Chapter 172

---- Chapter 172 "Relax. I'm not as shady as you think," Gideon retorted. He explained to Giselle that he simply bought out the shops where the other veterinary clinics were located and paid them to move elsewhere. "You must have paid tens of millions of dollars, didn't you?" Giselle thought about how pricey commercial property was in this area. Just one unit could cost millions, not to mention the 'relocation fees' for the veterinary clinics. Gideon said with a smug grin, "Tens of millions?

That's nothing! If it benefits you, I'd drop hundreds of millions without blinking!" "You just gave me a bad reputation ," Giselle muttered with exasperation . Maybe it was the poverty gap, but she couldn't wrap her head around someone being so rich and reckless. Gideon draped his arm around her shoulder with a hint of intimacy. "Don't worry about others' opinions. You're going to be raking in cash this year. With your talent, you were always meant to dominate this industry.

Plus, I've got connections, so no one is going to come after you." As much as she hated to admit it, Giselle was a little moved. She realized he was good at giving emotional support, like her biggest fanboy. To him, she could do no wrong. He praised her endlessly ina bold yet gentle manner. ---- Under the warmth of his gaze, she dared not look him in the eye. Her emotions were in turmoil for a brief moment before settling down again.

"Thank you for the gesture ," Giselle said as she pushed his hand off her shoulder. She casually picked up a glass of water and tooka sip, distancing herself from him. She said solemnly , "Gideon, you shouldn't waste your time and energy on me anymore. I don't want to owe you too much. Upon hearing her words, Gideon's excited expression turned cold. "What's that supposed to mean?" He stepped closer and gazed intently at her. "So we have to keep things so distant?

I only invest time and energy in people I care about. If I'm willing, nothing else matters. If you're not used to me treating you well, I'll do it more often until you are." Upon hearing such cheesy words from a man like him, she almost laughed. "alright then. Since you were the one behind all the shop closures, make sure you clean up the mess and don't let it affect me." She changed the subject. "It's getting late. I have a staff meeting to catch up on things.

You should head back to the company." ---- Right on cue, Gideon got a message from his team about a pressing technical issue that needed his attention . With no choice, he said goodbye and left the clinic. His dog, Chipper , had just finished its bath, and it was time for Gideon to take it home. Giselle carried Chipper for him and walked with Gideon to the parking lot. She opened the car door and gently placed the dog in the back seat.

While she was at it, she also tidied up the mess the dog had made in the back seat. At that moment, Gideon's phone rang. He leaned casually against the car while answering the call. He rested one hand on the edge of the car door. After placing the dog into the car, Giselle straightened up and shut the car door. Suddenly, she heard a thud as she slammed the door on Gideon's hand. He let out a sharp cry of pain while his phone fell to the ground. "What's wrong?" Giselle was so shocked that she immediately turned around to check on him.