Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Currying Favor

Jessie Sterling let out a protesting sound. “I don’t like…”

Standing in the corner, Victor Morgan heard this and furrowed his brow imperceptibly.

“I don’t like kids, they’re so noisy,” Jessie Sterling continued. “Besides, I hear giving birth is really painful. I don’t want to.”

Lynn Jennings laughed. She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to, but have you discussed it with your President Morgan?”

Jessie Sterling shook her head. ’When did my relationship with Victor Morgan get to the point of considering kids?’

Victor Morgan didn’t want to listen anymore. He had a gut feeling that listening any longer would only make him furious with Jessie.

Turning around, Victor stepped out and called Jessie, telling her he might need to pick her up a little later.

Jessie Sterling was completely unaware that Victor Morgan had come and gone. She looked at Lynn Jennings’s belly with curiosity again, then mused, “So after the baby is born, who’s going to raise it?”

“Of course I’ll raise my own child,” Lynn Jennings said.

“What about Mr. Sheridan?”

Lynn Jennings thought of how Cyrus Sheridan had been taking care of her lately. Ever since her unexpected pregnancy, her appetite had been poor. If Cyrus hadn’t been keeping a close eye on her at the research institute and noticed her constant lack of appetite and nausea, he wouldn’t have been so quick to realize she was pregnant.

On reflection, Lynn Jennings knew Cyrus Sheridan had repeatedly compromised his boundaries for her, giving in time and again.

When Jessie asked her about the child, had she ever considered Cyrus Sheridan’s feelings? Perhaps subconsciously, she still believed men weren’t very reliable. ’If Cyrus eventually marries someone else, of course the child has to stay with me.’

“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, she’s only the size of a bean. It’s pointless to think so far ahead,” Lynn Jennings said.

She had decided to take it one step at a time.

But could she really just take it one step at a time? Lynn Jennings was well aware that Cyrus Sheridan was already in contact with a research institute under the Jennings Group. She wasn’t completely in the dark about what he wanted to do.

Cyrus Sheridan wanted to help her.

Even though in the past, he had never considered getting involved in their conflicts.

That evening was Brianna Hudson’s bachelorette party. Since Lynn Jennings was in the early stages of her pregnancy, she couldn’t stay long. As she was getting ready to leave, Jessie Sterling naturally planned to go with her.

But before the two of them could even leave the club, they saw someone walk in.

It was Brianna Hudson’s party, after all. Jessie Sterling and Lynn Jennings exchanged a look, wondering what it meant for Cheryl Stuart to show up now.

Just as expected, the moment Brianna Hudson saw Cheryl Stuart, the smile on her face faded.

Ever since Cheryl Stuart had somehow caught her father’s eye before the Lunar New Year, Brianna had lost count of how many times she’d had to put up with the woman. Now, on the eve of her engagement party, she would soon be part of the Jennings family, and she didn’t want to tolerate Cheryl Stuart one bit longer.

“What are you doing here?” Brianna Hudson asked bluntly.

At her words, the eyes of almost everyone in the private room fell on Cheryl Stuart.

Jessie Sterling watched her too. After a moment, she had to admit it: Cheryl Stuart had changed tremendously since the time she was with Lynn Jennings’s second brother.

Half a year ago, Cheryl Stuart still carried a certain unrefined air and was easily provoked. But now, even with so many people staring at her with ambiguous expressions, she didn’t show the slightest hint of being uncomfortable.

It was as if she hadn’t just crashed someone else’s event, but as if she owned the place.

Exceptionally composed.

“She’s changed a lot.”

Just then, a comment reached Jessie Sterling’s ears.

Clearly, Lynn Jennings thought so too.

’You’re bound to be influenced by the people you’re around.’

Cheryl Stuart had no intention of making an enemy of Brianna Hudson. She was Brianna’s father’s young mistress, and from the moment she decided to be with him, she had braced herself for the cold shoulders and contempt she would face.

