As Marcia walked out of Kevin's office, she happened to see Jane standing nearby, talking to Booth. Their eyes met by chance. Jane shot her a quick glare, then turned her head, letting out a couple of disdainful huffs.Booth looked a bit awkward, as though he wanted to greet Marcia. But Jane's stern look stopped him, and his hand, which had been raised to wave, froze mid-air before dropping back down.Marcia gave the two of them a cold glance before walking straight back to her office."Look at her, acting all high and mighty! Booth, you should stay away from her. She's clearly not a decent woman! She's already seduced the boss, and now she's trying to cozy up to the manager. I bet Azure will be hers before long!" Jane spat, glaring at Marcia's retreating figure, her voice full of bitterness.Booth, watching the woman he loved, felt a heavy sense of helplessness. "Jane, I think you're misunderstanding Patricia. Actually, she...""Booth, who's your
When Marcia returned to her office, Elijah was just stepping out. Seeing her, he said softly, "Perfect timing. Come in, I need to talk to you about something."Marcia quickly followed him inside."What's going on?" she asked.Elijah frowned slightly, as though something was bothering him. "Did Kevin tell you about tomorrow's business trip?""Yes, that's right. Eli, you're coming with us tomorrow, right?""That was the plan, but there's an issue with the U.S. branch that I need to take care of. Looks like it'll just be you and Kevin tomorrow. Cia, if anything comes up while I'm away, make sure you contact me immediately."As Elijah spoke, he shook his head. "Forget it, I'll postpone the trip to the U.S. by a couple of days; it won't cause too much of a loss. I'll still go with you tomorrow...""Eli!" Marcia raised her eyes, looking directly into his, her voice soft but firm. "I remember you saying that I would be the head of Azure."
Lime Street Railway StationMarcia was always punctual and usually arrived at least 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. Since this business trip was only for three days, she hadn't packed much. Just a small travel bag with a few changes of clothes. When she entered the waiting hall, Kevin hadn't arrived yet. She vaguely remembered there were supposed to be two more people joining the trip, but she wasn't sure who they were.Looking up at the display board, Marcia saw it was 9:40 AM, which was 20 minutes earlier than the meeting time. She casually found an empty seat and was about to pull out her phone to send Elijah a message, but when she checked her pocket…Her phone was gone!Marcia thought for a moment. She had checked the time on her phone right before getting off the train, so had she left it on the car by mistake?She frowned slightly, feeling a headache coming on. There was a lot of sensitive information on her phone, and she'd rather lose her wallet than her phone.Just a
Marcia called Elijah, and he picked up the phone almost immediately. His voice was urgent, full of impatience. "Kevin, have you reached Patricia? What's going on with her?!"Is this how he always speaks to people? Marcia was taken aback, then replied softly, "Uh, Eli, it's me...""Patricia?!" Elijah's tone immediately softened. "Why haven't you been answering your phone? I sent you messages, but you didn't reply!"Marcia felt a bit embarrassed. "I left my phone on the car. I'm sorry for worrying you."Elijah let out a noticeable sigh of relief. "How could you make such a simple mistake?!"Marcia's face flushed, and she apologized again, "Sorry. You must have been really worried. By the way, it's early morning where you are, haven't you slept yet? Did I wake you up?"Their voices were soft as they spoke. Kevin, watching Marcia with a gentle smile on her face, whistled and pointed to his seat. "You two can talk. I'll head back first."Marcia nodded, smiling awkwardly at him."I couldn't
The hotel where Marcia and her group were staying belonged to Sin Group.Initially, Kevin had booked two double suites.However, upon arrival at the front desk, the receptionist informed them that Elijah had given instructions for the four of them to each stay in separate single suites.Kevin inwardly cursed Elijah for abusing his authority yet again, but he couldn't hide his delight as he accepted the room keys. "Here, one room per person. Go upstairs and get some rest. Let's meet in the lobby at 6 p.m. sharp. If you have any issues, contact me directly."Booth and Jane exchanged a glance. "Understood," they replied in unison.Booth took Jane's luggage and headed toward the elevator. Jane hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, and quickly followed.At the front desk, Marcia was still standing with Kevin. She smiled as she took the key he handed her. "Aren't we having a meeting before heading out? Isn't 6 p.m. a bit late?""We're just going to scope things out tonight," Kevin repl
Ding-dong, ding-dong…Marcia had just finished putting on her dress when the doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock—Kevin was punctual as ever. It was exactly 3:00 p.m.Lifting the hem of her gown, she walked briskly to the door and opened it. "Coming!"The moment the door swung open, Kevin's usual mischievous grin froze on his face.Marcia was dressed in a light purple gown that perfectly complemented her fresh and elegant aura. Her soft pink lips and understated makeup enhanced her natural beauty. The V-neck design of the dress revealed her delicate collarbones, a feature that, while subtle, exuded a quiet sensuality.Her frame, though slender, was brought to life by the gown's tailored fit, accentuating her figure in all the right places."You okay? Is something wrong with how I look?" Marcia waved a hand in front of Kevin, snapping him out of his daze.Kevin quickly composed himself and let out a chuckle. "Well, this look… it's passable, I guess. But your hairstyle needs a change
Kevin didn't notice anything unusual about Marcia. He chatted animatedly with the stylist, gesturing as they discussed the perfect hairstyle for her. The two seemed to hit it off the more they talked."Alright, let's go with the plan—curl her hair and then pin it up," Kevin said with a cheerful grin, pointing at Marcia. "Patricia, I need to step out for a bit. Don't worry, this stylist is absolutely reliable!"Marcia nodded expressionlessly.The stylist sauntered over with a leisurely sway, wearing tight black jeans and a white V-neck shirt. His long hair was tied into a trendy half-bun.Marcia instinctively glanced at him but couldn't help wondering—was this person a man or a woman?When he finally spoke, Marcia realized he was a man."Sweetheart, relax," he said with a hearty laugh. "Leave your hair to me—you've got nothing to worry about! By the way, that handsome guy just now—what's your relationship with him? He
When Jane and Booth arrived at the estate, the grand hall was already bustling with people.The pair handed their invitations to the security guard at the entrance. After verifying the details, the guard smiled politely and said, "Please, come in!"Jane and Booth exchanged a nervous glance. Booth smiled reassuringly, "Let's go inside." Jane looped her arm through his, and they slowly walked into the hall.Once they were out of sight, the guard who had taken their invitations discreetly spoke into his walkie-talkie, "The Azure representatives have arrived—one male, one female. Notify Mrs. Wright immediately!"Mrs. Wright?On the other end, someone responded promptly. As Booth and Jane pushed open the doors, a person quickly stepped forward to greet them."Please, this way! Mr. Lake has arranged a VIP table specifically for you. This way will be faster."Jane and Booth froze, startled. VIP table?Jane smiled politely. "Plea
Her hand fumbled across the bed, finally reaching the bedside lamp. "You lunatic! It's your fault, not mine. Why do you always blame others? Kate left with someone else—what does that have to do with me? Let go of me!"She rolled her eyes in defiance, but her arms were too weak to resist. Just a little more, and she could grab the lamp...Alan's eyes burned crimson with rage. "It's all your fault! I was fine with Kate before you came along! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have given her to Harold. That bastard said he just wanted her for one night, but now he won't return her! He's no different from Elijah—both beasts! No, fools! Secondhand goods, and yet they enjoy it so much! Is every woman I've been with so desirable? Marcia, tell me—who's better, huh?!"He lost all reason, furiously trying to tear off Marcia's pants. But in his drunken state, he couldn't manage. Frustrated, he pressed against her through her clothes and shouted, "Say it!
Meanwhile, back in his room, Booth snapped out of his daze.Covered in sweat and grime, he had no interest in showering after his conversation with Jane. Instead, he slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly into the distance.It was unclear how long he sat there before irritation drove him to his feet. Booth stormed into the bathroom, peeled off his shirt, and splashed cold water onto his face. Suddenly, something didn't feel right.Jane was staying on the 17th floor—that much he remembered clearly. So why had he seen her waiting for the elevator on the 22nd floor? This was a hotel, not a crowded office building where people often rode the elevator in the wrong direction just to secure a spot.A suspicion crept into Booth's mind—Jane was hiding something from him. He couldn't explain the feeling, but his instincts rarely failed him.Pulling out his phone, he tried calling her, only to find her phone was turned off."Damn it,"
Calvin walked into the hotel lobby and spotted the manager, Charles, speaking on the phone at the front desk.The moment Charles saw Calvin, he hung up immediately and greeted him respectfully. "Sir, would you like me to arrange a car for you?"Calvin raised an eyebrow. "Your efficiency is quite impressive.""My apologies for earlier, sir. I hope you'll forgive us," Charles said with a polite smile.Calvin replied casually, "You were just doing your job, ensuring the guests are taken care of. By the way, she...""Please rest assured, sir. We'll take excellent care of her. Mr. Elijah has already instructed us," Charles responded quickly, knowing exactly who Calvin was referring to.Calvin chuckled. "Seems like he's not too busy in America.""He's just concerned about his wife, that's all. Sir, this way, please. Your car is ready." Charles gestured respectfully. Calvin glanced in the direction Charles indicated, seeing a black Mercedes-Benz van parked at the entrance.Calvin gave Charle
