anything more. A thought suddenly occurred to Mike. “Ashley, I have a party to attend next weekend, and I need a plus one. Do you think you can come with me?”

Hearing that, Ashley shot him a teasing smile. “What’s wrong? I guess many girls would love to be your date. Well, since you asked, I won’t say no.”

Ashley’s brother had always caught the attention of the opposite s*x because he was extremely good-looking. At school, she used to receive tons of love letters from all kinds of girls, all addressed to Mike. Mike, who was four years older than her, had always taken care of her since they were children. He used to drop her off to school and pick her up after, so her schoolmates were subjected to the heart-stopping sight of Ashley’s incredibly handsome brother. Thus, she became a messenger of sorts for other girls. This arrangement stopped in college, when Ashley specifically asked Mike not to pick her up anymore.

“We have a deal, then. Actually, I’m more concerned that my beautiful sister would be swept off her feet and whisked away by another man,” Mike replied, returning her smile with a mischievous one of his own.