In a Love Nest with the Aloof CEO
Chapter 365

Skylar vaguely recalled Penelope once boasting to her that Brayden hadpaid three months of rent all at once, which added up to a grand totalof nearly one thousand seven hundred.

Tobias gave a low whistle. “The bar's really getting lower and lowerthese days, isn't it? All you have to do to buy a woman over is to renther an apartment, and she'll gladly carry a child to term for you.”

Skylar felt her dislike for Brayden swell into intense hatred. No amountof wealth was enough to conceal the fact that he was fundamentally aloathsome character.

Annoyed by Tobias’ flippant response, she snapped, “Do you want toget out there too, then? Since women nowadays aren't as much ofgolddiggers as they were before, you definitely won't be lacking in asupply of young girls for your harem.”

Tobias wisely refused to allow himself to be drawn into such aconversation. He had never treated his women meanly. Besides, eversince meeting Skylar, he had never considered putting himself back outon the dating scene.

They drove in companionable silence to the set, where Tobias droppedSkylar off. Hannah was already waiting for her in the dressing room.

As Tobias drove away, his secretary called to inform him that Claudiahad arrived at the office.

Tobias hurried into the office to replace the woman seated by the side, herlong legs crossed elegantly. She was wearing an emerald-green dressthat showed off a slender figure despite her age.

"You left the office already so early in the afternoon?” Claudia chidedteasingly.

“No one said I have to be here all the time. Did you come here just tointerrogate me about my working hours?” Tobias curtly replied.“Everyone's having a field day with the news that you're taking overQuest Group. I really can't comprehend how you can absorb such aliability just for that woman. You must be mad,” Claudia answeredfrankly, delving right into the heart of the matter.

Tobias had not imagined that the news would travel so quickly.

“It has nothing to do with her. Nobody can force me to do things I'mnot willing to. I was fully on board with taking over Quest Group,”Tobias said gruffly.

Claudia decided not to pursue the matter. Knowing her son's obstinacy,challenging him would only harden his heart further.

“Bring her back home tomorrow. We can have dinner together,” shesuggested in a milder tone.

Tobias raised his head and met Claudia’s eyes with a piercing gazebefore he said evenly, “It's not convenient. She's very busy..."

“You've dated for quite a while now. Is it so difficult to persuade her tomeet your mother?” Claudia interrupted.

Unbothered by the note of warning in Claudia’s voice, Tobiascontinued, “Relax, we're not preparing to marry each other just yet. Wecan have dinner with or without her.”

“Why are you being so defensive of her? Are you afraid I'll drive heraway?” Claudia sniffed, looking hurt.

She had meant it as a joke, but Tobias immediately agreed. “I'm afraidyou'll skin Skylar alive. I don’t want to upset her. She's young and mightnot be able to withstand your vicious words.”

A look of discontent appeared on Claudia’s face. Whenever theconversation veered towards a sensitive subject like this, a dead-endwas inevitable.

“Ingrid's back home. I think Dad's attention will be fully focused on herfor a while,” Tobias remarked. He, too, was all too familiar with thetension that hovered over both their heads and was anxious to changethe subject.

Disdainfully, Claudia replied, “Having a daughter like Ingrid is justretribution for Xander.”

Tobias merely shrugged, reserving his opinion.

Xander had a terrible habit of spoiling Ingrid. He lavished a tremendousamount of affection and gifts on his daughter; Ingrid could do nowrong in his eyes.

Tobias, however, privately wondered if Ingrid was a displacement of thelove Xander had wanted to pour into his marriage instead.