Jane reached out to steady Marcia's back and said softly, "Sir, my name is Jane. May I ask for yours? I joined Sin Corporation the same year as Patricia—quite the coincidence, isn't it?"Calvin frowned slightly at Jane's sudden familiarity but answered curtly, "Calvin."Unbothered by his aloofness, Jane smiled and scanned the room numbers as they walked. "Oh, here it is—2711! Calvin, I almost forgot. Do you have her room card? Without it, we can't get in."After a moment of hesitation, Calvin handed Marcia's bag to Jane. "It should be in her bag. Check inside."Jane accepted the bag cheerfully and rummaged through it. "Found it!"She held up the card and swiped it against the door lock. With a soft beep, the door to 2711 clicked open."Come in, Calvin," Jane said, stepping aside.Calvin nodded and entered quickly, not noticing that Jane discreetly slipped the room card into her own pocket instead of returning it to the bag."Lay her down on the bed," Jane suggested. She glanced at Cal
Calvin didn't drive. Partly because he had been drinking, and partly because it had been a long time since he had been this close to Marcia.Marcia was light as a feather on his back as he slowly carried her toward the hotel.He had grown used to keeping track of Marcia's every move, but her heart had always been out of his reach.As a child, Marcia would cling to his arm with a sweet smile, half-coquettish, half-pleading, as she said, "Calvin, when I grow up, let's get married, okay?"She was just speaking innocent words of a child, but he took them seriously.Her casual remark stayed with him all these years. He had waited for her to grow up, imagining her as his perfect bride. But when she finally did, she showed up holding Alan's hand."Calvin, this is Alan. I...I want to marry him. You're the most important person to me, so you're the first to know," she said.Back then, Alan was a nobody, his humble demeanor barely concealed by his clean, smiling face.Calvin couldn't recall wha
Some people completely lose their memory once they get drunk.After just three glasses of red wine, Marcia had already lost all self-control.Kevin was slightly better off, still holding on to a sliver of rationality as Booth supported him. Kevin managed to exchange a few polite words with Bill and Cliff, ensuring they left the Cote Bistro with the contract in hand.Only after confirming its authenticity did Kevin collapse onto the sofa in the lobby, refusing to move no matter how hard Booth tried.After a chaotic mess, Booth entrusted Kevin to the lobby manager and went back to look for Marcia, only to find Calvin already carrying her. "I'll take her back to the hotel," Calvin said indifferently before striding off.Booth instinctively wanted to follow but was stopped by a waiter. Apparently, someone else had passed out in the private room.Pushing open the door, Booth found Myron slumped awkwardly in a corner, dozing.What's worse than one drunk person? Two drunk people—and worse st
Kevin's eyes were slightly red, but he let out a hearty laugh. "Look at what you're saying. It's an honor for Azure to have you both here today!"With that, he downed another glass of red wine.Marcia hadn't expected him to drink so heavily and looked at him with concern. Just as she was about to intervene, Myron gently shook his head. "Gentlemen, Kevin is like a brother to me. We're mainly here to catch up today, so I won't say too much. Let me also raise a glass to you both! Even though Eli isn't here, I hope you'll consider working with us on my behalf."After speaking, Myron downed his glass in one go. This time, Bill and Cliff clinked glasses with him and took a sip of their own drinks.Bill set his glass down and chuckled. "Myron, I'll toast with you today, but next time, you'd better bring a wife, or marry Nancy already! Otherwise, don't even think about getting me to drink again."Cliff, after finishing his glass, was stopped by Alison, who took over drinking on his behalf.Ma
After laughing, Marcia felt she had been too distant with Calvin, so she smiled at him and said, "Calvin, since you've returned to the country, I haven't properly hosted you. When are you heading back to Liverpool? Let me treat you to a meal before then.""I'll contact you after I get there," Calvin replied with a gentle smile, raising his glass toward her.Marcia nodded firmly and responded enthusiastically, "Alright."Just then, there was a knock at the door.Knock, knock, knock...As they were chatting, Booth pushed the door open and entered."Ma'am, everyone has arrived!" Booth announced.Marcia and Kevin exchanged a glance before quickly heading toward the door. Three individuals entered slowly as introductions were made, and the group exchanged pleasantries before taking their seats with smiles all around.Due to Elijah's influence, the guests were exceptionally polite. Myron also played the perfect mediator, lightening the atmosphere with a few jokes, making everyone laugh.Mar
Calvin looked at Marcia's surprised expression and let a faint smile tug at the corners of his lips. "Are you really that shocked to see me?" he asked softly.Marcia shook her head with a light laugh. "I should be asking you that! You disappeared from the hospital that day without a word. What brings you here?""Elijah personally invited me. It's hard to say no to his invitations, don't you think?" Calvin chuckled. "I'm here representing Shine Glow Group."Kevin, who had been wearing a playful expression, paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow curiously. "SG Group?""The owner of SG, John Linton, is my uncle. He's not feeling well and specifically asked me to attend in his place," Calvin explained, extending a hand toward Kevin. "I'm Calvin, Marcia's childhood friend."Marcia couldn't help but laugh. "We grew up as neighbors. He's closer to me than a real brother. But wait—how did I not know John was your uncle? You don't even share the same last name!""It's through my mother's side