?


    "Do you two know each other?" Halley asked with a hint of disinterest.


    Roseanne nodded. "Yeah, we do."


    "Of course!" Corley chimed in at the same time.


    Halley raised an eyebrow, giving Corley a once-over, clearly not impressed by what he saw.


    But Corley wasn''t bothered by the scrutiny. He confidently pulled out a chair and sat next to Roseanne.


    Let''s see if this will make you back off when you see who you''re up against.


    Halley scoffed.


    This guy sure has some nerve!


    "Roseanne, aren''t you going to introduce us?" Halley tilted his chin up, "This guy... doesn''t seem like someone you''d hang out with."


    What''s that supposed to mean?!


    And what do I look like then?


    It was clear to Corley that Halley was throwing shade.


    And yet, Roseanne seemed all too willing to indulge him, actually gearing up to make introductions.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, Roseanne, he really doesn''t look like your type. How about an introduction?" Corley shot back with a dose of sarcasm. Halley''s face darkened.


    In the silence that followed, it felt like the two men had already shed swords hundreds of times.


    Roseanne frowned, sensing the tension but clueless about the cause.


    What could possibly make two men who''ve just met act like they''re sworn enemies?


    "Alright, let me introduce you both. This is Corley, a friend of mine and a venture capitalist; and this is Halley, my cousin who''s currently running a smart home techpany."


    "Any more questions?"


    Corley: "Your cousin?!"


    Halley: "He''s a venture capitalist?!"


    After exchanging a look, both men seemed a bit embarrassed.


    "Ahem!" Corley recovered first, lifting his tea cup, "Sorry, didn''t realize you were Roseanne''s cousin. My mistake. Let''s call this tea a peace offering."


    Seeing Corley''s straightforward and sincere attitude, Halley''s irritation evaporated.


    He raised his tea cup in return: "No worries, Mr. Sullivan."


    Corley: "You mentioned you''re in smart home tech?"


    "That''s right. Do you have an interest in the field?"


    "I''ve invested in a couple ofpanies in that space," Corley mentioned their names.


    Halley was surprised: "Those


    companies are pioneers in the smart


    home tech industry here, having gone public recently. It seems Mr.


    Sullivan has a keen eye for O investment."


    "Too kind. Just a couple of lucky shots, really."


    Halley chuckled, not taking Corley''s modesty at face value.


    Investing is never a matter of luck. It''s all about the money.


    "You, a venture capitalist, personally visit the construction sites?"


    "How else to judge if a project is worth the investment? To check on its progress and if the returns meet expectations?"


    Casually, Halley inquired: "Which project were you referring to?"


    "Sunset Resorts."


    "That''s a coincidence, it''s right next to ours!"


    "Really?" Corley raised an eyebrow, seizing the opportunity to inquire further: "And what''s your project?"


    Halley nced at Roseanne, seeking her permission to disclose more.


    She nodded slightly.


    Initially, he wasn''t inclined to share, but circumstances had changed. When asking for a favor, transparency is key.


    Halley: "I''m helping Anne set up a smartb."


    "Setting up ab?!" Corley was genuinely surprised.


    With the conversation heading in this direction, it was only natural for


    Roseanne to exin ever from


    the beginning.


    S