Chapter 10 Under Her Thumb

• Yvonne shook her head. "I can't afford it. It's a project developed by our company, and this unit happened to be vacant, so I'm staying here for a couple of days."
• The high-end mansions were truly remarkable.
• The decoration was awe-inspiring for Francis.
• Every detail exuded wealth.
• Amidst the splendid luxury, it maintained a sense of taste and avoided looking too gaudy.
• The furnishings, including those in the corners and at the entrance, were crafted from intricately carved Epean handmade wood.
• Several oil paintings hung on the wall, each meticulously hand-painted. They weren't inexpensive prints.
• In the center of the living room was a fireplace, more of a decorative piece since modern heating made it unnecessary, but it occupied a considerable amount of space.
• Francis mentally calculated how much space was being wasted.
• After entering the mansion, Yvonne kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot on the solid wood floor.
• She settled down on the couch, tucking her legs under her. Her skirt was hitched up, revealing a glimpse of what was underneath.
• Francis felt that she wasn't being completely honest.
• How could the company casually lend such a high-end mansion to an employee?
• More importantly, the opulence made Francis somewhat uncomfortable.
• Yvonne, however, seemed at ease, as if she was accustomed to it. "Come here," she even commanded.
• Surprisingly, Francis found himself enjoying this feeling.
• He walked over and stood in front of Yvonne.
• Raising her right hand, Yvonne gently touched Francis's chin while looking up at him. "Are you very curious about my story?"
• Francis became cautious.
• He had some social experience and was wary of people who shared stories everywhere, like the girls in bathhouses, each with a sad tale.
• They often came from rural backgrounds. Their families were extremely impoverished and favored boys over girls.
• They were responsible for taking care of their parents and buying houses for their brothers. With no skills or education, they ended up in this line of work out of desperation.
• After gaining sympathy, they would take advantage.
• Without changing his expression, Francis said, "Otherwise, why would I be here?"
• "Then you have to fulfill a condition for me."
• "What is it?"
• Yvonne's right hand left Francis's chin, pressing against the back of his neck, gently pulling him forward.
• With that, Francis leaned forward, lowering his head to meet Yvonne face to face.
• The distance between them was even closer than in the barbecue joint.
• When Yvonne spoke, it seemed as if her tongue could reach into Francis's mouth at any moment.
• But the words spoken by Yvonne left Francis utterly confused.
• "Um, I want to know if you would like to buy a house."
• Francis's mind buzzed, and it took him a while to come back to his senses.
• Yvonne had been reminding him that she worked for a real estate company, and yet he kept overlooking it.
• She brought him to this upscale mansion to make a deal.
• Have I just encountered a real estate agent? Ugh, how unlucky of me!
• Yvonne enthusiastically presented, "Evermore Heights boasts a prime location, featuring a captivating Epean retro design and a well-thought-out layout. It is oriented with the south at its front while facing north, offering terraced landscapes that create a sense of warmth at every step, drawing you closer to the concept of home. The primary structure comprises two floors: the first floor serves as the living area, complete with both Clusian and Epean-style kitchens, accompanied by a convenient housekeeper's room. The second floor houses the residential area, incorporating a dedicated study. Additionally, there's a basement level suitable for a wine cellar or a home theater. Completing the ensemble are an attic and an expansive loft, ideal for entertaining friends with scenic barbecues, truly exemplifying a luxurious lifestyle."
• Francis cleared his throat. "Spare me the sales pitch. Just tell me, do you want to sell me this house?"
• Yvonne countered, "Do you like me?"
• Francis nodded sincerely. "Yes."
• "I knew it." Yvonne smiled triumphantly. "Back at the bar, you kept looking at me, not paying much attention to Cyn and Celeste."
• Francis shook his head, keeping his thoughts to himself.
• While other women might ask for luxury items, she offered an entire mansion.
• Yvonne's expression turned somewhat pained. "Do you think I'm just like those materialistic women?"
• Francis smiled but remained silent.
• "I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. You won't outplay Cyn and Celeste, but I'm different from them."
• Yvonne coughed twice and then slowly explained the reason.
• She worked for Daxton Real Estate, a company founded by her father, Horace Jennings.
• Horace not only succeeded in his career but also had many friends, becoming a prominent figure in the local community.
• However, this was many years ago.
• With a wide circle of friends, Horace had to be selective, but he made an unfortunate choice and got involved in gambling.
• Once caught in the gambling pit, it was challenging to escape without losing a significant amount.
• Horace eventually lost everything, transferring the company's equity to others and accumulating massive debts.
• In other words, Daxton Real Estate nowadays had no connection to the Jennings family.
• After entering the workforce, Yvonne, relying on her outstanding abilities, cleared the debts and started working at Daxton Real Estate.
• Since the company was founded by her father, Yvonne had to find a way to bring it back.
• She signed a VAM agreement with the current owner, Donald Levy.
• As long as Yvonne achieved sufficient performance within the specified time, Donald would transfer thirty percent of the shares to her.
• It would be a win-win situation.
• For Yvonne, it meant partially reclaiming the company.
• For Donald, the profit brought in by Yvonne exceeded the market value of thirty percent of the shares.
• Most importantly, if Yvonne couldn't meet the target, she had to compensate double the sales performance.
• Yvonne didn't have that much money, so that meant she would have to work for Donald for the rest of her life.
• Everything was going smoothly, and Yvonne was just a hair's breadth away from winning the bet.
• Suddenly, a real estate downturn hit, and houses just wouldn't sell.
• Yvonne, who was fighting for her pride, now faced a crisis.
• She was thirty million short of the performance target.
• Coincidentally, that was the price of this mansion.
• However, it was extremely difficult to sell such a mansion in the current market.
• That was why Yvonne placed her hopes on Francis. "I liked you the moment I saw you. It wasn't just about your wealth. I can feel that you're dependable. In today's world, men like you are rarer than red wolves."