Hearing Brianna Hudson’s rude words, Cheryl Stuart just smiled. “I’m just looking for someone. I’ll leave right away.”

Brianna Hudson scowled. She couldn’t stand the way Cheryl Stuart was acting, as if the woman were her elder and she herself was just a misbehaving child.

But Cheryl Stuart’s tolerant demeanor made it impossible for her to vent her anger, so she could only ask with a dark expression, “Who are you looking for?”

“Her.” Cheryl Stuart pointed without hesitation.

Jessie Sterling blinked in surprise. It had never occurred to her that Cheryl Stuart would be looking for her.

“Me?” Jessie Sterling asked, her face full of confusion. ’I didn’t know I was so close to Cheryl Stuart that she’d come all this way just to see me.’

Cheryl Stuart nodded. “Miss Sterling, could we step outside and talk?”

Jessie Sterling didn’t move, just looked at Cheryl Stuart. “Talk about what?”

Cheryl Stuart’s eyes darkened. She had expected that inviting Jessie Sterling out for a chat wouldn’t be easy. After all, these darlings of fortune, no matter how approachable they might seem, were arrogant in their bones. Not just anyone could get close to them.

Just like tonight; if it weren’t for Brianna Hudson’s party, seeing Jessie Sterling wouldn’t have been so easy.

But expecting it was one thing; to actually be subtly rejected by Jessie Sterling still stirred complicated feelings within her.

Her smile didn’t falter. “I have a business proposition I’d like to discuss with you, Miss Sterling. I hear you’ve been investing in the film and television industry recently. I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes to talk with me?”

Cheryl Stuart’s poised and direct manner made it somewhat difficult for Jessie Sterling to refuse.

Or rather, her words had already piqued Jessie’s interest.

“All right,” Jessie Sterling nodded, then looked at Lynn Jennings beside her. “Should I walk you out first, then?”

Lynn Jennings asked, “Can you handle her?”

Jessie Sterling let out a laugh. “It’s not like she’s going to eat me.”

Lynn Jennings thought about Jessie’s activities in Aethelburg recently and decided she was worrying for nothing. Then, Lynn’s lips curled into a smile. “Then you go on ahead. It’s just to the door, I don’t need you to walk me. Cyrus Sheridan is right outside.”

That last sentence was the main point.

Jessie Sterling got the hint, nodded, and didn’t insist.

The place Cheryl Stuart chose wasn’t far from the club—a quiet bar just two storefronts away.

“What would you like to drink?” Cheryl Stuart asked after they sat down.

Jessie Sterling replied, “Just a lemonade.”

’I can’t hold my liquor, and I don’t have any friends here. I’m not giving anyone an opening.’

Cheryl Stuart ordered a Tequila Sunrise.

“Are you interested in investing in my new television series, Miss Sterling?” Cheryl Stuart cut straight to the chase, stating her purpose directly.

Jessie Sterling looked up at Cheryl Stuart.

Cheryl Stuart said, “I’m preparing to terminate my contract with Thorne Pictures and go independent.”

Jessie Sterling pursed her lips. ’But what does that have to do with me? Besides, I’m managing Apex Pictures, not an investment firm. There’s no reason to turn down our own scripts to go and invest in Cheryl Stuart’s production.’

“Of course, I won’t let you take a loss,” Cheryl Stuart said. “You can look into my track record in the business. I wouldn’t say I’m the most bankable star, but it’s very rare for my investors to lose money. I know you’ve been recruiting new talent for your company recently, Miss Sterling. I can promise that for the next five years, any TV series I act in can feature newcomers from Apex Corporation to give them some exposure.”

This kind of mentorship, with an established actor bringing along newcomers, is common in the business.

Right now, almost all the well-known artists from Apex Films had already terminated their contracts, so it was hard to use this strategy because they had no one to lead the way. The terms Cheryl Stuart was offering, combined with her current fame, were indeed a significant temptation for Jessie Sterling.

“And you?” Jessie Sterling asked. “It seems like all the benefits are on my side. What are you looking to get out of this?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep