The Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 133: [Volume 1] - 133 - Foolish Helga

Chapter 133: [Volume 1] Chapter 133 - Foolish Helga

Esme looked at Helga, who was breathing heavily, her cheeks flushed from the rush of adrenaline. It was clear she had sprinted down the hallway after the meeting. A smirk tugged at Esme’s lips, amused by her friend’s intensity. She raised her hand slightly, a faint light flickering from her fingertips, and with a swift motion, the door closed shut with a soft click, sealing them in a private space.

Helga stood there, still trying to catch her breath, her expression a mix of frustration and urgency. Esme, rising gracefully from her seat, moved to the table with purpose. She grabbed a glass of water and returned to Helga’s side, her demeanor calm despite the tension in the air.

"Here, drink this," she said, extending the glass towards Helga, her tone firm yet gentle.

Helga’s eyes flashed with irritation as she waved the glass away, her mind still racing. "What’s up?" she asked, impatience seeping into her voice. She was not in the mood to be pacified, her heart still pounding from the earlier confrontation.

Before Helga could say anything more, Esme leaned in, her expression shifting to one of determination. Without waiting for a response, she pressed the glass to Helga’s lips. "Drink it," she insisted, her voice brokering no argument.

Caught off guard, Helga opened her mouth to protest, but the cool water spilled into her mouth, forcing her to swallow. She blinked, surprised at the sudden act of care. As she gulped the water, she felt a rush of calm wash over her, if only momentarily.

"Esme," Helga managed to say as she lowered the glass, her voice softer now, "I don’t have time for this."

Esme set the empty glass down and looked directly into Helga’s eyes, her gaze unwavering.

Esme spoke in a calm tone, "Come on, Helga, calm down. If not, Aaron might really kill me in pieces." A playful smirk danced on her lips, but there was an underlying seriousness in her eyes. She shifted her gaze to the table covered with files, her fingers gliding over the documents as she began to read one intently.

Helga, on the other hand, was far from amused. Irritation surged within her, and she felt her patience wearing thin. "Esme, I am talking to you!" she snapped, her voice rising slightly, frustration lacing her words. She crossed her arms tightly, trying to suppress the anger boiling just beneath the surface.

Without looking up, Esme slid a black file across the table, its edges brushing against Helga’s fingers. "Here, read it," she said, her tone still calm, almost soothing.

Helga, caught off guard by the sudden change in focus, instinctively picked up the file, her reflexes taking over. She began flipping through the pages, the irritation still bubbling inside her. As her eyes scanned the documents, a sudden realization struck her. "Wait a minute, this property? Is that Florence?" she asked, her voice sharp with surprise, the irritation momentarily replaced by curiosity.

Esme’s smile widened, a glimmer of excitement lighting her features. "Yep," she confirmed, her gaze flickering with satisfaction.

Helga’s heart raced as she hurriedly flipped through more pages, her brow furrowing in concentration. "You mean that was shot down here with this file? But why?" Her mind whirled, piecing together the implications of the information before her. The weight of the discovery began to settle in, curiosity overcoming her earlier frustration.

Esme regarded Noah, a glint of mischief in her eyes as she tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table. "So, Noah came here with this file," she began, her tone laced with intrigue. "And you see, he wants to make a deal with us."

Helga leaned forward, her expression shifting from confusion to disbelief. "Deal? Yeah, deal. As simple as that?" Her brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms tightly, a protective barrier against the absurdity of the situation.

Esme nodded, her smile unwavering. "Exactly. He wants to work with us on this project."

Helga’s head tilted slightly, skepticism etched across her face. "Does that bastard lose his mind? He wants to work with us? And why?" Her voice rose, a mix of irritation and incredulity spilling over.

Esme shrugged nonchalantly, her fingers pausing momentarily before resuming their tapping. "Maybe he sees potential here. Or perhaps he’s just looking for a way to undermine us," she replied, her expression calm but alert.

Helga shook her head, her frustration palpable. "I don’t trust him. What’s his angle? He’s not just going to hand us this opportunity without some hidden agenda."

"True," Esme conceded, her tone turning serious. "But ....."

Esme leaned back in her chair, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she tapped her fingers on the table. "But don’t you find it quite amusing?" she began, her voice dripping with amusement. "Don’t you think it’s funny that if Diana knew her dear fiancé was backing us, what do you think she would do?"

Helga, standing across from her, paused in disbelief. "So... you’re doing all this just to make her jealous?" she asked, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.

Esme stopped tapping the table, looking at Helga with raised brows. Then, without warning, she burst into laughter—genuine, hearty laughter that filled the room. "Helga," she gasped between breaths, "Oh my god, my cute, foolish Helga." She shook her head, trying to calm herself. "Do you really think I’d waste my time trying to make Diana jealous?"

Esme leaned forward, her laughter fading but the smile still lingering. "Do you think I see myself as some love rival? That I care enough about her petty little emotions to play those games?" She stood up, taking a step toward Helga, her expression shifting to something more serious.

"I don’t love that man in some childish way, Helga. And Diana? She’s still strong, even after all the messes she’s made over the years, for a reason. You’re underestimating her—and me—if you think this is about something as trivial as jealousy."

Esme’s eyes held a sharp gleam as she spoke. "You think this is just a battle over love? You’re missing the bigger picture entirely."

Helga stared at her, still confused but starting to realize that this went far deeper than she had first assumed.