Chapter 1154
He took a few steps closer, noticing that Maja didn''t look away, so he leaned in.
"Actually, I''m quite a sight when I y ball."
His breath brushed against her ear as he spoke, tickling her slightly.
Maja had once heard Holden mentioning how rebellious Ian was in his mid-teens, full of fight and the
brightest star in any gathering.
Unfortunately, she never got the chance to see it.
Quietly, she used her elbow to push his approaching body away slightly. Only when the boy was wiping
his sweat off with a towel, surrounded by a group of people, did she call out, "Barton."
Barton had his school uniform hooked on his fingertips. After wiping his sweat, he put it on neatly and
zipped it up, returning to his usual aloof demeanor.
But he recognized Maja, "What''s up?"
Maja nced at the time, "You guys still have twenty minutes before ss. Can you spare me ten? I
want to have a chat with you."
Barton had been scouted before, but he wasn''t interested.
"No need."
"It''s about Coral. I''m her business partner. You probably don''t know much about her work, do you?"
She instantly hit a nerve.
His steps faltered, and he heard Maja say to Ian, "Don''t follow us. Either leave or wait here."
Ian remained silent, standing in front of the basketball, his gaze sweeping over Barton.
Maja motioned to the boy, pointing to a chair in the distance, "Let''s sit over there."
As they walked the couple of hundred yards together, the passing students looked at them curiously,
some even greeted Barton with a smile.
Sitting down on the chair, Maja cut straight to the chase.
"Does Coral know about your feelings for her?"
The question hit Barton like a bombshell.
The boy who had been so aloof just a moment ago was suddenly flustered, his breathing bing
erratic.
He had only met Maja once, and she had seen through him!
"Coral told me your grades have been slipping recently. She’s upset about it, so she hurried back from
abroad. I made a deal with her. If I can find out why your grades are slipping, she''ll give me this
investment opportunity."
Barton''s fingers tensed, his right hand gripping his left, popping his knuckles due to the pressure.
Maja stopped there, not rushing him.
After five minutes, he finally took a deep breath, "I''ll get her to ept your investment, but you need to
keep the secret for me."
"What about your grades?"
Barton had already stood up, sizing up this woman, his tone unfriendly, "I tanked them on purpose."
Through this brief exchange, Maja understood.
This young man''s sharp edges were all directed at the world.
But his humility was only shown in front of Coral.
If it weren''t for Maja mentioning Coral right off the bat, he probably wouldn''t be bothered to engage in
conversation.
She looked up at him with a smile, "Thanks for your help, Barton."
Barton didn''t like this woman. She was too clever.
He had thought he hid it well.
He pursed his lips but didn''t say anything.
Maja headed straight to where Ian had been standing.
When she got there, she found him surrounded by a group of female students, all asking if he was an
alumnusing back for the school''s anniversary celebration, and a few shyly asking for his contact
ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
information.
Ian was a little impatient, especially after seeing Maja. He walked over quickly.
His tone was sour again.
"I thought you had decided to stay."
Maja kept walking until she reached the car.
Ian was irritated, he opened the passenger side door for her.
"If you don''t want to drop me off, I can take a cab."
She moved aside, about to hail a taxi.
He quickly grabbed her.
"I''ve booked a restaurant. Have dinner with me."
After saying this, he worried his tone was too harsh, so he added.
"Okay?"